To the Issue of the Charitable Activities of Orthodox Monasteries in the Initial Period of the First World War; [К вопросу о благотворительной деятельности православных монастырей в начальный период Первой мировой войны]

The article considers the charitable activities of the monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church in the initial period of the First World War, that is, in 1914. There were as sources the published documents and materials of the pre-revolutionary periodical press. Among the published documents, the most important is the “Most Comprehensive report of the Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod”, which was published in 1916. The materials of the journal “Tserkovnye vedomosti” are also of great importance in the work. In conclusion, the authors state that the outbreak of the First World War, due to its scale, required the consolidation of the efforts of all Russian Orthodox monasteries in organizing charitable assistance for those affected by the war. In 1914, this assistance was provided in the following areas: the participation of monks in combat operations as regimental priests; the organization of their own hospital network; the transfer of vacant areas of monasteries to hospitals of other departments; food and other support for both family members called up for war and refugees; organization of sewing workshops for sewing the necessary clothing supplies for the front; provision of medical and moral and spiritual assistance within their competence (sisters of mercy, monks); voluntary monthly deductions from personal income for military needs, as well as the organization of shelters for war orphans. Such a broad charitable activity required the monasteries to spend a lot of money and strain the spiritual and physical strength of its employees. It is obvious that the Great Victory required great sacrifices, and the Russian monastic clergy clearly demonstrated with all their appearance that they were ready for these sacrifices. Copyright © 2023 by Cherkas Global University.