Update on Adoptive Child in Russian Orphanage

—Several months ago, Mrs. Arlene Kallaur, director of the Orthodox Church in America’s Office of Humanitarian Aid, an agency which works closely with the Orthodox Christian Adoption Referral Service [OCARS], announced the search for adoptive parents for a four-year-old Russian boy named Pavel “Pasha” Kurov.

Pavel, whom Mrs. Kallaur described as “a bright, friendly little boy,” was abandoned at the age of 2 years, 3 months at the Ryazan Baby Home in the Ryazan region of Russia on June 26, 2001. Because he has a rare neurological condition—sacral agenesis—that affects his lower spine and legs, his future in the Russian orphanage system is bleak. Pasha is incontinent, but he is quite mobile and can walk with an awkward gait, and his primary need is long-term physiotherapy.

Since Mrs. Kallaur’s announcement, several families have enquired about adopting Pasha.

In mid-July 2004, Mrs. Kallaur learned that Pasha had been moved to another orphanage due to his age.

“Russian ‘baby homes’ only serve children four years of age and younger,” said Mrs. Kallaur. “Pasha is now five, and this point we do not know where he has been sent.”

Mrs. Kallaur said that official enquiries are being made to find Pasha, adding that those who expressed an interest in adopting him will be kept informed as to the progress being made on locating him.

For additional information on Pasha’s case, or for information on prospective adoptions and the work of OCARS, please contact Mrs. Kallaur by calling the OCA Office of Humanitarian Aid at 516-922-0550, Ext. 126 or by sending an e-mail to = 0)out += decodeURIComponent(l[i].replace(/^\s\s*/, '&#'));while (--j >= 0)if (el[j].getAttribute('data-eeEncEmail_ZyCWcMjoMv'))el[j].innerHTML = out;/*]]>*/">.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).