Chaplaincy

There are no chaplaincies in state and municipal schools. In hospitals and prisons, worship and ministers’ pastoral activities take place without any state funding.
Before 2010, the military chaplaincy did not exist, but its implementation by the Ministry of Defence has begun on the initiative of the Russian President.

D 2 October 2012    AMikhaïl Chakhov

Pursuant to Article 16, paragraph 3 of the Federal Law “on freedom of conscience and religious associations”, religious organisations have the right to perform religious rituals in medical institutions, hospitals, orphanages, retirement homes and in places of execution of custodial sentences (see "Religions and prison"), at the request of citizens there (in premises designated by the management).

There is no state-funded hospital chaplaincy. The Federal Law “on the principles for protection of citizens’ health in the Russian Federation” of 21.11.2011, no. 323-FZ, stipulates that each patient has the right to receive a visit by a minister of worship. This involves providing the conditions for performing religious rituals, including the temporary use of a separate room, subject to respect for the internal rules of the hospital.

There are no legislative restrictions on hospital personnel manifesting their religious convictions or wearing clothes or religious symbols in the workplace.

D 4 April 2013    AMikhaïl Chakhov