Russian priests visit faith-based program

The Russian Orthodox priests have visited various drug rehabilitation centers.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR

YOUNGSTOWN — Two Russian Orthodox priests, who operate faith-based drug rehabilitation centers, found kindred spirits operating the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.

The Rev. Mefodiy Kondratyev, abbot of St. George Church in the Ivanovo region, and the Rev. Sergey Goncharov, pastor in the village of Grigoyevo in the same area, visited the Rescue Mission on Tuesday.

The trip is part of the church’s mission to help people with problems, said Father Kondratyev.

Father Goncharov suggested that the Russian government should use the faith-oriented programs as models for drug rehabilitation because of their success rate in keeping people drug-free.

“Some programs refer to an abstract higher power, and that’s too vague,” Father Goncharov said. “Focusing on Jesus makes it more relevant.”

When the priests asked what book or program the mission followed, Jim Echement, Rescue Mission development director, responded — the Bible.

“In a word, it’s about Jesus,” said Echement. “This [mission] is an example of what God does.”

Unlike the Rescue Mission, which serves men, women and children, the Russian priests’ clients are all men. Father Kondratyev and Father Goncharov said the age range is from 19 to 30 years old; most are addicted to heroin.

The Rescue Mission houses, counsels, educates and feeds people who are homeless, jobless or chemical dependent, to name a few of the problems, and helps them become productive.

The Russian programs focus solely on drug rehabilitation and are located in remote places. Father Kondratyev’s program is based at his monastery. Those in the rehab program have chores in the monastery’s gardens and farm and tend to beehives. He said film therapy is used: presenting various problems and situations and then having clients talk about how to deal with them and solve problems.

Father Goncharov said he uses a 12-step Christian-based program. “It’s important that they talk about their problems and not repress them,” he said. “There’s no single method for treatment of drug addiction.”

The priests said they wanted to see American rehab centers in action and learn about treatment methods they could use.

Ellen Smith, a Presbyterian Church USA missionary, and Jeff Koning, a former Ellsworth resident and a missionary in Russia, served as translators. Smith happened to meet the Rev. David Joachim, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Boardman, when he was on a mission trip to Russian orphanages. When Father Kondratyev and Father Goncharov discussed visiting the United States to learn about various drug rehabilitation programs, Smith asked the Rev. Mr. Joachim for ideas, and he suggested the Rescue Mission. Mr. Joachim was the group’s guide in the Valley.

Smith, who has lived in Russia since 2001, sets up conferences in Russia on topics such as HIV/AIDS and drug rehabilitation. In her work, Smith met Father Kondratyev and Father Goncharov.

Smith said she coordinates partnerships between Russian and American churches; “sister church projects,” Smith said.

The priests and Smith arrived in the United States on Dec. 3 and will return to Russia on Thursday. They’ve visited rehab centers in Norfolk, Ky., and Pittsburgh, and a private rehab facility in Austin, Texas. In Youngstown, the group also visited the Needle’s Eye Christian Counseling and Tutorial Center.