Many people judge exorcism from foreign horror films. In them, usually a priest in a cassock performs certain manipulations, placing some miraculous objects on the chest or other parts of the body and reading prayers in Latin. The reaction of the possessed is expressed by hissing, loud swearing in alien voices, wild facial expressions and similar signs of the presence of an enemy of the human race in his body.
It's really scary, but how realistic is the procedure? Does the expulsion of hostile entities occur in practice? What is the attitude of the Orthodox Church towards exorcism?
Attitude of the Orthodox Church
In the Orthodox Church, an exorcist is a separate high rank of priest; not everyone can have such a gift and power. In order to perform such sacraments, you must obtain permission from senior management.
The so-called “reprimand” in the Orthodox Church is not welcomed by everyone:
- many representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church speak out against mass reprimands and have a negative attitude towards them;
- clergy believe that it is now very difficult to find a priest with the ability to expel evil spirits;
- such rituals are now carried out by the so-called “young elders” who can cause irreparable harm to both their soul and the soul of the people present at this ritual;
- During a lecture, it is not the priest who casts out demons, he turns to the powers from above, therefore young priests and those who do not have such a gift cannot approach such a serious matter as casting out demons.
Important! Christ always forbade those possessed to give voice, and the elders did not allow them to listen to the cries and roars of the possessed, to come into contact with demons, or to be near healthy people. At modern lectures there are many strangers who may get hurt.
In Orthodox practice, there were no mass lectures, which now anyone can attend. Such rituals can be attended not only by possessed people, but also by mentally ill people who scream and try to imitate animal roars.
All this is recorded by journalists or curious onlookers on video, voice recorders and spread across the Internet, entire films are shot. Such exorcism may be unsafe for human souls.
Therefore, the Orthodox church in which the ceremony is held is closed for the whole day. There are only the parishioner over whom the ceremony is being performed and the priest or priests who are allowed to perform the ceremony.
Vice, illness or obsession?
The presence of an inner dark essence is different in nature from other vices common to many people. A reprimand will not help overcome smoking, drunkenness, passion for gambling, and especially drug addiction. The same applies to spiritual and physical illnesses that require medical treatment or personal volitional efforts of the sinner. Demon possession is not an excuse for adultery, anger, envy or greed. The very desire to transfer one’s own vicious aspirations to the evil one is a dangerous temptation.
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Brief historical background
The Bible describes a plot involving the exorcism of demons, as in the Old Testament, where an evil spirit struck the king of Seoul and David performed the exorcism ceremony, playing the harp. In the Holy Scriptures one can also find many descriptions of the exorcism of demons by the Savior and his successors.
Mentions of obsession at different times in history:
- the ancient rite of expelling demons from pagans was combined with their baptism into the Christian faith;
- Middle Ages - condemnation for paganism of belief in folk stories about demons that possess women, and witches that cast spells on animals and people. During the Middle Ages, exorcism was a very common procedure that was performed on almost every person, it was a test;
- XIII century - the Catholic Church fought against heresy and witches. This struggle shed light on the communication between people and demons, and exorcism in the Christian faith acquired meaning and a new birth.
Interesting! John of Kronstadt is the most famous Russian exorcist. He did not carry out the ritual of reprimand as modern Orthodox believers imagine it; he exclaimed several times, “Get out!”
Detection of demonic possession
Obsession is not obvious in everyday life. A person in ordinary circumstances may simply appear somewhat strange, unpleasant, or aggressive. The role of litmus is played by the usual attributes of divine services, perceived positively by churchgoers - blessed water, a crucifix, the sign of the cross, liturgy or any prayer.
Observing demonic possession is very difficult. The possessed person behaves disgracefully: he makes faces, screams in strange voices, imitates the sounds made by animals, lies on the floor and commits other outrages. Sometimes opinions are expressed that such scenes are played out deliberately, and the entire ritual is a performance designed to create a reputation for the exorcist priest as a fighter against evil spirits. It cannot be ruled out that there are cases of falsification, but the author of these lines himself witnessed the terrible behavior of people whom he could not suspect of deliberate lies. They would simply be ashamed of the very possibility of looking so disgusting.
What is obsession
Obsession has a number of signs:
- behavior begins to change dramatically, the person begins to show himself very aggressively, especially towards the church and shrines, even to the point of swearing, wheezing and spitting on the cross;
- seizures similar to the manifestation of epilepsy occur: convulsions of the whole body, thick foam at the mouth, twitching, rolling of the eyes;
- an evil look appears, hallucinations;
- when he is near an icon or church he begins to get very worried;
- during the manifestation of demon possession, he begins to speak on behalf of dark forces, sometimes in an unknown language;
- immoral behavior that knows no boundaries is manifested;
- a person constantly thinks about suicide.
Attention! Many of the listed signs can manifest themselves in any psychological illness, so if symptoms appear, you should first consult a psychiatrist.
How prayers help
It is difficult for demons to take over the body and mind of those who sincerely believe in God and serve Him. However, this does not prevent them from influencing the true righteous from the outside. Under the influence of dark forces, a person begins to feel disgust at the sight of the cross, fear shrines, avoid mentioning the Lord, and visiting temples.
In this case, only prayer against demonic machinations can help him. With it, it is easy to free yourself from demonic shackles, regain the desire to know God, live according to His commandments, glorify His name, get closer to Him in any available ways, including through the use of religious attributes.
Rules for the ceremony
The rite of exorcism is needed to expel demons from a possessed person.
About other rituals of the Orthodox Church:
A few mandatory rules:
- before carrying out a reprimand, it is necessary to make sure that the person is not sick with psychiatric diseases, but has been possessed by a dark force;
- the priest reads a prayer over the possessed, turns to the Lord, asks him to expel evil spirits from the person. The text of the prayer cannot be interrupted, even if the demons begin to interfere, scream, arch, spit and behave defiantly inappropriately;
- A relative of the person being reprimanded must be present in order to protect the exorcist from accusations, since the death of the patient may occur during the ritual.
Important! The main condition for a person’s recovery is a righteous life, attending church, and constant prayer. If he does not lead an Orthodox lifestyle, then the exorcism will be unsuccessful.
The reprimand in Russia is still being carried out. Expelling demons is a very responsible matter and not every priest will decide to do it. Exorcism is dangerous for both parties.
Readings are held in Sergiev Posad in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Father Herman is the only one who has the bishop's permission for this rite.
Possession is the complete submission of a person’s will to the demons that have gripped him. Such cases are rare, but they still happen in our time. In case of obsession, a person can no longer control himself, he is seized by convulsions, he begins to howl and speak in unknown languages. Witnesses mention that they feel a terrible, evil force next to them, which drives them into confusion. A person needs to resort to the spiritual help of an Orthodox priest, who, with the blessing of a higher church authority, can read the rite of exile over the demonic and free the sufferer from the power of demons. It is known that in the Great Breviary of St. Peter the Mogila of the 17th century there was a rite of exile, consisting of 12 prayers.
How does the exorcism ritual take place?
Before the exorcism of demons, an Orthodox Christian, aware of his possession, asks the bishop for a blessing to perform the rite. If the priest, convinced of the signs of Satan’s machinations, gives it, those who will be present at the ceremony are selected from among close people.
The sufferer needs prayer support. He faces a strict long fast. If you do not follow the rules of a righteous life, you cannot guarantee that the demon will not return, bringing even more destructive consequences for the soul.
The ritual consists of overshadowing the crucifix, applying it to the body, fumigating with incense, sprinkling with holy water and reading a special prayer.
Casting out demons by Jesus
The New Testament describes many cases of the Son of God casting out demons. The Gospel of Matthew (9:32–33) describes a case when, after Christ cast out demons, a mute man found his voice. Chapter 12 mentions a demon-possessed blind and dumb man who regains his sight and begins to speak after being healed. But the most famous case is that of the Gadarene demoniac - a man of mighty strength who was so overcome by demons that he tore his clothes, ran into caves (tombs) and did not eat anything for weeks (Mark 5:2 - 20). They could not cope with him, since he possessed enormous strength. Christ commanded the “legion” of demons that lived in man to go out into the huge herd of pigs that were grazing nearby. The demons entered the animals, after which they threw themselves into the sea from the rocks. And the demon-possessed Gadarene got dressed and began to calmly talk to Christ. This is how his relatives found him.
Sergius of Radonezh
The work of the apostles was continued by the great Russian saints. Thus, Sergius of Radonezh healed a possessed boyar who lived near the Lavra. The noble man was tormented so much by demons that he broke strong chains, bit his household and ran away into deserted places, like the possessed Gardarinsky. Even ten strong men could not hold him. He was returned home when he was completely weakened. When they took him, tied up, to the Lavra, the demons began to howl: “Where are you taking me! Woe! Woe is me!". Having learned about the approach of the demoniac, Fr. Sergius ordered the beater to be beaten, gathered the monks and began to serve a prayer service. When the boyar was brought into the monastery, the Saint came out to him with a cross in his hand and crossed him. He jumped back and began to roll in a puddle, shouting that he was “burning with flames.” After the prayer ended, he was healed, regained his mind and began to talk. It is known that the healed man spent several days in the Lavra, confessed, took communion, thanked God for his salvation and went home healthy. In the Life of the Saint, there is also a case of healing of a possessed young man who lived in a monastery, but this incident occurred after the death of the Saint. The possessed young man ran into the forest and wandered through the ravines. To heal him, the monks bound him with chains and brought him to the tomb of the Saint. At the sight of the relics, the young man began to beat on the floor and howl. But one day the Lord heard the Saint’s prayer, and the young man was healed at the Saint’s tomb. After the expulsion of demons, he remained to live in the monastery, sewing clothes for the monks.
Texts of prayers against demons
Many prayers from demons are written in Latin. Despite the fact that Latin is easy for the Slavs, they often use a prayer book in Russian for personal appeals to the Lord or Saints.
Prayer to cast out demons from a person to God
Who else but God can defeat the devil, no matter what tricks he resorts to? Do you want to ask the Almighty for protection? Use a ready-made Orthodox prayer to instantly expel evil forces.
Jesus Prayer
The text of the Jesus Prayer is well known to every true believer. Such Christians know firsthand that it is powerful and effective in various difficult life situations. The Son of God is capable of everything, including freeing a person from the captivity of evil forces, no matter how they manifest themselves.
Prayer of John of Kronstadt for healing from demons
Father John of Kronstadt is a famous Orthodox clergyman who during his lifetime wrote many invaluable works for Christians, including prayers. Among these is prayer, with the help of which you can be healed from the demons that have enslaved your soul.
Prayer to Saints Cyprian and Justina
During their sacred lives, the disciples Cyprian and Justina, serving the Lord with truth and faith, helped all the weak and defenseless, persecuted by enemies. To this day they are asked for protection from the attacks of evil, including evil coming directly from the Evil One.
Prayer of Elder Pansophius of Athos
Despite the fact that Christians know little about the life of Panthosius of Athos, his prayer against evil is very popular. There is nothing surprising in this, given that the Almighty himself blessed the elder to write it.
Saint John of Kronstadt
Another saint who became famous for his exile was John of Kronstadt, who lived at the end of the 19th century. According to the story of an eyewitness, Colonel Evstafy Andreevich Kovessky, in 1882 a huge man was brought into the temple, who was barely restrained by other men. He howled, crowed like a rooster, and foam came out of his mouth. Father John covered him with the stole and began to pray. The demoniac fell to his knees and fell silent. After Father John crossed him, he calmly stood up and bowed. A nun named Rodevich spoke about the healing of a demoniac. The woman was taken into the temple by several men and barely held her in place. Father John arrived and ordered her to cross herself and put his hand on her head. The woman hissed, howled and fought everyone off with her right hand, like a stick, but the priest held her in place and prayed. Large tears rolled from Father John's eyes, turned to heaven. Finally he managed to bend the possessed woman’s hand and cross her. After that, she began to cross herself non-stop, foam started coming out of her mouth, and then she fell to the floor. When her legs were raised, the woman began to cry and began to thank the Saint, after which she calmly defended the service and accepted the Holy Gifts. Another case of the healing of a demonic woman occurred here, in the church where the Saint served. The possessed woman ran inside, jumped on the priest and grabbed onto him, dragging him several meters. Witnesses said that Father John was calm, but very pale and began to pray. Besa shouted that he wouldn’t come out, but then he humbled himself and asked: “Where do you want me to go out?” To which the Saint replied: “Into the abyss!” After a few minutes, the raging woman calmed down.
Questions for the priest
Is it possible to read a prayer from demons for an unbaptized person?
It is possible, but it will be most effective if a person becomes a member of the Church. He needs to be baptized as quickly as possible, without wasting a minute.
Is it possible to perform an exorcism at home?
It is possible, but in practice it is more often carried out within the walls of the temple, where the flesh of a person struck by devilish forces becomes weak before the holiness of the Lord.
Is it necessary to learn a prayer from evil spirits by heart?
No, but it wouldn't hurt to do so. Thus, a Christian will be able to protect himself from the devil at any moment. All he will need to do is remember the necessary lines addressed to the Lord or the Holy Intercessors.
Is it necessary to combine the process of prayerful cleansing of the flesh with the process of cleansing the home?
In most cases, this is done to reduce the risk of repeated attacks from demons. Double cleansing allows a person to achieve harmony with himself and harmonize the atmosphere in the house.
RECOMMENDED: Preparation for communion and confession for beginners.
Modern exorcists
Now you can get a lecture at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where priest German Chesnokov continues the work. He does this with the blessing of Patriarch Pimen and the spiritual cathedral of the Lavra. They also reprimand in some other churches and monasteries, but the priest must have a blessing from the bishop. If the laity engage in exorcism, then what awaits them is what happened many centuries ago with the sons of the Jewish high priest Sceva (Acts 19: 13–16), who decided to cast out demons the same way as the Apostle Paul did. The result was disastrous. In response to the words: “We conjure you in the name of Christ and His Apostle Paul, come out!” The demons answered: “We know Christ and we know Paul, but who are you?” After which the raging man attacked the brothers, severely beat them, tore their clothes and put them to flight.
How to get rid of demons
The entire space from the earth to the very heavens is filled with spirits invisible to the human eye, many of which are evil, dangerous even for true believers. The latter are made vulnerable by sinful actions and lack of desire to develop spiritually.
Having become a victim of demons, a person begins to behave differently, and the atmosphere in his home becomes joyless, which everyone feels. Fortunately, these problems can be solved with the help of Orthodox prayer, which has the power to overcome evil in any of its forms.
In order for the prayer book to be as effective as possible, it is necessary not only to read it regularly, but also in parallel:
- burn incense in your home at least once a week;
- Sprinkle the house daily with holy water, which is easy to stock up in any temple;
- acquire a red corner where Orthodox icons will be placed;
- Light church candles indoors as often as possible.
Exorcism through the Christian faith and religious attributes is a real way to defeat the devil within yourself or your home.
