SAINT SOPHIA UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
PRESS RELEASE

Seminarians of the Church Ship Boxes of Montessori Supplies to Ukrainian Orphanages!

During this time of year, as we see the excitement and magic in the eyes of children, it takes us all back to those days of our childhood when pre-Nativity (Christmas) season was full of wonderful food, grandparents laughing, speculating about presents and the warmth and comfort of knowing you had a family that loved you. At the end, sharing the experience of Nativity of our Lord - celebrating Christmas meant feeling safe and loved unconditionally. Nativity of Christ is a wonderful time to remember orphans, as it was the birth of Christ Jesus that paved the way for our adoption, delivering us from our own former state as spiritual orphans.

Eight seminarians of St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Bound Brook, NJ gathered together at the Consistory Offices of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA on October 2, 2013 to accomplish the task of making Nativity of Christ alive in the lives of over 200 orphans of Ukrainian orphanages that are sponsored by the UOC of the USA. The seminarians packed boxes with humanitarian aid, especially Montessori equipment, designated for the orphanage in Central Ukraine. Finally, the boxes were delivered to a shipping location in NJ, ready to travel to Ukraine.

Over the past several weeks the donations of clothing and arts&crafts were collected at the Consistory offices in order to be delivered to the children of Znamianka orphanage in Ukraine. In addition, the Church run Orphanage Adoption program sponsored 17 large boxes of Montessori equipment for both orphanages. In must be mentioned that the very first Montessori center at the orphanage for children with special needs was opened two years ago, due to a full sponsorship of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, in Puhachiv orphanage, Zhytomyr region of Ukraine. His Grace Bishop Daniel, accompanied by the college age missionaries of the Church were present at the opening of the school and delivered humanitarian aid on behalf of the UOC of the USA.