Social ministry of the Russian St. Panteleimon’s monastery on Mt. Athos in the 19th - early 20th century

An important page in the history of St. Panteleimon’s Monastery on Mt. Athos is the extensive charitable assistance that its brethren provided to other Orthodox monasteries, parishes, educational and charitable institutions, as well as to the poor and orphans, both in Russia and abroad. A significant number of Orthodox Churches in Russia, Bulgaria, and the Otoman Empire were built or restored from ruins with the assistance of St. Panteleimon’s in the second half of the 19th-early 20th century. Te second direction of charitable activity was the construction of schools and hospitals. Te brothers of St. Panteleimon’s were especially active in the creation and upkeep of hospitals for sick and wounded Russian soldiers and officers during the various wars fought by Russia. Charitable activities for the needs of the poor and orphans were also important. Te monastery likewise provided support for other monasteries on Mt. Athos. On the whole, the charitable activities of St. Panteleimon’s Monastery in the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century were varied and substantial. Tey cannot even all be listed. Te events of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, which interrupted the Monastery’s connection with Russia, had negative consequences on its charitable activities. However, in much reduced form, they continued later as well