Despite the destruction caused by Russian shelling, the Beryslav parish community continues its charitable activities

On September 5, 2024, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Ukraine Pavel Vizdal met with the director of the Patriarchal Foundation “Mudra Sprava” Fr Lyubomyr Yavorskyy to hand over humanitarian aid from his government. During August, the foundation’s team properly organized and processed the aid and handed it over to the volunteers of the parish community of the Martyrs of Maccabees in Beryslav, Kherson Oblast.

The social service and charitable activities of this parish community are already known far beyond the region and Ukraine. Local priest Oleksandr Bilskyi coordinates the whole process.

In total, 11 pallets of clothes and shoes for adults and children were delivered to the parish community.

“We express our sincere gratitude to the government of Slovakia, which through the Patriarchal Foundation ‘Mudra Sprava’ donated 11 pallets of new clothes for the needy. We have already begun to distribute these clothes to residents of Beryslav district in our centers of assistance, which were established by our parish community of the Martyrs of Maccabees in Beryslav, Kherson region, and are now actively working in Velyka Oleksandrivka and Novoraysk,” said Oleksandr Bilskyi.

He also addressed our partners from abroad: “We really appreciate the care of our friends from Slovakia. We thank them sincerely and keep them in our prayers. May the Lord generously reward all the benefactors!” he concluded.

It should also be added that the distribution of humanitarian aid to those in need was delayed for extraordinary and tragic reasons. At night, on September 15, Russian troops mercilessly shelled Novoraysk. As a result of this shelling, the premises of the hub of the parish of the Martyrs of Maccabees a and the branch of the Caritas Beryslav were damaged.

“In addition to the destruction of the building, two vehicles used to deliver aid and transport people with disabilities were also damaged. The humanitarian aid that was in the building at the time was also heavily damaged. Thank God that all the employees and volunteers are alive and in relative safety,” Fr Oleksandr Bilskyi immediately reported that day.

Today, the hub has resumed its social and charitable activities, because where evil sows destruction, destruction and death, first, we need to sow goodness and mercy.