About history of women’s charity

International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Science. 2015. Vol. 3. No. 8. P. 73–91.

Korotkova S.

This review is devoted to the history of foreign and Russian women’s charity from the first centuries of Christian history to the present day. After the first two centuries of Christianity deaconnesses started instructed women, visited the sick, the poor, and Christians in prisons. In the age of the Crusades women began to found spiritual communes, the first commune was established in XII century in Belgium. Such movement became widespead in European countries in middle ages and modern history. In XX-XXI centuries this work goes on. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Diana, Princess of Wales, actress Audrey Hupburn and others involve in humanitarian activity and social activism. In Russia Christianity charity developed in a special direction: love for the poor. Kievan Rus had the most well-organised system of in medieval Europe. The history of charitable organisations in Russia can be divided into two stages. The first stage, from mid-16th century to 1862, is the period when charitable organisations were establishing themselves in Russia. The second period, from 1862 to 1906, is the golden age of Russian societies of charity and mercy. Our contemporaries continue the traditions of charity. Among them we can name Raisa Gorbacheva, Russian actresses, Chulpan Khamatova and Dina Korzun, Natalia Vodianova and other.

Keywords: health care, женская история, women's history, милосердие, благотворительные фонды, charitable foundation, женская благотворительность, women's charity