House of Love and labor, brighton beach NY

“God, give us Grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change things, which should be changed and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.” (Abstract from Serenity Prayer)

  Several years ago my father passed away when he just turned 53.  Unfortunately he was one among many who experienced alcoholic addiction for the last twenty years. Although my parents were divorced when I was a child, his death still left me with a lot of pain and questions to him and myself. The House of Love and Labor, located in Brighton Beach in Brooklyn is a refuge for the homeless, mostly for eastern European male immigrants who found themselves being highly dependent on alcohol and drugs. The Founder and Manager of St. John’s House Father Vadim Arefiev, in 2004 decided to build this house after seeing how on the famous Brighton Beach Boardwalk his compatriots, having reached the ends of their ropes, were dying. Today the House founded by St. John Give Hope Foundation with the help of Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Parishes in the US has transformed the House into a tiny Orthodox chapel with all the basic accouterments. This place is neither shelter nor medical center or church. It is unique House helping people to find courage, hope, support and humility. After detox, anyone who wants to become a part of the House, can stay there for at least seven months. Today in the House there are nine people who are taking a 7-month rehabilitation. Everyday they have established schedule, including work in the House, attendance the AA meetings and Saturday praying services. For the last couple of years around thirty percent of the ‘graduates’ successfully returmed to normal life.