2008 Council of Bishops’ Resolution on Basic Teaching of Russian Orthodox Church on Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights

Proceeding from Par. 2 of the Resolution of the 2000 Jubilee Bishops’ Council on the Basic Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church, stating in particular that ‘it will be useful that the Supreme Church Authority adopt resolutions on various specific issues on the basis of this document’,

Considering the positive assessment given on June 23, 2008, by the Russian Orthodox Church Holy Synod to this draft Basic Teaching of the Russian Orthodox Church on Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights,

Having heard the report by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the working groups for drafting a document on human rights,

The Bishops’ Council resolves:

1) that the Basic Teaching of the Russian Orthodox Church on Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights as presenting her attitude to the development and realization of the human rights concept be adopted as a follow-up of her social concept and official position of the Moscow Patriarchate on human rights.

2) that the clergy and laity as well as Synodal departments, dioceses, monasteries, parishes and other canonical church units be guided by the Basic Teaching of the Russian Orthodox Church on Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights in their relations with the state and society and that the development by the Orthodox faithful of socially significant work on the basis of this document be considered useful.

3) that the study of the Basic Teaching of the Russian Orthodox Church on Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights be included in the curriculum of the theological schools of the Moscow Patriarchate and commended to secular educational institutions for study within their courses on the modern situation of the Russian Orthodox Church.

4) that text of the Basic Teaching of the Russian Orthodox Church on Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights be published in a number of copies sufficient for broad public familiarization including through the Internet and be translated into various languages of the world including those spoken by peoples in the pastoral care of the Moscow Patriarchate.

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

Members of the Bishops’ Council Presidium:

VLADIMIR, METROPOLITAN OF KIEV AND ALL UKRAINE

DANIEL, METROPOLITAN OF TOKYO AND ALL JAPAN

VLADIMIR, METROPOLITAN OF ST. PETERSBURG AND LADOGA

FILARET, PATRIARCHAL EXARCH FOR ALL BELARUS, METROPOLITAN OF MINSK AND SLUTSK

JUVENALY, METROPOLITAN OF KRUTITSY AND KOLOMNA

KIRILL, METROPOLITAN OF SMOLENSK AND KALININGRAD

CHAIRMAN OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR EXTERNAL CHURCH RELATIONS

CLEMENT, METROPOLITAN OF KALUGA AND BOROVSK

CHANCELLOR OF THE MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE

VLADIMIR, METROPOLITAN OF KISHINEV AND ALL MOLDOVA

HILARION,

FIRST HIERARCH OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH ABROAD

METROPOLITAN OF EASTERN AMERICA AND NEW YORK

VLADIMIR, METROPOLITAN OF TASHKENT AND CENTRAL ASIA

ALEXANDER, METROPOLITAN OF RIGA AND ALL LATVIA

KORNILY, METROPOLITAN OF TALLINN AND ALL ESTONIA

INNOKENTY, ARCHBISHOP OF KORSUN

IOANN, ARCHBISHOP OF BELGOROD AND STARY OSKOL

KIRILL, ARCHBISHOP OF YAROSLAVL AND ROSTOV

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