In the old days, the word "charity" meant compassion and mercy. Various charitable institutions - hospitals, orphanages, schools, colleges, almshouses were built for people in need. Charity was one of the main Christian virtues. In pre-revolutionary Russia, the charity was not usually included in state programs of helping the poor, it was provided by individuals and societies for helping the needy. The state aid was defined by the term "assistance" (public assistance). The charity was widespread in public and social life of Russia..