UKRAINIAN CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS’ ACTIVITY TO COUNTERACT SPREADING SOCIALLY DANGEROUS DISEASES (THE FIRST DECADE OF THE 21ST CENTURY)

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The aim of the article is to study Ukrainian church and religious organizations’ activity directed at counteracting spreading socially dangerous diseases (the first decade of the 21st century). The research methodology is based on the set of general scientific methods usage (analysis, synthesis, comparison, systematization, generalization, etc.) as well as special historical methods (historical-genetic, historical-comparative, historical-systematic). The study applies an interdisciplinary approach, manifested through the usage of the categorical procedures of other sciences. This, in its turn, made it possible to form valid statements and conclusions of the scientific research. The scientific novelty of the paper lies in the fact that Ukrainian church and religious organizations’ activity to counteract spreading socially dangerous diseases at the beginning of the 21st century is discussed on the basis of a comprehensive range of historical sources. The topic has not been the subject of a separate scientific analysis yet. As the result, the author concludes that a systematic activity of Ukrainian church and religious organizations to counteract socially dangerous diseases was founded in the first decade of the 21st century. This was due to the organizational network formation of church and religious organizations and their transformation into an important social institution of civil society. The main focus was on counteracting the spread of HIV/AIDS at the same time. The inclusion of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations was important in strengthening its work. Both the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations and some church and religious organizations were supported by the state government of Ukraine. Thus, church and religious organizations in Ukraine opened rehabilitation centers for drug and alcohol addicts, cared for HIV-infected people; conducted thematic scientific and educational events within the framework of activity to counterpart spreading socially dangerous diseases in the first decade of the 21st century.