On October 2, 2026, the Chairman of the Patriarchal Commission on Family, Protection of Motherhood and Childhood, Priest Theodore Lukyanov, spoke at a round table of the Public Council under the Ministry of Justice of Russia. The meeting was devoted to the problems and prospects of providing social services by non-governmental organizations.
Father Theodore emphasized that helping those in need is an integral part of church life. According to him, the long-term experience of religious organizations, the participation of volunteers and direct work with people create the basis for the development of cooperation between the Church and the state in the social sphere.
The report focused on helping pregnant women who are faced with the choice of staying pregnant, and families with children whose parents are undergoing treatment for alcohol or drug addiction. The priest noted the need to make comprehensive social, psychological and legal support more accessible to these people.
The Chairman of the commission proposed explicitly enshrining the right of these categories of citizens to social assistance in federal legislation. Other initiatives include the creation of specialized sections in the register of socially oriented non—profit organizations, the establishment of uniform requirements for service providers and the simplification of access to budget financing for specialized organizations.
According to Father Theodore, these measures will make it possible to make greater use of the experience of church crisis centers, develop support for motherhood and childhood, and make assistance to families more systematic.