A reminder for the beginning Orthodox Christian. Discussion on LiveInternet

Orthodox literature is multifaceted. Here you can find both light humorous stories and deep literature that is difficult for the unprepared mind.

Many authors sometimes disagree in their thoughts about God, which is why interesting disputes arise. One priest can write that all illnesses are sent to us by the Lord as punishment for sins. Another, on the contrary, will show you the idea that the Lord does not punish anyone for anything, because He is Love. If you become interested in reading Orthodox books, then you will probably have something to discuss with other Orthodox readers.

To understand the variety of books, we offer you a list of the main ones. These books have been bestsellers for many years. They also contain references to more complex books. So, after reading books for beginners, you can determine for yourself a list of more in-depth literature.

Behavior in the Temple

An Orthodox church is a place of God’s special presence on Earth. You need to behave reverently in church, so as not to offend the greatness of the shrine, and not to incur the wrath of God. You must arrive to the service in advance, 5-10 minutes in advance. When entering, cross yourself and make a bow from the waist. Upon entering, men remove their hats. Women enter the temple with their heads covered and dressed according to their gender, having wiped off their lipstick. Clothing must be decent and neat. In the temple you cannot speak in a loud voice, keep your hands in your pockets, or chew gum. You should not walk around the temple unless necessary. You need to light candles and venerate icons in such a way as not to disturb other worshipers. Conversations in the temple should be limited to the limit. Briefly greet acquaintances, postponing conversations for later. When you come to church with children, you should not allow them to run around, play pranks and laugh. You should try to calm a crying child; if this fails, you should leave the temple with the child. You can only sing along with the choir very quietly. During public singing, do not allow “disorderly screaming.” Sitting in the temple is allowed only due to illness or severe fatigue. You cannot sit with your legs crossed. If everyone praying kneels, you need to join them. Smoking is not allowed on the church porch. You cannot enter the temple with animals or birds. It is unacceptable to walk and talk while reading the Gospel, singing the “Cherubic” and the Eucharistic canon at the liturgy (from the Creed to the “Our Father”). At this time, it is also undesirable to light candles and venerate icons. You need to reprimand a neighbor who has violated the rules of good behavior quietly and delicately. It is better to refrain from making comments altogether, unless, of course, there is an insolent, hooligan action. Finally, you need to stay in the church until the service is completely over. You can leave ahead of time only due to infirmity or serious necessity. “Brother”, “sister” - the best way to address the laity. We are all children of the One God and descendants of Adam and Eve. “Father” or “father” is how priests are called as performers of the sacraments through which people are born to spiritual life. Usually after the words “father” a name is added, for example, “Father Peter.” You can address a deacon as “Father Deacon”, and the rector of a church as “Father Superior”. Top

Orthodoxy for Dummies [63] - Congratulations

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Orthodoxy for Dummies Our dear readers! The time for the New Year holidays is approaching. This is a strange time. On the one hand - drunken revelry and fun, in the company of a red-nosed, bearded man in a red jacket and hugging a fiery boar. On the other hand, it is a time of miracles, a triumph of hope, light and goodness. All this pre-New Year bustle is similar to the quintessence of our earthly life, when the most beautiful moments of life are adjacent to a riot of sinful thoughts and actions. When the image of Merry Christmas...

2006-12-29 22:05:52 + Comment

Church note

If you want the memorial note you submitted to the altar to be read carefully and slowly, remember the rules:

1. Write in clear, understandable handwriting, preferably in block letters, trying to mention no more than 10 names in one note. 2. Title it “On Health” or “On Repose.” With the image of a cross. 3. Write names in the genitive case (the question “who”?). 4. Use the full form of the name, even if you remember children (for example, not Seryozha, but Sergius). 5. Find out the church spelling of secular names (for example, not Polina, but Apollinaria; not Artem, but Artemy; not Egor, but George). 6. Before the names of clergy, indicate their rank, in full or in an understandable abbreviation (for example, Priest Peter, Archbishop Nikon). 7. A child under 7 years old is called a baby, from 7 to 15 years old - an adolescent. 8. There is no need to indicate the last names, patronymics, titles, professions of those mentioned and their degree of relationship in relation to you. 9. It is allowed to include in the note the words “warrior”, “monk”, “nun”, “sick”, “travelling”, “prisoner”. 10. On the contrary, there is no need to write “lost”, “suffering”, “embarrassed”, “student”, “grieving”, “maiden”, “widow”, “pregnant”. 11. In funeral notes about (the deceased within 40 days after death), “the eternally memorable” (the deceased who have memorable dates on this day), “the murdered.” 12. There is no need to pray for those whom the Church has glorified as saints (for example, Blessed Xenia).

Only those with Christian names and baptized in the Orthodox Church are remembered for health and repose at the liturgy :

• For proskomedia - the first part of the liturgy, when for each name indicated in the note, particles are taken from special prosphoras, which are subsequently dipped into the Blood of Christ with a prayer for the forgiveness of the sins of those commemorated; • At mass - this is what people call the liturgy in general, and the commemoration of it in particular. Usually such notes are read by clergy and clergy before the Holy See; • At the litany - remembrance for all to hear. It is usually performed by a deacon. At the end of the liturgy, these notes are commemorated a second time in many churches, at services. • You can also submit a note for a prayer service or memorial service .

In some churches, in addition to the usual notes about health and repose, custom notes are accepted. A custom mass for health with a prayer service differs from the usual commemoration of health in that, in addition to removing a particle from the prosphora (which happens during a regular commemoration), the deacon publicly reads the names of those commemorated on litany, and then these names are repeated by the priest before the throne. But even this is not the end of the commemoration according to the ordered note - after the end of the liturgy, a prayer is offered for them at a prayer service. The same thing happens at a custom-made mass of repose with a memorial service - and here, after removing the particles with the names of the deceased, the deacon publicly pronounces their names at the litany, then the names are repeated in front of the altar by the clergyman, and then the deceased are remembered at the memorial service, which takes place after the end of the liturgy .

A prayer service is a special divine service in which they ask the Lord, the Mother of God, and the saints to send mercy or thank God for receiving benefits. In the church, prayer services are performed before and after the liturgy, as well as after Matins and Vespers.

Sorokoust is a prayer service that is performed by the Church daily for forty days. Every day during this period, particles are removed from the prosphora. “Sorokousts,” writes St. Simeon of Thessalonica, - are performed in remembrance of the Ascension of the Lord, which happened on the fortieth day after the resurrection, - and with the purpose that he (the deceased), having risen from the grave, ascended to the meeting (that is, to meet - ed.) of the Judge, was raptured to the clouded, and so he was always with the Lord.” Sorokousts are ordered not only for repose, but also for health, especially for seriously ill people.

Church commemoration is performed only for those who were baptized in the Orthodox faith. Memorial services for suicides, as well as for those not baptized in the Orthodox faith, are not performed. Top

Orthodoxy for dummies [66] - The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (21-31)

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Orthodoxy for "dummies" The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God author: Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (1914 -2003) CHAPTER ONE (21-31) (beginning) Here is the following excerpt from the first chapter - seemingly simple, but at the same time so rich , sometimes very difficult to understand. They come to Capernaum; and soon on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they marveled at His teaching; for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. In their synagogue there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit, and he cried out: leave him alone! What do you care...

2007-03-27 09:05:45 + Comment

Candle

What does a person do first when he crosses the threshold of the temple? Nine times out of ten, it goes to the candle box. Our practical Christianity and initiation into the ritual begins with a small wax candle. It is impossible to imagine an Orthodox church in which candles are not lit... The interpreter of the liturgy, Blessed Simeon of Thessaloniki (XV century), says that pure wax means the purity and innocence of the people bringing it. It is offered as a sign of our repentance for perseverance and self-will. The softness and pliability of wax speaks of our willingness to obey God. The burning of a candle means the deification of a person, his transformation into a new creature through the action of the fire of Divine love. In addition, a candle is a testimony of faith, a person’s involvement in the Divine light. It expresses the flame of our love for the Lord, the Mother of God, angels or saints. You cannot light a candle formally, with a cold heart. External action must be complemented by prayer, even the simplest one, in your own words. A lit candle is present in many church services. It is held in the hands of those newly baptized and those united in the sacrament of marriage. Among many burning candles, the funeral service is performed. Covering the candle flame from the wind, pilgrims go to the religious procession. There are no mandatory rules about where and how many candles to place. Their purchase is a small sacrifice to God, voluntary and not burdensome. An expensive large candle is not at all more beneficial than a small one. Those who regularly visit the temple try to light several candles each time: • to the festive icon lying on the lectern in the middle of the church; • to the image of the Savior or the Mother of God - about the health of your loved ones; • to the Crucifixion on a rectangular table-candlestick (eve) - about the repose of the dead. If your heart desires, you can light a candle to any saint or saints. Sometimes it happens that there is no free space in the candlestick in front of the icon; everyone is occupied by burning candles. Then you shouldn’t put out another candle for the sake of your own; it’s more appropriate to ask the minister to light it at a good time. And don’t be embarrassed that your half-burnt candle was extinguished at the end of the service - the sacrifice has already been accepted by God. There is no need to listen to conversations that : • a candle should be placed only with the right hand; • if it goes out, it means there will be misfortunes; • melting the lower end of the candle for stability in the hole is a mortal sin, etc. There are many superstitions around the church, and they are all meaningless. God is pleased with a wax candle. But He values the burning of the heart more. Our spiritual life and participation in worship are not limited to a candle. By itself, it will not free you from sins, will not unite you with God, and will not give you strength for invisible warfare. The candle is full of symbolic meaning, but it is not the symbol that saves us, but the true essence - Divine grace. Top

Orthodoxy for dummies [68] - The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (32-35)

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Orthodoxy for Dummies The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God author: Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (1914 -2003) CHAPTER ONE (32-35) When evening came, when the sun set, they brought to Him all the sick and demon-possessed. And the whole city gathered at the door. And He healed many who were suffering from various diseases; cast out many demons, and did not allow the demons to say that they know that He is Christ (Mark 1: 32-34. We have now talked for a long time about how during His earthly life Christ healed souls...

2007-04-05 21:35:28 + Comment

Things to remember

There are words of Holy Scripture and prayers that it is advisable to know by heart. 1. The Lord's Prayer “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). 2. The main commandments of the Old Testament (Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18). 3. The main gospel commandments (Matt. 5, 3-12; Matt. 5, 21-48; Matt. 6, 1; Matt. 6, 3; Matt. 6, 6; Matt. 6, 14-21; Matt. 6, 24-25; Matthew 7, 1-5; Matthew 23, 8-12; John 13, 34). 4.Symbol of Faith. 5. Morning and evening prayers according to a short prayer book. 6. The number and meaning of the sacraments. The sacraments must not be mixed with rituals. A ritual is any outward sign of reverence that expresses our faith. A sacrament is a sacred act during which the Church calls on the Holy Spirit, and His grace descends on the believers. There are seven such sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Communion (Eucharist), Repentance (Confession), Marriage (Wedding), Blessing of Anointing (Unction), Priesthood (Ordination).

How to help your neighbor on his deathbed The ways of the Lord are mysterious. It happens that a person who has lived his entire life without God, on the threshold of death, gains faith and desires to receive Baptism - the very Sacrament about which the Savior said: “Whoever is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (John. 3, 5). But there is no priest nearby... In such a situation, the duty of every Orthodox Christian is to perform Baptism “for fear of death.” To do this, you need to wash (sprinkle) the sick person three times with blessed or even ordinary water, while saying: “The servant of God (full Orthodox name) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen". This Baptism is considered valid, and if the patient recovers, it is completed in the church with the sacrament of Confirmation. It is under no circumstances possible to baptize a person who is in an unconscious state against his will, taking advantage of his bodily weakness. The end does not justify the means. It also happens that a person who is baptized but far from the Church, on the verge of death, wants to repent of his sins. And here every Orthodox Christian, of course, if it is completely impossible to call a priest, is obliged to accept the confession of the dying person. Ask about grave sins - murder, abortion, adultery, debauchery in all forms, theft, drunkenness, participation in sects, connections with satanic forces through astrologers, psychics and healers. After confession, the secret of which must be kept until the grave, offer a fervent prayer to God that He will have mercy on the repentant. And if there is the slightest opportunity to call a priest to his deathbed, it is necessary, regardless of any difficulties, to do this good deed.

Why does the Lord allow illnesses? The Lord allows us illnesses, first of all, for sins - for their atonement, for changing a vicious lifestyle, realizing this viciousness and understanding that earthly life is a short moment, behind which there is eternity, and what it will be like for everyone depends from his life on earth. Often children worry about the sins of their parents, so that grief will crush their thoughtless life, make them think and change, cleanse themselves of passions and vices. We also get sick for the sake of our humility and avoidance of evil and disastrous actions. One day Jesus Christ was walking with his disciples, and the apostles saw a man who had been legless from birth. He sat by the road and begged for alms. The disciples asked: “Why does he have no legs?” Christ answered: “If he had legs, he would have crossed the whole earth with fire and sword.” Often the Lord pulls us out of the ordinary course of life with illness, saving us from serious trouble, and delivering us from a larger one with a small nuisance. Many diseases arise from the action of unclean spirits. Moreover, the symptoms of demonic attacks are very similar to natural illness. It is clear from the Gospel that the crumpled woman healed by the Lord (Lk. 13:11-26) was not demon-possessed, but the cause of her illness was the action of an unclean spirit. In such cases, the art of medicine is powerless, and healing is given only by the power of God, expelling the spirit of malice. The Christian attitude towards illness lies in the humble acceptance of the will of God, in the awareness of one’s sinfulness and the sins for which the illness was tolerated; in repentance and life change. Prayer, fasting, almsgiving and other virtues propitiate the Lord, and He sends us healing. If we go to doctors, then we ask for God’s blessing for treatment and trust them with the body, but not the soul. Top

Orthodoxy for dummies [69] - The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (36-45)

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Orthodoxy for Dummies The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God author: Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (1914 -2003) CHAPTER ONE (36-45) Let's continue reading the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark. Simon and those who were with him followed Him and, having found Him, they said to Him: everyone is looking for You. He says to them: let us go to the neighboring villages and mountains, so that I can preach there too, for this is why I came. And He preached in their synagogues throughout Galilee and cast out demons (Mark 1:36-39. I want to draw your attention to the Savior’s determination not ...

2007-04-12 20:25:26 + Comment

Ten Commandments

1. I am the Lord your God; Let you have no other gods before Me.

2. Do not make for yourself an idol or any image of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth below, or that is in the water below the earth; do not worship them or serve them.

3. Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy; Six days you shall work and do all your work, and the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.

5. Honor your father and your mother, [so that it may go well with you and] so that your days on earth may be lengthened.

6. Don't kill.

7. Do not commit adultery.

8. Don't steal.

9. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house; Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his field, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, [nor any of his livestock,] anything that is thy neighbor's. (Ex. 20, 2-17)

The Lord Jesus Christ stated the essence of these commandments as follows: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is similar to it: love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). Top

Orthodoxy for dummies [68] - The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (32-35)

2007-04-05 22:25:26 + Comment

About the sign of the cross and bows

Even St. Basil the Great wrote: “In the Church, everything is good and in order.” The sign of the cross is a visible evidence of our faith. To find out whether the person in front of you is Orthodox or not, you just need to ask him to cross himself, and by how he does it and whether he does it at all, everything will become clear. Let us remember the Gospel: “He who is faithful in little is also faithful in much” (Luke 16:10). Outwardly, the feeling of prayer is manifested in the overshadowing of oneself with a cross (in Slavic, “sign of the cross,” i.e., the image, sign of a cross), in kneeling and bowing - small (waist) and great (earthly, touching the ground with knees, hands and head). The sign of the cross is made with the right hand. To do this, we connect the first three fingers (fingers) together, and bend the other two - the ring and little fingers - to the palm. With three joined fingers we touch the forehead, the chest, the right and then the left shoulder, depicting a cross on ourselves, and, lowering our hand, we bow. The connection of three fingers means our faith in the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit; two bent fingers mean our faith in the Son of God Jesus Christ: that He has two natures - God and man, and for the sake of our salvation He came down from heaven to earth. We place the sign of the cross on our foreheads in order to sanctify our bodily strength and invoke blessings on the works of our hands. The sign of the cross symbolizes the invocation of the name of God and the glorification of God, therefore it is usually performed with the words “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” or with any other beginning of prayer, and the words “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” or with some other doxology and at the end of the prayer. How inappropriate it is to call on the name of God in vain, i.e. unnecessarily and irreverently, so the sign of the cross should not be done often and hastily, much less carelessly. When the priest blesses, saying “Peace to all,” one must bow without making the sign of the cross; When we make the sign of the cross, we also place the sign of the cross on ourselves. By bowing we express our reverence for God and repentant feelings. Prostrations to the ground, so frequent on days of repentance and fasting, especially Lent before Easter, are not customary to be performed on days of general spiritual joy - on Sundays, on great holidays, from Easter to the Holy Trinity and from Christmas to Epiphany. Having received the Holy Mysteries of Christ, we do not bow to the ground that day. Kneeling, i.e. kneeling, occurs in the temple during the reading of special kneeling prayers. You need to pray reverently and slowly, with attention and without fuss, for prayer is a conversation with God. If time is short, it is better to read one or two prayers, postponing the rest for a convenient time in the near future. If when reading a book it is important not so much to read it as to think about it, if in an ordinary conversation it is important not only to say, but also to listen to another, then even more so when reading a prayer, you should think about its words and, having said a prayer to God, you need to listen and His answer. Real prayer creates a special mood in the life of a Christian and determines his actions, his behavior, and this is the result of prayer, for it was not in vain that the Lord said: “Not everyone who says to Me: Lord, Lord! “He who does the will of My Father in Heaven will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt.7:21). Top

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Questions and answers frequently asked by new Christians.

35 short frequently asked questions for new Christians about the temple, candles, notes, etc.

1. How should a person prepare to visit the temple?

You need to prepare for the morning visit in the following way: Getting out of bed, thank the Lord, who has given you the opportunity to spend the night in peace and has extended your days for repentance. Wash your face, stand in front of the icon, light a lamp (from a candle) so that it evokes a spirit of prayer in you, put your thoughts in order, forgive everyone, and only then begin to read the prayer rule (morning prayers from the Prayer Book). Then subtract one chapter from the Gospel, one from the Apostle and one kathisma from the Psalter, or one psalm if you are short on time. At the same time, we must remember that it is better to read one prayer with sincere contrition of heart than the whole rule with the thought of how to finish it all as quickly as possible. Beginners can use an abbreviated prayer book, gradually adding one prayer at a time. Before leaving, say: I deny you, Satan, your pride and your service, and I unite with you, Christ Jesus our God, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Cross yourself and calmly go to the temple, without fear of what the person will do to you. Walking down the street, cross the road in front of you, saying to yourself: Lord, bless my ways and save me from all evil. On the way to the temple, read a prayer to yourself: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

2. How should a person who decides to go to church be dressed?

Women should not come to church in trousers, short skirts, with bright makeup on their faces, and lipstick is unacceptable. The head should be covered with a headscarf or scarf. Men must remove their hats before entering the church.

3. Is it possible to eat before visiting the temple in the morning?

According to the regulations, this is not possible; this is done on an empty stomach. Departures are possible due to weakness, with self-reproach.

4. Is it possible to enter the temple with bags?

If there is a need, it is possible. Only when the believer approaches Communion should the bag be put aside, since during Communion the hands are folded crosswise on the chest.

5. How many bows should one make before entering the temple and how to behave in the temple?

Before entering the temple, having previously crossed yourself, bow three times, looking at the image of the Savior, and pray for the first bow: God, be merciful to me, a sinner. To the second bow: God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me. To the third: Without number of sinners, Lord, forgive me. Then do the same, entering the doors of the temple, bow to both sides, saying to yourself: Forgive me, brothers and sisters, stand reverently in one place, without pushing anyone, and listen to the words of the prayer. If a person comes to church for the first time, then he needs to look around, notice what more experienced believers are doing, where their gaze is directed, in what places of worship and how they make the sign of the cross and bow. During a service, it is unacceptable to behave as if in a theater or museum, that is, with your head raised, looking at icons and clergy. During prayer, you must stand reverently, with a feeling of repentance, slightly lowering your shoulders and head, as those who have done wrong stand before the king. If you do not understand the words of the prayer, then say to yourself with contrition of heart the Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Try to make the sign of the cross and bows with everyone at the same time. Remember that the Church is the earthly Heaven. When praying to your Creator, do not think of anything earthly, but only sigh and pray for your sins.

6. How long do you need to be on duty?

The service must be defended from beginning to end. Service is not a duty, but a sacrifice to God. Would it be pleasant for the owner of the house to whom the guests came if they left before the end of the holiday?

7. Is it possible to sit at the service if you don’t have the strength to stand?

To this question, Saint Philaret of Moscow answered: “It is better to think about God while sitting than about your feet while standing.” However, you must stand while reading the Gospel.

8. What is important in bowing and praying?

Remember that it is not a matter of words and bows, but of raising your mind and heart to God. You can say all the prayers and make all the indicated bows, but not remember God at all. And, therefore, without praying, fulfill the prayer rule. Such prayer is a sin before God.

9. How to kiss icons correctly?

Lobyzaya St. the icon of the Savior, one should kiss the feet, the Mother of God and the saints - the hand, and the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands and the head of John the Baptist - on the hairline.

10. What does the candle placed in front of the image symbolize?

A candle, like prosphora, is a bloodless sacrifice. The candle fire symbolizes eternity. In ancient times, in the Old Testament Church, a person coming to God offered him the internal fat and wool of a slaughtered (killed) animal, which were placed on the altar of burnt offering. Now, when we come to the temple, we sacrifice not an animal, but a symbolically replacing it with a candle (preferably a wax one).

11. Does it matter what size candles you place in front of the image?

Everything depends not on the size of the candle, but on the sincerity of your heart and your capabilities. Of course, if a wealthy person puts out cheap candles, then this indicates his stinginess. But if a person is poor, and his heart burns with love for God and compassion for his neighbor, then his reverent standing and fervent prayer are more pleasing to God than the most expensive candle, lit with a cold heart.

12. Who should light candles and how many?

First of all, a candle is lit for a holiday or a revered temple icon, then for the relics of a saint, if there are any in the temple, and only then for health or repose. For the dead, candles are placed on the eve of the Crucifixion, mentally saying: Remember, Lord, your departed servant (name) and forgive his sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant him the Kingdom of Heaven. For health or any need, candles are usually lit for the Savior, the Mother of God, the holy great martyr and healer Panteleimon, as well as those saints to whom the Lord has given special grace to heal illnesses and provide help in various needs. Having placed a candle in front of the saint of God you have chosen, mentally say: Holy Servant of God (name), pray to God for me, a sinner (oh) (or the name for whom you are asking). Then you need to come up and venerate the icon. We must remember: in order for prayers to achieve success, one must pray to the holy saints of God with faith in the power of their intercession before God, with words coming from the heart. If you light a candle to the image of All Saints, turn your mind to the entire host of saints and the entire host of Heaven and pray: All saints, pray to God for us. All the saints always pray to God for us. He alone has mercy on everyone, and is always lenient towards the requests of His saints.

13. What prayers should be said before the images of the Savior, the Mother of God and the Life-Giving Cross?

Before the image of the Savior, pray to yourself: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner, or Without number of sinners, Lord, have mercy on me. Before the icon of the Mother of God, say briefly: Most Holy Theotokos, save us. Before the image of the Life-giving Cross of Christ, say the following prayer: We worship Your Cross, O Lord, and we glorify Your Holy Resurrection. And after that, bow to the Honorable Cross. And if you stand before the image of Christ our Savior or the Mother of God, or the saints of God with humility and warm faith, then you will receive what you ask for. For where the image is, there is the original grace.

14. Why is it customary to light candles for the repose at the Crucifixion?

The cross with the Crucifixion stands on the eve, that is, on the table for remembering the dead. Christ took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, original sin - Adam's sin - and through His death, through the Blood that was shed innocently on the cross (since Christ had no sin), reconciled the world with God the Father. Besides this, Christ is the bridge between being and non-being. On the eve, in addition to burning candles, you can also see food. This is a very long Christian tradition. In ancient times there were so-called agapies - meals of love, when Christians who came to the service, after its end, all together consumed what they brought with them.

15. For what purpose and what products can you put on the eve?

Usually on the eve they put bread, cookies, sugar, everything that does not contradict fasting (since it can also be a fast day). You can also donate lamp oil and Cahors on the eve, which will then be used for the communion of believers. All this is brought and left for the same purpose for which a candle is placed on the eve - to remember one’s deceased relatives, acquaintances, friends, and not yet glorified ascetics of piety. A note of remembrance is also submitted for the same purpose. It should be firmly remembered that the offering must come from a pure heart and a sincere desire to make a sacrifice to God for the repose of the soul of the person being remembered and must be obtained from one’s labor, and not stolen or acquired by deception or other deceit.

16. What is the most important memorial for the dead?

The most important thing is the commemoration of the dead at the proskomedia, for the particles taken from the prosphora are immersed in the Blood of Christ and cleansed by this great sacrifice.

17. How to submit a note of remembrance at the Proskomedia? Is it possible to remember the sick at the proskomedia?

Before the start of the service, you need to go to the candle counter, take a sheet of paper and write as follows: On the repose of Andrei Maria Nikolai Zakaznaya. The note written in this way will be submitted to the proskomedia. About health b. Andrey Jr. Nikolai Nina Zakaznaya In the same way, a note about health is submitted, including for those who are sick. The note can be submitted in the evening, indicating the date on which the commemoration is expected. Don’t forget to draw an eight-pointed cross at the top of the note, and at the bottom it is advisable to write: “and all Orthodox Christians.” If you want to remember a clergyman, then his name is put first.

18. What should I do if, while standing at a prayer service or other service, I did not hear the name that was submitted for commemoration?

It happens that clergy are reproached: they say that not all the notes were read or not all the candles were lit. And they don’t know that they can’t do this. Judge not lest ye be judged. You came, you brought it - that’s it, your duty is done. And what the priest does is what will be asked of him!

19. Why is the commemoration of the dead performed?

The whole point is that the dead cannot pray for themselves. Someone else living today must do this for them. Thus, the souls of people who repented before death, but did not have time to bear the fruits of repentance, can receive liberation only through intercession for them before the Lord from living relatives or friends and through the prayers of the Church. The Holy Fathers and teachers of the Church agree to recognize the possibility for sinners of liberation from torment and the beneficial significance in this regard of prayers and alms, especially church prayers, and predominantly bloodless sacrifice, that is, commemoration at the Liturgy (proskomedia). “When all the people and the Holy Council,” asks St. John Chrysostom, - they stand with their hands stretched out to heaven and when a terrible sacrifice is presented, how can we not appease God by praying for them (the dead)? But this is only about those who died in the faith” (St. John Chrysostom. Conversation on the last to Phil. 3, 4).

20. Is it possible to include the name of a suicide or an unbaptized person in a memorial note?

It is impossible, since persons deprived of a Christian burial are usually deprived of church prayers.

21. How should you behave when censing?

When censing, you need to bow your head, as if you were receiving the Spirit of Life, and say the Jesus Prayer. At the same time, you should not turn your back to the altar - this is the mistake of many parishioners. You just need to turn around a little.

22. What moment is considered the end of the morning service?

The end, or completion, of the morning service is the exit of the priest with the Cross. This moment is called release. During the holiday, believers approach the Cross, kiss it and the priestly hand holding the Cross as its foot. Having walked away, you need to bow to the priest. Let us pray to the Cross: I believe, O Lord, and I worship Your Honest and Life-Giving Cross, for on It you brought salvation in the midst of the Earth.

23. What do you need to know about the use of prosphora and holy water?

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, when you come home, prepare a meal of prosphora and holy water on a clean tablecloth. Before eating the meal, say the prayer: Lord my God, may Your holy gift and Your holy water be for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities according to Thy infinite mercy through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother and all Thy saints. Amen. The prosphora is taken over a plate or a clean sheet of paper so that the holy crumbs do not fall on the floor and are not trampled on, for the prosphora is the holy bread of Heaven. And we must accept it with the fear of God and humility.

24. How are the feasts of the Lord and His saints celebrated?

The feasts of the Lord and His saints are celebrated spiritually, with a pure soul and undefiled conscience, and by obligatory attendance at church. If desired, believers order thanksgiving prayers in honor of the Holiday, bring flowers to the icon of the Holiday, distribute alms, confess and receive communion.

25. How to order a memorial and thanksgiving prayer service?

A prayer service is ordered by submitting a note formatted accordingly. The rules for registering a custom prayer service are posted at the candle counter. In different churches there are certain days when prayer services are held, including holy water services. At a water blessing service you can bless a cross, an icon, and candles. At the end of the water-blessing prayer service, believers with reverence and prayer take holy water and take it daily on an empty stomach.

26. What is the sacrament of repentance and how to prepare for confession?

The Lord Jesus Christ said, addressing His disciples: Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matthew 18:18). And in another place the Savior, blowing, said to the apostles: Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven; those whose sins you retain, they will remain (John 20:22-23). The apostles, fulfilling the will of the Lord, transferred this power to their successors - the shepherds of the Church of Christ, and to this day everyone who believes Orthodoxy and confesses their sins sincerely before an Orthodox priest can receive permission, forgiveness, and complete remission of them through his prayer. This is the essence of the sacrament of repentance. A person who is accustomed to maintaining the purity of his heart and the neatness of his soul cannot live without repentance. He waits and longs for another confession, just as a parched earth awaits life-giving moisture. Imagine for a moment a person who has been washing off bodily dirt all his life! So the soul requires washing, and what would happen if there were no sacrament of repentance, this healing and cleansing “second baptism”. Accumulated sins and transgressions that have not been removed from the conscience (not only large ones, but also many small ones) weigh on it so much that a person begins to feel some kind of unusual fear, it begins to seem to him that something bad is about to happen to him; then suddenly he falls into some kind of nervous breakdown, irritation, feels general anxiety, has no inner firmness, and ceases to control himself. Often he himself does not understand the reason for everything that happens, but it is that a person has unconfessed sins on his conscience. By the grace of God, these sorrowful sensations remind us of them, so that we, puzzled by such a plight of our souls, come to the consciousness of the need to purge all the poison from it, that is, turn to St. the sacrament of repentance and thereby get rid of all those torments that await after the Last Judgment of God for every sinner who has not cleansed himself here in this life. It is very useful to read the detailed life of the Venerable Theodora of Constantinople (December 30, Old Art.) before confession. She accepted monasticism and underwent her feat under the guidance of St. Vasily the New (March 26). She died in 940. Disciple of St. Vasily, Gregory, after the death of Theodora, begged the elder to reveal to him the afterlife fate of the old woman. And so, through the holy prayers of the holy father, his disciple had a wonderful vision: he talked with the Monk Theodora, and she told Gregory about what happened to her at the moment of death and after, when her soul went through terrible trials. (For the story of the ordeal of St. Theodora, see section IV of this book.) Almost the entire sacrament of repentance is performed like this: first, the priest prays with everyone who wants to confess. Then he makes a brief reminder about the most common sins, talks about the meaning of confession, the responsibility of the confessor and the fact that he stands before the Lord Himself, and the priest is only a witness to his mysterious conversation with God, and that the deliberate concealment of any sins aggravates the guilt penitent. Then those who are confessing, one by one, approach the lectern on which the Holy Gospel and the Cross lie, bow to the Cross and the Gospel, stand in front of the lectern, bowing their heads or on their knees (the latter is not necessary), and begin to confess. It is useful to draw up a rough plan for yourself - what sins to confess, so as not to forget later in confession; but you will have to not just read from a piece of paper about your ulcers, but with a feeling of guilt and repentance, open them before God, take them out of your soul, like some nasty snakes, and get rid of them with a feeling of disgust. (Compare this list of sins with those lists that evil spirits will keep during ordeals, and note: the more thoroughly you expose yourself, the fewer pages will be found in those demonic writings.) At the same time, of course, each extraction of such abomination and bringing it to light the light will be accompanied by some feeling of shame, but you know firmly: the Lord Himself and His servant - the priest who confesses you, no matter how disgusting your inner sinful world is, only rejoice when you decisively renounce it; There is only joy in the priest’s soul for the one who has repented. Any priest, after a sincere confession, becomes even more disposed towards the person confessing, and begins to treat him much closer and more caringly.

27. Does repentance erase the memory of previously committed sins?

The answer to this question is given in the essay on the Gospel theme - “The Prodigal Son”. “...He got up and went to his father. And while he was still far away, his father saw him and took pity; and, running, fell on his neck and kissed him. The son said to him: “Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” And the father said to his servants: “Bring the best robe and dress him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and slaughter it: let us eat and be merry!” (Luke 15:20-23.) The feast ends in the house of the good, merciful father. The sounds of rejoicing fade away and the invited guests disperse. Yesterday's prodigal son leaves the hall of the banquet, still full of the sweet feeling of his father's love and forgiveness. Behind the doors he meets his older brother standing outside. In his gaze there is condemnation, almost indignation. The younger brother's heart sank; the joy disappeared, the sounds of the feast died down, the recent, difficult past arose before his eyes... What can he say to his brother in justification? Isn't his indignation justified? Did he deserve this feast, these new clothes, this golden ring, these kisses and his father’s forgiveness? After all, just recently, quite recently... And the head of the younger brother bows low before the stern, condemning gaze of the elder: the still very fresh wounds of the soul ached, ached... With a look asking for mercy, the prodigal son throws himself on his knees in front of the older brother. “Brother... Forgive me... I didn’t organize this feast... And I didn’t ask my father for these new clothes, and shoes, and this ring... I didn’t even call myself a son anymore, I only asked to accept me as a mercenary... Your condemnation of me is fair, and I have no excuse. But listen to me and maybe you will understand the mercy of our father... What does this new clothing cover now? Look, here are the traces of these terrible (mental) wounds. You see: there was no healthy place on my body; there were continuous ulcers, spots, festering wounds (Is. 1:6). They are now closed and “softened by the oil” of my father’s mercy, but they still painfully hurt when touched and, it seems to me, will always hurt... They will constantly remind me of that fateful day when I, with a callous soul, full of conceit and proud self-confidence, broke up with his father, demanding his part of the estate, and went to that terrible country of unbelief and sin... How happy you are, brother, that you have no memories of her, that you do not know the stench and corruption, the evil and sin that reign there. You have not experienced spiritual hunger and have not known the taste of those horns that in that country must be stolen from pigs. Here you have retained your strength and health. But I no longer have them... I only brought the remains of them back to my father’s house. And this is breaking my heart now. Who did I work for? Who did I serve? But all my strength could be devoted to serving my father... You see this precious ring on my sinful, already weak hand. But what I wouldn’t give for these hands to have no traces of the dirty work they did in the land of sin, for the knowledge that they always worked only for their father... Ah, brother! You always live in the light and will never know the bitterness of darkness. You don't know the things that are happening there. You have not met closely with those with whom you have to deal there; you have not touched the dirt that those living there cannot avoid. You don’t know, brother, the bitterness of regrets: what was the strength of my youth spent on? What are the days of my youth dedicated to? Who will return them to me? Oh, if life could start over again! Don’t envy, brother, this new clothing of your father’s mercy, without it the torment of memories and fruitless regrets would be unbearable... And should you envy me? After all, you are rich in wealth, which you may not notice, and happy with happiness, which you may not feel. You don’t know what irretrievable loss is, the consciousness of wasted wealth and ruined talents. Oh, if only it were possible to return all this and bring it back to my father! But property and talents are given only once in a lifetime, and you can’t regain your strength, and time is gone irrevocably... Don’t be surprised, brother, at your father’s mercy, his condescension towards the prodigal son, his desire to cover the pitiful rags of a sinful soul with new clothes, his embrace and kisses that revive a soul devastated by sin. Now the feast is over. Tomorrow I will start work again and will work in my father’s house next to you. You, as the eldest and blameless, will dominate and guide me. Subordinate work befits me. That's what I need. These disgraced hands deserve no other. These new clothes, these shoes and this ring will also be removed before the time: it will be indecent for me to do menial work in them. During the day we will work together, then you can relax and have fun with your friends with a calm heart and a clear conscience. And me?.. Where will I go from my memories, from regrets about wasted wealth, ruined youth, lost strength, scattered talents, soiled clothes, about yesterday’s insult and rejection of my father, from thoughts about opportunities that have gone into eternity and forever lost?.. »

28. What does Communion of the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ mean?

If you do not eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have life in you (John 6:53). He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him (John 6:56). With these words, the Lord pointed out the absolute necessity for all Christians to participate in the sacrament of the Eucharist. The sacrament itself was established by the Lord at the Last Supper. “...Jesus took the bread and, blessing it, broke it and, giving it to the disciples, said: Take, eat, this is My Body. And he took the cup and, giving thanks, gave it to them and said: Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). As the Holy Church teaches, a Christian, receiving St. Communion is mysteriously united with Christ, for in every particle of the fragmented Lamb the Whole Christ is contained. The significance of the sacrament of the Eucharist is immeasurable, the comprehension of which surpasses our minds. It ignites Christ's love in us, lifts the heart to God, gives rise to virtues in it, restrains the attack of dark forces on us, gives strength against temptations, revives the soul and body, heals them, gives them strength, returns virtues - restores that purity of the soul in us , which the first-born Adam had before the Fall. In his reflections on the Divine Liturgy, Bishop. Seraphim Zvezdinsky there is a description of the vision of one ascetic elder, which clearly characterizes the meaning for a Christian of the Communion of the Holy Mysteries. The ascetic saw “...a fiery sea, the waves of which rose and seethed, presenting a terrible sight. On the opposite bank there was a beautiful garden. From there the singing of birds could be heard, the fragrance of flowers spread. The ascetic hears a voice: “Cross this sea.” But there was no way to go. He stood for a long time wondering how to cross, and again he heard a voice: “Take the two wings that the Divine Eucharist has given: one wing is the Divine Flesh of Christ, the second wing is His Life-giving Blood. Without them, no matter how great the feat, it is impossible to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven.” As Fr. writes. Valentin Sventsitsky: “The Eucharist is the basis of that real unity that is expected in the general Resurrection, for both in the transubstantiation of the Gifts and in our Communion is the guarantee of our salvation and Resurrection, not only spiritual, but also physical.” Elder Parthenius of Kiev once, in a reverent feeling of fiery love for the Lord, repeated the prayer within himself for a long time: “Lord Jesus, live in me and let me live in You,” and heard a quiet, sweet voice: He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and Az in it. So, if repentance cleanses us from the defilement of our soul, then the Communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord will fill us with grace and block the return into our soul of the evil spirit expelled by repentance. But we should firmly remember that, no matter how necessary the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ is for us, we should not approach it without first purifying ourselves through confession. The Apostle Paul writes: “Whoever eats this Bread or drinks this Cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Let man test himself and thus let him eat from this Bread and drink from this Cup. For whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation for himself, without considering the Body of the Lord. That is why many of you are weak and sick, and many are dying” (1 Cor. 11:27-30).

29. How many times a year should you take communion?

The Monk Seraphim of Sarov commanded the Diveyevo sisters: “It is unacceptable to confess and partake of all fasts and, in addition, the twelfth and major holidays: the more often, the better - without tormenting yourself with the thought that you are unworthy, and you should not miss the opportunity to use grace as often as possible, granted by communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. The grace bestowed by communion is so great that no matter how unworthy and no matter how sinful a person may be, but only in the humble consciousness of his great sinfulness will he approach the Lord, who redeems us all, even if covered from head to toe with the sores of sins, then he will be cleansed by the grace of Christ, become more and more bright, will be completely enlightened and saved.” It is very good to take communion on your name day and birthday, and for spouses on their wedding day.

30. What is unction?

No matter how carefully we try to remember and write down our sins, it may happen that a significant part of them will not be told in confession, some will be forgotten, and some will simply not be realized and not noticed due to our spiritual blindness. In this case, the Church comes to the aid of the penitent with the sacrament of the Blessing of Unction, or, as it is often called, “unction.” This sacrament is based on the instructions of the Apostle James, the head of the first Jerusalem Church: “If any of you is sick, let him call the elders of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him” (James 5:14-15). Thus, in the sacrament of the Blessing of Anointing, we are forgiven of sins that were not said in confession due to ignorance or forgetfulness. And since illness is a consequence of our sinful state, liberation from sin often leads to healing of the body. Currently, during Great Lent, all Christians who are zealous for salvation take part in three sacraments at once: confession, Blessing of Anointing and Communion of the Holy Mysteries. To those Christians who, for whatever reason, could not take part in the sacrament of the Blessing of Anointing, the Optina elders Barsanuphius and John gave the following advice: “What kind of lender can you find more faithful than God, who knows even what did not happen? So, place on Him the account of the sins you have forgotten and tell Him: “Master, since forgetting one’s sins is a sin, then I have sinned in everything against You, the One Knower of the Heart. You forgive me for everything according to Your love for mankind, for it is there that the splendor of Your glory is manifested, when You do not repay sinners for their sins, for You are glorified forever. Amen".

31. How often should you visit the temple?

The duties of a Christian include visiting church on Saturdays and Sundays and always on holidays. The establishment and observance of holidays is necessary for our salvation; they teach us the true Christian faith, arouse and nourish in us, in our hearts, love, reverence and obedience to God. But they also go to church to perform religious services, rituals, and simply to pray, when time and opportunity permit.

32. What does visiting a temple mean for a believer?

Every visit to church is a holiday for a Christian, if the person is truly a believer. According to the teachings of the Church, when visiting the temple of God, a special blessing and success occurs in all the good endeavors of a Christian. Therefore, you should make sure that at this moment there is peace in your soul and order in your clothes. After all, we don't just go to church. Having humbled ourselves, our soul and heart, we come to Christ. It is to Christ, who gives us the benefit that we must earn by our behavior and inner disposition.

33. What services are performed daily in the Church?

In the name of the Most Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit - the Holy Orthodox Christian Church daily performs evening, morning and afternoon services in the churches of God, following the example of the holy Psalmist, who testifies of himself: “Evening and morning and at noon I will beg and cry, and He (the Lord) will hear my voice” (Ps. 54:17-18). Each of these three services is composed, in turn, of three parts: evening service - it consists of the Ninth Hour, Vespers and Compline; morning - from the Midnight Office, Matins and the First Hour; daytime - from the Third Hour, the Sixth Hour and the Divine Liturgy. Thus, from the evening, morning and daytime services of the Church, nine services are formed: the Ninth Hour, Vespers, Compline, Midnight Office, Matins, the First Hour, the Third Hour, the Sixth Hour and the Divine Liturgy, just as, according to the teachings of St. Dionysius the Areopagite, from three ranks of Angels form nine faces, praising the Lord day and night.

34. What is fasting?

Fasting is not only some changes in the composition of food, that is, refusal of fast food, but, mainly, repentance, bodily and spiritual abstinence, purification of the heart through intense prayer. The Monk Barsanuphius the Great says: “Physical fasting means nothing without the spiritual fasting of the inner man, which consists of protecting oneself from passions. This fast is pleasing to God and will compensate for your lack of physical fasting (if you are weak in body).” St. says the same thing. John Chrysostom: “Whoever limits fasting to one abstinence from food greatly dishonors him. It’s not just the mouth that should fast—no, let the eye, and hearing, and hands, and feet, and our whole body fast.” As Fr. writes. Alexander Elchaninov: “In the dormitories there is a fundamental misunderstanding of fasting. What is important is not fasting in itself as not eating this and that or as depriving oneself of something in the form of punishment - fasting is only a proven way to achieve the desired results - through exhaustion of the body to reach the refinement of spiritual mystical abilities, darkened by the flesh, and thus facilitate your approach to God. Fasting is not hunger. A diabetic, a fakir, a yogi, a prisoner, and just a beggar are starving. Nowhere in the services of Great Lent is there any talk about fasting in isolation in our usual sense, that is, as not eating meat, etc. Everywhere there is one call: “We fast, brothers, physically, we fast and spiritually.” Consequently, fasting only has a religious meaning when it is combined with spiritual exercises. Fasting is equal to refinement. A normal zoologically prosperous person is inaccessible to the influence of external forces. Fasting undermines a person’s physical well-being, and then he becomes more accessible to the influences of another world, and his spiritual filling begins.” According to Bishop Herman, “fasting is pure abstinence in order to restore the lost balance between body and spirit, in order to return to our spirit its supremacy over the body and its passions.”

35. What prayers are performed before and after eating food?

Prayers before eating food: Our Father, who is in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for She gave birth to the Savior of our souls. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Bless. Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen. Prayers after eating food: We thank You, Christ our God, for filling us with Your earthly blessings; do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as in the midst of Your disciples you came, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us. It is worthy to eat as truly to bless Thee, Theotokos, Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

36. Why is the death of the body necessary?

As Metropolitan Anthony Blum writes: “In a world that human sin has made monstrous, death is the only way out. If our world of sin were fixed as unchanging and eternal, it would be hell. Death is the only thing that allows the earth, along with suffering, to escape from this hell.” Bishop Arkady Lubyansky says: “For many, death is a means of salvation from spiritual death. For example, children who die at an early age do not know sin. Death reduces the amount of total evil on earth. What would life be like if there were always murderers - Cains, traitors to the Lord - Judas, human beasts - Nero and others? Therefore, the death of the body is not “ridiculous,” as people of the world say about it, but is necessary and expedient.

See the section for beginning Christians where you will find answers to many questions.

Deacon Alexy (Shchurov), Sanin Evgeny. From the gates to the royal doors (advice to those going to church).

About the post

The Church of Christ commands its children to lead a moderate lifestyle, especially highlighting days and periods of compulsory abstinence - fasting. The Old Testament righteous fasted, and Christ Himself fasted (Matthew 4). Weekly fast days (with the exception of “solid” weeks) are Wednesday and Friday . On Wednesday, fasting was established in memory of the betrayal of Christ by Judas, and on Friday - for the sake of the suffering on the cross and the death of the Savior. On these days it is forbidden to eat meat and dairy foods, eggs, fish (according to the Charter from the Resurrection of St. Thomas until the Feast of the Holy Trinity, fish and vegetable oil can be eaten), and in the period from the Sunday of All Saints (the first Sunday after the Feast of the Trinity) until the Nativity of Christ Wednesdays and Fridays should abstain from fish and vegetable oil.

There are four multi-day fasts a year. The longest and strictest is Lent , which lasts seven weeks before Easter. The strictest of them are the First and the Last, Passionate. This fast was established in memory of the Savior's forty-day fast in the desert.

Close in severity to the Great Assumption Fast , but it is shorter - from August 14 to 27. With this fast, the Holy Church honors the Most Holy Theotokos, Who, standing before God, invariably prays for us. During these strict fasts, fish can be eaten only three times - on the feasts of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7), the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (a week before Easter) and the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19).

The Nativity fast lasts 40 days, from November 28 to January 6. During this fast, you are allowed to eat fish, except on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. After the feast of St. Nicholas (December 19), fish can only be eaten on Saturdays and Sundays, and the period from January 2 to January 6 must be strictly observed.

Fourth Lent - Holy Apostles (Peter and Paul) . It begins with the Sunday of All Saints and ends on the day of remembrance of the holy supreme apostles Peter and Paul - July 12. The regulations on nutrition during this Lent are the same as during the first period of Christmas.

The days of strict fasting are Epiphany Eve (January 18), the holidays of the Beheading of John the Baptist (September 11) and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 27). Some relaxation in the severity of fasting is allowed for the sick, as well as those engaged in hard work, pregnant and lactating women. This is done so that fasting does not lead to a sharp loss of strength, and the Christian has the strength for the prayer rule and the necessary work. But fasting should be not only physical, but also spiritual. “He who believes that fasting only means abstaining from food is mistaken. True fasting, teaches St. John Chrysostom, is withdrawal from evil, curbing the tongue, putting aside anger, taming lusts, stopping slander, lies and perjury.” The body of the fasting person, without being burdened with food, becomes light and strengthens to receive gifts of grace. Fasting tames the desires of the flesh, softens the temper, suppresses anger, restrains the impulses of the heart, invigorates the mind, brings peace to the soul, and eliminates intemperance. By fasting, as St. Basil the Great says, by fasting favorably, by moving away from every sin committed by all the senses, we fulfill the pious duty of an Orthodox Christian. Top

Holy Scripture of the New Testament

Nativity, Baptism, temptations in the desert of the Lord Jesus Christ
Beatitudes
Sermon on the Mount. About anger, about revenge, about condemnation. About almsgiving and fasting. About love for enemies and reconciliation. About adultery and divorce. About prayer. The Lord's Prayer. About human concerns and God's care. The golden rule of morality. On recognizing false prophets. About the false confession of the Lord. Two Images of Listening to the Word of God.
Miracles of Christ. What is a miracle? The meaning of gospel miracles. Miracles true and false. The difference between a miracle and magic. Miracles of Christ and extrasensory perception. Examples of miracles described in the Gospel and their interpretation.
Gospel parables. The concept of a parable. Why does the Lord speak in parables? Examples of parables described in the Gospel and their interpretation.
Holy Week and Resurrection

Confession

What should someone who is tormented by their conscience do? What to do when the soul languishes? The Orthodox Church answers: bring repentance. Repentance is the conviction of one’s sin, it is the determination not to repeat it in the future. We sin against God, against our neighbor and against ourselves. We sin in deeds, words and even thoughts. We sin at the instigation of the devil, under the influence of the world around us and according to our own evil will. “There is no person who will live on earth and not sin,” says the funeral prayer. But there is no such sin that is not forgiven by God upon our repentance. For the salvation of sinners, God became man, was crucified, and rose from the dead. The Holy Fathers compare God's mercy to the sea, extinguishing the strongest flame of human iniquities. Confession is performed daily in Orthodox churches. It is clearly accepted by the priest, but invisibly by the Lord Himself, who has given the pastors of the Church the absolution of sins. “Our Lord and God Jesus Christ, by the grace and generosity of His love for mankind, forgive you all your sins, and I, an unworthy priest, by His power given to me, forgive and absolve you from all your sins,” the priest testifies. During confession, there is no need to make excuses, complain about the circumstances of life, mask sins with vague phrases like “I have sinned against the sixth commandment,” or conduct conversations on unrelated topics. One must, without being ashamed (it is shameful to sin, not to repent!) tell everything that conscience and the Gospel convict of. Under no circumstances should anything be hidden: sin can be hidden from the priest, but not from the Omniscient God.

Sins against the Lord God Beliefs in dreams, divination, meetings and other signs. Doubts about faith. Laziness in prayer and absent-mindedness during it. Not going to Church, long absence from confession and Holy Communion. Hypocrisy in Worship of God. Blasphemy or just murmuring against God in the soul and in words. Intention to commit suicide. An unfulfilled promise to God. Blasphemy of the sacred. Violating fasts or not strictly observing them is a work issue on holidays.

Sins against one's neighbor Lack of zeal for one's position or one's business. Disrespect for superiors or elders. Failure to fulfill a promise to a person. Non-payment of debts. Taking by force or secret appropriation of someone else's property. Stinginess in alms. Gossip. Slander. Cursing others. Unnecessary suspicions. Murder. Disrespect for parents. Anger, hostility in family or home life.

Sins against oneself Idle or bad thoughts in the soul. Wishing evil to one's neighbor. Falsity of the word of speech. Irritability. Envy. Hard-heartedness. Vengeance. Love of money. Passion for pleasure. Drunkenness and polyphagia. Fornication. Adultery.

Mortal sins, that is, making a person guilty of eternal death or destruction 1. Pride, despising everyone, demanding servility from others, ready to ascend to heaven and become like the Most High: in a word - pride to the point of self-adoration. 2. An unsatisfied soul, or Judas’ greed for money, combined for the most part with unrighteous acquisitions, not allowing a person even a minute to think about spiritual things. 3. Fornication, or the dissolute life of the prodigal son, who squandered all his father’s estate on such a life. 4. Envy, leading to every possible crime against one’s neighbor. 5. Gluttony or carnality, not knowing any fasting, combined with a passionate attachment to various amusements, following the example of the Evangelical rich man, who had fun all day long. 6. Irreconcilable anger and decisive for terrible destruction, following the example of Herod, who in his anger beat the Bethlehem babies. 7. Laziness, or complete carelessness about the soul, carelessness about repentance until the last days of life, as, for example, in the days of Noah.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit Excessive trust in God, or continuation of a grave sinful life in the sole hope of God's mercy. Stubborn unbelief, not convinced by any evidence of truth, even obvious miracles. Sins crying out to heaven for vengeance. Intentional homicide (abortion), especially parricide (fratricide and regicide). Sin of Sodom. Unnecessary oppression of a poor, defenseless person, young orphans. Taking away a person's last piece of bread. Sadness and insults to parents to the point of daring beatings.

The penitent is required to: Consciousness of his sins. Condemning yourself in them. Self-accusation before a confessor. Repentance is not only in word, but also in deed. Sins shorten our lives... Back to top

Orthodoxy for dummies [67] - The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (21-31)

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Orthodoxy for dummies The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God author: Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (1914 -2003) CHAPTER ONE (21-31) (continued) Next, I want to remind you of an excerpt from the Gospel of John, which tells how at the Sheep A mass of sick people gathered at the font in Jerusalem, they lay together waiting for healing, because once a year the water boiled, and the first person who plunged into it after that was healed of any disease, no matter what he was possessed. This font has thirty…

2007-03-29 09:07:05 + Comment

Orthodoxy for Dummies [62] – The Sacrament of the Priesthood

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Orthodoxy for Dummies The Sacrament of the Priesthood So, a new topic. But here I, as a storyteller, really want to hide in the shadows. After all, if ALL the sacraments are incomprehensible and essentially contradict and at the same time complement the material and logical nature of our world, then here. The sacrament of the priesthood is something that many, the vast majority of us, are not given the opportunity to experience. After all, this is a transmission of the grace of the Holy Spirit, passing through generations, centuries and countries, but transmitting continuity from the Son of God to each sacred...

2006-11-28 09:05:44 + Comment

Christian life

Before asking how to come to God, where to start (there are audio lectures on this issue that you can listen to online). The life of a Christian differs in many ways from the worldly life. In the morning, after waking up, a believer does not first have breakfast, but reads morning prayers in front of icons (the home iconostasis is usually located on the eastern side of the room) and a lit candle or lamp.

You need to not just read, but pass every word through your heart and soul. As the Apostle Paul said: “It is better to say one word thoughtfully to yourself than a thousand words just with your tongue.”

It’s better to start with one prayer. As awareness of what has been read comes, others are gradually added. In the process of pronouncing prayer words, you need to understand that the Lord is present nearby, that He sees and hears everything. We should not forget to bow before icons and protect ourselves with the sign of the cross.

Before leaving for work, a Christian eats prosphora and drinks some holy water. As for meals, they should also be accompanied by prayer. It is best to read “Our Father” before dinner, lunch and breakfast, then make the sign of the cross over the food. After eating there is a prayer of thanksgiving:

We thank Thee, Christ our God, for Thou hast filled us with Thy earthly blessings; Do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as You came among Your disciples, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us.
It is worthy to eat as you truly bless Thee, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption. (Bow.)

Throughout the day, a true believer thinks about God. When it’s hard for a Christian, he turns to the Mother of God with the words:

Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

If there is any important matter ahead, you need to turn to the Lord and ask for his blessing. If it is large, then a prayer service is ordered in the church.

A true Christian sanctifies everything that is in his home and beyond. They create an atmosphere of holiness around them. It should be located not only outside, but inside – in the heart.

Before going to bed, believers read prayers for the coming sleep. Every Christian will devote at least a little time to reading the Holy Scriptures, the Gospel, and the book of the Acts of the Apostles.

All believers must observe the fasts indicated in the Orthodox calendar. There are 4 of them in total - Petrov, Velikiy, Rozhdestvensky and Uspensky.

Sunday and Saturday evening are always busy for Christians. At this time they stay in church and pray.

It is necessary to take communion once a month. Before the Holy Sacrament, you should fast for at least 3 days and read the prayers “Following to Communion.” On Saturday evening, Christians confess, and on Sunday morning, on an empty stomach, they come to the service and receive communion.

Also, every Christian should have a spiritual father. He explains exactly how to come to God, where to start, how to read and understand the Holy Scriptures, and will always give practical advice.