Moscow’s Pregnant Women Receive Letters From Patriarch Kirill Urging Them Against Abortion

In Moscow, pregnant women have begun receiving letters from the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill encouraging childbirth. The initiative was organized by the "Hello, Mom!" project , which involves 16 regions of Russia.

Russian State media RIA Novosti reported this on November 2.

The primary goal of these letters is to persuade women not to have an abortion, and this is openly acknowledged. Natalia Moskvitina, the “Hello, Mom!“ project leader, says that many women who come to the Church Hospital of St. Alexis have previously been encouraged to terminate their pregnancies, either by family members or other institutions. However, at St. Alexis Hospital, this option is never suggested.

"Women received letters from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill during their gynecologist appointments at the Church Hospital of St. Alexis in Moscow. These letters aim to support women during a particularly vulnerable time—the early stages of pregnancy," said Moskvitina in a statement to RIA Novosti.

According to her, many women who visit St. Alexis Hospital have previously been advised to consider abortion at other facilities or faced pressure from family members.

"Mothers often come seeking a second opinion—either because they have doubts themselves or want more information about their pregnancy. At St. Alexis Hospital, abortion is never suggested. Instead, staff strive to provide care and help women view their pregnancy objectively," she said.

In the letter, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church wishes mothers "good health, peace of mind, and many blessings from Christ, the Giver of Life."

Similar letters are planned to be distributed to women in other hospitals across 16 regions of the country.

Previously, the Russian government introduced a program to increase the nation's birthrate, which has declined by a third since the 2014 annexation of Crimea and hit its lowest level in modern history this year.