The state of sin is unbearable for an ordinary person. Even if outwardly he may not show it, inside him there is a struggle between evil and good. The more serious the sin, the more spiritual strength it takes from the person who committed it.
In this case, even the onset of a mental disorder, for example, schizophrenia, is possible.
Prayer for schizophrenia will help the patient ease his mental anguish and recover. Prayerful support from strong-willed Christians helps overcome sin and, therefore, mental illness.
Mental illnesses usually do not leave visible damage on the human body
A temple is a place that is visited by different people. Unfortunately, people suffering from mental illness also come here. With mental illness, it is outwardly very difficult to understand whether a person is sick or not.
The fact is that such an illness can occur secretly and from the outside it is quite difficult to determine whether a person is sick or not.
"Scene at the Court of Christian VII", painting by Christian Zaartmann (1873), depicting the Danish king suffering from schizophrenia. A person with schizophrenia may look no different from a healthy person
In the same case, when the disease is in the acute stage or its course is acute, the symptoms are quite clear. This:
- rave;
- hallucinations;
- behavioral disorders;
- emotional disorders in the form of mania and depression, etc.
Mental illnesses are very diverse and therefore there are a huge number of symptoms. As for schizophrenia, it is a mental illness manifested by typical personality changes.
A patient with this disease is unable to think correctly, make decisions, and communicate with other people. He may see hallucinations, not recognize himself as a person, he exhibits emotional disturbances, and there are structural disturbances in thinking.
Video: What is the Church’s attitude towards the treatment of mentally ill people? At 25 seconds, the author (Archpriest Vladimir Golovin, Bolgar) says that a sick person should, first of all, be treated in a hospital.
He is one of the authors of the Orthodox website My Spiritual Lighthouse and therefore his opinion can be trusted.
Modern science believes that schizophrenia is not one disease, but a whole group of psychoses, united under one term. A patient with schizophrenia must be under the supervision of a doctor.
As for the religious sphere, prayer support for such a patient is very necessary. One should not think that through prayer a person’s mental sphere will come into complete balance, but his condition will improve significantly.
Ritual for relieving longing for a mistress from a husband
Early in the morning you need to go to the river, get out of it the tomfoil - a root that was brought by the current. At home, they put it in a glass of water and cast the following spell:
We repeat the ritual to relieve melancholy 13 times.
The contents of the cup are given to the spouse to drink.
You can remove a love spell from your husband by the following actions:
- On the date the man was born, the loved one is seated on a chair with his back to the entrance.
- A close relative or friend should open the Bible to any page and begin reading it aloud. At this moment, the wife breaks an egg into a bowl over her husband’s head.
- The contents of the plate are fed to the animal. The ritual is repeated 2 more times in the evening.
There is no concept of schizophrenia in the Bible
Schizophrenia is quite difficult to cure. The fact is that this disease is characterized by an imbalance in the functioning of both hemispheres of the brain. In this case, the right hemisphere is overactive, and the left hemisphere, on the contrary, is underactive.
As a result, the patient lives in his own inner world. He can hear voices, see visions, etc.
"Holy fool." Vasily Perov 1875, 1879. Oil on canvas. The painting was painted in 1875, the landscape was rewritten in 1879. The Bible does not say anything about schizophrenia, but spiritual illnesses are often mentioned
A holy fool is a person who has received a blessing for the spiritual feat of foolishness. If this was not the case, it is quite possible that this is just a sick person.
It should be noted that the Orthodox view of schizophrenia is based on the fact that there is no reference to this disease in the Bible. However, it often refers to mental illness. However, they should not be associated with such a phenomenon as demonic possession.
Features of conspiracies for diseases
All rituals to get rid of diseases are performed on the waning moon. This is due to the direction of the energy of the luminary during this period towards destruction, destruction, neutralization.
Rituals can be performed by both an experienced specialist in the field of esotericism and the patient himself. But before you start working, you should carefully read the rules of their implementation. Sedentary patients are allowed to use the help of an assistant (preferably a close relative).
An important condition for quickly obtaining a positive result is faith in the power of magic. If there is even a small amount of skepticism in the mind of the performer, the ritual will not work.
The Orthodox Church believes that mental illness is a cross laid down by the Lord
Schizophrenia, from the point of view of Orthodoxy, is a cross laid down by the Lord. However, in theology there are several points of view on this issue. Some theologians believe that human nature is to blame.
Venerable Anthony of Pechersk. Fragment of the Svensk Icon of the Mother of God. The Monk Anthony cared for a catatonic monk for three years
Catatonia is one of the types of mental illnesses that can serve as a symptom of the presence of schizophrenia in a patient.
Human nature is the physical state of his body. Orthodox Christians see nothing wrong with caring for people with mental illness, alleviating their condition.
For example, the Monk Anthony of Kiev-Pechersk spent three years caring for a monk who was suffering from a form of psychosis or catatonia. At the same time, he did not believe that he was possessed by a demon.
The Monk Anthony of Kiev-Pechersk cared for a monk suffering from catatonia for three years.
Both priests and laity studying the issue of “schizophrenia and the church” should study the book “Orthodox Pastoral Ministry” by Archimandrite Cyprian (Kern).
It says that there are states of the soul that are difficult to define by the categories of moral theology and which are not included in the concepts of good and evil.
Father Cyprian believes that such states do not belong to the ascetic area, but to the psychological one, and they develop from human nature.
Orthodox pastoral ministry. Professor, Archimandrite Cyprian (Kern). In order to understand the attitude of the Orthodox Church towards the mentally ill, it is worth studying the book “Orthodox Pastoral Ministry” by Archimandrite Cyprian (Kern)
An experienced priest is able to determine whether a person has a disease of the brain and psyche or whether his spiritual sphere has been destroyed by sin.
Elder Archimandrite Georgy (Lavrov) from the Danilov Monastery often referred those who approached him to a psychiatrist. Moreover, in some cases, he took people from the doctor to himself for spiritual care.
If a loved one dies
Often during our lives we suddenly lose people close to us. And therefore a person can be very sad about this.
If a depressed mental state has dragged on for a long time, and a person cannot get rid of it on his own, this conspiracy will help.
In order for prayer to help relieve oneself (or another person) of melancholy, one needs to perform a specific ritual. It requires the victim's fingernail. Having obtained a piece of the desired item, you need to wait for the waning moon and perform the ritual on one of the days of this period. Left alone in the evening, take a piece of the victim's nail. Bring it to the hole in the floor. Having placed the genetic material there, say the words of the conspiracy to eliminate melancholy:
“Just as this nail will no longer grow on the finger of the servant of God (the name of the victim), so the melancholy will leave him and will never touch his soul again. Words are the key, the key is in the ground. From now on and forever. Amen!".
After repeating the text of this plot three times, throw the nail into the crack in the floor. After this, you need to immediately go to bed. Improvements will become noticeable within a week. After two to three weeks, the person should be completely freed from the depressed state.
A sinful person is already sick and this can manifest itself in the form of schizophrenia
The Fathers of the Church, as we see, believe that mental illnesses are comparable in nature to physical illnesses. Both are sent by God’s permission to man in order to assist him in the matter of salvation. And in this case, the same schizophrenia is a cross laid down by the Lord.
November 13 - 14, 2018. Danilov stauropegic monastery. International Conference “Church Care for the Mentally Ill.” The Orthodox Church considers any illness, including schizophrenia, to be the Cross of the Lord
Despite this circumstance, the nature of mental illness is biological. It can be confirmed by various somatic or neurological reactions to harmful factors.
Such factors include strong noise, exposure to microwave fields, poisoning with neurotropic poisons, etc.
Schizophrenia, like all diseases, is a consequence of the Fall of Adam.
At the same time, he can suffer from schizophrenia not only because of his physical defects, but also because all human diseases are a consequence of the Fall of Adam. Thus, its manifestations are considered natural, that is, from “nature”.
The spiritual component cannot be recognized as natural. She is sinful and the Lord can heal her according to his will.
Fresco "Expulsion from Paradise". Fragment. Church of John the Baptist in Roshchenye. Human illnesses, including mental ones, are the result of the Fall of Adam
The Fathers of the Church point to the fact that even healthy people may have a split in mental activity. The sinner hates his sin, but continues to commit it. The holy Apostle Paul said about this:
“I don’t do the good that I want, but I do the evil that I don’t want. But if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.”
(Rom. 7:15-20)
Reading text
O great servant of Christ, voluntary sufferer, new-born miracles, Our Father Irinarsha, fertilizer of the Russian land, praise to the city of Rostov, great decoration and affirmation of this monastery!
Who would not be surprised at your spontaneous and long-term suffering patience: For thirty more years you confined yourself in a cramped and cold hut, you suffered coldness, greed and exhaustion of the flesh of the Kingdom for the sake of the Heavenly Kingdom, and to this end you also endured expulsion from the monastery, due to the obsession of the enemy, without a murmur.
We know that in the midst you were begged by the brethren, like a gentle lamb, that you returned to your monastery and settled in that hut, like hard adamant, arming yourself with patience against the invisible demonic hordes and your visible enemies. When, by God's permission, you came to this monastery with the desires of the warriors, you were not afraid of mortal punishment, but, being wise in your words, you returned to your own place.
For this reason, the All-Good God, seeing your faith and suffering long-suffering, gave you the gift of insight and healing: you gave healing to the demons, to the lame, to the blind, to the blind, and many others who came to you with faith for good, even to the point of working miracles. We are unworthy, having seen such miracles and fulfilled joy, we cry to you: Rejoice, valiant sufferer and conqueror of demons, Rejoice, our quick helper and warm prayer book to God.
Hear us sinners too, praying to you and running under your roof: show your merciful intercession for us to the Almighty and intercede with your God-pleasing prayers everything useful for the salvation of our souls and bodies, preserve this holy monastery, every city and the whole and every Christian country from all the slander of the enemy, in our sorrows and illnesses give us a helping hand, so that through your intercession and intercession, by the grace and mercy of Christ our God, we too will be delivered from our unworthiness, after departing from this life, of this standing, and may we be worthy of the right hand with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.
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Schizophrenia may be a sign of obsessiveness
Orthodoxy about schizophrenia says that this disease can sometimes be considered a sign of demonic possession. In the Holy Scriptures, evil spirits are depicted as entering and leaving people (Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:23; Luke 4:35, etc.).
The most famous example in Christianity is the Lord’s healing of the demon-possessed Gadarene man.
The fact is that he behaved like a person with a mental disorder, but the people around him heard how the demons in him asked Christ for permission to leave him and enter the herd of pigs (Matthew 8:28-32).
Healing of a demon-possessed deaf-mute youth. From a painting by Ivan Efimovich Kryukov (1823 - 1857). The New Testament describes several cases of Christ healing those possessed by demons.
In the case when a person is possessed by an evil spirit, his soul becomes unnatural, languishes and suffers. Holy Scripture directly indicates that those possessed by demons are clearly distinguished from the sick. Possession is not a consequence of a disorder of a person’s mental powers, but from the influence of evil spirits.
That is why the possessed person does not behave like a person: he barks, howls, screams in an inhuman voice, jumps, etc. A person possessed by demons reacts especially strongly to the opening of the Royal Doors during worship and the recitation of the prayer “Come with the fear of God and faith.”
Those who are demon-possessed are afraid of prayers, the holy water of the Cross of Christ and the Mysteries of Christ.
In any case, it is necessary to know that the spirit of schizophrenia is the spirit of the disease, and not the demon that may be in the patient. The demoniac differs from him in the following ways:
- evil spirits know God, fear the Cross of Christ, baptismal water, prayer, the Holy Mysteries of Christ;
- Behavioral disorders in those possessed by demons are of a violent nature, since the human soul resists what the evil one forces it to do.
Priest Lev Bagramyan at the opening of the Church of the Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt at Psychoneurological Boarding School No. 7. October 28, 2016
The task of a pastor in the case of demon possession is to teach a person not to believe demonic suggestions and slander, both against God and people. Christians should support both the mentally ill person and the demon-possessed person in prayer.
Therefore, if you find out that someone you know has a mental illness, please pray for him.
Texts and interpretations of prayers for insomnia
Evening prayer for insomnia helps you disconnect from daytime problems, calm down, and get ready to relax. A saint who is approached sincerely will do everything so that a believer can fall into deep sleep and have a good rest.
Orthodox prayer for insomnia in an adult to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
People turn to Nicholas the Wonderworker for various reasons. It protects travelers, helps single people find a family, protects business and bestows health. Taking care of people's alertness and happiness, Nikolai Ugodnik grants sound sleep and complete restoration of strength overnight.
Before going to bed, you can concentrate and listen to prayers online. Accompanied by singing, the texts will quickly calm a person and set him in the mood for relaxation.
Venerable Irinarch of Rostov Intercessor
The entire life of Saint Irinarch of Rostov was dedicated to God. He constantly helped those in need, always gave to those who asked, even if it was his last coin left to pay for lunch. Orthodox Christians suffering from insomnia, mental and physical ailments turn to the Rostov Intercessor. A prayer for insomnia is read in the evening, before bed. It will help you fall asleep quickly.
Venerable Maruf Bishop of Mesopotamia
On the border of what had already become Christian Greece and pagan Persia, the Mesopotamian-Sophosene region stretches. In its main city, Tagrit, Maruf of Mesopotamia was elected bishop. He preached Christianity, knowing in every detail the earthly period of the life of Christ and his mother. He shone with the light of knowledge of God, constantly converting the pagan Persians to the Christian faith.
Maruf of Mesopotamia was distinguished by his abilities in diplomacy. Under him, peace reigned between the two peoples and their ruler.
Using the bishop's abilities for diplomacy, he was sent to reconcile empires among themselves. Several times he was sent to Izdegerd, to the ruler Theodosius the Younger. Maruf not only reconciled the rulers, but also treated the emperor and his son.
The magicians surrounding the ruler could not cure him of severe headaches. The bishop, through prayers, restored health and good spirits to the Persian king.
The fire-worshipping magicians did not like Izdegerd’s relationship with Maruf. They tried in every possible way to denigrate the bishop in the eyes of the king, to harass him. Many attempts were made to remove the Greek ambassador, but all of them were exposed.
Taking advantage of the favor of the Persian ruler, Maruf of Mesopotamia preached Christianity and converted many pagans to the true faith. The bishop constantly traveled, was engaged in the restoration of destroyed churches and the construction of new ones.
Maruf created Taghrid. He collected the remains of the holy martyrs in different places and took them to the new city.
The conspiracies and prayers of Saint Maruf of Mesopotamia relieved people of anxiety, headaches, and treated those possessed by demons. They pray to the Bishop of Tagrid when they have insomnia, when their souls are restless and they need to protect themselves from the machinations of enemies.
Troparion to the Venerable: tone 8
Kontakion to the Venerable: tone 2
To the Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus
Young men from noble families of Ephesus, aged 12-17 years, served under Emperor Decius. All of them were Christians and considered their faith to be real. In those days, paganism was still strong, but it already felt the onset of a new, true faith. The rulers persecuted the supporters of Christ.
One day the emperor came to Ephesus. He ordered the gathering of all supporters of Christ and demanded that they convert to the pagan faith and renounce their savior. The warriors refused.
By order of Decius, the young men were walled up in a cave. Without water and food they would die in agony.
Two centuries have passed. Construction began on the site of the rock in which there was a cave with warriors. When the entrance was opened, completely healthy young men appeared before the surprised townspeople. They looked as if they had just gone to bed last night. The Savior took care of them and put them into a long sleep.
For some time, the young boys walked around the city, rejoicing at the victory of Christianity. Then they went to the cave and fell asleep again.
A prayer is read to the Seven Youths of Ephesus for insomnia in children and adults. The mother, having laid the baby down, reads a prayer to the youths of Ephesus in a whisper over him. The child quickly falls asleep and sleeps peacefully all night.
Adults suffering from insomnia whisper a prayer text just before going to bed. We also recommend you a complete collection of prayers for sound sleep.
Alexander Svirsky
Alexander Svirsky, in the world Amos, was born into a peasant family. Their house stood opposite the Vvedeno-Oyatsky Monastery. The boy was a late child. Knowledge was difficult for him, but he studied hard and prayed that God would give him abilities. Soon he overtook all his peers.
When the time came to get married, Amos secretly left home and went to a monastery on Valaam, where after 7 years he took monastic vows and became Alexander. After that he retired to the island.
Alexander Svirsky devoted his entire life to serving God. He lived alone and built a small hermitage. Hermits gathered around him. Together they built the Church of the Holy Trinity, after the Almighty appeared to him in three faces. In recent years, Alexander served as abbot in the monastery and was engaged in the construction of the Church of the Virgin Mary.
RECOMMENDED: Strong prayer for your daughter.
The calm and modest life of Alexander Svirsky is an example of faith and service to the Lord. He preached the Christian faith and prayed all his life. If you have insomnia, you should turn to a saint and sleep will come.
Healing a mental patient is possible only by the Will of God
It should be separately noted that treatment of schizophrenia with prayers is not a medical procedure and it is possible to heal the patient only by trusting in the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Liberation from the spirit of schizophrenia is possible only in this way and in no other way.
Therefore, when visiting the temple, I ask you to pray for the sick or demon-possessed, but do not reassure him or do not reassure yourself, because everything is in the Will of the Lord.
To be cured of schizophrenia through prayer, 4 conditions must be met.
The cause of most mental illnesses is said to be the commission of sin in life. Only the Son of God can free you from feelings of guilt about this. However, there are several conditions that, if met, can lead to a cure for schizophrenia. Among them are the following:
- it is necessary to be a baptized devout person;
- you need to pray consistently and constantly;
- you need to be prepared for the fact that the result will not come immediately;
- Any improvement in the patient’s condition is required to be used to save a person for eternal life.
The image of Christ Pantocrator in the dome of the monastery church in Chora.
Mosaic. Beginning of the 14th century Constantinople. Only Our Lord Jesus Christ can heal a person through our prayer, and not a healer or doctor. Always remember that God allows illness to save the human soul. It is not the doctor who frees a person from the spirits of disease, nor the healer, but the name of Jesus Christ. Only the Son of God through prayer can save a sick person from suffering. A person praying for another is an instrument in his hands.
A spell to relieve longing for the deceased
A day before the ritual you need to buy a white scarf. The next day, early in the morning, go to the temple, give alms to the poor, and then go to the cemetery. Walking around the churchyard clockwise, hold the handkerchief in your left palm and say:
We read the spell of longing for the deceased three times.
At the exit, the fabric is forcefully crumpled in the palms and quietly thrown over the left shoulder, and a handful of coins are thrown over the right shoulder - a payoff. On the way home, you should not turn around or greet anyone.
Another ritual is performed on the river. You need to take a little sand and carry it to the shore, and then swing it and throw it into the water, shouting at the same time:
Only prayer can help, conspiracies will make the situation worse
Unfortunately, many relatives of patients with schizophrenia turn to healers in the hope of easing their condition. This is absolutely not possible. A person can be cured only by the Will of God.
Strong prayer will help the human soul get rid of the spirit of schizophrenia. By the wounds of Jesus she was healed, and by turning to healers and healers, the situation of the patient can be aggravated.
God gives healing through prayer. Therefore, there is no need to turn to sorcerers and healers in order to help a patient with schizophrenia. You need to go to church and pray for him
The fact is that various witchcraft techniques can further strengthen unclean spirits and demons that have settled in the human body. If your relative is sick, you need to believe in his healing.
Only in this case is it possible. By turning to sorcerers, you will turn to demons who will finally destroy the soul of a person close to you. The same applies to various “reporters”.
Only a priest can fight demons and only with a special blessing; this must always be remembered.
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Tips to fall asleep quickly
There are many ways to combat lack of sleep. You can only find out which one is right for you through trial and error. First, you should adjust your lifestyle and diet:
- eat only wholesome and healthy foods;
- do not drink coffee and tea after six o’clock in the evening;
- avoid physical activity in the evening;
- do gymnastics during the day.
A few hours before the morphean hug, it is better to refuse to work at the computer, watch TV shows, and generally use any gadgets. It will be useful to read a book. Just before you go to bed, you can drink a glass of milk with a spoon of honey and cinnamon - this drink is very calming and helps you fall asleep quickly.
For those who do not like milk, you can dilute honey in warm water. You should not resort to alcohol as a sleeping pill: the effect may be exactly the opposite of the desired one. You can dry mint leaves and place them near the pillow, placing them in a fabric bag. Various herbal infusions help relieve sleep problems:
- motherwort,
- chamomile,
- lemon balm,
- hawthorn,
- valerian,
- lavender.
Warm baths before bed with the addition of essential oils are very effective. There is another interesting way to treat asomnia - with clay. It consists of sculpting various figures from it with rounded edges. This action calms the psyche and sets the mood for rest, helping to quickly fall asleep.
Try to regulate your daily routine: go to bed and get up at approximately the same time, cancel daytime naps, if you have one in your life.
Remember: for a really good result, you need to perform these actions systematically, at least seven days in a row.
If the methods described above do not help you, and other symptoms besides insomnia bother you, you should consult a doctor.
PORTAL CONTACTS
This time the topic of our conversation with Metropolitan Longin of Saratov and Volsk is the attitude towards the disease. Why do people get sick, how can a sufferer find spiritual support, what should be our attitude towards medicine, what methods of healing are acceptable and which are unacceptable for a Christian - we asked these questions to the Bishop.
— Vladyka, the topic of our conversation today was not chosen by chance.
Diseases are something that every person faces. People of any age get sick, starting from the youngest. A serious illness is a real test: not only physical pain, but also emotional experiences for both the patient himself and his loved ones. Why do people get sick? Do illnesses have a spiritual meaning? — Indeed, illnesses accompany a person throughout his life. As we know from the Holy Scriptures, sorrow, illness, death and decay are the consequences of the Fall, man’s apostasy from God. Physical illness is the outward manifestation of the deep spiritual damage that sin has done to human nature. And as long as this world exists, there are not and will not be people on earth who can avoid diseases, despite all the efforts of doctors and advances in medicine.
Therefore, for a Christian, the question of whether there is a spiritual meaning in illness or not is not worth it. Of course there is.
- If you are seriously ill, do you need to ask yourself the question: why or why did this ordeal befall me?
“It’s natural for a person to wonder why exactly I or a person close to me got sick, although by and large this question is one of the insoluble ones. The question of the existence of disease and death, as well as the suffering of innocent people, is, in general, a question of theodicy [1]; it has always stood before human consciousness. At one time, St. Anthony the Great asked God about the same thing: “Lord! Why do some live a little and die, while others live to a ripe old age? Why are some poor while others live rich? Why do the wicked get rich and the godly poor? And the saint received the answer that has been given to us for all time: “Anthony! pay attention to yourself! These are the judgments of God, and it is of no use to you to know them” [2].
In fact, a Christian attitude towards life in general is very important here. Quite often, although we consider ourselves believers and call ourselves Christians, in our lives we are guided by the same criteria as non-believers. If we are convinced that life, our prosperous earthly existence, is a self-sufficient value, higher than which nothing can be, then, of course, serious illness and death are a catastrophe, a complete collapse of the world order in which a person lives. If we believe that our life does not end with death, that our soul is eternal, then death, with all its horror, still does not become such a nightmarish yawning abyss as in the consciousness of an unbeliever. Then we become able to have a slightly different attitude towards everything that happens to us in life, including illness.
I think that most people who lead at least somewhat mindful lives understand: “For anyone, and for me, there are more than enough reasons to get sick.” The reasons are both external (after all, we know that a huge number of diseases are caused by an incorrect lifestyle) and internal, spiritual. And in most cases, if a person is honest with himself, he realizes this. “God sends other things as punishment, like penance, and others as discipline, so that a person will come to his senses; otherwise, to save you from the trouble that a person would get into if he were healthy; otherwise, so that a person shows patience and thus deserves a greater reward; other, in order to cleanse oneself from some passion, and for many other reasons” - this reasoning was given in one of his letters by Saint Theophan the Recluse [3].
In this case, you need to remember a very important rule. We can and should see the causes of many of our illnesses and trials in ourselves, but in no case should we look for these causes in other people. I can tell myself that I am sick because of my sins and “I accept what is worthy of my deeds.” But I should not say to another person, “Well, you are sick because you are a sinner.” That is, being as strict as possible with myself, I have no right to even think about what shortcomings, what sins and passions led to another person’s illness. This is the line that separates a real Christian from a person who only calls himself by this name.
— Vladyka, probably each of us has seen seriously ill people who are able to support the healthy, to show them an example of not only patience, but also joy, fullness of life, spiritual strength. But it also happens the other way around: a person is literally broken by the disease. Have you encountered such cases? What does this depend on?
— A person’s attitude towards illness is an extremely complex topic, and here, less than ever, I would like to give lectures. We are all weak people, and I am the weakest of all. I am not at all sure that when the time of testing comes for me, I will be able to be an example to someone. I can only repeat: a lot depends on a person’s ability to perceive everything he encounters in life in a Christian way, including illness. Therefore, in such situations, we can see at one extreme people who are desperate, blaming everyone else for their problems and even blaspheming God. This often occurs when a person experiences severe physical suffering. In this case, it seems to me that it is better not to discuss his words and actions at all, because there is such a measure of human suffering that a healthy person simply cannot imagine. And at the other pole are people who endure their painful state with humility, with submission to the will of God and manage to find something good in everything. There are such people, and they are an example and a reproach for us, who live an ordinary, inattentive life. Such behavior depends primarily on a person’s internal structure, on the ability to equally accept both joy and sorrow from the hand of God. This is a very difficult skill to master, very few people have it. And it cannot be said that if a person succeeded once, he will succeed in the future. Therefore, we talk about certain specific cases not in order to evaluate them, but in order to once again remind ourselves how to behave in such situations.
— For some, illness makes them closer to God, but for others it becomes a real obstacle to faith. It is especially difficult to see children suffering. And people often say: “If God is merciful, how does He allow the obviously innocent to suffer?” Tell me what can be answered here, because almost all of us have heard such a question.
— As for childhood illnesses and the suffering of virtuous people, this is again a question of theodicy: why does the Lord allow suffering? It is impossible to give a general answer here that is suitable for everyone and for all occasions. Probably the main thing that can be advised is to tell such people to try to come to terms with the will of God. Even if we don’t understand it now, it is good. Everything that happens to us happens for the sake of our salvation.
— Recently I was on a pilgrimage trip, where in our group there was a family with a severely disabled child. This boy’s mother constantly repeated: “This is for our sins.” She said that she often hears this not only from her confessor, but also from the people around her, believers, in the church. But it seems completely wrong to me. Is it necessary to say such things to suffering people?
“I repeat once again: it is my deep conviction that suffering people and parents of sick children should not talk about this. It’s another matter if an adult, religious person realizes this himself. There is no need to argue with him: “No, what are you, you are so good, it cannot be”... But when, having encountered such family tragedies, strangers or even a priest talk about the “guilt” of the parents, this is categorically unacceptable. Our faith does not cancel the elementary rules of human coexistence. Firstly, it is tactless, secondly, it is very rude, and, thirdly, it is completely unreasonable from a spiritual point of view, because such an attitude will cause nothing but resentment and rejection.
— Vladyka, what should spiritual help be like in illness? Probably, a believer will try to confess and receive communion. There is also unction - a sacrament for healing. How can you take part?
— Spiritual help in illness is, first of all, prayer, including for the forgiveness of one’s sins. People who have suffered from serious illnesses and whom the Lord has healed usually change greatly. They become deeper, their value system changes, many things fall into place.
Of course, you definitely need to confess. Illness is a time when a person, even the most frivolous, tends to take stock of his past life. Perhaps life will still be long, but while you are in serious illness, you need to make an assessment of your actions. Therefore, deep, sincere and complete confession and Communion are necessary.
Indeed, one of the sacraments that one must resort to in illness is unction. According to the word of the Apostle James, 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 (Jas. 5, 14–15).
If a person is able to walk, unction is performed on him in the temple, and if not, then the priest is called to the sick person’s home.
- And if one of our loved ones is seriously ill, and this person does not yet go to church constantly and consciously, is it necessary to persuade him to resort to the sacraments? I have heard of cases when a person, after confession and Communion, recovered and radically changed his life. But I see that there is also a magical attitude: people take communion and give communion to their children “so as not to get sick”...
— If a person falls ill who does not yet go to church, but at least does not deny the existence of God and church sacraments, then this is a good opportunity for him to become closer to the Church. Indeed, there are cases when a person recovers and, based on the experience of his illness, changes his life. This is very good. As for the magical attitude, of course, it is necessary to fight it, and this, first of all, is the job of the priest. If he sees that a person not only does not believe, but also does not want to give up his delusions, and Communion and unction for him are just another remedy, “just in case” (as often happens: we go to grandma’s, and to a psychic, and to take communion to the Church - maybe it will help), this is a profanation of church sacraments. And, of course, this will not lead to anything good.
—Who and how to pray when sick? There is a tradition of reading akathists to St. Luke, in the case of oncology - to St. Nektarios, the Mother of God in front of the icon “The All-Tsarina”...
— God needs to pray always, in all cases of life. Indeed, there is a tradition of praying to saints in certain illnesses, but this does not mean at all that God does not hear us otherwise. This tradition is understandable in principle. Let's say that Saint Luke was an outstanding doctor during his lifetime. Saint Nektarios suffered from cancer, and people pray to him when suffering from cancer. This is a pious custom that should not be abandoned, but in no case should we attach excessive importance to it and turn our church calendar into a kind of medicinal encyclopedia - which saint to pray for which disease, and in what quantities to take this “remedy”.
— Vladyka, if a person is sick, who should he look to for help? Is it possible to contact doctors, and how to relate to alternative medicine - homeopathy, acupuncture, and so on? What could be the criterion here?
— The art of medicine has been blessed by the Church, so it is possible and necessary to consult doctors. The doctor was one of the apostles and evangelists - Saint Luke. We honor free doctors - the Great Martyr Panteleimon, the martyrs Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John and others. On the one hand, these are the saints of our Church, and on the other, people who devoted their lives to the art of medicine in the form in which it then existed. And although from the point of view of today the methods of ancient doctors may seem outdated, nevertheless it was the scientific medicine of its time. Therefore, it is imperative to fight the opinion, widespread on the lower floors of the church-folklore consciousness, that there is no need to go to doctors. It also happens: “Father did not give his blessing to go to the hospital.” If the priest said so, it means he is in delusion. Never, under any circumstances, has the Church rejected the art of medicine, because it, too, was given to humanity by God, the Creator of all things.
Another thing is that there is so-called alternative medicine. There are different attitudes towards her. Let’s say, personally, I don’t recognize homeopathy at all, I consider it quackery. But there are people who greatly respect homeopathy. Acupuncture is rather a medical method, just related to a different system. It’s much worse when they start going to psychics, bioenergetics specialists and all sorts of women.
“We recently received a letter on our diocesan website from a woman who states that she never goes to doctors and is treated for all illnesses in holy springs. How do you feel about such things?
— Excessive attention to sources in our country sometimes takes completely monstrous forms, characteristic, rather, of ancient paganism with its worship of forest spirits, water spirits and the like. There is more paganism here than Christianity. It is very good to pray and plunge into a spring near the monastery, especially if it was excavated by a saint, such as the springs of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Savva of Storozhevsky near the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. But this does not replace either church sacraments or medical care.
- “The most valuable thing in the world is health”, “You can’t buy health” - there are many such sayings. Today, many people try to lead a healthy lifestyle - exercise, eat right. This seems to be good and correct. But is everything acceptable here? How does the Church relate to Eastern practices - yoga, Chinese qigong gymnastics? They are very popular today. People say it really helps cope with stress and illness.
— What is acceptable is that which is not based on spiritual practices alien to Christianity. If this or that gymnastics arose on the basis of this or that spirituality - Tibetan, Lamaist, Hindu, it is better not to do it, because it is impossible to isolate any one psychosomatic component from the spiritual system and somehow neutralize it. This is impossible. All the same, to some extent it will be a betrayal of one’s faith.
— Vladyka, among church people there is such a well-established idea: since illnesses are caused by sins, and sins make it possible for the enemy of the human race (demons) to move into us, then a reprimand can help in a serious illness. And people go to lectures, take children with neurological disorders, husbands with alcoholism... Is this correct, how should we treat it?
— I treat this very carefully. The priest should perform the so-called reprimand only with the blessing of the bishop. Doing this on your own does not bring anything good - neither to those who are being reprimanded, nor to the one who is reprimanding. And there are many examples of this.
I know Father Herman in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. He was blessed to perform this rite by the now deceased Patriarch Alexy II. I know that the Patriarch was asked about this by the spiritual council of the Lavra, because many people come there who would like this rite to be performed on them. This is a water-blessing prayer with special petitions for people tormented by unclean spirits. There are such people, I have seen them myself, and it is a terrible sight.
Unfortunately, today everyone who is not too lazy goes to be reprimanded, sometimes just like that, just in case. This is a manifestation of spiritual infantilism, when a person, not being able, not wanting, and not even trying to learn how to work on himself, to mobilize his inner strength to fight sin, wants something done to him. You know, there is now such an expression - a person comes to church and says: “They did it for me.” - "What?". - “Yes, something bad”... And in contrast to this, a person wants something good to be “done” for him in the Church. And also so that he didn’t do it himself, but the priest read something, anointed it, sprinkled it...
As for patients with alcoholism, I think that in some cases it is possible to bring them in for a lecture. I have seen cases where people really changed after this ceremony, internally and externally. I can’t say that this is something completely useless, but it’s not always necessary. There must be a dual action - man and God. The Lord gives help to those who are trying to achieve something themselves. If a person lies on the couch and waits for someone to do something to him, nothing will happen. The Bulgarians have a good saying: “You will lay it in God’s tomb” (that is, at least place it in the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem), but you will not be able to help. That is, if the person himself does not make an effort, then nothing will happen.
— By the way, a question from the mail of our website. “My husband is a heavy alcoholic. He suffers himself, and we all suffer with him (me, children, mother). In desperation, I persuade him to “sew up” or get coded, but I don’t know how the Church looks at this?
— Very rarely does this coding and “stitching up” lead to lasting positive results for the reasons I just talked about. Coding is generally a deception, a primitive hypnosis that does not last long. When I was still rector at the Compound, we had several good young guys who needed spiritual help in connection with this problem. And I found the order of the vow of sobriety, which was compiled in the Russian Church at the beginning of the 20th century. A special prayer service was served (usually for each person separately), then a prayer was read, and the person, placing his hand on the Gospel, in the presence of the priest, made a promise to God not to drink alcohol. You know, quite a few people have stopped drinking. Some were not able to quit completely and immediately, but they held on for a year, two, three, then they came again and took such a blessing. It helped, I saw it myself. But again, these were people who themselves really wanted to get rid of this sin of theirs. They tried, prayed, made efforts - and the Lord helped them.
“And this letter came to our editorial office from Olga: “I have a friend, her daughter has cerebral palsy. She considers herself a believer and goes to church. But he is still constantly looking for where the elders “accept” him. And they went to Diveevo, and to a monastery in the Kaluga region to see a perspicacious priest, and to various grandmothers. In response to my attempts to say that this is wrong, she replies: “When this happens to your child, you will believe in everything, so we go after the grandmothers.” They say all the diagnoses are based on photos, who gives them the power?” What can you say in such cases, Master?
- Dear Olga! Your friend told you very bitter but true words: “When this happens to your child, you will believe everything.” Of course, it’s bad that she goes to her grandmothers. It's bad, but it's out of desperation. And who will throw a stone at her? If I were you, I would not reproach her for going to monasteries to visit the elders, looking for perspicacious priests. Of course, I would try to gently dissuade you from visiting any grandmothers, witches or psychics. But if I saw that it wasn’t working, I would give up these attempts. You can only help such people. A sick child is a terrible grief. It is already good that a person did not abandon his child (and there are many such cases), he took upon himself a cross that he will bear throughout his life. And I think that the Lord will forgive her a lot, including some spiritual promiscuity.
— When talking about illness, one cannot avoid such a difficult topic as euthanasia. For example, with cancer and a number of other diseases, a person experiences incredible suffering. Let’s say it’s absolutely obvious that he won’t recover and won’t be able to return to normal life. Isn't it more humane to stop this suffering?
— The Church is categorically against euthanasia, and you can read about this in detail in the social concept [4]. The fact is that euthanasia includes two of the most terrible sins: suicide and murder. Although sometimes it is obvious that a person will not recover, the disease causes him unimaginable suffering. We must try to help such a patient by all possible means, but euthanasia is not an option. The pathos of those who advocate euthanasia is generally understandable, but behind it there is often guile. In the modern Western world, euthanasia is one of the manifestations of a conscious rejection of Christianity. And the point here is not only and not so much in the desire to alleviate the suffering of people, but in rebellion against God, and on the part of the ideologists of euthanasia - completely conscious and planned.
— At the end of our conversation, I will give a few more questions from our readers; These questions seem typical to me; many people ask similar questions.
“I want to live normally. And I have constant pain. How to ask God to be healthy? Or reconcile?
“I am a believer, but probably of little faith. I’m afraid of death, I can’t imagine eternity, and when I’m sick I feel very sad...”
“Several of my friends have already fallen ill with cancer at a young age. I sympathize with them very much, but I myself am developing real cancerophobia. Is it a sin to be so suspicious?”
Vladyka, what can I advise here?
“I think we need to ask God for health, and at the same time humble ourselves.
All people are afraid of death, and all of us, while we live on earth, cannot imagine what eternity will be like. There is no need to fantasize about this topic. But in any illness you must try not to lose heart. We must pray intensely, with all our hearts, to God and rely on Him in everything.
Suspiciousness is, of course, bad. You need to get rid of it even just in order to live a normal, fulfilling life. And to get rid of it, you need to understand that life is an adventure that will still end in death. Of course, any of us wants to live as long as possible. But a Christian must accustom himself to the memory of death. Do not drive out death, do not turn away, as is customary in modern culture, but remember about it and not be afraid of anything.
Yes, we do not strive for death, we do not do anything to bring it closer. But we should not fall into horror and prostration when thinking about it. Sooner or later, the Lord will still call, none of us will remain on this earth longer than the appointed time.
And here we again return to the need to become Christians not in name, but in life. If we pray to God, believe the Gospel, if we have even a little experience of God’s presence in our lives, we can understand and accept the words of the Apostle Paul: For for me life is Christ, and death is gain... I am attracted by both: I have a desire to be resolved and to be with Christ, for this is incomparably better (Phil. 1, 21, 23).
[1] Theodicy is theological and philosophical doctrines aimed at reconciling the idea of God’s good Providence for the world with the presence of evil in the world. The term “theodicy” (from the Greek “God is justice”) was introduced by G. W. Leibniz in 1710, but the problem of theodicy itself has been posed since ancient times.
[2] Ancient patericon, or Memorable tales about the asceticism of the saints and blessed fathers. Ch. 15, paragraph 1.
[3] Theophan the Recluse, saint. Collection of letters. Vol. 1, paragraph 42.
[4] The Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church is an official document of the Russian Orthodox Church, approved at the Jubilee Council of Bishops in 2000. It sets out the basic provisions of her teaching on issues of church-state relations and on a number of modern socially significant problems.
Journal "Orthodoxy and Modernity" No. 39 (55)
Conspiracies for illness
Any conspiracy for illness belongs to the section of black magic. During the ritual, the performer turns to the dark forces with a request to damage the health of the ill-wisher. The magical flow affects the victim’s body, causing malfunctions of organs and systems.
To damage your health, follow the algorithm:
- They steal a personal item from the victim.
- Place it on the table and light a black candle.
- They speak the item and quietly return it to its owner.
Conspiracies for another person's illness are a punishable action! Remember that any conflict can be resolved in a softer way. Causing harm to human health is a grave sin. In most cases, the performer cannot remove the damage on his own; this will require the help of a strong magician.
