The article is a comprehensive study of the social and charitable activities of the Tambov Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in the period 19001917. The relevance of the research is determined by such factors as the need to fill gaps in the study of regional aspects of church charity and the importance of understanding historical experience for the modern social activities of the Church. The purpose of the study is a comprehensive analysis of the organizational structures, directions and practices of the social ministry of the Tambov Diocese in the prerevolutionary period. The scientific novelty of the work is manifested in the fact that for the first time, based on a systematic study of the archival issues of the Tambov Diocesan Gazette, a holistic picture of the diocese’s charitable activities is formed, its specific features and mechanisms of functioning are revealed. The methodological basis of the research includes an institutional analysis that allowed us to study the structure and evolution of charitable organizations; quantitative methods for processing accounting data on the activities of trusteeships and fraternities; and a comparative historical method that made it possible to trace the transformation of forms of charity in the face of social upheaval. The study found that social service developed in four main areas: financial support for clergy and their families; educational and rehabilitation work with children; assistance to parishioners in need; and mobilization activities during the war years. Effective financing mechanisms have been analyzed, combining mandatory church fees, private donations and income from economic activities. It is proved that the diocese has developed a flexible system for responding to social challenges, which was especially evident in the organization of assistance to families of veterans during World War I. The study makes a significant contribution to the historiography of church charity, offering a new model for analyzing the regional experience of social service of the Russian Orthodox Church. The results obtained have not only academic value, but also practical significance for modern social work of religious organizations.
Balabeykina et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: