Consecration of Russia's first orphanage for girls to be held on Saturday

On Saturday the St. Nicholas nunnery in Maloyaroslavets (the Kaluga region, European Russia's centre) will see the consecration and opening ceremony of Otrada (Consolation) the first orphanage for girls in Russia.

Russian President's Special Envoy in the Central Federal District Georgy Poltavchenko will take part in the celebrations, the Mediasoyuz guild of religious journalists told RIA Novosti.

Archbishop Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk will consecrate the orphanage founded by the Kaluga eparchy.

The Otrada orphanage is a charity educational institution for orphan girls who lost their parents, suffer from drug addiction and alcoholism or got into extreme situations.

Today 60 girls aged 3-16 live in the orphanage. Their psychological and physical condition won't let them study in common schools. Therefore, nuns having professional pedagogical, medical, musical and art training will teach the girls. The girls will undergo attestation each term.

In addition to school programme, the girls will study drawing and church signing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the girls during Christmas holidays-2002. Girls performed a traditional Russian Christmas holiday for the head of state.