Over the centuries, Orthodox Christianity has developed conflictual experiences with respect to the main Western model of modernity. Recently, it has shown a complicated relationship with some of its phenomena such as human rights. According to this backdrop, we explore the sociological nexus among religion, modernity and human rights within the case of Orthodox Christianity. We study the main paths of tension between Orthodoxy and the main Western modern project, and then we focus on the Orthodox stances and churches' approaches with respect to human rights. Examining the Orthodox official documents on both subjects, we recognise common Orthodox orientations and issues, besides some paths of religious change. In short, the study sheds light on a social research perspective focused on the nexus among religion, modernity and human rights, and emphasises the recent Orthodox engagement with some facets of the modern project through the recognition of the paradigm of human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]