In 2004 in the program of Summer Theological Institute the series of lectures devoted to a problem of AIDS was offered. The basis of a course constitute the materials of a seminar on the organization of diaconical services to the persons living with AIDs, which took place in 2003 under the initiative of the Round table of the interchurch help.

The first impression was, that the offered course has caused the certain bewilderment among the students: “About what and for what purpose is this course for us and how it concerns us?”. In the process of conversation  the attitude of students essentially varied. The majority had an opinion about necessity and utility of this information. It was evident from a plenty of the questions concerning the problem, and from alive discussion.

The course program sounds as follows:

1.  The urgency of a theme. Epidemic situation on AIDs infections in the world and Belarus. Necessity of consolidation of efforts at the decision of problems of prevention of AIDs infection and help to people living with AIDs. Questioning of the participants with the purpose of definition of a base level of knowledge on AIDs problem.

2.  The social concept of Russian Orthodox Church and AIDs problem. Prevention programs. Kinds of prevention. Opportunities of participation of church in AIDs prevention and realizations of church prevention programs.

3.  Concepts about risky and safe behavior. Personal safety. The attitude of the population to PLWA. Formation at the population of the Christian attitude to PLWA.

4.  AIDs - infected and the AIDs patient. Distinction of state and distinction in approaches to rendering assistance. Modern opportunities of treatment of AIDS. The problems connected to access to treatment in Belarus.

5.  The problems connected to high death rate at AIDS. The help the seriously ill patient and dying. A role of Church in rendering spiritual support to these people, and also their relatives.

Summarizing of a course. Final questioning.

Before the beginning of a course it was carried out the  questioning of the participants with the purpose of definition of a level of awareness on a problem. Unfortunately, it is necessary to note, that the level of knowledge of participants appeared very low. Only 19 % of participants have filled in questionnaires correctly, 81 % have admitted mistakes, and from them  20 % have admitted more than 5 mistakes, that is almost all questions of the questionnaire were answered incorrectly.

Such results lead to, at least, to three negative consequences: people with insufficient awareness on a problem of AIDS may subject themselves to additional danger of infection and also give a high level of alarm and fear in the safe situations, the increased fear before fatally dangerous infectious disease results to alert, and from time to time and to the hostile attitude to people, living with AIDs.

To the opinion of students of the course, the received information has helped them to define the valid level of danger, to estimate from this point of view own behavior, to change the attitude to people living with AIDs, to define the opportunities of Church in influence on this problem and own actions at rendering assistance and supports  to PLWA , and also in realization of prevention programs.

Final questioning on AIDS problem has shown the following results:

Correctly filled questionnaires - 41 %, in the others no more than 1 - 2 insignificant mistakes.

For students it was very important to hear a positive estimation of this course which was made by Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk Philaret who has visited final lecture. The urgency of this problem is proved by the fact,  that the social concept of Russian Orthodox Church in relation to AIDs problem in the near future will be accepted.