The Orthodox Sanctuary of Mercy Named After St. Sergius of Radonezh

The Orthodox Sanctuary of Mercy named after St. Sergius of Radonezh serves as a social protection center of the Kazakhstani Metropolitan District and is located in the village of Tuimebayeva, Ili District. The Sanctuary of Mercy includes a private institution—the Solnyshko Center for Child Support, which provides specialized social services to children in need, and a social assistance department for the elderly and disabled affiliated with the charitable corporate foundation Radonezh. Established in 1991 and reorganized in 2014, the sanctuary currently supports 40 children at the Solnyshko Child Support Center and 65 residents in the home for the elderly.

The Solnyshko Center comprises six interconnected buildings housing 12 bedrooms, five classrooms for homework, a sensory relaxation room, an assembly hall, dance and fitness rooms, a dining area, library, computer room, robotics lab, YouTube studio, sewing workshop, medical suite, and offices for psychologists and educators. The outdoor area includes a playground, football field, gymnastics complex, and separate buildings for the gym and bath-laundry complex. All facilities are equipped with modern technology and amenities. The institution has storage facilities, a large plot of land, a garden, a vegetable patch, an autonomous gas boiler, and its own water supply.

The Sanctuary of Mercy is managed under the patronage of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and is directed by Archpriest Vyacheslav Pugachev, chairman of the Kazakhstani Metropolitan District’s Charitable and Social Service Commission.

Metropolitan Alexander frequently visits the Sanctuary of Mercy, providing it with ongoing attention and care. He personally congratulates the children on major Orthodox and national holidays. Large charity events are held at the Solnyshko Center on Christmas, Easter, and New Year with the metropolitan personally presenting gifts and spending time with the children. On June 1, 2015, International Children’s Day, the Head of the Kazakhstani Metropolitan District blessed a modern playground at the Solnyshko Center, constructed as part of extensive renovation efforts. The playground was funded through donations from benefactors and the contributions of Orthodox residents of Almaty.

The Solnyshko Center, established by the Radonezh Charitable Corporate Foundation, is a non-profit organization and operates on donations from individuals and organizations. Children of various ages, from 4 to 18, reside at Solnyshko, attending local schools and colleges. After school, they help in the garden and on the grounds, learning additional skills in various workshops and specialized classes. Thanks to support from sponsors and volunteers, the children live in bright, spacious rooms equipped with everything needed for a comfortable life outside a family setting.

All those under the sanctuary’s care receive qualified, comprehensive assistance—spiritual, medical, psychological, and legal support, while the children receive both education and moral guidance. The staff includes teachers with higher and specialized secondary education, and the children’s home also offers psychological and medical services.

The Sanctuary of Mercy is overseen daily by dedicated specialists: Priest Andrey Raspopin; Chairwoman of the Solnyshko Center Board of Trustees Irina Georgievna Smirnova; Solnyshko Director Denis Alexandrovich Lochukov; Deputy Director for Academic Work Galina Alibekovna Solntseva; Deputy Director for Educational Work Natalia Vladimirovna Zabrovskaya; and psychologist and educator Ivan Viktorovich Alekseev.

Education System

The foremost goal for the children at the Solnyshko Child Support Center is their spiritual development. Secondly, fostering a love for hard work. And thirdly, teaching them to take responsibility for themselves and others.

The center has established a system designed to shield children from the imperfections of the outside world. Internet access is only allowed under a mentor’s supervision and primarily for educational purposes. Modern devices are used under continuous oversight to protect against the negative and dangerous influences present online.

The educational system emphasizes the spiritual and moral development of children: cultivating loyalty, compassion, responsiveness, and practical skills. All children at Solnyshko learn to care for the garden and animals. Each year, they harvest crops they’ve grown themselves, and sitting down to a meal with the fruits of their own labor brings them great joy.

At Solnyshko, there are no separate activities for children and adults—everything is done together, like in any good family. Together they prepare food for the winter, tend the garden, participate in plays, sing, and recite poetry.

The children learn, work, and engage in creativity. The center has a theater club where they can explore acting. Several times a year—on Christmas, Victory Day, Children’s Day, and Easter—new performances are staged. Numerous volunteers visit Solnyshko to help with the children’s artistic development.

Another focus of the center is culture and sports. The boys are raised to be courageous, strong, and noble. The center’s Kaharman Club provides military training for boys, and all children participate in sports and general physical conditioning. The children themselves earned the funds to build a modern, well-equipped sports field by creating and selling paintings, with proceeds directed by Sberbank, one of Solnyshko’s benefactors, toward the construction of a gymnastics area.

Future Plans

After 9th grade, the center strives to ensure that each child gains a profession. Almost all continue to colleges, with children and caregivers jointly selecting a career path. Emphasis is placed on choosing a profession that will allow them to support themselves, with practical skills that can secure a stable income.

Medical Care

The Sanctuary of Mercy has experienced doctors and paramedics who provide continuous care. Much is done to ensure the children’s health. The child support center includes two isolation rooms, a procedure room, an admissions area, and a sanitation room to meet their medical needs.

Mentors

The Solnyshko Child Support Center is staffed by extraordinary and dedicated individuals. They are professionals of the highest caliber—talented, responsible, and highly experienced. Their shared defining quality is their ability to love children, giving them their time and energy.

Priest Andrey Raspopin holds a higher degree in education. He is a specialist in therapeutic physical education, a speech therapist-defectologist, and has a specialized medical education. Father Andrey is the organizer and visionary behind most of the cultural events at Solnyshko, including all theatrical performances.

Irina Georgievna Smirnova, Chairwoman of the Solnyshko Center’s Board of Trustees, holds a degree in physics from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. With over 30 years of experience in education, including 17 years in administrative roles, Irina was instrumental in establishing Solnyshko in 2014, ensuring a smooth transition for children moving from a previous shelter. She is a responsible, unifying presence for both children and adults, and a deeply caring mentor and educator.

Denis Alexandrovich Lochukov, Director of the Solnyshko Center, holds a degree in education. A retired major, he graduated from the Border Guard Academy and holds a civilian degree in meteorology. He has been with the center since December 2013, initially as a senior educator for boys, then as Deputy Director in 2014, and became Director in 2023. Denis is deeply committed to the children, knows how to organize activities, and sets a great example of responsibility and hard work, embodying qualities that he aims to instill in young boys.

Galina Alibekovna Solntseva, Deputy Director for Academic Affairs, holds a degree in biology and chemistry. She has been with Solnyshko since November 2015, overseeing the girls’ section and academic activities, and coordinating with schools and colleges. Galina understands the qualities young girls should develop—purity, modesty, and neatness—and works with colleagues to nurture future caring mothers and skilled homemakers.

Natalia Vladimirovna Zabrovskaya, Deputy Director for Student Affairs, is trained as a teacher of Russian language and literature. Since joining in 2016, she has organized cultural events and earned the respect of the children for her ability to lead and engage large groups. She also manages relations with sponsors and benefactors.

Ivan Viktorovich Alekseev holds a degree in psychology and education and has been at Solnyshko since August 2015. He assists with the adaptation of new residents, provides psychological support, and addresses the educational needs of children.

Visitors to the Solnyshko Center often remark on the friendly, family-like atmosphere and the absence of the heavy feeling that typically accompanies similar institutions.