Tbilisi, August 1, 2017
Monk
Andrew. Photo: tbilisi.media
Construction has begun in Tbilisi on Georgia’s first
rehabilitation-hotel center for children with cancer. The new center,
“House of Happiness,” is being built on the initiative of the Monk
Andrew Fund, with the support of the Ministry of the Economy and the
Sustainable Development of Georgia, reports
Tbilisi
Week.
The center will house 20
children with their parents, with round-the-clock supervision, beginning
in the summer of 2019. The daytime department will also be able to
accommodate 50 children
a day for medical assistance, rehabilitation, and communication with
peers. The center is mainly designed for children from poor families
from various regions of the country.
“Studies have shown that
the House of Happiness is essential not only for sick children, but also
for their parents. It is very important that we offer children and
their parents training
and rehabilitation workshops in our center, which will allow parents to
find employment, and children to gain additional skills,” said Tinatin
Chkhvimiani, the founder of the Monk Andrew Fund.
An area of 70,000 sq. ft. is being developed for the center with donated means.
Photo:
tbilisi.media
The Monk Andrew Fund was founded in 2012, mainly to care for children
with cancer and their families, providing them with the necessary
treatment and rehabilitation, housing during rehab, and
transportation—all completely free.
Monk Andrew (Milorava) had
lived in monastic tonsure for just four months before passing away from
a soft tissue tumor at the age of 17. His tonsure took place in the
hospital where he
spent the last months of his earthly life.
Before his repose, Monk
Andrew composed a stirring last will and testament in which he asked
forgiveness of anyone he may have hurt, and encouraged all to live
fervent Orthodox lives, regularly
praying and attending Church services, and partaking of Holy Communion
with due preparation. In conclusion, he wrote, “Obey the commandments of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and may the protection of the Mother of God
always be upon you. Amen.”
Before death, he took an
oath from his mother that she would not leave the other sick children in
the neighboring rooms. To help these children, his parents Nestor
Milorava and Tinatin
Chkhvimiani created the fund in honor of their departed son.
His mother recalls how he
began attending church and singing in the choir from the age of 10. He
had a desire to enter the monastic life from sixth grade. He was often
seen crossing myself,
whenever he saw or thought something unworthy. He was diagnosed with his
disease at the age of 16. He told his parents that his guardian angel
had already informed him of it.
Monk
Andrew. Photo: tbilisi.media
His spiritual father visited him and blessed him to receive the monastic
tonsure, which took place in the hospital on April 17. After his
tonsure he prayed constantly, refusing to watch TV. Many other children
came to him, asking his prayers. Three days before
his repose, he told his mother, “Mama, I’m already not here,” and he
awaited his final breath with joy, that others would no longer be
burdened by him.
Monk Andrew departed to
the Lord on July 28. His last words were: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of
God, have mercy on me, a sinner, Monk Andrew!” A little while later he
gasped three times and departed with a joyous
countenance.
“I met all of this with
complete peace of soul,” his mother writes, “and now I live only to care
for the children who remain in the hospital, thus fulfilling my vow to
my son. I always
feel a connection with my son and receive great consolation.”
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