On May 1st, while the world welcomed spring with traditional festivities, a heartwarming event in Munich brought a deeper sense of purpose to the day. Now in its fourth year, the Teplyi Dom by Anya initiative, founded by Anna Stukkert, once again created a vibrant space of care, creativity, and connection for the city’s elderly residents.
Backed by the passionate efforts of Klara Pecherskaya, Tatyana Sazonova, and Lyudmila Sipilina, this year’s gathering transcended a typical celebration — becoming a heartfelt reminder of the power of love and community.
One of the most moving parts of the day was the premiere of Hallelujah of Love, an original theatrical work written and directed by Odesa-based artist Tatyana Sazonova. Through a symbolic narrative of redemption, the play follows the transformation of darkness into light, as love ultimately conquers evil. Gencho Todorov portrayed Satan with haunting intensity, while Nadezhda Kravchenko embodied Love with grace and compassion. The show’s climax — when the Angel, played by Aurelia Todorova, gifts Satan a red heart painting and he becomes human — brought many in the audience to tears, heightened by the emotional strains of the opera Juno and Avos. 
The program also featured soulful performances by singers Anna Derevianko and Anna Brandt, who generously volunteered their talents for the day.
Beyond the stage, the atmosphere was filled with joy: guests shared grilled food, live music, poetry, and dance. A standout moment came from Alexandra Zalevskaya, who performed an uplifting wheelchair dance titled Keep Going and Never Give Up, radiating resilience and hope.
In a touching new chapter for the initiative, the seniors themselves launched a fundraiser to support Ukrainian orphans — a powerful gesture of intergenerational compassion that captured the spirit of the day.
Teplyi Dom by Anya remains a beacon of empathy and solidarity. Welcoming all who believe in the healing force of kindness, it continues to shine as a testament to how love can light the way forward — even in challenging times.
As the organizers beautifully remind us:
This is only the beginning.
