On January 15, 2026, the St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University of Humanities hosted the third annual Christmas reception organized by the Christian Mercy Charitable Foundation. The event was attended by Stanislav Prokofiev, Rector of the Financial University and Member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, along with Ekaterina Kameneva, Vice-Rector for Educational and Methodological Work at the Financial University and Member of the Foundation’s Coordinating Council.
Guests of the reception included benefactors of the Foundation, government and political figures, clergy, as well as representatives from the scientific, educational, and cultural communities.
The Christian Mercy Foundation provides humanitarian support to members of the Russian Armed Forces involved in the special military operation, to civilians and parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church affected by the conflict, and to the families of servicemen participating in the operation. It also works to improve medical care in hospitals and healthcare facilities in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, alongside spiritual, social, and psychological support for military personnel. The Foundation is chaired by Sergey Stepasin, an alumnus of the Financial University.
The Foundation also partners with the International Movement for Financial Security, implementing a joint educational project titled “HERITAGE: Guiding Principles for the Future”, a collaboration between the Financial University and the Sretensky Theological Academy. The project launched at the Financial University on January 22, 2025, and within a year, over 2,000 students—children of participants in the special military operation, college students, and university students—have taken part, potentially joining the International Movement for Financial Security.
During the reception, a ceremonial award presentation recognized the most active participants and partners of the Foundation for their significant contributions to humanitarian aid for military personnel involved in the conflict, as well as civilians affected by the military operations in Donbas. These awards also honored compassion, responsiveness, and active civic engagement.
The event concluded with a performance by the chamber orchestra “Camerata Komitas”.
