Freezing temperatures hit homeless on Moscow streets
SHOTLIST
1. Mid of volunteer praying outside Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in Putinki
2. Mid of group of homeless people behind fence
3. Mid of food being served
4. Wide of homeless people queuing
5. Close-up of people waiting
6. Mid of food being handed out
7. Wide of people receiving food near church
8. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Valery, volunteer:
Every day at three o'clock (1100 GMT) a small club gathers here. At any other time of the year, on the other days everything is different. But our cooks cook very well, so everybody is always satisfied.
9. Tilt up of man in shorts receiving food
10. Mid of food being handed out
11. Various of people eating
12. Wide of Tverskaya street
13. Close-up of screen in street showing -16 (Celsius) temperature
14. Wide of people in street
15. Wide of Red Square, Christmas tree
16. Wide of Red Square and St. Basil's cathedral
17. Close-up of ice on Moscow river
18. Wide of river, Kremlin Wall and Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
STORYLINE
With freezing temperatures dropping as low as minus 26 degrees Celsius at night, homeless people are some of the most vulnerable in Russia's capital Moscow.
Some of those in need go to an Orthodox church where hot food is provided by a group of volunteers.
It is usually a bowl soup with rolls and a cup of hot tea.
Valery, one of the volunteers, said the the cold weather usually brings more homeless people to their food facility.
At any other time of the year, on the other days everything is different, he said.
Our cooks cook very well, so everybody is always satisfied, he added.
There have been a number of deaths throughout Russia recently, due the freezing temperatures.
Since temperatures plunged below minus 18 degrees Celsius in Moscow and minus 50 degrees in Siberia, local media has reported that more than 50 people have died from weather-related illnesses.
During the cold snap, 722 people have been injured, 371 have been hospitalised and 56 have died, RIA-Novosti reported, citing hypothermia and frostbite as among the most common weather-related illnesses.
The Emergency Situations Ministry issued warnings to residents of 15 Russian regions, including Kamchatka, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Irkutsk and the Khanty-Mansiisk autonomous district, where the cold has also disrupted energy supplies.
Freezing temperatures are said to have even affected typically warm regions.
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In thy Dormition thou didst not forsake the World, (O Theotokos): Russian Orthodox
In Thy Dormition consists of selected chants, performed during the service devoted to celebration of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. This feast day is hallowed by the Russian Orthodox church on the 28th of August according to the julian calendar. In the Greek Orthodox Church it is celebrated on August 15th because it follows the Gregorian calendar.
The recording is comprised both of ancient Orthodox monastery chants, as well as of part songs by secular composers, written for the church and performed by the Moscow Putinki church choir. It represents an example of how a group of professional and amateur singers are able to lead the listener to understanding of what the prayer for the Orthodox Christian is.
Content
01. Introductory Psalm chant of St Michaels Hermitage 03:57
02. Blessed is the Man (Kievan chant) 02:59
03. Stanza for - Lord I have cried 01:52
04. Praise ye the name of the Lord 02:36
05. Hymn of Degrees from my Youth (old chant) 01:47
06. Hymn of Light (from the service of the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God) 01:26
07. O Victorious Leader (Kontakion, tone 8, Chant of the Laura of the Caves in Kiev) 01:25
08. Bless the Lord O My Soul 02:26
09. Praise the Lord O My Soul 02:00
10. Come Let us Worship 00:42
11. Troparion to the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God (Chant of the Laura of the Caves in Kiev) 00:49
12. Kontakion to the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God (tone 2) 01:54
13. The Thrice-Holy 02:00
14. The Cherubic Hymn (from manuscript notes) 04:01
15. A Mercy of Peace 05:41
16. It is Truly Meet 01:51
17. Communion Verse of the feast of the Mother of God 02:44