The social concept of the ROC about marriage. On the foundations of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church

This document, adopted by the Consecrated Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, sets out the basic provisions of her teaching on issues of church-state relations and on a number of contemporary socially significant problems. The document also reflects the official position of the Moscow Patriarchate in the sphere of relations with the state and secular society. In addition, it lays down a number of guiding principles applied in this area by the episcopate, the clergy and the laity.

The nature of the document is determined by its appeal to the needs of the Plenitude of the Russian Orthodox Church during a long historical period in the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate and beyond it. Therefore, its main subject is fundamental theological and church-social issues, as well as those aspects of the life of states and societies that were and remain equally relevant for the entire Church Plenitude at the end of the 20th century and in the near future.

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Fundamentals of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church are called upon to serve as a guide for Synodal institutions, dioceses, monasteries, parishes and other canonical ecclesiastical institutions in their relations with state power, various secular associations and organizations, non-church means mass media.

On the basis of this document, the Church Hierarchy adopts definitions on various issues, the relevance of which is limited to the framework of individual states or a narrow time period, as well as a rather specific subject of consideration. The document is included in the educational process in theological schools of the Moscow Patriarchate.

As the state and public life, the emergence in this area of ​​new problems significant for the Church, the foundations of its social concept can be developed and improved. The results of this process are approved by the Holy Synod, Local or Bishops' Councils.

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In August 2000, the Jubilee Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church was held in Moscow, dedicated to the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ, which, according to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', "is of particular importance, because it is called upon to outline the paths along which it will follow in the 21st century." The Council was marked by the adoption of the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" - the first official program document of this kind in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, designed to serve as a guide not only for church institutions in their relations with state power, various secular associations and organizations, but also for individual members of the Church.

The 16 sections of the Fundamentals present the attitude of the Church to various topical issues modern society. The problems of interethnic relations and patriotism are considered, the boundaries of the Church's loyalty to the state are outlined, and the conditions under which the Church refuses obedience to the state are specified. The attitude of the Church to the principle of freedom of conscience is stated, the areas of activity in which clergy and canonical church structures cannot cooperate with the state are listed. The theme of the relationship between morality and law is being developed. The position of the Church in relation to the problems of power is substantiated, while the call for cooperation of people adhering to various political views. Allowing the presence of different political beliefs among the clergy and laity, the Church does not refuse to publicly express a certain position on socially significant issues.

Moral aspects are considered labor activity and distribution of the products of labor and sets out a view of the historically established forms of property with the recognition of the right to it and the condemnation of the sinful phenomena that are possible under each of these forms. The concept of a just war is analyzed and the need for the Church to have "care for the army, educating it in the spirit of fidelity to high moral ideals" is explained. The spiritual origins of crime are pointed out, the foundations of the Church's activities to prevent crime are presented, and the attitude of the Church to the institution is determined. death penalty. Particular attention is paid to the values ​​of the Christian family, its exclusive role in the development of the individual and the question of the grounds for the dissolution of a church marriage. The attitude of the Church to such phenomena as pornography, prostitution, and the introduction of "sex education" programs in schools is explained. Issues related to the demographic crisis in the country are considered, cooperation with the state in health care, the inadmissibility of the use of occult and psychotherapeutic approaches based on the suppression of the patient's personality, problems associated with alcoholism and drug addiction are announced. The attitude to abortions, new reproductive technologies, cloning, homosexual relations, sex reassignment operations is outlined. The Orthodox point of view on the modern ecological crisis is revealed.

The article outlines the moral limitations of scientific, cultural and technological activities, the attitude of the Church towards secular education, the imposition of anti-Christian ideas on students, states the need for Christian teaching lessons in secular schools, contains the position of the Church regarding the moral irresponsibility of many media. The process of globalization, which carries the threat of spiritual and cultural expansion and total unification, is comprehensively considered. It is said about the need for a world order based on the equality of people before God, which would exclude the suppression of their will by centers of political, economic and informational influence.

Considering that the overwhelming majority of the population of Russia professes the Orthodox faith and the Church is an institution enjoying the highest confidence, it should be expected that the decisions of the Council of Bishops will have importance for the development of Russian society.

Prominent scholars took part in the "round table" devoted to the discussion of the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church". The meeting was Chief Editor journal "Sociological Research", Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Zh.T. Toshchenko and secretary of the Historical and Legal Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church, editor-in-chief of the Historical Bulletin, Hieromonk Mitrofan. Below are fragments of speeches reflecting the most important aspects of the problem under discussion.

Toshchenko Zh.T.: I propose to discuss today the following issues related to the interpretation of this most important document: 1) interaction between the Church and the state, the measure and subject of this interaction; 2) the interaction of the Church with various public institutions and movements; 3) interaction of the Church with other confessions.

Hieromonk Mitrofan: At the end of the 20th century, the Russian Orthodox Church sees as one of its tasks the close cooperation of religious and secular science in the name of solving numerous actual problems our society. With such a goal in mind, the Church is ready to take new scientific directions and developments under its auspices. The Historical and Legal Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church plans to hold a "round table" on the relationship between the state and the Church with the participation of representatives of secular and ecclesiastical science.

It should be noted that the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" is a special document in the life of the Church, which allows us to foresee new horizons for the relationship between the Church and the state.

N. Balashov (Archpriest, employee of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate): The history of the emergence of the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept" began with the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1994, when it became clear that it was no longer possible to be limited to a situational reaction to social events. The processes of secularization today are characterized by new qualities. For example, globalization is a challenge for the Church, and the answer to it should not be opportunistic. The final document appeared after 6 years.

Not all issues covered in the concept can be recognized as social, for example, bioethics. Nevertheless, these aspects of church life are addressed to society.

On the section "Church and Nation" in the commission that prepared the social concept, a discussion unfolded: within the Church there are different points of view on national problems. For some, the Orthodox faith is an attribute of the Russian national consciousness, for others, Orthodoxy is ideological in nature and is not limited to relations with God.

There were also heated debates on the "Church and State" section. There are people who believe that the monarchy is a dogma Orthodox faith. Others believe that the idea of ​​a symphony between the Church and royal power is irrelevant to the modern secularized world. It should be said about the boundaries of the loyalty of the state and the Church. Naturally, even imperfect laws are better than lawlessness. But all the same, loyalty has a clear boundary, when the state does not have the right to interfere in the affairs of the Church. Let's not forget that beyond this border Russian New Martyrs paid with their lives.

Within the Orthodox Church there are different ideas about the relationship between the Church and the state. The Church is an association, first of all, of the common faith of people who often have different views. Therefore, every believer needs to verify his position with church tradition and the Word of God, Holy Scripture. In addition, many priests began to say things that were at odds with the position of the Church. Now, with the advent of the concept, the Church can say that the statements of this or that priest are erroneous. If he adheres to ecclesiastical discipline, he must also adhere to this doctrine of the Church.

N. Balashov: Russian Orthodox social thought has influenced the Church's contemporary vision of social issues. But the sources in the work on the concept were Holy Bible, patristic creations and documents of cathedrals. Great importance had a Local Council in 1918, which was attended by famous Russian thinkers.

In social practice Catholic countries many references to church leadership documents can be found. But the situation that we have to comprehend is significantly different from that which has developed in the Catholic world. And the specificity of our social concept is due to the specifics of the Russian sociocultural situation. The Orthodox Church does not tend to be divided into a church that teaches and a church that learns. It provides more freedom for different opinions. The historical traditions of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches are different. Catholics have traditionally thought of their relationship with the state in other categories than the Orthodox.

“This document, adopted by the Consecrated Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, sets out the basic provisions of her teaching on issues of church-state relations and on a number of contemporary socially significant problems. The document also reflects the official position of the Moscow Patriarchate in the sphere of relations with the state and secular society. In addition, it lays down a number of guiding principles applied in this area by the episcopate, the clergy and the laity.

The nature of the document is determined by its appeal to the needs of the Plenitude of the Russian Orthodox Church during a long historical period in the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate and beyond it. Therefore, its main subject is fundamental theological and church-social issues, as well as those aspects of the life of states and societies that were and remain equally relevant for the entire Church Plenitude at the end of the 20th century and in the near future.

The foundations of the social concept consist of 16 sections, each of which covers a particular socially significant problem, a side of the life of the state and society:

I. Basic theological provisions

II. Church and nation

III. Church and State

IV. Christian ethics and secular law

V. Church and Politics

VI. Labor and its fruits

VII. Own

VIII. War and Peace

IX. Crime, punishment, correction

X. Issues of personal, family and public morality

XI. Health of the individual and the people

XII. Problems of bioethics

XIII. Church and environmental problems

XIV. Secular science, culture, education

XV. Church and secular media

XVI. International relationships. Problems of globalization and secularism

The material of the sections is presented in paragraphs.

Chronology of preparation

The need to develop a comprehensive concept that would reflect a general church view of the issues of church-state relations and the problems of modern society as a whole was recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the early 1990s. The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in December 1994 instructed the Holy Synod to create a working group to develop a draft of such a document with its subsequent submission for discussion by the Council (Definition "On the relationship of the Church with the state and secular society in the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate at the present time", paragraph 11) .

At the meetings of October 11, 1996 and February 17, 1997, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church approved the composition and approved the methods of work of the Synodal working group for the preparation of the draft concept. The group included bishops and clerics of the Russian Orthodox Church, professors of theological schools, employees of synodal departments - a total of 26 people. Since January 1997, working sessions began. Most of them were held in a reduced composition, that is, without members from other cities, who, however, were sent prepared draft sections for suggestions and amendments. If necessary, experts in various fields of knowledge were involved in the work. Organizational support for the activities of the group was provided by the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

About 30 meetings of the working group took place. Preliminary results preparation of the concept were discussed at the Theological Conference of the Russian Orthodox Church "Orthodox Theology on the Threshold of the Third Millennium" (February 7-9, 2000) and at the symposium "Church and Society - 2000" specially organized for this purpose, which took place in St. Danilov Monastery on June 14 2000 with the participation of about 80 representatives of various church, state and public institutions. The comments and suggestions made during these discussions were taken into account when finalizing the draft concept.

The project was considered and approved (with some amendments) at a meeting of the Holy Synod on July 19, 2000. At the same time, the document was called "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church."

The document was finally adopted at the Jubilee Council of Bishops, held in August 2000:

1. Approve the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church", outlining the basic provisions of its teachings on issues of church-state relations and on a number of contemporary socially significant problems. Consider this document as reflecting the official position of the Moscow Patriarchate in the sphere of relations with the state and secular society.

2. Synodal institutions, dioceses, monasteries, parishes and other canonical church divisions, as well as clerics and laity, should be guided by the Fundamentals of the Social Concept in their relations with state authorities, various secular associations and organizations, non-church media. take directions this document in pastoral practice associated with new phenomena in the life of society. Consider it useful for the Church Hierarchy to adopt, on the basis of this document, definitions on various more specific issues.

3. Include "Fundamentals of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" in educational process in theological schools of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Difficulties in preparing a document

According to the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev), “the task of preparing such a text turned out to be a difficult one. After all, there has never before been an official church document that would formulate and systematize the position of the Church on a wide range of issues related to the life of society, not only in the Russian Church, but also in other Autocephalous Orthodox Churches. The position of the Hierarchy on some acute issues of our time was previously expressed, but it needed to be codified. Many such questions have accumulated to which a clear ecclesiastical answer has not been given; and not all answers that were relevant in the past can be applied today.

Document value

In the matter of reunification with the Russian Church Abroad

"Fundamentals of the Social Concept" presented the response of the Russian Orthodox Church to a number of important issues of our time. Among them, an answer was also received to the question about the attitude towards the so-called "Sergianism", which made it possible for representatives of the Russian Church Abroad to begin negotiations on reunification with the Church in the Fatherland. The archpastors and pastors of ROCOR have repeatedly expressed their opinion about the positive role played by the Fundamentals of the Social Concept in the process of reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church. Thus, Bishop Evtikhiy of Domodedovo, vicar of the Moscow diocese (once Bishop of Ishim and Siberian ROCOR) stated:

The question of "Sergianism" - loyalty to secular authorities - I think, has been fully exhausted in the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept" of the Moscow Patriarchate. Indeed, rarely anywhere in the world does the Church have the opportunity to freely express her convictions before secular authorities. Even such a diplomatic speech by His Holiness the Patriarch in the European Parliament caused enough negative attitude. In Russia, this is impossible. Someone was offended and made claims to His Holiness the Patriarch for raising questions of morality and defending the right of Christians to defend morality, to be Christians and to live according to the law of God. IN European countries it causes protest, opposition. So what kind of “Sergianism” is there to talk about? .

Translations into the languages ​​of the world

English

Bulgarian

The publication in Bulgarian was prepared and implemented by the Russian Orthodox Church Compound in Sofia with the assistance of the Moscow Cultural and Business Center “House of Moscow in Sofia”. The presentation of the publication took place in Sofia on November 26, 2007.

German

Die Grundlagen der Sozialkonzeption der Russisch-Orthodoxen Kirche

Serbian

The authors of the translation: a team of translators and editors, headed by Bishop Irenaeus of Bach. Publisher: publishing house of Bač diocese "Conversation" with the financial support of the Serbian Ministry of Religious Affairs. The publication was presented in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, on March 24, and also in Novi Sad on May 20, 2007. The fundamentals of the social concept of the ROC are included in the list of compulsory literature for students of the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade.

French

• Claire Chernikina (nee Jounievy) - the first version published on the website of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church to European International Organizations;
• priest Hyacinthe Destivelle, hieromonk Alexander (Sinyakov) and Claire Chernikina - the second version published in Éditions du Cerf (see below).

Publisher: Éditions du Cerf, the largest publishing house of religious literature in France, the Scientific and Church Center "Truth". Market release: October 11, 2007. The presentation of the French translation took place in Paris on November 12-13, 2007.

Czech

Farsi

Translation authors: Researchers of the Moscow State Linguistic University. The translation was carried out at the request of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2010 and was presented on October 6, 2010 by the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Tehran at the 7th meeting of the Joint Commission for Dialogue Islam-Orthodoxy. Copies of the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" in Farsi were distributed to all participants of the meeting.

Notes

1. Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church November 29 - December 2, 1994: Documents. Reports. M., 1995.
2. Report of Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, "On the Foundations of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" at the Council of Bishops in 2000
3. Bishop Evtikhy of Domodedovo, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese: The Royal Way of Orthodoxy // Church Bulletin. - No. 4(377). (indefinite) (February 2008). Retrieved March 27, 2008. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012.

Tasks and subject of the document

“This document, adopted by the Consecrated Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, sets out the basic provisions of her teaching on issues of church-state relations and on a number of contemporary socially significant problems. The document also reflects the official position of the Moscow Patriarchate in the sphere of relations with the state and secular society. In addition, it lays down a number of guiding principles applied in this area by the episcopate, the clergy and the laity.

The nature of the document is determined by its appeal to the needs of the Plenitude of the Russian Orthodox Church during a long historical period in the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate and beyond it. Therefore, its main subject is fundamental theological and church-social issues, as well as those aspects of the life of states and societies that were and remain equally relevant for the entire Church Plenitude at the end of the 20th century and in the near future.

About 30 meetings of the working group took place. The preliminary results of the preparation of the concept were discussed at the Theological Conference of the Russian Orthodox Church "Orthodox Theology on the Threshold of the Third Millennium" (February 7-9) and at the symposium "Church and Society - 2000" specially organized for this purpose, which took place in St. Danilovsky Monastery on 14 June 2000 with the participation of about 80 representatives of various church, state and public institutions. The comments and suggestions made during these discussions were taken into account when finalizing the draft concept.

The project was considered and approved (with some amendments) at a meeting of the Holy Synod on July 19 of the year. At the same time, the document was called "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church." The Jubilee Council of Bishops in 2000 approved this document and decided:

1. Approve the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church", outlining the basic provisions of its teachings on issues of church-state relations and on a number of contemporary socially significant problems. Consider this document as reflecting the official position of the Moscow Patriarchate in the sphere of relations with the state and secular society.

2. Synodal institutions, dioceses, monasteries, parishes and other canonical church divisions, as well as clergy and laity, should be guided by the Fundamentals of the Social Concept in their relations with state authorities, various secular associations and organizations, non-church mass media. Use the instructions of this document in pastoral practice related to new phenomena in the life of society. Consider it useful for the Church Hierarchy to adopt, on the basis of this document, definitions on various more specific issues.

3. Include the "Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" in the educational process in theological schools of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Difficulties in preparing a document

According to Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev), Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, “The task of preparing such a text was not an easy one. After all, there has never before been an official church document that would formulate and systematize the position of the Church on a wide range of issues related to the life of society, not only in the Russian Church, but also in other Autocephalous Orthodox Churches. The position of the Hierarchy on some acute issues of our time was previously expressed, but it needed to be codified. Many such questions have accumulated to which a clear ecclesiastical answer has not been given; and not all answers that were relevant in the past can be applied today.

Document value

In the cause of reunification with the Russian Church Abroad

"Fundamentals of the Social Concept" presented the response of the Russian Orthodox Church to a number of important issues of our time. Among them, an answer was also received to the question about the attitude towards the so-called "Sergianism", which made it possible for representatives of the Russian Church Abroad to begin negotiations on reunification with the Church in the Fatherland. The archpastors and pastors of ROCOR have repeatedly expressed their opinion about the positive role played by the Fundamentals of the Social Concept in the process of reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church:

• Bishop Evtikhii of Domodedovo, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese (once Bishop of Ishim and Siberian ROCOR):

“The question of ‘Sergianism’ — loyalty to secular power — I think, has been exhausted to the full in the Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Moscow Patriarchate. Indeed, rarely anywhere in the world does the Church have the opportunity to freely express her convictions before secular authorities. Even such a diplomatic speech by His Holiness the Patriarch in the European Parliament caused a rather negative attitude. In Russia, this is impossible. Someone was offended and made claims to His Holiness the Patriarch for raising questions of morality and defending the right of Christians to defend morality, to be Christians and to live according to the law of God. In European countries, this causes protest, opposition. So what kind of "Sergianism" are we talking about here?

• Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, Dean of the Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" (San Francisco):

Prot. Petr Perekrestov recalled that "a joint reflection on the paths traversed by the two parts of the Russian Church" became possible after the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000 canonized royal family and adopted the Fundamentals of the Social Concept, reflecting the position of the Church on issues of church-state relations. In 2003, the ROCOR Council of Bishops decided to establish a commission for negotiations with the Moscow Patriarchate. And a year later Metropolitan Laurus, the First Hierarch of ROCOR, made a historic visit to Russia.

Translations into the languages ​​of the world

English

Bulgarian

The publication in Bulgarian was prepared and implemented by the Russian Orthodox Church Compound in Sofia with the assistance of the Moscow Cultural and Business Center “House of Moscow in Sofia”. The presentation of the publication took place in Sofia on November 26, 2007.

German

Serbian

The authors of the translation: a team of translators and editors, headed by Bishop Irenaeus of Bach. Publisher: publishing house of Bač diocese "Conversation" with the financial support of the Serbian Ministry of Religious Affairs. The publication was presented in the Serbian capital Belgrade on March 24, as well as in Novi Sad on May 20, 2007. The fundamentals of the social concept of the ROC are included in the list of compulsory literature for students of the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade.

French

• Claire Chernikina (nee Jounievy) - the first version published on the website of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church to European International Organizations;
• priest Hyacinthe Destivelle, hieromonk Alexander (Sinyakov) and Claire Chernikina - the second version published in Éditions du Cerf (see below).

Publisher: Éditions du Cerf, the largest publishing house of religious literature in France, the Scientific and Church Center "Truth". Market release: October 11, 2007. The presentation of the French translation took place in Paris on November 12-13, 2007.

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Fundamentals of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church - official document of the Russian Orthodox Church, approved at the anniversary Bishops' Council in 2000 , sets out the basic provisions of her teaching on issues of church-state relations and on a number of contemporary socially significant problems. The document also reflects the official position of the Moscow Patriarchate in the sphere of relations with the state and secular society. In addition, it lays down a number of guiding principles applied in this area by the episcopate, the clergy and the laity. The nature of the document is determined by its appeal to the needs of the Plenitude of the Russian Orthodox Church during a long historical period in the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate and beyond it. Therefore, its main subject is fundamental theological and church-social issues, as well as those aspects of the life of states and societies that were and remain equally relevant for the entire Church Plenitude at the end of the 20th century and in the near future.

Content.

I. Basic theological provisions
II. Church and nation
III. Church and State
IV. Christian ethics and secular law
V. Church and Politics
VI. Labor and its fruits
VII. Own
VIII. War and Peace
IX. Crime, punishment, correction
X. Issues of personal, family and public morality
XI. Health of the individual and the people
XII. Problems of bioethics
XIII. Church and environmental problems
XIV. Secular science, culture, education
XV. Church and secular media
XVI. International relationships. Problems of globalization and secularism.