Penza, 15 April 2016. PenzaNews. The first three trees have been planted at the future therapeutic garden of “House of Veronika,” a soon-to-be-built active residence center for young people with disabilities in Penza.

© PenzaNewsBuy the photo

During the official milestone ceremony on Friday, April 15, which took place at the future location of the center in the isagoge grounds of the Church of the Holy Mother of God on Permskaya street, 2A, the Archbishop Serafim of Penza and Nizhny Novgorod made a crucession around the construction area, after which the Archbishop blessed the location that will soon become home to a group of young people with disabilities.

In his address to the people who gathered at the ceremony, the Archbishop Serafim stressed that the center will provide help to those in need, and reminded of the story behind the name of the center – the Biblical story of Saint Veronika (Veronica), who gave her veil to Jesus on His way along the Via Dolorosa.

“I wish the God’s help to Maria Alexeevna [Maria Lvova-Belova, chairman of the Penza civil organization ‘Blagovest,’ director of ‘Kvartal Louie’] in building the house as soon as possible. First of all, I promise full support on my part, as far as we can and are able to do,” said the Archbishop, and presented an icon of Saint Veronika to the young people who will soon reside at the center.

The first trees were planted by the Archbishop Serafim; Andrei Timofeev, the “House of Veronika” project designer; Valery Otopkov, one of the center’s future residents; and Maria Lvova-Belova.

“House of Veronika” will be designed for 10 residents, and feature a hangar with a photo and video studio, a mini-cafe and craft workshops with equipment that was already imported from Germany. Moreover, the “House of Veronika” grounds will include a mini-farm and a therapeutic garden.

“We will develop an individual program for every child, even if he or she can move only a single finger, to make him demanded, to help him live actively,” Maria Lvova-Belova explained.

All future residents of the center are graduates of the Nizhny Lomov orphanage, she pointed out.

The tenth resident was approved only on the day’s morning, she explained.

“She is a girl, [her name is] Veronica. Her mental state is very complicated. We took a very long time to consider it – whether we would be able to do that or not. But then we decided: since this is a ‘House of Veronika,’ then we simply must take her in,” Maria Lvova-Belova stressed.

According to her, “House of Veronika” still needs 10 million rubles more to be completed.

“We are involving people, asking them for help, because we can build it only together. We would be unable to do that alone and just on our own,” she clarified.

The construction workers will begin laying the foundation for the future center on Monday, April 18.