There is not one building on the territory of the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra that has not suffered damage as a result of hostilities, the epicenter of which in 2022 was the monastery. Now the Lavra's workers are restoring the roofs of churches and outbuildings that require priority repairs, so that precipitation and other factors do not lead to even greater damage of the buildings. Recently, the monastery administration appealed to the Revival of Svyatohirya Charity Foundation with a request to purchase 10 cubic meters of edged boards for the Lavra. The Foundation purchased this important building material for the monastery. The supplier was Rayselkommunkhoz (Krasnograd, Kharkiv region). On April 9, 10 cubic meters of edged boards with a total value of 87,500 hryvnias were delivered to the Lavra. The purchase of building materials necessary for the restoration of the Lavra complex is part of the "Restoration" project, which is being implemented within the framework of the "Aid" program of the Foundation. This program's objectives are: support of institutions, аgencies and organizations providing assistance to refugees, persons with disabilities, financially disadvantaged and other vulnerable segments of the population; restoration and repair of buildings damaged as a result of hostilities; providing material assistance to refugees living in the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra, as well as to the population of the city of Svyatohirsk and the villages of the Svyatohirsk United Territorial Community; support of religious organizations as spiritual centers for the fulfillment of their statutory goals. You can support the program here: https://svyat.fund/en/help Learn more about the programs: https://svyat.fund/en/programs

The Charity Foundation “Revival of Sviatohirya” has begun to implement the “Light and Heat” program. The goal of this program is to provide electricity and heat to the living quarters of refugees and those who have suffered as a result of military operations. Since 2014 the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra has given shelter to the refugees of Donbass. Currently, aside from monastics, the monastery is home to more than 200 refugees, the majority of whom as the elderly, invalids, as well as families with children. In May of 2022, as a result of military operations the Lavra was cut off from the power grid. Since that time the monastery has relied solely on diesel generators for power. Recently the administration of the Lavra turned to the “Revival of Svyatohirya” Foundation with a request to acquire a powerful diesel generator system, since practically all the generators with which the monastery had been previously supplied have reached the end of their service life. Consequently, the monastery has experienced constant interruptions in the electrical power supply, which leads to shutdowns of the boiler system and other problems. In response to the request, the Foundation purchased a new 120 kW diesel generator system at a cost of over 726,000 hrivnias, supplied by the research and development company “Energy Plus”. On March 12 the generator, weighing 1.7 tons, was delivered from Kiev to the Sviatohirsk Lavra. This life-essential equipment was greeted in the monastery with joy. It was tested immediately after being unloaded. The generator operates according to its technical specifications and delivers electricity in the amount necessary for the monastery. The administration of the Lavra expressed its gratitude to the Foundation and to all those who took part in this God-pleasing endeavor. The problem of providing the Sviatohirsk Lavra with light and heat until delivery of power from the grid can be reestablished has been resolved, which is particularly important now, while the heating season is not over.

What would Christmastide be without a children’s celebration? Since 2014 the Svyatogorsk Lavra has been home to children from communities in the Donbass who obtained refuge from military activity. Some came to the monastery in 2022, some have been living here since birth. A learning center has been set up in the Lavra to make sure that the young inhabitants of the Lavra are not deprived of the opportunity to receive an education. The children traditionally prepare performances for Christmas and Easter.  Christmastide of 2024 was no exception. On January 15 the children presented a performance entitled “The Gifts of the Magi” to an audience of refugees living at the Lavra. On account of the reconstruction of the Lavra’s auditorium, which was damaged by shelling, the performance took place in the pilgrims’ refectory. So that the children and their parents would have high-quality photos and videos as mementoes of the occasion, the Charity Foundation “Revival of Svyatohirya” acquired the Aputure Light Box 6090 for the monastery. Thanks to this apparatus, the refectory acquired the status of auditorium and it became possible for the monastery’s photographer and camera operator to professionally capture events on film. 

Close to 25,000 hryvnias were transferred by the “Revival of Svyatohirya” Charity Foundation for Sergey Romanenko, who requires a liver transplant.  While awaiting the transplant, Sergey is undergoing inpatient treatment at the O. O. Shalimov National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology.  Sergey’s condition is critical. Among his diagnoses are cirrhosis of the liver, enlargement of the spleen, esophageal and intestinal varices, iron deficiency anemia, platelet deficiency and others. Fibrotic lesion of the liver at the moment is already 85%.  As Sergey requires systematic treatment, the foundation intends to support him in the future. Sergey’s full story may be found here.