As Winter Rages, A Church Makes Lunch

Located in the center of Moscow, just off Tverskaya Ulitsa, the Kosma and Damian church is a beacon of hospitality and warmth, especially during a winter that experts say has been the city’s coldest in 60 years. Every Wednesday, the church offers a free lunch and warm clothing to the homeless, the poor and the hungry. Above, men waiting for the meal under a painting of Christ.

Men waiting in the church hall.

People participating in a prayer before the meal.

People tucking into their lunch. Between 150 and 200 people come for the meal each Wednesday.

Soup being passed out to those at the table.

An elderly woman sitting under a painting of a similarly dressed icon. This woman arrived at the church with her hands close to being frostbitten; she was given valerian root tea, which quickly helped warm her up.

People sitting as a volunteer, in the background, tends to those who are ailing.

A volunteer, standing on the right, passing out bread to go with the soup.

A woman ladling soup into bowls for volunteers to bring to the tables.

A volunteer arriving at one of the tables with bowls of hot soup.

Igor Tabakov / MT

Recent Videos

All Videos

Recent Photo Galleries

All Galleries

The Moscow Times is happy to serve as a platform for intelligent and constructive discussion.
Any comment deemed non-constructive, personal attacks, spam and abuse will not be tolerated and will lead to you being banned from our website.

comments powered by Disqus

Today's Paper

Most Read
Most Shared
- U.S. Expands Sanctions Against Russia, Rebuffs Talk of New Cold War
  
  U.S. President Barack Obama has escalated U.S. economic sanctions against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine but dismissed suggestions of a new Cold War.
- U.S. Senate Panel Backs John Tefft as New Ambassador to Russia
  
  U.S. President Barack Obama's nominee to be the new ambassador to Russia could be on his way to Moscow in days, after U.S. senators put aside partisan differences to hold a quick vote backing his appointment.
- Russia Releases Detained Ukrainian Journalist
  
  Russia has released a Ukrainian journalist who been detained for reporting in the country without media accreditation, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
- Russia Bans Fruit and Veg Imports From Poland, May Extend to EU
  
  Russia's Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection Service will restrict the majority of fruit and vegetable imports from Poland starting Aug. 1.
- Belarus to Host Crisis Talks Between Russia, Ukraine and OSCE
  
  Belarus will host talks between Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE security and rights organization on the crisis in eastern Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's office said Wednesday.
- 'Ukrainian Rebels' Aren't Ukrainian or Rebels
  
  Russian citizens riddle the leadership ranks of the separatists, drowning out local issues.
- Putin Nominated for Russia's Highest Honor, 'Hero of Russia' Title
  
  Journalists in Russia's Far East have appealed to federal lawmakers to award President Vladimir Putin with the country's highest honor: the title of "Hero of Russia."
- Globetrotting U.S. Cyclist Killed in Russia
  
  <p>A U.S. cyclist who pedaled across 50-plus countries for peace and charity was run over and killed in Russia by a drunken truck driver, ITAR-Tass news agency said Friday.</p>
- What Russia's World Cup Would Look Like if Hit by a European Boycott
  
  Amid international tension over the conflict in Ukraine, voices in the West are clamoring for Russia to lose the right to host the 2018 World Cup. While this is realistically highly unlikely, a boycott of the tournament by European nations would certainly be welcome news for some of the other teams, who might have a better chance of bringing home the elusive trophy.
- Britain's Clegg Says Russia Should Lose Right to Host 2018 World Cup
  
  Russia should be stripped of the right to host the 2018 soccer World Cup unless Russian President Vladimir Putin stops destabilizing Ukraine, Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said.

Photo Gallery

Last Hurrah in the Kommunalka

Ukraine Marks Anniversary of Christianization of Kievan Rus

Putin's Russia

Editors' Picks

Cyber Attacks on Russian Websites Increasingly Political

Will France's Mistral Assault Warships Make Russia a Naval Threat?

Russia Shakes Off Glitches to Successfully Launch Angara Rocket (Video)

Log in to your Moscow Times account:
Login:
Password:
Remember me
Registration Forgot your password?
Or log in using the account you signed up with: