Rebuilding the church and families in Russia

Special-needs families experience caring community through summer camp

 April 15, 2019

The church in Davydovo, Russia, was a thriving community of 1,000 members from five surrounding villages before the revolution. It was abruptly closed by the Communist authorities in 1936. The building was used for storage and then as a club but was neglected for 70 years. The roof collapsed around 1960, and there was nothing left but the shell of a building — only walls.

In 1993, the Klimzos, a Moscow family, moved to Davydovo, seeking a simpler life. The wife began teaching in the local school, and the husband taught music and farmed. As Orthodox Christians, they attended worship at a church in another village. The shell of the church in Davydovo stood near their home. It began to tug at their hearts, and in 1998, with $100 and a few friends, they began efforts to reconstruct the church. They said, “As we rebuilt the church, the church rebuilt us.” Vladimir Klimzo, the main rebuilder, became the priest for Davydovo.

As they worked on the reconstruction, people wandered through and helped with the project. The activity of reconstruction also brought people asking for help.

One day, a church in Moscow called, asking if the parish might provide summer respite for families with children who had disabilities. The response was casual: “Sure, if they want to come, let them come.” When Father Vladimir met them at the train, he heard that knock again. He saw the deep needs of the mothers who had become fiercely protective of their special children, their hearts hardened by the rejection they had witnessed. The children, isolated at home from a society that was unkind, were deeply in need of socialization.

That first summer, the efforts were very simple. A village house was able to accommodate 10 families, each consisting of a mother and her disabled child. It was terribly crowded. Father Vladimir’s daughter and her friend — both teachers — organized a program around folk music, dances and games. People from the village helped where they could. They got to know the needs of the families more deeply, and knew they had to do more.

The next summer, 12 families arrived. By this point, friends had found wooden construction trailers to house the families. Conditions were a little better. The hosts began to organize volunteers to accompany the children and youth while the mothers had time with a psychologist and with Father Vladimir. Organizers found people to help with dog therapy, horse therapy, drama, art therapy — even poetry writing.

The community gathers together for meals during the camp. (Photo courtesy of parish archives)

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Today, the camp has two three-week sessions, with volunteers from many places (even Presbyterians from the U.S.), and they are working on another project. Through the years, Father Vladimir has listened to the mothers. Their greatest fear concerns what will happen to their children when they die. In Russia, what is available for adults with disabilities is an old-folks home with IV sedation.

It is a place to die, not to live. Father Vladimir and I have traveled in the U.S., Germany and France, looking at models for adult care for those with disabilities. Father Vladimir works on a model that emphasizes not simply care of those with disabilities but life in a village community. It is a model that includes socialization, life skills, work and a spiritual component.

When asked what inspired reconstruction of the church, Father Vladimir replied, “I guess it was a call from God.” Those who answered that call have not stopped listening to the Lord’s knock at the door of their hearts. Those in need have come knocking, and those who have heard the knocking have responded. All have been transformed by this ministry — the mothers whose hearts were hardened by the world’s rejection of their special children, the children who needed loving socialization and the volunteers who stepped out of their comfort zone — transformed through community and deep engagement in ministry.

 Ellen Smith, PC(USA) World Mission Regional Liaison, Eastern Europe

Today’s Focus:  Church in Russia

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Douglas Portz, BOP
Elonzer Purkins, OGA

Let us pray:

Gracious Lord, please make us eager and willing partners with our brothers and sisters in other lands, so that together we may be faithful witnesses to your love and grace for all people, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Monday, April 15, 2019, the Monday of Holy Week (Year C)

• First Reading Isaiah 42:1-9
• Psalm 36:5-11
• Second Reading Hebrews 9:11-15
• Gospel John 12:1-11