“Steps toward a Conflict-Free World”

The program began on February 3, when the group visited the Martha and Mary Convent, which is connected to the Russian Orthodox Church, and participated in a volunteer project called Traditional Lunch. Margarita Bavrina, a Mister and Miss University pageant contestant, wrote about the convent: “This is an extraordinary place full of compassion, mercy and kindness. These feelings penetrate one’s soul and leave a noticeable trace there. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to visit this place and learn about the life course of the monastery’s founder [Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna]. The extraordinary atmosphere and the people who work there for the benefit of others inspire everyone with their high inner spirit.”