Nearly 16,000 people benefited from the philanthropic activities of the Archdiocese of Cluj of the Romanian Orthodox Church last year.
According to the report presented at the Diocesan Assembly on Saturday, the Archdiocese spent nearly $4 million (nearly 15 million lei) to help the less fortunate, reports the Metropolia of Cluj.
The meeting began with a Te Deum service, after which His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj spoke about the importance of Church activity in the community. The Archdiocese currently has 55 projects and social programs providing shelter, food, clothing, medicine, medical and palliative care, education for the young, and hope to those who have no hope.
Among the many 2020 projects was the launching of the St. Nektarios ambulance service in Cluj-Napoca. The Archdiocese also donated thousands of dollars to local hospitals and food banks.
The Archdiocese operated 10 recreational camps for children last year and donated 54 tablets to local schools for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. 34 scholarships were also offered, totaling $25,655 (103,200 lei).
This year, work will continue on the St. Andrew the Apostle social missionary center in Cluj and at the youth center in Câmpenești. There are also plans to open an old folks’ home and a palliative care center, and the courses of a new Orthodox primary school will be inaugurated.