Representation of the Orthodox Church in America
to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate

News | 01-06-05 International Day of Youth marked by visit to Exhibition of Drawings by the Children of Beslan

On Wednesday, June 1, 2005, the parish of St. Catherine the Great Martyr welcomed cadets from Moscow’s 3rd and 8th Cadet Corps, students from two Moscow State schools, the Moscow Pedagogical University and representatives from the Russian Orthodox Scouting program to view the exhibition “Tragedy through the eyes of children” being held at the parish house.

This visit was organized by the Orthodox Non-for-profit Foundation “Svyaz Pokolenie”. The foundation’s General Director, Colonel Sergei V. Mashin accompanied the students during the visit, where they were able to hear a detailed description of the artwork by the psychologist, Dr. Alexander L. Venger, who worked closely with the children from Beslan during their rehabilitation in Moscow. Following the viewing of the drawings, Mr. Mashin offered words of thanks on behalf of the President of the Foundation, General Alexander I. Kotelkin, to the parish Dean, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, for welcoming the students to the parish, and also to Dr. Venger for his important work with the children of Beslan. The students then presented Dr. Venger with flowers in memory of the departed victims of terrorism in Beslan, and asked him to convey their feelings of sorrow to the survivors.