The legal foundations of the prison mission of the Russian Orthodox Church in late 20th – early 21st centuries

The article concerns the issues related to the prison service practice of the Russian Orthodox Church at present within the context of the Church social activity. Ministry in prisons is an actual task, which must be solved on the basis of Biblical and theological understanding as well as by attracting some external disciplines. The aim of the article is to acquaint the missioners, performing prison ministry, with legal foundations of the interaction between the Church and Russia’s penal system.