SELECTED PRINCIPLES OF THE CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH IN 3. CENTURY
/VYBRANÉ ZÁSADY CHARITATÍVNEJ A SOCIÁLNEJ SLUŽBY CIRKVI V 3. STOROČÍ/

Vasyľ KUZMYK

Press Department Secretary, Office of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in Slovakia, Presov, Slovak Republic, Bayerova 8, 080 01 Presov, Slovakia, ocam@orthodox.sk, 00421517724736

Abstract

The author of the article analyses Christian philanthropic activity in the early centuries. The Christians of the early Church were keenly aware that orthodoxy must also be orthopraxy, of which the social aspect of the life of the Church was a part. If one decided to embrace Christianity, in addition to the faith and an ascetic way of life, one had also to learn to serve others, that is, to serve one's neighbors. The text assesses that the principle of the Church's philanthropy was the active charity of Christians in its various forms. Christians truly lived the Gospel and sought to fulfill in their lives the words of Jesus Christ about love of neighbor. For Christians, living according to Christ, which touches various areas, including social ones, becomes a challenge. In contrast to the pagan world, in Christianity all boundaries of nationality, social, etc. are abolished. The Church brings a new view of man, where every person has the same value before God because he is created in the image and likeness of God. This reality of the early Church contributed to the development of the charitable and social ministry of the 3rd century Church in all its aspects.

Keywords

Church, orthodoxy, orthopraxy, Christian philanthropy, church writers

SUMMARY

All of the above passages from the works of 1st-3rd century church writers recommend almsgiving to anyone in need, but they also emphasize the obligation to earn a living. The exception, as in the present day, was the unfit for work. The truly needy in the early Church, those who were no longer able to earn their own bread, were considered to be the elderly, those who had reached old age and felt weak, and those who were seriously and permanently ill. The Church paid special attention to such people in the context of its social and charitable activities. In terms of time, Christian care in relation to them had no limitations.

(Language: slovak)

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