[The volunteerism as a social phenomenon during a pandemic: the experience of the Russian Orthodox Church]

The article is devoted to the specifics of volunteering during a pandemic. The goal of the Russian Orthodox Church is to study characteristics of volunteerism as a social phenomenon during pandemic on the the Church own experience. The specific features of volunteerism are socially useful orientation, gratuitous nature, good will, charity and care. The volunteerism of the Russian Orthodox Church is rooted in the past centuries. It is always activated when there is social demand for volunteering. This was the situation during pandemic when volunteers joined the social services with purpose of selflessly providing socially significant services to those in need. The most popular modes of assistance were hot lines, delivery of food packages, medicines, personal protective equipment, antiseptics as well as remote spiritual assistance. During the pandemic, volunteers were engaged in supplying food to the elderly and the disabled who were in self-isolation and providing medical and spiritual assistance to the sick. To illustrate, the article considers the activities of “The Orthodox Volunteers” in Belgorod.