Appeal by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Dear in the Lord Clergy and Flock of our Russian Church Abroad:

The Lord has always provided for His Church the material resources needed for Her survival and salvific service to the world through the generosity donors and the Her children; to build churches and seminaries, to provide for Her clergy, to spread the word of God through missionary work. From time to time, the Lord has provided special opportunities for His Church to grow.

Thank the Lord, we now have at our disposal a new mechanism to enable our flock to more easily provide for the needs of the Holy Church; for all good deeds and projects done on a parish level become possible when all the faithful of the Church work together. For this reason, the Synod of Bishops authorized and blessed the Fundraising Arm of ROCOR to institute a program to help our parishes, schools, monasteries and missions. Your parish itself can directly benefit from this program.

I call upon all of our God-loving flock to take upon yourselves the small labor of love which we hope will enable the development of this system within the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. May the Lord help you and the FAROCOR succeed in this good work.

With love in the Lord and asking your holy prayers,

Metropolitan Laurus
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

October 26/November 8, 2004