Orthodoxy's contribution to the formation of the social health institution in Russia

The article attempts to build a general picture of the influence of Orthodoxy on the formation of Russian medicine. The influence of Christianity on medicine has already become a subject of research for philosophers, historians and ethicists; therefore, the methodological basis of the research was the idea of the Dilthey hermeneutic circle, which requires going back from consideration of specific aspects to a general panoramic vision of the phenomenon. Based on the analysis of published works and sources on the history of the Church and medicine, a conclusion is made about the institutional and value influence of Orthodoxy on Russian medicine. Institutional influence manifested itself in certain aspects of the formation of the state medical system. First of all, thanks to the transmission of the traditions of ancient medicine by the Church, the foundations of hospital medical care were laid: monastery hospitals became the first organized places of medical care in Russia, from which hospital services for the population in Russia emerged. Another aspect of the institutional influence of Orthodoxy is the creation of the level of nursing staff in hospitals, which began as a community of sisters of mercy. The Church was the inspirer and, in some cases, the direct organizer of the training of nurses and the introduction of their work in hospitals, thus forming the branch of professional nursing education, which later went outside the Church and was adopted by state medicine. Speaking about the influence of the Church on medical science in Russia, we can say that the Church did not initiate any scientific research in the field of medicine and did not provide targeted support for medical research. Monasteries stood at the origins of the emerging medical science in Russia, contributing to the penetration and accumulation of scientific knowledge in the country. The value influence of Christianity on medicine in Russia is determined by the emergence and formation of special ethical views, which became an integral feature of the Russian doctor. In fact, domestic medical ethics originates in monastic hospitals. The main moral principles of Russian medicine are service and love for a person, sacrifice, altruism and selflessness. The ideal of a doctor, faithful to their duty of caring for their patient - a holy doctor - also came to Russian medicine from Orthodoxy. Thus, Orthodoxy played a key role in the formation of organized medical care for the population (the creation of hospitals, the introduction of nurses in medical institutions) and the medical ethics of medicine in Russia.