NEW YORK: May 2, 2009
The Fund for Assistance Appeals For Help for ROCOR’s Mexico Monastery

The Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is raising funds to help a ROCOR monastery in Mexico City cope with the effects of an epidemic of swine flu. With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, the FFA is appealing to all ROCOR parishes to hold a plate collection to benefit the Monastery in their time of great need.

In an email to ROCOR clergy, Abbot Nectarios of the Monastery wrote:

“We have no money; few people come to Church, everybody is afraid to get the swine flu. People even fear kissing the icons, or kissing a hand! Dozens are calling the monastery all day asking for our prayers and guidance, they are so scared, they can sense the fragility of life. Please pray for us, so God has mercy on our sins.”

With the government order to shut down all “non-essential” businesses, the monastery was forced to temporarily close its bakery and coffee shop –its main source of income, and cancel all church services, excepting those for the brethren.

However, the monastery, which has four brethren, gets at least 20 visitors a day, some coming to consult the abbot, others struggling without work as government canceled everything from concerts to soccer matches, for meals.

If you wish to donate to Holy Trinity Monastery in Mexico City, please send your checks to

Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
75 East 93rd Street
New York, NY, 10128 

Please mark donations “Mexico Monastery.” 

Or visit our Webpage www.fundforassistance.org