There are many different opinions on this topic. Some clergy say that you can go to church during your period. But most of them claim that this is prohibited. Many women are interested in knowing at what time during menstruation they can attend church, and whether it is possible at all. Much has changed since the times of the Old Testament; now almost no one blames a woman for the presence of such a natural process as regula. But many churches have restrictions and rules of behavior for women who decide to attend church during menstruation.
Is it possible to go to church while on your period?
Many women are interested in the question of whether it is possible to go to church with menstruation. Nowadays, more and more clergy agree that women who are on their menstrual periods are allowed to enter church. However, some rituals are recommended to be postponed until the end of menstruation. These include baptism and wedding. Also, many priests do not recommend touching icons, crosses and other church attributes during this period. This rule is only a recommendation and not a strict prohibition. The woman herself has the right to decide what exactly to do. In some churches, the clergyman may refuse to conduct confession or a wedding, but a woman has the right, if she wishes, to go to another church, where the priest will not refuse her this. This is not considered a sin, since the Bible itself does not reveal any prohibition related to the presence of menstrual periods for women.
Russian Rules Orthodox Church Girls are not prohibited from visiting the temple during the regul. There are some restrictions that priests strongly recommend adhering to. Restrictions apply to Communion; it is better to refuse it during menstruation. The only exception to the rule is the presence of any serious illness.
Many clergy argue that you should not avoid going to church on critical days. Menstruation is a natural process in the female body, which should not interfere with being in the temple. Other priests share this opinion. They also claim that menstruation is a natural process that is caused by nature. They do not consider a woman “dirty” and “unclean” during this period. The strict ban on visiting the temple remains in the distant past, during the times of the Old Testament.
What Came Before – Old Testament
Previously, there was a serious ban on visiting church while menstruating. This is because the Old Testament views menstruation in girls as a sign of “uncleanness.” IN Orthodox faith These prohibitions were not written down anywhere, but there was also no refutation of them. This is why many still doubt whether it is possible to come to church while menstruating.
The Old Testament views critical days as a violation of human nature. Based on it, it is unacceptable to come to church during menstrual bleeding. Being in the temple with any bleeding wounds was also considered strictly prohibited.
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During the Old Testament, any manifestation of uncleanness was considered a reason to deprive a person of the company of God. It was considered desecration to visit a holy temple during any uncleanness, including menstruation. At that time, everything that comes out of a person and is considered biologically natural was perceived as something superfluous, unacceptable in communication with God.
The Old Testament says that the ban on visiting the temple during menstruation is due to the fact that a woman is responsible for a failed pregnancy. The Old Testament accuses her of this, and the discharge of menstrual blood is regarded as desecration of the holy temple.
If we take into account the rules of that time, a woman during her period is unclean. It is for this reason that the Old Testament prohibitions on attending church are imposed on her.
Now these restrictions are a thing of the past; most clergy do not rely on the rules and prohibitions described in the Old Testament.
How they think now - New Testament
At the moment, there is no strict ban on visiting the temple on critical days. The shedding of human blood is prohibited in churches, but menstruation no longer applies to this. An example can be given: if a person is injured while in the temple, then it is necessary to immediately leave, as this is considered desecration of shrines. Women are allowed to be in the temple, but be sure to remember to use reliable personal hygiene products. With their use, it can be assumed that bleeding does not occur.
Temples are considered a holy place, so some behavior of girls during the regul is unacceptable. On this issue, the clergy do not agree on a single opinion. Some of them believe that during this period all rituals are prohibited for women, as well as touching icons and all church paraphernalia. Others argue that the restrictions are minimal. Almost all priests currently prohibit such rites as Baptism and Wedding. It is recommended to wait until the end of menstruation and only then go to church. They do not prohibit praying or lighting candles. Some allow Communion during menstrual periods, especially when a woman especially needs it. For example, if there is a serious illness.
Many clergy adhere to modern views and they believe that menstruation is a natural biological process that should not interfere with a girl if she wants to attend church.
If during the Old Testament it was strictly forbidden to come to church, perform rituals, pray, and touch icons, now these rules have changed enormously. It has become more often mentioned that the girl is not to blame for such a process as the menstrual cycle, because it is explained by physiology. This allows her not to feel guilty. Modern church does not blame the woman for the failure of the pregnancy. Most clergy do not consider girls “unclean” on critical days, which means that their appearance in the temple does not desecrate the shrines in any way.
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The New Testament contains the words of the saint confirming that visiting the temple during menstruation is not something bad. He claims that everything created by the Lord is beautiful. The menstrual cycle is of particular importance for the fair sex. To some extent it can be considered an indicator women's health. For this reason, the ban on visiting holy places during menstruation does not make any sense. Many saints share this opinion. They argued that a woman has the right to come to the temple in any state of her body, because this is exactly how the Lord created her. The main thing in the temple is the state of the soul. The presence or absence of menstruation has nothing to do with the girl’s state of mind.
The opinion of the priests
As mentioned above, the opinion of priests on the question of whether it is possible to go to church during menstruation has not come to a single denominator. The Bible does not give a precise answer and does not prohibit visiting holy places during menstruation. Therefore, every woman is recommended to ask this question to a priest. But it is worth considering that the answers may vary. If in one temple a girl is prohibited from coming, then in another, perhaps, there will be absolutely no restrictions. A woman will be allowed to pray, light candles, receive communion, and also touch icons.
Most clergy do not allow girls to touch shrines during menstrual periods. In this case, you should not refuse to visit the temple, because a woman is allowed to pray.
Many girls are concerned about the question of whether it is possible to come to the temple during menstruation if they currently have a serious illness. In this case, almost every priest will allow you to visit the church without any restrictions. If a woman wants to take communion and confess, then she should not be stopped by the presence of regulations. In this case, most clergy are understanding. Although the opinion of priests on the issue of visiting church during menstruation is ambiguous, most of them agree on one thing - during illness, any person has the right to prayer, confession and any ritual. If there is an illness, then the woman is not limited, she can touch the icons.
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If previously it was forbidden to attend church, despite serious illness and urgent need, now these prohibitions are a thing of the past. But before going to church, you must take into account the opinion of the priest. He will be able to tell you in detail about the rules for being in the temple and explain whether there are any restrictions for women during the period of critical days.
What to do anyway
Everyone must decide for themselves whether it is possible to go to church while on their period. The Bible does not reflect a categorical prohibition; it is not discussed in detail this question. Therefore, a woman has the right to do as she sees fit.
Before going to holy place It’s better to decide when is the best time to go to church. Many will not be able to visit the temple in the first days after the start of menstruation, but this has nothing to do with any prohibition. This is due to the fact that for most women, the onset of menstruation is accompanied by severe pain, general malaise, nausea and weakness. Many people will find it difficult to be in such a state in the temple. A woman may become ill; it is recommended to avoid such situations. It is better to postpone going to church until the end of the critical days or until the moment when the condition returns to normal.
There are certain rules of conduct for visiting church. Some of them are known to many. For example, most people know what women should wear when visiting the Temple - a skirt below the knees, a closed jacket with sleeves and a necessarily covered head. Men, on the contrary, need to remove their hats when entering the church, and clothing should also cover the body as much as possible - shorts and T-shirts are not allowed. However, there are many nuances that arise before visiting holy places. One of them is the question of whether it is possible to go to church with menstruation. Let's figure it out. After all, there are many conflicting answers to it.
Is it possible to go to church while on your period?
According to the Bible, a woman on her period is considered “unclean.” This is why in ancient times, a menstruating girl was prohibited from visiting the Temple. Is it possible to go to church while on your period in the modern world? According to the priests, women are allowed to enter the Temple on such days. However, during her menstruation, she cannot participate in the Sacraments and venerate holy objects (the cross, icons, anointing with oil and taking prosphora). It is believed that this state is not considered sinful, but there is some impurity, which was written about earlier.
Where are the origins?
Why weren’t girls allowed to visit the Temple in ancient times? Why did the question arise: “Is it possible to go to church while on your period” in those days? Of course, first of all, the answer in the Bible, which was already mentioned above, is still the same “uncleanness”. IN ancient church any discharge from the human body was considered unclean. This is saliva, blood, phlegm and other secretions from human organs. For example, even a priest with an open cut on his hand could not participate in the rituals. And in cases where “uncleanliness” fell on the church floor, it was considered desecration. This explains why women were prohibited from entering temples during their periods. However, in the modern world, many hygiene products have appeared that prevent secretions from getting on the floor. In addition, the Monk Nicodemus the Holy Mountain explains that God called the cleansing of women during menstruation “unclean” for the purpose of preventing men from touching them for copulation. The reason for this is concern for the offspring.
Controversial issue
And yet, until now, the answer to the question: “Is it possible to go to church while on your period?” is quite ambiguous. And if in Catholic churches It has long been decided that menstruation has nothing to do with the church, but in Orthodoxy this question remains open. Some priests consider it unacceptable for a woman to visit the Temple on such days. However, most clergy are of the opinion that a woman during her period can go into church, but only for prayer, but she should not take part in rituals or venerate shrines. Therefore, if you are wondering whether it is possible to go to church while on your period, you can be sure: a woman has the opportunity to come to the Temple at any time in her life. Only in
There is still a popular belief that women during menstruation should not visit the temple.
Let's find out if this is true?
Here are the questions that women have about their menstrual periods:
Let's start in order, or rather with brief information where did such “rules” come from in our Church?
To begin with, I want to explain where the very concept of “Female Impurity” came from.
Menstruation is the cleansing of the uterus from dead tissue, cleansing the uterus for a new round of expectation, hope for new life, for conception. Every shedding of blood is the specter of death. But menstrual blood is doubly death, because it is not only blood, but also dead uterine tissue. Freeing herself from them, a woman becomes cleansed. This is the origin of the concept of impurity of women's periods. It is clear that this is not a personal sin of women, but a sin affecting all of humanity.
Rules of the Ancient Church.
In the Old Testament Church there were rules for women. If a woman was unclean (postpartum or menstrual), then for certain days she could not go to temple. The woman was considered to be in bodily uncleanness, since during this period blood flowed from the woman, and the shedding of any blood other than sacrificial blood in the temple was prohibited. Therefore, a woman could visit the temple again only after this very uncleanness had passed from her.
Current situation.
First: The hygiene revolution took over; in the past centuries there were neither showers nor underwear. Bloody meths have no place in the temple. Plus, excuse me, the smell. In the fourth century, Rev. Macarius of Egypt interpreted the words of the prophet Isaiah as follows: : “And all your righteousness is like the rags of a woman in her period.” With the advent of hygiene products, women now have no reason to worry that something might leak out of them when entering a temple.
Now in the New Testament Church animal sacrifices are not performed, but the bloodless sacrifice of the Eucharist is performed. Therefore, the shedding of any blood in churches is also prohibited. If, for example, a person has a nosebleed, then he must leave the temple until the bleeding stops. It’s the same with a priest, if the priest cuts himself in the altar or his nose starts bleeding, he must stop the bleeding and then continue the service.
Second: As for "Uncleanness".
If in the Old Testament, during female uncleanness, every woman was considered to be in uncleanness and the entrance to the temple was closed. These were special restrictions of God to the Old Testament people in order to educate the people and keep them within moral boundaries, teaching people like children through physical laws the spiritual laws of morality and purity.
Then in the New Testament, God gives man the perfect law of Love, abolishing the ancient rules.
What God has cleansed, do not consider unclean, said the Lord to the Apostle Peter (Acts 10.15)
Going to temple.
Let's remember the episode with the woman in “uncleanness”, who was forbidden to even touch the people of the Old Testament. A woman suffering from bleeding came up to the Lord from behind and touched the hem of His robe, and immediately the illness left her (Matthew 9:20). The Lord did not condemn her, nor did he make any reproach, but rather praised her for her faith.
A simple question: Why, if a woman with bleeding could touch the Lord’s garment and receive healing, a woman during her period cannot enter the Lord’s church?.. Since the woman, who in her illness touched the Lord’s garment, was right in her boldness, for some reason, What was allowed to one, is not allowed to all women suffering from the weakness of their nature?
Therefore, a woman who is in uncleanness can come to the temple of God - this is the answer to our 1st question.
Touching various shrines.
They say that you cannot venerate the cross or icons, or be present at the sacrament of baptism, etc.
I would like to ask a counter question: Why is our pectoral cross, which we wear on our chest, and the sign of the cross with which we sign ourselves worse than temple icons and the priestly cross? - In terms of their holiness, they are equivalent!
Therefore, when entering the temple of God, you can venerate all the shrines, also be anointed with holy oil, take antidor and prosphora, and be present at the sacrament of baptism. This is not forbidden to a believer. This is the answer to questions 2,3,4.
Regarding the Sacrament of Communion.
According to the general opinion and agreement of the holy fathers, for the sake of reverence, it is better for a woman who is in bodily uncleanness to abstain from Communion, just as the Gospel woman who is in uncleanness did not touch Christ himself, but only His clothes. Again, this is a question of RECOMMENDATIONS, not rules.
Even in the breviary, when the priest reads a prayer to a woman on the 40th day for “CLEANSING,” he pronounces words of permission and blessing for the woman to AGAIN begin the Sacrament of Communion! , but not as a blessing to enter the temple, since a woman can come to the temple these days anyway.
Confirmation of my words by the Holy Fathers.
I want to say that all the saints who spoke on this topic said that a woman in such a state can be present in the temple, touch icons, eat prosphora, etc. But only a few of them said that Communion is not recommended.
1. St. Clement of Rome, A disciple of the Apostle Paul in his work “Apostolic Constitutions” even allowed communion in this state: “ If anyone observes and performs Jewish rites regarding the ejaculation of semen, the flow of semen, legal intercourse, let them tell us whether, in those hours and days when they are exposed to something like this, they stop praying, or touching the Bible, or communing with the Eucharist? If they say that they stop, then it is obvious that they do not have the Holy Spirit in them, Who always abides with believers... Indeed, if you, a woman, think that during the seven days when you have your period, you do not have it in you. Holy Spirit; then it follows that if you die suddenly, you will leave without the Holy Spirit and boldness and hope in God. But the Holy Spirit, of course, is inherent in you... For neither legal copulation, nor childbirth, nor the flow of blood, nor the flow of semen in a dream can defile the nature of man or separate the Holy Spirit from him, only wickedness and lawless activity separate him from [the Spirit]...the birth of children is pure... and natural cleansing is not abominable before God, Who wisely arranged for it to happen to women... But according to the Gospel, when the bleeding woman touched the saving edge of the Lord’s robe in order to get well, the Lord did not reproach her, but said: your faith saved you».
« A woman should not be prohibited from entering church during her menstruation, for she cannot be blamed for what is given by nature, and from which a woman suffers against her will. After all, we know that a woman suffering from bleeding came up to the Lord from behind and touched the hem of His garment, and immediately the illness left her. Why, if she, while bleeding, could touch the Lord’s garment and receive healing, a woman during her period cannot enter the Church of the Lord?..
It is impossible at such a time to forbid a woman to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion. If she does not dare to accept it out of great respect, this is commendable, but by accepting it, she will not commit a sin... And menstruation in women is not sinful, for it comes from their nature...
Leave women to their own understanding, and if during menstruation they do not dare to approach the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord, they should be praised for their piety. If they... want to accept this Sacrament, they should not, as we said, be prevented from doing so.”.
3. St. Dionysius of Alexandria advised not to proceed to the sacrament of Communion
“For even the woman who had a twelve-year hemorrhage did not touch Him for healing, but only the hem of her garment. Praying, no matter what state someone is in and no matter how disposed they are, remembering the Lord and asking for His help is not forbidden. But let him who is not entirely pure in soul and body be prohibited from approaching what is the Holy of Holies.».
4. St. Timothy of Alexandria expressed the same opinion on the same topic. When asked whether it is possible to baptize or admit to Communion a woman who has “The usual thing happened to women,” he answered: “Must put it aside until it is cleared».
5. Serbian Patriarch Paul
a woman, during her monthly cleansing, with the necessary caution and taking hygienic measures, can come to church, kiss icons, take antidor and blessed water, as well as participate in singing. She would not have been able to receive communion in this state, or if she was unbaptized, she would not have been able to be baptized. But in fatal disease can take communion and be baptized
The conclusion from all that has been said is that with female uncleanness, you can visit temples, eat and drink holy things, but only abstain from Communion for the sake of reverence.
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On the eve of the great religious holiday of Holy Easter with new strength Conversations arise on the topic: is it possible to go to church on time? It is impossible to find a single clear answer in any source. It is not written in books, there is no confirmation, recording or other memo indicating the existence of such a ban, but behind the scenes it exists almost everywhere. Even church ministers cannot give accurate information. There are many interpretations on this matter with different opinions.
Without knowing the essence of the root cause of the belief, it is difficult for a woman to consciously decide how important it is to observe it.
It is believed that three things can desecrate God's temple:
- dead body;
- fatal disease;
- expiration.
Read in this article
So why shouldn't you go to church while you're on your period?
Where did the dispute come from?
The Old Testament expresses an unequivocal attitude that echoes the traditions of paganism - a woman during her period is unclean and should not be in the temple. This was explained by three reasons, the most common of which was hygiene standards.
But the other two are purely spiritual and philosophical. According to Old Testament, Adam and Eve committed the Fall and lost the immortality God had prepared for them. Since those times, human nature has become damaged, female menstruation is a confirmation and reminder of this fact. The priests, strictly adhering to the norm that in God's temple nothing should indicate mortality or sinfulness of a person; women with menstruation were prohibited from going to church.
The theme of death is also reflected in the third reason, according to which a dead body cannot desecrate the church. And menstruation in a woman is regarded as the rejection of a dead egg, the miscarriage of a failed human embryo.
During the time of the New Testament, the understanding of man's divine identity changes. Jesus Christ, having accepted death for all human sins and resurrected again, denies the importance physical body in man's desire for unity with God. In religious perception, only the concepts of the soul, spirituality, and the Holy Spirit remain. Therefore natural physical condition a woman, as they say, “as the Lord created her,” cannot be an obstacle to prayer or attending church. This is confirmed by words from the teaching of the Apostle Paul, who asserts that in man created by the Lord there is nothing unclean and “every creation of God is good.” But the lack of a specific explanation on the topic of a menstruating woman does not allow us to put a final point in the disclosure of this topic in the New Testament.
So, at the intersection of two directions of religious views, this dispute arose.
All the pros and cons
It is believed that the belief that one should not go to church during menstruation has been preserved by inertia from past Old Believer times. They say, according to the teachings of the older generation, young women also preferred to adhere to this tradition.
But debates about whether it is possible for a woman to visit church on menstrual days have been going on throughout the entire existence of Christianity, tying it to the term “impurity.” By the way, this concept is used in other cases. It is believed that the mother must cleanse herself after giving birth. If a boy is born, then this period is 40 days, and if a girl is born - 60. In addition, a man is also considered “unclean” during ejaculation.
In the Holy Books one can find statements supporting this prohibition. For example, Saint Dionysius of Alexandria in the second rule says that women during purification cannot enter the holy temple and receive communion.
And St. George Dvoeslov argued that women should be allowed to attend church during menstruation, since they are created this way by nature and are not to blame for this.
There is considerable controversy surrounding the story of the woman with the issue of blood in the New Testament. It is said that she touched the clothes of Jesus while he was healing others on the street, and was healed from this. In addition, the Savior himself did not reject her, noticing this touch, but, on the contrary, encouraged her with the words “Be bold, daughter!” This can be cited as proof that a woman can turn to the Lord for help even in “critical” days and blessing. But this opinion is opposed by the argument that it concerned only Jesus’ clothes, but not his body. This means that an “unclean” woman is not allowed to do everything that is usual.
Some clarity was introduced quite recently at the Bishops' Conference, which took place on February 2-3 of this year. On it, leaning on a row church canons, a generally accepted practice was established, which prescribes abstaining from communion “in a state of female uncleanness.”
And this is no longer superstition, no ancient tradition, but a clearly written rule adopted by a meeting of bishops Orthodox Rus' which any godly woman should adhere to. It is worth noting that only the most sacred rituals are prohibited, but it is not indicated that one cannot attend church.
Now almost everyone agrees that women should be allowed to visit the temple on critical days, but if out of reverence she herself tries to avoid such situations, then she can be held accountable for this by her personal decision.
What is allowed to a woman on “critical” days?
Having received some clarity on the question of whether it is possible to go to church while menstruating, an open discussion remains: what can be done in the holy temple in such a situation.
Many are inclined to believe that practically nothing. It is forbidden to touch icons, holy books, or light candles. It is believed that the temple where only the Bloodless Sacrifice of the Savior is performed cannot be desecrated by bleeding.
Modern hygiene products practically eliminate the possibility of a woman’s blood getting out. Thus, some clergy recognize the possibility of behaving in church as usual during menstruation. In any case, it will always be better to seek blessings from your mentor and follow his advice.
People often ask: “Is it possible to read prayers during menstruation?” There are no prohibitions here, on the contrary. Churchmen claim that if a woman does not pray on “critical” days, then, against her will, she allows an unclean spirit to approach her. This means nothing can hinder prayer.
Is it worth performing sacraments and rituals?
The Church has a stricter attitude towards the performance of such rituals:
Questions and answers frequently asked by new Christians.
35 short frequently asked questions for new Christians about the temple, candles, notes, etc.
1. How should a person prepare to visit the temple?
You need to prepare for the morning visit as follows:
Getting out of bed, thank the Lord, who gave you the opportunity to spend the night in peace and extended your days for repentance. Wash your face, stand in front of the icon, light a lamp (from a candle) so that it evokes a spirit of prayer in you, put your thoughts in order, forgive everyone, and only then begin reading the prayer rule ( morning prayers from the Prayer Book). Then subtract one chapter from the Gospel, one from the Apostle and one kathisma from the Psalter, or one psalm if you are short on time. At the same time, we must remember that it is better to read one prayer with sincere contrition of heart than the whole rule with the thought of how to finish it all as quickly as possible. Beginners can use an abbreviated prayer book, gradually adding one prayer at a time.
Before leaving, say:
I deny you, Satan, your pride and your service, and I unite with you, Christ Jesus our God, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Cross yourself and calmly go to the temple, without fear of what the person will do to you.
Walking down the street, cross the road in front of you, saying to yourself:
Lord, bless my ways and keep me from all evil.
On the way to the temple, read a prayer to yourself:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
2. How should a person who decides to go to church be dressed?
Women should not come to church in trousers, short skirts, with bright makeup on their faces, and lipstick is unacceptable. The head should be covered with a headscarf or scarf. Men must remove their hats before entering the church.
3. Is it possible to eat before visiting the temple in the morning?
According to the regulations, this is not possible; this is done on an empty stomach. Departures are possible due to weakness, with self-reproach.
4. Is it possible to enter the temple with bags?
If there is a need, it is possible. Only when the believer approaches Communion should the bag be put aside, since during Communion the hands are folded crosswise on the chest.
5. How many bows should one make before entering the temple and how to behave in the temple?
Before entering the temple, having previously crossed yourself, bow three times, looking at the image of the Savior, and pray for the first bow:
God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
To the second bow:
God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me.
To the third:
Without number of sins, Lord, forgive me.
Then do the same, entering the doors of the temple, bow to both sides, saying to yourself:
Forgive me, brothers and sisters, stand reverently in one place, without pushing anyone, and listen to the words of the prayer.
If a person comes to church for the first time, then he needs to look around, notice what more experienced believers are doing, where their gaze is directed, in what places of worship and how they make the sign of the cross and bow.
During a service, it is unacceptable to behave as if in a theater or museum, that is, with your head raised, looking at icons and clergy.
During prayer, you must stand reverently, with a feeling of repentance, slightly lowering your shoulders and head, as those who have done wrong stand before the king.
If you do not understand the words of the prayer, then say the Jesus Prayer to yourself with contrition of heart:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Sign of the Cross and try to bow to everyone at the same time. Remember that the Church is the earthly Heaven. When praying to your Creator, do not think of anything earthly, but only sigh and pray for your sins.
6. How long do you need to be on duty?
The service must be defended from beginning to end. Service is not a duty, but a sacrifice to God. Would it be pleasant for the owner of the house to whom the guests came if they left before the end of the holiday?
7. Is it possible to sit at the service if you don’t have the strength to stand?
To this question, Saint Philaret of Moscow answered: “It is better to think about God while sitting than about your feet while standing.” However, you must stand while reading the Gospel.
8. What is important in bowing and praying?
Remember that it is not a matter of words and bows, but of raising your mind and heart to God. You can say all the prayers and make all the indicated bows, but not remember God at all. And, therefore, without praying, fulfill prayer rule. Such prayer is a sin before God.
9. How to kiss icons correctly?
Lobyzaya St. icon of the Savior, you should kiss the feet, Mother of God and the saints - a hand, and the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands and the head of John the Baptist - in hair.
10. What does the candle placed in front of the image symbolize?
A candle, like prosphora, is a bloodless sacrifice. The candle fire symbolizes eternity. In ancient times, in the Old Testament Church, a person coming to God offered him the internal fat and wool of a slaughtered (killed) animal, which were placed on the altar of burnt offering. Now, when we come to the temple, we sacrifice not an animal, but a symbolically replacing it with a candle (preferably a wax one).
11. Does it matter what size candles you place in front of the image?
Everything depends not on the size of the candle, but on the sincerity of your heart and your capabilities. Of course, if a wealthy person puts out cheap candles, then this indicates his stinginess. But if a person is poor, and his heart burns with love for God and compassion for his neighbor, then his reverent standing and fervent prayer are more pleasing to God than the most expensive candle, lit with a cold heart.
12. Who should light candles and how many?
First of all, a candle is lit for a holiday or a revered temple icon, then for the relics of a saint, if there are any in the temple, and only then for health or repose.
For the dead, candles are placed on the eve of the Crucifixion, mentally saying:
Remember, Lord, Your deceased servant (name) and forgive his sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant him the Kingdom of Heaven.
For health or any need, candles are usually lit for the Savior, the Mother of God, the holy great martyr and healer Panteleimon, as well as those saints to whom the Lord has given special grace to heal illnesses and provide help in various needs.
Having placed a candle in front of the saint of God you have chosen, mentally say:
Holy Servant of God (name), pray to God for me, a sinner (oh)(or the name for whom you are asking).
Then you need to come up and venerate the icon.
We must remember: in order for prayers to achieve success, one must pray to the holy saints of God with faith in the power of their intercession before God, with words coming from the heart.
If you light a candle to the image of All Saints, turn your mind to the entire host of saints and the entire Heavenly army and pray:
All saints, pray to God for us.
All the saints always pray to God for us. He alone has mercy on everyone, and is always lenient towards the requests of His saints.
13. What prayers should be said before the images of the Savior, the Mother of God and the Life-Giving Cross?
Before the image of the Savior, pray to yourself:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner, or without number of sinners, Lord, have mercy on me.
Before the icon of the Mother of God, say briefly:
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Before the image of the Life-giving Cross of Christ, say the following prayer:
We worship Your Cross, Master, and we glorify Your Holy Resurrection.
And after that, bow to the Honorable Cross. And if you stand before the image of Christ our Savior or the Mother of God, or the saints of God with humility and warm faith, then you will receive what you ask for.
For where the image is, there is the original grace.
14. Why is it customary to light candles for the repose at the Crucifixion?
The cross with the Crucifixion stands on the eve, that is, on the table for remembering the dead. Christ took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, original sin - Adam's sin - and through His death, through the Blood that was shed innocently on the cross (since Christ had no sin), reconciled the world with God the Father. Besides this, Christ is the bridge between being and non-being. On the eve, in addition to burning candles, you can also see food. This is very old Christian tradition. In ancient times there were so-called agapies - meals of love, when Christians who came to the service, after its end, all together consumed what they brought with them.
15. For what purpose and what products can be put on the eve?
Usually on the eve they put bread, cookies, sugar, everything that does not contradict fasting (since it can also be a fast day). You can also donate lamp oil and Cahors on the eve, which will then be used for the communion of believers. All this is brought and left for the same purpose for which a candle is placed on the eve - to remember one’s deceased relatives, acquaintances, friends, and not yet glorified ascetics of piety.
A note of remembrance is also submitted for the same purpose.
It should be firmly remembered that the offering must come from a pure heart and a sincere desire to make a sacrifice to God for the repose of the soul of the person being remembered and must be obtained from one’s labor, and not stolen or acquired by deception or other deceit.
16. What is the most important memorial for the dead?
The most important thing is the commemoration of the dead at the proskomedia, for the particles taken from the prosphora are immersed in the Blood of Christ and cleansed by this great sacrifice.
17. How to submit a note of remembrance at the Proskomedia? Is it possible to remember the sick at the proskomedia?
Before the service begins, you need to go to the candle counter, take a piece of paper and write as follows:
About repose
Andrey
Maria
Nicholas
Custom
The note prepared in this way will be submitted to the Proskomedia.
About health
B. Andrey
ml. Nicholas
Nina
Custom
In the same way, a note about health, including those who are sick, is submitted.
The note can be submitted in the evening, indicating the date on which the commemoration is expected.
Don’t forget to draw an eight-pointed cross at the top of the note, and at the bottom it is advisable to write: “and all Orthodox Christians.” If you want to remember a clergyman, then his name is put first.
18. What should I do if, while standing at a prayer service or other service, I did not hear the name that was submitted for commemoration?
It happens that clergy are reproached: they say that not all the notes were read or not all the candles were lit. And they don’t know that they can’t do this. Judge not, lest ye be judged. You came, you brought it - that’s it, your duty is done. And what the priest does is what will be asked of him!
19. Why is the commemoration of the dead performed?
The whole point is that the dead cannot pray for themselves. Someone else living today must do this for them. Thus, the souls of people who repented before death, but did not have time to bear the fruits of repentance, can receive liberation only through intercession for them before the Lord from living relatives or friends and through the prayers of the Church.
The Holy Fathers and teachers of the Church agree in recognizing the possibility for sinners of liberation from torment and the beneficial significance in this regard of prayers and alms, especially church prayers, and predominantly a bloodless sacrifice, that is, commemoration at the Liturgy (proskomedia).
“When all the people and the Holy Council,” asks St. John Chrysostom, - they stand with their hands stretched out to heaven and when a terrible sacrifice is presented, how can we not appease God by praying for them (the dead)? But this is only about those who died in the faith” (St. John Chrysostom. Conversation on the last to Phil. 3, 4).
20. Is it possible to include the name of a suicide or an unbaptized person in a memorial note?
It is impossible, since persons deprived of a Christian burial are usually deprived of church prayers.
21. How should you behave when censing?
When censing, you need to bow your head, as if you were receiving the Spirit of Life, and say the Jesus Prayer. At the same time, you cannot turn your back to the altar - this is the mistake of many parishioners. You just need to turn around a little.
22. What moment is considered the end of the morning service?
The end, or completion, of the morning service is the exit of the priest with the Cross. This moment is called release. During the holiday, believers approach the Cross, kiss it and the priestly hand holding the Cross as its foot. Having walked away, you need to bow to the priest. Let's pray to the cross:
I believe, Lord, and worship Your Honest and Life-Giving Cross, as on It you brought about salvation in the midst of the Earth.
23. What do you need to know about the use of prosphora and holy water?
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, when you come home, prepare a meal of prosphora and holy water on a clean tablecloth.
Before eating your meal, say a prayer:
Lord my God, may Your holy gift and Your holy water be for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities, according to Your infinite mercy through the prayers of the Most Pure One Your Mother and all Your saints. Amen.
The prosphora is taken over a plate or blank slate paper so that the holy crumbs do not fall on the floor and are not trampled, for prosphora is the holy bread of Heaven. And we must accept it with the fear of God and humility.
24. How are the feasts of the Lord and His saints celebrated?
The feasts of the Lord and His saints are celebrated spiritually, with a pure soul and an undefiled conscience, mandatory church attendance. If desired, believers order thanksgiving prayers in honor of the Holiday, bring flowers to the icon of the Holiday, distribute alms, confess and receive communion.
25. How to order a memorial and thanksgiving prayer service?
A prayer service is ordered by submitting a note formatted accordingly. The rules for registering a custom prayer service are posted at the candle counter.
IN different churches exist certain days when prayer services are performed, including water blessings.
At a water blessing service you can bless a cross, an icon, and candles. At the end of the water-blessing prayer service, believers with reverence and prayer take holy water and take it daily on an empty stomach.
26. What is the sacrament of repentance and how to prepare for confession?
The Lord Jesus Christ said, addressing His disciples: Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.(Matthew 18:18). And in another place the Savior, blowing, said to the apostles: Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven; those whose sins you retain, they will remain (John 20:22-23).
The apostles, fulfilling the will of the Lord, transferred this power to their successors - the shepherds of the Church of Christ, and to this day everyone who believes Orthodoxy and confesses sincerely before Orthodox priest through his prayer he can receive permission, forgiveness, and complete remission of his sins.
This is the essence of the sacrament of repentance.
A person who is accustomed to maintaining the purity of his heart and the neatness of his soul cannot live without repentance. He waits and longs for another confession, just as a parched earth awaits life-giving moisture.
Imagine for a moment a person who has been washing off bodily dirt all his life! So the soul requires washing, and what would happen if there were no sacrament of repentance, this healing and cleansing “second baptism”. Accumulated sins and transgressions that have not been removed from the conscience (not only large ones, but also many small ones) weigh on it so much that a person begins to feel some kind of unusual fear, it begins to seem to him that something bad is about to happen to him; then suddenly he falls into some kind of nervous breakdown, irritation, feels general anxiety, has no inner firmness, and ceases to control himself. Often he himself does not understand the reason for everything that happens, but the reason is that a person has unconfessed sins on his conscience. By the grace of God, these sorrowful sensations remind us of them, so that we, puzzled by such a plight of our souls, come to the consciousness of the need to purge all the poison from it, that is, turn to St. the sacrament of repentance and thereby get rid of all those torments that await after the Last Judgment of God for every sinner who has not cleansed himself here in this life.
Almost the entire sacrament of repentance is performed like this: first, the priest prays with everyone who wants to confess. Then he makes a brief reminder about the most common sins, talks about the meaning of confession, the responsibility of the confessor and the fact that he stands before the Lord Himself, and the priest is only a witness to his mysterious conversation with God, and that the deliberate concealment of any sins aggravates the guilt penitent.
Then those who are confessing, one by one, approach the lectern on which the Holy Gospel and the Cross lie, bow to the Cross and the Gospel, stand in front of the lectern, bowing their heads or on their knees (the latter is not necessary), and begin to confess. It is useful to draw up a rough plan for yourself - what sins to confess, so as not to forget later in confession; but you will have to not just read from a piece of paper about your ulcers, but with a feeling of guilt and repentance, open them before God, take them out of your soul, like some nasty snakes, and get rid of them with a feeling of disgust. (Compare this list of sins with those lists that will keep evil spirits at the ordeals, and note: the more thoroughly you expose yourself, the fewer pages will be found in those demonic writings.) At the same time, of course, every extraction of such abomination and bringing it to light will be accompanied by some feeling of shame, but you know for sure: the Lord Himself and His servant, the priest who confesses you, no matter how disgusting your inner sinful world may be, only rejoice when you decisively renounce it; There is only joy in the priest’s soul for the one who has repented. Any priest, after a sincere confession, is even more disposed towards the confessor, and begins to treat him much closer and more caringly.
27. Does repentance erase the memory of previously committed sins?
The answer to this question is given in the essay on the Gospel theme - “The Prodigal Son”.
“...He got up and went to his father. And while he was still far away, his father saw him and took pity; and, running, fell on his neck and kissed him.
The son said to him: “Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” And the father said to his servants: “Bring the best robe and dress him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and slaughter it: let us eat and be merry!” (Luke 15:20-23.)
The feast ends in the house of a good, merciful father. The sounds of rejoicing fade away and the invited guests disperse. Yesterday's prodigal son emerges from the hall of the banquet, still full of the sweet feeling of his father's love and forgiveness.
Behind the doors he meets his older brother standing outside. In his gaze there is condemnation, almost indignation.
The younger brother's heart sank; the joy disappeared, the sounds of the feast died down, the recent, difficult past arose before our eyes...
What can he say to his brother in justification?
Isn't his indignation justified? Did he deserve this feast, these new clothes, this golden ring, these kisses and his father’s forgiveness? After all, just recently, quite recently...
And the head of the younger brother bows low before the stern, condemning gaze of the elder: the still very fresh wounds of the soul ached and ached...
With eyes begging for mercy, the prodigal son throws himself on his knees in front of his elder brother.
“Brother... Forgive me... I didn’t organize this feast... And I didn’t ask my father for these new clothes, and shoes, and this ring... I didn’t even call myself a son anymore, I only asked to accept me to become a mercenary... Your condemnation of me is fair, and there is no excuse for me. But listen to me and maybe you will understand the mercy of our father...
What does this new clothing cover now?
Look, here are the traces of these terrible (mental) wounds. You see: there was no healthy place on my body; there were continuous ulcers, spots, festering wounds (Is. 1:6).
They are now closed and “softened by the oil” of the father’s mercy, but they still painfully hurt when touched and, it seems to me, will always hurt...
They will constantly remind me of that fateful day when, with a callous soul, full of conceit and proud self-confidence, I broke with my father, demanding my share of the estate, and went to that terrible country of unbelief and sin...
How happy you are, brother, that you have no memories of her, that you don’t know the stench and decay, the evil and sin that reign there. You have not experienced spiritual hunger and have not known the taste of those horns that in that country must be stolen from pigs.
Here you have retained your strength and health. But I no longer have them... I only brought the remains of them back to my father’s house. And this is breaking my heart now.
Who did I work for? Who did I serve? But all my strength could be devoted to serving my father...
You see this precious ring on my sinful, already weak hand. But what I wouldn’t give for these hands to have no traces of the dirty work they did in the land of sin, for the knowledge that they always worked only for their father...
Ah, brother! You always live in the light and will never know the bitterness of darkness. You don't know the things that are happening there. You have not met closely with those with whom you have to deal there; you have not touched the dirt that those living there cannot avoid.
You don’t know, brother, the bitterness of regrets: what was the strength of my youth spent on? What are the days of my youth dedicated to? Who will return them to me? Oh, if life could start over again!
Don’t envy, brother, this new garment of your father’s mercy; without it, the torment of memories and fruitless regrets would be unbearable...
And should you envy me? After all, you are rich in wealth, which you may not notice, and happy with happiness, which you may not feel. You don’t know what irretrievable loss is, the consciousness of wasted wealth and ruined talents. Oh, if only it were possible to return all this and bring it back to my father!
But property and talents are given only once in a lifetime, and you can’t get your strength back, and time has gone irrevocably...
Do not be surprised, brother, at the father’s mercy, his condescension towards the prodigal son, his desire to cover the pitiful rags of a sinful soul with new clothes, his hugs and kisses that revive the soul devastated by sin.
Now the feast is over. Tomorrow I will start work again and will work in father's house next to you. You, as the eldest and blameless, will dominate and guide me. Subordinate work befits me. That's what I need. These disgraced hands deserve no other.
These new clothes, these shoes and this ring will also be removed before the time: in them it will be indecent for me to perform menial work.
During the day we will work together, then you can relax and have fun with your friends with a calm heart and a clear conscience. And me?..
Where can I go from my memories, from regrets about wasted wealth, ruined youth, lost strength, scattered talents, soiled clothes, about yesterday’s insult and rejection of my father, from thoughts about opportunities that have gone into eternity and forever lost?..”
28. What does Communion of the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ mean?
If you do not eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have life in you (John 6:53).
He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in him(John 6:56).
With these words, the Lord pointed out the absolute necessity for all Christians to participate in the sacrament of the Eucharist. The sacrament itself was established by the Lord at the Last Supper.
“...Jesus took the bread and blessed it, broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying:
Take, eat, this is My Body. And he took the cup and, giving thanks, gave it to them and said: Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."(Matthew 26:26-28).
As the Holy Church teaches, a Christian, receiving St. Communion is mysteriously united with Christ, for in every particle of the fragmented Lamb the Whole Christ is contained.
The significance of the sacrament of the Eucharist is immeasurable, the comprehension of which surpasses our minds.
It kindles Christ's love in us, lifts the heart to God, gives rise to virtues in it, restrains the attack of dark forces on us, gives strength against temptations, revives the soul and body, heals them, gives them strength, returns virtues - restores that purity of the soul in us , which the first-born Adam had before the Fall.
In his reflections on the Divine Liturgy, Bishop. Seraphim Zvezdinsky there is a description of the vision of one ascetic elder, which clearly characterizes the meaning for a Christian of the Communion of the Holy Mysteries. The ascetic saw “...a fiery sea, the waves of which rose and seethed, presenting a terrible sight. On the opposite bank stood beautiful garden. From there the singing of birds could be heard, the fragrance of flowers spread.
The ascetic hears a voice: “ Cross this sea" But there was no way to go. He stood for a long time wondering how to cross, and heard the voice again: “ Take the two wings that the Divine Eucharist gave: one wing is the Divine Flesh of Christ, the second wing is His Life-giving Blood. Without them, no matter how great the feat, it is impossible to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven».
As Fr. writes. Valentin Sventsitsky: “The Eucharist is the basis of that real unity that is expected in the general Resurrection, for both in the transubstantiation of the Gifts and in our Communion is the guarantee of our salvation and Resurrection, not only spiritual, but also physical.”
Elder Parthenius of Kiev once, in a reverent feeling of fiery love for the Lord, repeated the prayer for a long time: “Lord Jesus, live in me and let me live in You,” and heard a quiet, sweet voice: He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in him.
So, if repentance cleanses us from the filth of our soul, then the Communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord will fill us with grace and block the return into our soul of the evil spirit expelled by repentance.
But we should firmly remember that, no matter how necessary the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ is for us, we should not approach it without first purifying ourselves through confession.
The Apostle Paul writes: “Whoever eats this Bread or drinks this Cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
Let man test himself and thus let him eat from the Bread this and drinks from the Chalice this.
For whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation for himself, without considering the Body of the Lord. That is why many of you are weak and sick, and many are dying” (1 Cor. 11:27-30).
29. How many times a year should you take communion?
The Monk Seraphim of Sarov commanded the Diveyevo sisters:
“It is unacceptable to confess and take communion on all fasts and, in addition, the twelve and major holidays: the more often, the better - without tormenting yourself with the thought that you are unworthy, and you should not miss the opportunity to use the grace bestowed by communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ as often as possible.
The grace bestowed by communion is so great that no matter how unworthy and no matter how sinful a person may be, but only in the humble consciousness of his great sinfulness will he approach the Lord, who redeems us all, even if covered from head to toe with the sores of sins, then he will be cleansed by the grace of Christ, become more and more bright, will be completely enlightened and saved.”
It is very good to take communion both on your name day and on your birthdays, and for spouses on their wedding day.
30. What is unction?
No matter how carefully we try to remember and write down our sins, it may happen that a significant part of them will not be told in confession, some will be forgotten, and some will simply not be realized and not noticed due to our spiritual blindness.
In this case, the Church comes to the aid of the penitent with the sacrament of the Blessing of Unction, or, as it is often called, “unction.” This sacrament is based on the instructions of the Apostle James, the head of the first Jerusalem Church:
“Is any of you sick, let him call the elders of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him” (James 5:14-15).
Thus, in the sacrament of the Blessing of Anointing we are forgiven of sins that were not said in confession due to ignorance or forgetfulness. And since illness is a consequence of our sinful state, liberation from sin often leads to healing of the body.
Currently, during Great Lent, all Christians who are zealous for salvation take part in three sacraments at once: confession, Blessing of Anointing and Communion of the Holy Mysteries.
To those Christians who, for whatever reason, were unable to take part in the Sacrament of Anointing, the Optina elders Barsanuphius and John give the following advice:
“What kind of lender can you find more faithful than God, who knows even what did not happen?
So, lay the account of the sins you have forgotten on Him and tell Him:
“Master, since it is a sin to forget one’s sins, I have sinned in everything against You, the One Knower of the Heart. You forgive me for everything according to Your love for mankind, for it is there that the splendor of Your glory is manifested, when You do not repay sinners for their sins, for You are glorified forever. Amen".
31. How often should you visit the temple?
The duties of a Christian include visiting church on Saturdays and Sundays and always on holidays.
The establishment and observance of holidays is necessary for our salvation; they teach us the true Christian faith, arouse and nourish in us, in our hearts, love, reverence and obedience to God. But they also go to church to perform religious services, rituals, and simply to pray, when time and opportunity permit.
32. What does visiting a temple mean for a believer?
Every visit to church is a holiday for a Christian, if the person is truly a believer. According to the teachings of the Church, when visiting the temple of God, a special blessing and success occurs in all the good endeavors of a Christian. Therefore, you should make sure that at this moment there is peace in your soul and order in your clothes. After all, we don't just go to church. Having humbled ourselves, our soul and heart, we come to Christ. It is to Christ, who gives us the benefit that we must earn by our behavior and inner disposition.
33. What services are performed daily in the Church?
In the name Holy Trinity- Father and Son and Holy Spirit - Holy Orthodox Christian Church daily performs evening, morning and afternoon services in the temples of God, following the example of the holy Psalmist, who testifies of himself: “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry, and He (the Lord) will hear my voice” (Ps. 54: 17-18 ). Each of these three services is composed, in turn, of three parts: evening service - it consists of the Ninth Hour, Vespers and Compline; morning - from the Midnight Office, Matins and the First Hour; daytime - from the Third Hour, the Sixth Hour and the Divine Liturgy. Thus, from the evening, morning and daytime services of the Church, nine services are formed: the Ninth Hour, Vespers, Compline, Midnight Office, Matins, the First Hour, the Third Hour, the Sixth Hour and the Divine Liturgy, just as, according to the teachings of St. Dionysius the Areopagite, from three ranks of Angels form nine faces, praising the Lord day and night.
34. What is fasting?
Fasting is not only some changes in the composition of food, that is, refusal of fast food, but, mainly, repentance, bodily and spiritual abstinence, purification of the heart through intense prayer.
Venerable Barsanuphius the Great says:
“Physical fasting means nothing without the spiritual fasting of the inner man, which consists of protecting oneself from passions. This fast is pleasing to God and will compensate for your lack of physical fasting (if you are weak in body).”
St. says the same thing. John Chrysostom:
“Whoever limits fasting to abstaining from food alone greatly dishonors him. It’s not just the mouth that should fast - no, let the eye, and hearing, and hands, and feet, and our whole body fast.”
As Fr. writes. Alexander Elchaninov: “In the dormitories there is a fundamental misunderstanding of fasting. What is important is not fasting in itself as not eating this and that or as depriving oneself of something in the form of punishment - fasting is only a proven way to achieve the desired results - through exhaustion of the body to reach the refinement of spiritual mystical abilities, darkened by the flesh, and thus facilitate your approach to God.
Fasting is not hunger. A diabetic, a fakir, a yogi, a prisoner, and just a beggar are starving. Nowhere in the services of Great Lent is there any talk about fasting in isolation in our usual sense, that is, as not eating meat, etc. Everywhere there is one call: “We fast, brothers, physically, we fast and spiritually.” Consequently, fasting only has a religious meaning when it is combined with spiritual exercises. Fasting is equal to refinement. A normal zoologically healthy person is inaccessible to influences external forces. Fasting undermines a person’s physical well-being, and then he becomes more accessible to the influences of another world, and his spiritual filling begins.”
According to Bishop Herman, “fasting is pure abstinence in order to restore the lost balance between body and spirit, in order to return to our spirit its supremacy over the body and its passions.”
35. What prayers are performed before and after eating food?
Prayers before eating food:
Our Father, Who is in heaven! Hallowed be it Your name, yes kingdom come Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for She gave birth to the Savior of our souls.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Bless.
Prayers after eating food:
We thank You, Christ our God, for filling us with Your earthly blessings; do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as in the midst of Your disciples you came, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us.
It is worthy to eat as to truly bless Thee, Theotokos, Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
36. Why is the death of the body necessary?
As Metropolitan Anthony Blum writes: “In a world that human sin has made monstrous, death is the only way out.
If our world of sin were fixed as unchanging and eternal, it would be hell. Death is the only thing that allows the earth, along with suffering, to escape from this hell.”
Bishop Arkady Lubyansky says: “For many, death is a means of salvation from spiritual death. For example, children dying in early age, do not know sin.
Death reduces the amount of total evil on earth. What would life be like if there were always murderers - Cains, traitors to the Lord - Judas, human beasts - Nero and others?
Therefore, the death of the body is not “ridiculous,” as people of the world say about it, but is necessary and expedient.
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