Social Service of Russian Orthodox Church at the end of XIXth - beginning of XXth century (based on example of Ryazan Diocese)
The significant amount of unsolved social problems existing in modern Russian society and active support provided by Russian Orthodox Church to the state in order to coupe with them determinate the importance and actuality of clerical social service. In the frame of the Article the Author analyses the influence of Russian Orthodox Church on culture of Russian society; systematizes different historical material on contents and organization of social service in the diocese, which allowed to obtain general imagination of the position of clerical social service in Russia in general and socio-historical role of the diocese in social problems’ solution in the society. According to the Author’s opinion social service of Russian Orthodox Church, particularly in emergency situations dealed with disasters and wars, represented unique type of social support to population. The character of state and religious cooperation in different historical periods defined the scale of social competence of the clergy as social group; the level of closeness and alienation of church and the state influenced on formation of different directions, types and forms of social service of Russian Orthodox Church (including the diocese level). Recommendations concerning the importance of observance of competence-based borders between the state and Russian Orthodox Church in choosing areas and types of social activities are formulated.