Historical and Cultural Heritage of Russia: the Relationship between the Work of a Doctor and Faith in the Context of the Problem of Consideration of Life and Medical Activities of E. Botkin and St. Luke (V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky)

Abstract

On the example of the activity of outstanding Russian doctors Evgeny Botkin and St. Luke — Valentin Feliksovich Voino-Yasenetsky, the article considers medicine as a historically conditioned and developing historical and cultural form, which allows comprehending the formation of the main directions of the science under consideration, tracing the transfer of experience, knowledge, discoveries, identifying the main components of this process, which left a significant mark on the development of mankind. The authors raise the issues of interrelation between medical activity and faith as part of the historical and cultural heritage of Russia. It is indicated that the image of the doctor, in many ways, is formed in accordance with the goals, values, principles and attitudes of a particular historical era. It is emphasized that cultural heritage is a historical category. Only the study of all the basic facts of the works of Evgeny Botkin and Valentin Voino-Yasenetsky, and the analysis of the historical dynamics of their activities will allow drawing conclusions about the main direction of development in the medical sphere. It is concluded that in the historical process there are no recurring events, and even more repetitive people, but there are individuals who are similar in their orientation and nature: both doctors belonged to the category of people who combined medical activities and religious beliefs, Christian doctrine and practical work of the doctor. What Eugene S. Botkin and Saint Luke left as an example for other generations, stands today as a common heritage of all mankind, the progress of which largely depends on the past.