A cooperation agreement was signed between the Nizhny Novgorod diocese and the Main Directorate of the Federal Bailiff Service for the Nizhny Novgorod Region

Text by Daria Petrova. Photo by Nikolay Rakhmatulin

On April 25, at the Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary, a meeting was held between Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas with the leadership and employees of the Main Directorate of the Federal Bailiff Service (GU FSSP) for the Nizhny Novgorod region. The event was attended by the head of the regional Main Directorate of the FSSP – the chief bailiff of the Nizhny Novgorod region Alexander Yudin, the vicar of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese Bishop Innokenty of Sormovsk, the head of the diocesan department for interaction with the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies Archpriest Alexander Malafeev, deans of the diocese districts, as well as the heads of the regional departments of the FSSP.

At the beginning of the meeting, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Nizhny Novgorod diocese and the regional State Administration of the FSSP. The document was signed by Metropolitan Georgy and Alexander Yudin.

Then, addressing the audience, the diocese administrator said: “We understand what serious work you are doing. One of its directions is the collection of funds for the maintenance of children from parents who, for some reason, do not fulfill their obligations to provide financial support for their children. Communicating with the leadership of the Main Directorate of the Federal Bailiff Service, we expressed our desire to provide you with all possible assistance, which is expressed in the priests conducting conversations with those who do not pay alimony. In addition, we are ready to provide spiritual guidance and support to the employees of the Main Directorate, since your work involves a colossal moral burden.”

Alexander Yudin in his speech said that over the past year, Nizhny Novgorod bailiffs had more than 31 thousand documents on the collection of alimony. During the first quarter of this year, over 280 million rubles were collected from defaulters. Currently, 7,630 men and 2,808 women are debtors for alimony. More than 1,400 people are hiding from paying alimony and are wanted.

Recently, clergy of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese have been involved in working with alimony defaulters. Thus, priests took part in 16 meetings with citizens evading child support. One of the debtors, after a conversation with the clergyman, fully paid the alimony debt, which exceeded 200 thousand rubles.

Archpriest Alexander Malafeev made a report on the interaction between the Nizhny Novgorod diocese and the regional State Administration of the FSSP. He noted that currently, in all deaneries, cooperation has been established between the clergy and FSSP employees. Clergy of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese participate in festive events dedicated to memorable dates associated with the activities of bailiffs. Priests are invited to consecrate work premises and perform prayer services. Meetings of clerics with employees of the regional State Administration of the FSSP are taking place.

On February 21 of this year, a new tradition was introduced – holding a prayer service with the participation of FSSP employees on the day of remembrance of their heavenly patron, the Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates.

During the meeting, employees of the regional Main Directorate of the FSSP told the head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis in more detail about their work, including with spouses who have divorced or are in the process of divorce, as a result of which the child suffers.

As the conversation participants repeatedly noted, it is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual claims against former spouses that are the reason that a person refuses to pay alimony.

Alexander Yudin voiced a proposal to conduct free consultations by FSSP employees for parishioners of churches who have legal questions, for example, what to do if it is not possible to pay credit institutions.

At the end of the meeting, Metropolitan Georgy thanked everyone for their participation and wished God’s help.

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