The Synodal Department for Prison Ministry hosted a meeting between Acting Chairman of the Department, Priest Kirill Markovsky, and volunteers from more than 25 Moscow parishes who correspond with convicts and provide them with material assistance.
Serving «those in prison» through spiritual correspondence is one of the main ways of prison ministry.
Service to those in prison through spiritual correspondence is one of the main ways of prison ministry, which allows regular support to a person serving a sentence in prison. This area of Orthodox lay ministry is especially important for those inmates who have lost social ties and suffer from loneliness and lack of communication. For many prisoners, especially those sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, correspondence with a person who is able to empathize, not to condemn and spiritually support, is almost the only consolation in the monotonous prison life. And as volunteers testify, many prisoners find faith and meaning in life through correspondence.
But volunteers who correspond with inmates often encounter situations where they need to be especially wise in building a spiritual relationship with the incarcerated person.
But volunteers who correspond with inmates often encounter situations where they need to be especially wise in building a spiritual relationship with the incarcerated person.
Priest Kirill Markovsky, who has already
Who has been involved in pen-pals for more than 20 years, shared his experience by answering the most common questions.
It was noted that a significant key to success in this field is to organize pen pal volunteers into groups that allow them to share their experiences.
The synod department plans to organize such meetings on a regular basis to support and develop this area of prison ministry.
Synodal Department for Prison Ministry/Patriarchy.ru
