As part of the project “Heroes of Silence”—a series of articles about people who have dedicated their lives to helping others—we share the story of Priest Andrey Mnatsaganov. The head of the prison ministry department for the Diocese of Rostov-on-Don organized a rehabilitation center for former prisoners in his own two-story house. The building, which he once constructed to be a store, has been welcoming those who have nowhere to go after their release for 15 years.
Before his church service, Father Andrey was a successful entrepreneur. “I had achieved success, I had many clients, people treated me with respect. But I lost interest in my profession. At some point, I felt like an outsider,” he recalls.
By that time, he already had everything: a house, an apartment, cars. It was then that he realized there was no higher purpose in his life and that he needed to change something. After becoming a priest, Father Andrey decided to organize a House of Mercy for the socialization of former prisoners. “I thought there would be a store, a warehouse, a sales floor here. But when I was ordained, I understood—there wouldn’t be a store anymore. My children aren’t inclined toward that line of work, and there was no one else to do it. I consecrated the building, and it stood there, waiting for its time.”
That time came in 2010, when Father Andrey was assigned to serve in correctional colonies. While talking with prisoners, he realized: the biggest problem for people in places of detention is their future. Upon release, a person often loses their social connections; such people simply have nowhere to go. “They need at least the first week somewhere to adapt, just to sit, holding their head in their hands, so that no one bothers them,” the priest explains.
The Decisive Incident
The turning point was the story of one former prisoner who confessed to Father Andrey that after his release, finding himself in a hopeless situation, he decided to commit a crime: he was stalking a woman to rob her. “She was already approaching, and I remembered you. Something inside me turned over, I cried and stepped aside,” the man told the priest.
After this, Father Andrey opened the doors of his home to everyone in need of help. Over 15 years, more than four and a half thousand people have passed through the rehabilitation center. Some lived there for months, restoring documents and getting registered. Others stayed for a few days on their way home. One resident, a former candidate of medical sciences (PhD equivalent), has lived in the house for all 15 years; since his first days after release, he has served in the Church and provides psychological support to former prisoners as much as he can.
At the beginning of his journey, the priest faced misunderstanding: neighbors were afraid of the former prisoners and condemned his decision. He even had to go through court, contesting accusations of illegal activity. But nothing made him stray from his chosen path.
When asked how he chooses whom to help, Father Andrey replies: “I don’t choose. I have no right to choose. Everyone is here for me: Muslims and Orthodox, believers and non-believers. There is only one criterion—my long-suffering patience. If a person systematically breaks the rules, I part ways with them. Unfortunately, I even had to throw out a man in a wheelchair once.”
Commenting on his ministry, Father Andrey emphasizes that caring for those leaving places of detention is about the safety of society. By helping a released person become a full-fledged citizen, he protects the community from a potential criminal. “I had the opportunity, and I made use of it. If I hadn’t helped these people and they had committed more crimes—the responsibility would have been on me. There is no choice here,” summarizes Priest Andrey Mnatsaganov.
