Orthodox Christianity and human rights

Orthodox theology and the Orthodox churches had, and continue to have an ambiguous relationship towards the concept of human rights: principle approval often stands alongside serious criticism. This is especially true for those Orthodox churches which have their centre in a country of the former Soviet sphere. On the one hand, especially since the fall of Communism they enjoy religious freedom that forms a central element within the framework of human rights. On the other hand, the transformation process of the 1990s and the challenge of pluralism and globalization have all confronted them with aspects of freedom that could not but affect their stance towards the human rights concept in general.