Military Town church rector Archpriest A. Kocherin
The Holy Transfiguration Church of Military and Samanna (lit. Adobe) Town, which was consecrated in 1921 and dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord, has been built due to the efforts and the donations made by the local inhabitants.
Adjoined to the church is also a commission for adornment and maintenance of the church building, which also functions as a charity providing help to the poor Russian people.
The rector of the church is Archpriest Fr Alexander Kocherin, the protodeacon is Fr A. Petropavlovsky and the churchwarden is V. S. Yazichkov. The Parish Council consists of S. Ch. Garle, V. V. Arhipov, M. K. Ciplyakin and N. V. Pehterev. The president of the revision committee is V. M. Vitalisov.
general view of the Hospice
In Military Town for three years now functions the diocesan Hospice named after Metropolitan Methodius.
The establishment of the Hospice, if we may say so, was forced by the circumstances. In 1929, the political storm in Northern Manchuria brought many Russian refugees from the Western line of the Chinese Eastern Railway to Harbin. Thus a need came about to take care of them all, give them shelter, clothes and food. The Hospice then began to shelter around 300 people and provided them with necessary assistance. Soon after, many other refugees started to arrive. That way, around 600 people took refuge in the hospice. The Diocesan Council, the Diocesan Charity Committee, as well as different private persons raised the necessary funds for them.
Mitred Archpriest M. Filologov
At present, the Hospice houses more than 100 people. All of them live in good conditions.
However, the Shelter can continue its work at this extent only by the support of the entire Harbin society. The Hospice doesn't receive any subsidies, and all of its hopes lies entirely in the Russian people. The founders and the directors of "Metropolitan Methodius" Hospice rely on their donations. This support is also awaited by the poor and the children.
The Hospice with the passing of each year becomes ever larger. So, now within the Hospice a carpenter's and a shoemaking workshop were opened, iconography studio is being organized, there is a pharmacy, and beside this, the protégées during summer work in the orchard, the garden and the flower house.
The children attend school in Military Town, and the older ones go to the city high schools.