Human Rights as Reflected in the Document of Russian Orthodox Church from 2008

Abstract

The present study aims to highlight the attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church and implicitly of Orthodoxy everywhere towards one of the greatest projects of humanity, namely the human rights system. Thus, this paper debates the content of a document approved by the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2008 which reveals its position on the essential points contained in all human rights. First, the author makes an introduction about the general debate that involves the voice of the Orthodox on the one hand and the proposal of human rights on the other. Following is a presentation of the content of the Russian document, as well as references regarding its reception in the European Christian environment. The strengths and weaknesses of such a document are presented and include the Church in the contemporary debate, including responding to the most delicate challenges related to the beginning of the right to life, freedom of expression, abuses of the state or public morality.

Keywords

• human rights
• dignity
• freedom
• social doctrine
• morals
• russian orthodoxy
• church and state