Formation and development of communities of sisters of mercy in Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
This article presents an analysis of the formation and development of communities of sisters of mercy in Russia in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. It tells in detail about the deeds of mercy of the first communities of sisters of mercy, provides an analysis of the Moscow communities of sisters of mercy and their activities during military operations and uprisings. The article tells about the predecessors of the sisters of mercy, the activities of compassionate widows who were engaged in deeds of mercy and compassion, and provided free medical services to sick people. The first public organizations of women - the community of sisters of mercy - were formed in Russia. Under the banner of the International Red Cross Society (ICRC) in Russia, communities of sisters of mercy are being created in many cities. The author describes the peculiarities of the Charter, the activities of the Board of Trustees of these communities, their main initiators-trustees, and notes the versatility of the activities of the sisters of mercy. They were assistants in operations, carried out the wounded from the battlefield, provided emergency assistance to the wounded and in need of medical assistance to soldiers on the fronts of the First World War, the Russo-Japanese, Balkan and Greco-Turkish wars, as well as the Ihetuan uprising in China.