Philanthropy in the Orthodox Church is the Basic Foundation of Social Assistance
Philanthropy in the Orthodox Church is the Basic Foundation of Social Assistance

Summary/Abstract: The paper entitled “Philanthropy in the Orthodox Church is the basic foundationof social assistance” seeks to emphasize the importance of philanthropy that underlies theestablishment of social assistance. The first Christian centuries laid the foundations ofsocial assistance, which was later institutionalized and transformed social assistanceprovided by Christians and non-Christians sporadically into constant assistance, providedto people in need. Christian help is one of the most important forms of love shown to one'sneighbor and is a fundamental divine principle of the New Testament Law.The New Testament presents the activity of the Savior which includes many goodworks in the form of miraculous healings, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, thetransformation of wine and even the resurrection from the dead miracles granted to thepoor, children, widows and the elderly. He healed all kinds of sick people, doing good toall who had the joy of knowing Him. The miracles wrought by the Savior consisted ofwonderful healings “and the news of Him went through all Syria, and they brought to Himall who were suffering, being afflicted with all manner of sicknesses and torments, thedemon-possessed, the lunatics, the be weak, and He will heal them” (Pătuleanu 2010: 5).Through these deeds, the Savior Jesus Christ taught us that philanthropy must not remaina simple philosophical concept, but must be converted into deed, into a beneficent actionof all that is human suffering.

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