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Surprisingly, some people do not attach any importance to this, considering this phenomenon absolutely normal. Despite this, many people still consider this an abnormal phenomenon and associate it with something negative. At the same time, there are even people who, after visiting church with such emotions, begin to seriously think about their behavior in life. What does it mean to cry in church and how priests explain it - we will consider below.
Should you pay attention to the desire to cry in church?
To the question of why you want to cry in church, you can find a huge number of answers, but it cannot be said that any of them is correct. Therefore, each person must understand for himself whether it is worth paying attention to the fact that he has a desire to shed tears, and also find out why this happens.
It must be said that most people believe that this phenomenon should not be paid attention to, since often a person programs himself for some thoughts and actions, so this desire depends only on the person’s own thoughts and his attitude to what is happening.
Why do you cry when you read a prayer?
This can occur both from penetration by prayer words, and because subconsciously a person may either not accept the words of prayer, or they may somehow offend him and remind him of sin.
In some cases, this happens if you resist prayer or read prayer words under duress.
This can happen if a person overdoes the prayer rule and tries to pray beyond his strength. God does not need such feats, so stop praying beyond measure.
The reason for wanting to cry in church is a strong belief in God
It is worth saying that one of the most common reasons why you want to cry in church is a strong belief in God. Most people who experience this desire truly believe in God, and that is why they have such strong emotions. They cannot resist the words of the sermon and the church choir. Such people are very sensitive, so they simply cannot contain their emotions.
This phenomenon cannot be called any “bad” or “wrong”, since a person cannot be to blame for his sensitivity and sincerity. This is not to say that the desire to cry in church is strange, since everyone experiences going to this place differently. For some, this is a tradition that must be followed, and for others, it is a place where you can be alone with yourself and God.
Saints about crying and tears during prayer
According to the Monk Isaac the Syrian, one of the Fathers of the Church, the spiritual transformation of a person begins with tears of repentance.
In his appeal to God, Saint Augustine sees the tears of his mother, who, being married to a pagan, constantly cried in prayer of petition for her husband and children. Saint Monica begged her family in tears.
Augustine assures in his book “Confessions” that tears cover the person praying at the moment of realizing the price of the Blood paid for the salvation and triumph of God.
According to Metropolitan Athanasius of Limassol, only in tears can one learn the essence of prayer life.
Curses, evil eyes and damage as reasons for the desire to cry in church
The answers to the question of why you feel like crying when you enter church can be completely different from person to person. It is worth saying that a lot depends on a person’s faith. If a person believes that this desire is caused by the good and kind emotions that he experienced while in church, then most likely it is so. However, there are many people who, when faced with this desire, are looking for some kind of catch. Perhaps not in vain, because there is another reason why when you come to church, you want to cry. To believe or not to believe in its veracity is up to you to decide.
There is one common and well-known assumption why, when entering a church, you want to cry.
Many people believe that a person who feels the urge to shed tears has been jinxed or cursed. This is explained by the fact that it is in the temple of God that a person feels that something is wrong with him. For some believers, this becomes a reason to confess and start going to church more often. Perhaps this version is true, but this cannot be confirmed. There are people who do not believe in damage, curses and the evil eye at all, so they believe that this is not the reason why they want to cry in church.
Summary
- Crying in the temple can be caused by a variety of reasons - from the machinations of evil forces to sincere repentance and strong faith in the Creator.
- Tears in church are not something to blame; you can cry even during services and religious sacraments.
- Of course, you should control yourself and not throw loud tantrums.
- If your own tears in church make you feel uncomfortable, discuss this issue with a priest or religious psychologist.
- It is normal for both the presence of tears when visiting a temple and their absence.
- When you see a person crying in a temple, act depending on how much he is able to control himself and how well he feels.
The imperfection of the real world as a reason for the desire to cry in the temple of God
However, if you think that none of the above versions is the reason that caused this desire in you, there is another assumption that may help you figure out why you want to cry after church.
Some priests say that one may want to shed tears because of the feeling of imperfection of the real world in which we live. When a person is in church, he communicates with God, he has the opportunity to be with himself and take a mental break from the bustle of the world. That is why tears may well up in his eyes, because the believer understands that the world outside God’s house is not so calm, kind and sincere. A person may cry because he imagines how good it would be if the kingdom of God came.
Tears of Peace
Photo: orthodoxmoscow.ru
True believers who regularly attend churches and pray at home often admit that they can literally burst into tears during normal household or worship services. At such moments, they experience an incredible feeling of awe before the Almighty. Priests are well aware that such a cry can bring peace and tranquility to a person. This is a sign of the feeling of God's grace that descended on him after the touch of the Holy Spirit.
Sincere believers can experience a special sense of joy when reading the Bible because the Word in the Holy Scriptures affects not only a person's mind, but also his heart.
How do priests explain the desire to cry in church?
A person who has encountered this phenomenon is interested in knowing why one feels like crying in church. The priest's answer is the most important for them. In their opinion, it is the priest who can give the correct answer and advise how to get rid of this desire.
Priests say that the desire to cry in church is caused by the Devil. He allegedly specifically brings this state down on the believer so that he no longer goes to church and turns away from God. In such situations, priests advise not to succumb to these feelings and bad condition, since only after going through all the trials will a believer become closer to God.
Treatment
The method of therapy depends on the cause that caused the pain, increased lacrimation, redness:
- antiviral drugs in the form of tablets or eye ointments;
- local antibacterial therapy using drops or ointments;
- removal of a foreign body from its location in the mucous membrane;
- complex therapy for burn conditions, which begins with treatment of the damaged surface and ends with antibacterial drugs to prevent infection;
- antihistamines to eliminate the increased influence of the immune system on the occurrence of an allergic reaction;
- the use of multivitamins that enhance metabolism and regeneration inside the eyes is used prophylactically to prevent the development of certain ophthalmological diseases.
If the condition is caused by excessive eye fatigue, it is necessary to limit the time spent in front of the computer, phone, TV, tablet. Use moisturizing drops that prevent dry eyes and microtrauma on the cornea. You need to sleep and rest more. You can also use eye exercises to relieve fatigue.
What to do if you want to cry in church?
The correct answer cannot be imposed on anyone, because each person lives by his own principles and decides for himself whether to believe what others say or not. Therefore, it is impossible to find one correct answer to the question: “Why do you want to cry in church?” Father's answer may seem incorrect to some. This is because some people do not believe that the Devil can have a negative influence on people.
It is possible that someone will not find a single “correct” answer to the question “why do you cry in church,” and this is not at all surprising. Religion and faith in God is something intimate and hidden for everyone. Someone is very sensitive to it, and such a phenomenon as the desire to cry in a temple can cause a lot of worries and negative emotions in him.
Orthodox Life
website of the Gorlovka and Slavic diocese
“Eyes are clearer than words - words sometimes only obscure the meaning... And the look - well, will it deceive the one who can read in it?” As they say, the eyes are the mirror of the soul. You can tell a lot by looking: whether a person is cheerful, thoughtful, or sad for some reason. The sayings “sparks from the eyes” and “withering gaze” have long been known. It is enough to take a good look at a person and everything will become clear. And my eyes shed tears. What can a person’s tears in a church tell about, a correspondent of TC “Orbita” asked the rector of the Vvedensky Church in the village of Vodyanoye, Archpriest Maxim Fedoryachenko.
— Father, what does church literature say about tears?
Is turning to priests, fortune tellers, psychics the solution?
If you are really worried about this and think that this phenomenon is not normal, then it is best to seek advice from a priest. Perhaps he can clarify the situation and give valuable advice. It is possible that you will be able to get rid of the desire to cry in church, or you will simply stop attaching importance to it. In any case, you must act according to your heart!
It is worth saying that many people crying in church assume that they have been damaged, jinxed, etc. In this regard, they have a desire to turn to fortune tellers, psychics, etc. However, if you are a believer, then This is not recommended. The Church does not accept fortune telling, psychic abilities, etc. But every person has the right to make his own choice and do as he sees fit. Therefore, if you think that turning to people with the gift of clairvoyance is the only way out, follow your heart.
Crying as a social phenomenon
Many studies designed to evaluate the impact of crying on the body suggest that crying is more of a social phenomenon. Being an effective signal that can tell others that something is wrong with you, it simultaneously becomes a means of obtaining the help, support and consolation you need at this moment (underline what is necessary). Experiments and surveys show that viewing images of crying faces, compared to faces without tears, not only makes the viewer's face sadder, but also activates the social support "button" in the viewer. And yes, this happens to all people, with the exception of psychopaths.
My eyes are watering
Watery eyes or lacrimation
- a condition when tears accumulate in the conjunctival cavity and flow over the edge of the eyelid.
As a result, eyelid skin irritation, redness, and maceration occur. Constantly flowing tears cause discomfort and irritation. Why do my eyes water and what should I do?
The eyes water only for three reasons: A.
The lacrimal glands produce an excess amount of tear fluid
.
B. Violation of the lacrimal ducts
.
C. Violation of the composition of tears
.
Tear is necessary for constant hydration of the cornea. With a lack of tears, the cornea dries out, becomes cloudy and the person loses vision. This disease is called corneal xerosis. Therefore, to maintain good vision, tear secretion is necessary. Interestingly, approximately 250 ml of tear fluid is produced per day
in each eye.
The same amount of tears is removed from the eye along the lacrimal ducts, which include the lacrimal canaliculus, lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct. Each human eye has a lacrimal gland, which is located in the upper outer part of the eye and 18-20 small additional lacrimal glands in the transitional conjunctival fold of the upper eyelid, at the top of the eyelid on the inside. Under normal conditions, only the accessory lacrimal glands constantly function and secrete tears. This tear is completely enough for a person to moisturize the cornea. The main lacrimal gland is activated when the cornea dries out, is irritated by a foreign object, or is subject to psychological (neurological) irritation. My eyes are watering, what could be the reasons? A. Causes causing hypersecretion of the lacrimal glands:
1. “Dry eye syndrome” 2. Dry air 3. Foreign body in the cornea or conjunctiva 4. Chemical irritation of the cornea 5. Inflammatory process in the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis) 6. Inflammatory process of the eyelids (blepharitis) 7. Irritation of the nerves innervating the lacrimal glands, a neurological cause of lacrimation 8. Violation of the psychosomatic state
B. Causes causing disruption of the outflow of tears:
1. Atony (flabbiness) of the lower eyelid 2. Blockage of the lacrimal ducts 3. Inflammatory process in the lacrimal ducts 4. Narrowing of the lacrimal ducts 5 Inversion or eversion of lacrimal openings.
6. Compression of the lacrimal canaliculi by swelling of the eyelids C. Reasons leading to disruption of the composition of tears:
1. Meibomitis - inflammation of the meibomian glands
A. Reasons causing hypersecretion of the lacrimal glands:
1
.
"Dry eye syndrome." Paradoxically, “dry eye syndrome” is one of the two most common causes of lacrimation.
It would seem that a “dry eye” requires hydration and cannot be the cause of excess tears. But it is the drying of the cornea that triggers hypersecretion of the lacrimal gland, which produces a larger volume of tears than the lacrimal ducts can drain. Treatment
: Drops of artificial tears, restoring the tear film and, most importantly, its normal composition, will help get rid of lacrimation in this case.
Massage of the meibomian glands is also recommended to restore their normal functioning. Dysfunction of the meibomian glands leads to disruption of the composition of tears and, as a consequence, to “dry eye syndrome.” It is also necessary to humidify the air in the room, especially in winter. The relative power of air for the normal functioning of the lacrimal organs must be more than 50%. 2 . Dry indoor or outdoor air
causes tears to dry out and the cornea to become dry.
This effect is especially pronounced in countries with hot climatic conditions accompanied by persistent winds. The mechanism of additional tear production is triggered, which is produced in excess, and lacrimation occurs. It should be noted that frosty air is much drier in its physical characteristics than warm air. Therefore, outside in the cold, accompanied by the wind, the tears also quickly dry out and, as a result, an additional increased secretion of tears from the lacrimal gland occurs, which makes the eyes become very watery. Treatment
: maintain relative humidity in the room more than 50%, avoid prolonged stay outside in conditions of too dry, warm or frosty air accompanied by strong winds.
3 .
A foreign body in the cornea or conjunctival cavity , most often an eyelash, leads to disruption of the corneal epithelium, causing “corneal” syndrome, which is always accompanied by redness and severe watering of the eyes.
Treatment
: it is necessary to remove the foreign body and use means that improve the regeneration of the cornea for its speedy recovery: eye drops or gel “Korneregel”, eye ointment “Solcoseryl”, eye drops “Citral” 2-3 times a day.
Once the cornea is restored, the lacrimation will stop. Along with drugs that improve regeneration, it is recommended to use eye drops to prevent secondary infections, such as: Tobrex, Albucid 20%, Levomycetin - 1 drop 3 times a day. 4 .
Chemical irritation of the cornea by substances in the air leads to a reflex increase in lacrimation for increased protection of the cornea, to prevent the negative effects of chemicals on the eye lens, which are washed away by the copious secretion of tears.
We know that our eyes water when we peel onions. This is the most typical example of lacrimation from chemical exposure to the eyes. The same thing happens in a room where there is an excess of ammonia, tobacco smoke, and other active chemicals. Treatment
: It is necessary to rinse the eyes with warm water and leave the room.
For prevention, it is necessary to use safety glasses. 5. Conjunctivitis
, or inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye, also causes the eyes to water.
In addition to the fact that tears flow, the eyes become red. With bacterial conjunctivitis, pus discharge and swelling of the eyelids occur. Treatment
: it is necessary to determine the cause of conjunctivitis and eliminate it using drugs that suppress the proliferation of viruses or bacteria.
These can be: “tobrex”, “tobradex”, “maxitrol”, “interferon”, “albucid 20%”, “chloramphenicol” - 1 drop 4-6 times a day. 6 .
Blepharitis , or inflammation of the edges of the eyelids, leads to chronic lacrimation, as does the disease itself, which most often has a chronic course.
Lacrimation in blepharitis is associated with swelling of the eyelids and difficulty in the outflow of tears through the lacrimal canaliculi. Treatment
: Treatment of the underlying condition of blepharitis will help get rid of watery eyes in this case.
7 . Irritation of the nerves innervating the lacrimal glands
, a neurological cause of lacrimation.
The innervation of the lacrimal gland is very complex. Four nerves provide its sensitive and secretory functions. This is the “Lacrimal nerve” - the first branch of the trigeminal nerve, a branch of the facial nerve, as well as nerve fibers of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. Irritation of these nerve fibers can cause hypersecretion of the lacrimal gland. Irritating factors include tumors, inflammatory diseases on the face, and injuries. Treatment
: neurologists can tell you what to do in this case to stop lacrimation.
8. Violation of a person’s psychosomatic state
is a common cause when the eyes water in excess and tears flow like a river.
Anger, fear, sadness or grief irritate the sympathetic nervous system, releasing the so-called “stress response hormones” - adrenaline, norepinephrine - into the blood. As is known, the lacrimal gland is innervated by the sympathetic nervous system and therefore, when it is irritated, increased tear production occurs. The stronger the stress response, the greater the irritation of the sympathetic nervous system and the more tears flow. Treatment
: drugs that stabilize the nervous system and reduce stress.
“Novopassit”, “Valerian extract” are very suitable. Causes causing disruption of tear outflow:
1.
The second most common cause of lacrimation is atony (decreased tone) of the lower eyelid
. The tear flows from the conjunctival cavity through the lacrimal punctum located on the lower eyelid. Normally, the eyelid has good tone and the point is adjacent to the eyeball.
With age, muscle tone changes, tone decreases, the eyelid becomes flabby and a small gap forms between the eye and the eyelid.
The lacrimal punctum moves away from the eyeball, the tear cannot find its outflow path and overflows the edge of the eyelid. This happens when the eyes water due to age-related disorders in the body - atony of the lower eyelid. Treatment
: treatment in this case can only be surgical.
There are two directions of treatment: expansion of the lacrimal punctum or excision of part of the lower eyelid to increase its tone and return to its original state, when the lacrimal punctum is again adjacent to the eyeball and the tear outflow path is restored. 2. Blockage of the lacrimal ducts
can occur at any stage.
In adults, blockage of the tear ducts most often occurs. The cause of blockage may be discharge from conjunctivitis, blepharitis, mascara and other similar reasons. Disruption of the outflow in the lacrimal sac occurs after inflammatory diseases of the lacrimal ducts, dacryocystitis, canaliculitis. In such cases, the products of inflammation remain in the lacrimal sac and obstruct the outflow of tears. Diagnosis is made by taking x-rays with a contrast agent filling the tear ducts. Treatment
: Violation of the conductivity of the lacrimal canaliculi is carried out by dilating and washing them.
As a rule, such procedures give a lasting positive effect. 3. Inflammatory process in the lacrimal ducts
.
Dacryocystitis is inflammation of the lacrimal gland. Dacryocystitis is characterized by the accumulation of inflammatory products in the lacrimal sac, its swelling, redness and pain in the area of the internal commissure of the eyelids. At the same time, tears, as a rule, “run in a stream.” Canaliculitis is inflammation of the tear ducts. Diagnosis of canaliculitis is difficult, since there are no external signs of inflammation other than lacrimation. Treatment
: Treatment must be carried out in a specialized surgical facility, since for successful treatment of dacryocystitis it is necessary to create a path for the outflow of inflammatory fluid of the lacrimal sac, which is carried out surgically.
4. Narrowing of the lacrimal ducts
, or their stricture, is, as a rule, a consequence of inflammatory processes of the eye - conjunctivitis, inflammation of the eyelids, blepharitis.
Damage to the epithelial wall of the lacrimal ducts due to infection leads to narrowing of the lumen and disruption of the outflow of tears. Treatment
: Bougienage of the lacrimal and nasolacrimal ducts.
If there is no effect, they resort to plastic surgery. 5. Inversion or eversion of the lacrimal openings
is a consequence of injury or very severe inflammation of the eyelids.
As a result of the scarring process, the lacrimal punctum is displaced, and tears cannot flow down the lacrimal ducts. The eyes are very watery. Treatment
: Cosmetological treatment of volvulus or eversion of the lacrimal punctum can only be surgical.
6. Compression of the tear ducts by swelling of the eyelids
is the most common cause of
watery eyes in the morning
.
If your eyes are very watery in the morning, pay attention to whether you have swelling of your eyelids and face. Low mobility of a person at night and a violation, especially with age, of the water-salt balance leads to stasis (slowing down of the flow) of fluid in the body, which accumulates in tissues rich in fiber, which include the eyelids. Excessive accumulation of interstitial fluid compresses the tear ducts and can lead to severe watery eyes in the morning, which goes away as the person stays awake and moves. Nocturnal lymphostasis, which occurs for a variety of reasons from cardiac dysfunction, renal failure to varicose veins, can be the reason why tears flow in the morning. Treatment:
if, in addition to tears in the morning, you notice swelling of the eyelids, then it is necessary to carry out active physical exercises, at least for a few minutes. Muscle work will improve lymphatic drainage, swelling of the eyelids will subside and lacrimation will stop. In order to more accurately understand the malfunctions of the body, it is necessary to consult a therapist, who, based on examinations, recommends consultation with a specialist.
C. Reasons leading to disruption of the composition of tears:
1. Meibomitis (meibomitis) - inflammation of the meibomian glands
Meibomite is the third most common cause of watery eyes.
The meibomian glands are found in the intermarginal margin of the eyelids (the edges of the eyelids that touch when the eyes close). The meibomian glands produce a special viscous secretion that is found in the superficial layer of the tear. The tear consists of 99% water, so it dries quickly. The secretion of the meibomian glands prevents this process. When the meibomian glands become inflamed, the composition of the secretion changes or is completely absent when the glands are clogged with inflammatory products. In this case, the biochemical composition of the tear changes and the tear dries very quickly on the surface of the cornea, irritation occurs and, as a result, increased tear production, the eyes begin to water during this process. Treatment
: massage of the edges of the eyelids is necessary (5-7 days) with the use of anti-inflammatory ointments: “tetracycline”, “gentamicin”, “hydrocortisone”. Treatment always has a positive result.
10.08.2021
Author, Ph.D. Oleg Getto
