Effective Practices of Religiously Motivated Social Activity

The article presents a review of the development of social service of the Russian Orthodox Church, with a particular focus on the implementation of public-church initiatives spearheaded at the present stage by believers, laymen and priests. These projects have assumed a pioneering role in many domains of humanitarian endeavor in Russia, with some even serving as templates for the establishment of similar public services. Certain leaders of church-affiliated nonprofit organizations have become able to exert influence over state decisions to provide assistance to those in need. The article offers a historical overview of the evolution of the Church's compassionate service in Russia at the present stage. It concludes that there has been a notable increase in the significance of religious motivation in the organization of social activities and the emergence of numerous effective projects initiated by the Russian Orthodox Church and public and church social initiatives.