Enter the holy temple with spiritual joy. Remember that the Savior Himself promised to comfort you in sorrow: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11, verse 28).

Always enter here with humility and meekness, so that you can leave the temple justified, as the humble gospel publican came out.

When you enter a temple and see the holy icons, think that the Lord Himself and all the saints are looking at you; be especially reverent at this time and have the fear of God.

Entering the holy temple, make three waist bows, and three earthly bows during fasting, praying: “Creating me, Lord, have mercy,” “God, be merciful to me a sinner,” “I have sinned without a number, Lord, have mercy on me.”

Then, bowing to the right and left of those who came before you, stand still and carefully listen to the psalms and prayers read in the temple, but do not say otherwise to yourself, do not read them from books separately from church singing, for such are condemned by the Apostle Paul as moving away from the church assembly. It is good if there is a place in the temple where you are used to standing. Pass to him quietly and modestly, and passing by the royal doors, stop and reverently cross yourself and bow. If there is no such place yet, do not be embarrassed. Without disturbing others, stand in a free place so that singing and reading can be heard.

Always come to the holy temple in advance in order to have time to light candles before the start of the service, order a commemoration, and venerate the icons. If you are still late, be careful not to interfere with the prayer of others. Entering the temple during the reading of the Six Psalms, the Gospel, or after the Cherubic Liturgy (when the transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts is performed), stay at entrance doors until the end of these critical parts of the service.

Be reverent towards church candle: this is a symbol of our prayer burning before the Lord, His Holy Mother, holy saints of God. Candles are lit one from the other, burning, and, having melted the bottom of it, they put it in the nest of the candlestick. The candle should stand strictly straight. If, on the day of a great feast, a servant extinguishes your candle in order to light the candle of another, do not be indignant in spirit: your sacrifice has already been accepted by the All-Seeing and All-Knowing Lord.

During the service, try not to walk around the temple even to light candles. It is also necessary to venerate the icons before and after the divine service, or at the appointed time - for example, at the all-night service for anointing with oil. Some moments of the service, as already mentioned, require special concentration: the reading of the Gospel, the song of the Virgin and the great doxology at the Vespers; the prayer "Only Begotten Son..." and the entire liturgy, beginning with "Who the Cherubim...".

In the temple, with a silent bow, greet your acquaintances, even with especially close ones, do not shake hands and do not ask about anything - be truly modest. Do not be curious and do not peer at those around you, but pray with sincere feeling, delving into the order and content of the services.

In an Orthodox church, it is customary to stand during worship. You can sit only during the reading of kathismos (Psalms) and proverbs (readings from the Old and New Testaments at the great vespers on great holidays and days of memory of especially revered saints). The rest of the time it is allowed to sit down and rest only in cases of ill health. However, Saint Philaret of Moscow spoke well of the infirmity of the body: “It is better to think about God while sitting than standing about your feet.”

In the temple, pray as a participant in worship, and not just present, so that the prayers and hymns that are read and sung come from your heart; follow the service carefully so that you pray for exactly what the whole Church prays for.

If you come with children, make sure that they behave modestly and do not make noise, accustom them to prayer. If the children need to leave, tell them to cross themselves and leave quietly, or take them out yourself.

Never allow a child to eat in a holy temple, except when the priests distribute the blessed bread.

If a small child bursts into tears in the temple, immediately take him out or carry him out.

Do not condemn the involuntary mistakes of employees or those present in the temple - it is more useful to delve into your own shortcomings and ask the Lord to forgive your sins. It happens that during a divine service, someone in front of you prevents the parishioners from praying with concentration. Do not get annoyed, do not pull anyone up (unless, of course, obvious hooliganism and blasphemy are committed). Try not to pay attention, and if, due to weakness, you cannot cope with the temptation, it is better to move quietly to another place.

When you go to the temple of God, still at home prepare money for candles, prosphora and church fees: it is inconvenient to change them when buying candles, because this interferes both with worship and those who pray. Also prepare money for alms.

Until the end of the divine service, never leave the temple unless absolutely necessary, for this is a sin before God. If this happens, repent at confession.

According to our old customs, men should stand on the right side of the temple, and women on the left. Communion and anointing also take place separately - first men, and then women. No one should occupy the passage from the main doors to the royal doors.

Women should enter the temple modestly dressed, in a dress or skirt, with their heads covered and preferably without makeup at all. In any case, it is unacceptable to partake of the Holy Mysteries and venerate holy things with painted lips.

Often novice christian The question arises - how often do you need to go to the temple? Is just Saturday and Sunday sufficient? What to do if acquaintances start to look askance and call you a fanatic who goes to the temple at every opportunity? What if you don't feel like going to church because you don't trust the priest? Is it necessary to go to the temple if you do not feel the need for it? Why is it impossible to pray at home, but you must definitely go to the temple? And what if I meet your "Orthodox grandmothers" again? Nothing is clear in the temple, why serve in an incomprehensible language?

Below are the answers to these and other questions:

- I believe in God, but I don’t believe in priests, and therefore I won’t go to church.

But no one asks a parishioner to believe a priest. We believe in God, and the priests are only His servants and instruments for the fulfillment of His will. Someone said: "the current goes through a rusty wire." So also grace is transmitted through the unworthy. According to the true thought of St. John Chrysostom, “we ourselves, sitting on the pulpit and teaching, are intertwined with sins. Nevertheless, we do not despair of God's philanthropy and do not ascribe hardness of heart to Him. For this, God allowed the priests themselves to be slaves to the passions, so that from their own experience they would learn to treat others condescendingly.” Imagine that not a sinful priest, but the Archangel Michael, will serve in the temple. After the first conversation with us, he would have flared up with righteous anger, and only a pile of ashes would have remained of us.

In general, this statement is comparable to the refusal of medical care due to the greed of modern medicine. The financial interest of individual doctors is much more obvious, as everyone who has been admitted to the hospital is convinced of this. But for some reason, because of this, people do not refuse medicine. And when it comes to a much more important thing - the health of the soul, then everyone remembers there were fables, just not to go to church. There was such a case. One monk lived in the desert, and a priest went to him to give him communion. And then one day he heard that the priest who communed him was fornicating. And then he refused to take communion with him. And on the same night he saw a revelation that there was a golden well with crystal water and from it, a leper draws water with a golden bucket. And the voice of God said: “You see, how water remains pure, although it is given by a leper, so grace does not depend on the one through whom it is supplied.” And after that, the hermit again began to take communion with the priest, not arguing whether he was righteous or sinful.

But if you think about it, then all these excuses are completely insignificant. After all, is it possible to ignore the direct will of the Lord God, referring to the sins of the priest? “Who are you, condemning another's slave? Before his Lord he stands, or he falls. And will be restored; for God is mighty to raise him up."(Rom. 14:4).

“You don’t understand anything in the temple. They serve in an incomprehensible language.

Let's rephrase this objection. A first-grader comes to school and, having overheard an algebra lesson in the 11th grade, refuses to go to classes, saying: "There's nothing clear there." Is it stupid? But it is also foolish to refuse to study the Divine science, referring to incomprehensibility.

On the contrary, if everything was clear, then learning is meaningless. You already know everything the experts are talking about. Believe that the science of living with God is no less complex and elegant than mathematics, so let it have its own terminology and language.

I think that we should not refuse temple education, try to understand what exactly is incomprehensible. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the service is intended not for missionary work among unbelievers, but for the believers themselves. For us, thank God, if we pray attentively, everything becomes clear after a month and a half of constant going to church. But the depths of worship may be revealed years later. This is truly an amazing mystery of the Lord. We do not have a flat preaching of Protestants, but, if you like, an eternal university in which liturgical texts are study guides and the Teacher is the Lord Himself.

Church Slavonic is not Latin or Sanskrit. This is a sacred form of the Russian language. You just need to work a little: buy a dictionary, a few books, learn fifty words - and the language will reveal its secrets. And God will reward this work a hundredfold. – During prayer, it will be easier to collect thoughts on the Divine mystery. Thoughts will not, according to the laws of association, slip away somewhere into the distance. Thus, the Slavic language improves the conditions for communion with God, and this is precisely why we come to church. As for the acquisition of knowledge, it is transmitted in the temple in Russian. It is difficult to find at least one preacher who would preach in Slavonic. In the Church, everything is connected wisely - both the ancient language of prayer and the modern language of preaching.

And, finally, for the Orthodox themselves, the Slavic language is dear because it gives us the opportunity to hear the Word of God as accurately as possible. We literally can hear the letter of the Gospel, because the grammar of the Slavic language is almost identical to the grammar of the Greek, in which the Revelation was given to us. Believe me, as in poetry and jurisprudence, as in theology, shades of meaning often change the essence of the matter. I think that anyone who is fond of literature understands this. And in the detective, a random match can change the course of the investigation. So for us, the opportunity to hear the words of Christ as accurately as possible is priceless.

Of course, the Slavic language is not a dogma. In the universal Orthodox Church worship is performed in more than eighty languages. And even in Russia, it is theoretically possible to abandon the Slavic language. But this can happen only when it becomes as distant for believers as Latin is for Italians. I don't think it's even a question for now. But if this happens, then the Church will create a new sacred language that translates the Bible as accurately as possible and does not allow our minds to slip away to a far country. The Church is still alive and has the power to revive anyone who enters Her. So start the course of divine Wisdom, and the Creator will lead you into the depths of His mind.

I visit the temple for prayer and confession only when I feel a spiritual need for it, considering that visiting the temple without such a need is an empty formality. Am I doing the right thing?

Think about this: the Church is not a psychological help service in spiritual discomfort, but a Divine-human organism, through participation in which humanity is freed from enslavement by the devil and inherits the blessed promises of God. The lack of need for God is called “spiritual death” in the language of the Bible; read the Gospels carefully and you will understand why this death is more terrible than bodily death. The Christian is constantly with God, and does not wait for some abstract inspiration or importunate need to communicate with Him. In the end, all the “imminent need to go to Church” is not so much a desire to hear and listen to God, but a common human need to speak out.

The Path of Salvation does not provide for episodic participation, but requires constant conscious progress along the steps of perfection. Somewhere you are right: it is better not to come to the Temple at all than to turn prayer into hypocrisy and a profane formality. But, if you have already come to the Temple, then after telling God about yourself and asking for help, open your ears and start doing what He tells you about, and do not run away until the next “necessity”.

— Many of my acquaintances condemn me for the fact that I often go to the temple. Calls me a fanatic. They say something like this - well, you believe in God, well, why do you run to the temple at every opportunity?

– Answering briefly, we can say that if the Creator says so, then the creation must unquestioningly respond with obedience. The Lord of all times gave us all the days of our lives. Can't He demand that we separate 4 out of 168 hours of the week? And at the same time, the time spent in the temple is good for us. If a doctor prescribes procedures for us, then don't we try to follow his recommendations exactly, wanting to be healed of the diseases of the body? Why do we ignore the words of the Great Physician of souls and bodies? Is the fulfillment of the supreme Will fanaticism? According to the dictionary, "fanaticism - (from lat. fanaticus - frenzied) - is an extreme adherence to any beliefs or views, intolerance to any other views (for example, religious fanaticism)". Here the question arises, what is the "extreme degree". If this is understood as the original term "frenzy", then it is unlikely that most of those who visit the temple weekly, lash out at everyone in a frenzy of delight or rage. But often ordinary decency is an extreme degree for people. If not stealing or killing is fanaticism, then we, of course, are fanatics. If we admit that there is only one way to the One God - fanaticism, then we are fanatics. But with such an understanding of fanaticism, only "fanatics" will get the Kingdom of Heaven. All the "moderate" and "sane" awaits eternal darkness. As God said: “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot: oh that you were cold or hot! But since you are lukewarm, and not hot or cold, I will spew you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15-1b).

“The church is not made of logs, but in ribs,” others say, “that’s why you can pray at home.”

This again refers to the question - "How often and why should I go to the temple?". This proverb, supposedly Russian, actually goes back to our homegrown sectarians who, contrary to the word of God, separated from the Church. God does indeed dwell in the bodies of Christians. But He enters them through Holy Communion served in temples. At the same time, prayer in church is higher than prayer in homes. St. John Chrysostom says: “You are mistaken, man; Of course, it is possible to pray at home, but it is impossible to pray as in a church, where there are so many fathers, where a song is unanimously lifted up to God, at home. You will not be heard so soon, praying to the Lord at home, as praying with your brothers. There is something more here, like this: unanimity and harmony, the union of love and the prayers of the priests. For this, the priests are coming, so that the prayers of the people, as the weakest, uniting with their strongest prayers, ascend together to heaven ... If the prayer of the church helped Peter and brought this pillar of the church out of prison (Acts 12:5), then how are you, tell me, you neglect its power, and what excuse can you have? Listen to God Himself, Who says that the reverent prayers of many propitiate Him (Jon. 3:10-11) ... It’s not only people who cry terribly here, but angels fall down to the Lord and archangels pray. The very time favors them, the very sacrifice assists. How people, taking olive branches, shake them before kings, reminding them with these branches of mercy and philanthropy; so exactly the angels, presenting instead of olive branches the very Body of the Lord, implore the Lord for the human race, and as if they say: we pray for those whom You yourself once honored with such Your love that You gave up Your soul for them; we pour out prayers for those for whom You shed blood; we ask for those for whom you sacrificed your body” (Word 3 against the anomeans).

So this objection is completely unfounded. After all, how much holier the house of God is in your house, so much higher is the prayer offered in the temple, the prayer at home.

- Sunday is the only day off, you need to sleep, be with your family, do homework, and then you have to get up, go to church.

But no one forces a person to go to the early service. In the cities, early and late Liturgy is almost always served, and in the countryside, no one sleeps for a long time even on Sunday. As for the metropolis, no one bothers to come from the evening service on Saturday, talk with the family, read an interesting book and, after evening prayers, go to bed around 11-12 am, and get up at half past eight in the morning and go to the Liturgy. Nine hours of sleep can almost anyone restore strength, and if this does not happen, then we can "get" the missing daytime sleep. All our problems are not connected with the church, but with the fact that the rhythm of our life does not correspond to God's will and therefore exhausts us. And communication with God - the Source of all the forces of the Universe - of course, can only give a person both spiritual and physical strength. It has long been noticed that if you work out internally by Saturday, then the Sunday service fills you with inner strength. And this strength is also physical. It is no coincidence that the ascetics who lived in the inhuman conditions of the desert lived to be 120-130 years old, while we barely live up to 70-80. God strengthens those who trust in Him and serve Him. Before the revolution, an analysis was carried out that showed that the longest life expectancy was not among nobles or merchants, but among priests, although they lived in much worse conditions. This is a visible confirmation of the benefits of going weekly to the house of the Lord.

As for communication with the family, who prevents us from going to the temple with a full team? If the children are small, then the wife can come to church later, and after the end of the Liturgy, you can all take a walk together, go to a cafe, and talk. Can this be compared with that “communication” when the whole family is drowning together in a black box? Often those who do not go to the temple because of the family do not exchange even a dozen words a day with their loved ones.

As for household chores, the word of God does not permit the performance of those tasks that are not essential. You can not arrange a general cleaning or washing day, canned food for a year. Rest time lasts from Saturday evening to Sunday evening. All heavy work must be transferred to Sunday evening. The only kind of hard work that we can and should do on Sundays and holidays is works of mercy. To arrange a general cleaning for a sick or old person, to help in the temple, to prepare food for an orphan and a large family - this is a true and pleasing rule for the Creator to observe the holiday.

– I can’t go to the temple because it’s cold or hot, rain or snow. I better at home I will pray.

But what a miracle! The same person is ready to go to the stadium and cheer for his team in the open air in the rain, dig in the garden until you drop, dance all night at the disco, and only he does not have the strength to reach the house of God! The weather is always just an excuse for your unwillingness. Is it really possible to believe that God will hear the prayer of a person who does not want to sacrifice something small for His sake?

- I won’t go to the temple, because you don’t have benches, it’s hot. Not like the Catholics!

Of course, this objection cannot be called serious, but for many, considerations of comfort more important than the question eternal salvation. However, God does not want death and the outcast, and Christ will not break even a bruised rod and will not quench the smoking flax. As for the benches, this is not a matter of principle at all. Orthodox Greeks have seats all over the church, Russians don't. Even now, if a person is sick, then no one prevents him from sitting on the benches located at the back in almost every temple. Moreover, according to the liturgical Rule of the Russian Church, parishioners can sit seven times during the festive evening service. In the end, if it’s hard to stand the whole service, and all the benches are occupied, then no one bothers to bring a folding stool with you. It is unlikely that anyone will condemn for this. You just need to get up for the reading of the Gospel, the Cherubic Hymn, the Eucharistic Canon, and about a dozen more important moments of the service. I don't think this will be a problem for anyone. These rules do not apply to people with disabilities.

I repeat once again that all these objections are absolutely not serious and cannot be the reason for violating the commandment of God.

– In your temple everyone is so angry, angry. Grandmothers hiss and swear. And also Christians! I don’t want to be like that, and therefore I won’t go to the temple.

But after all, no one requires to be angry and angry. Does anyone in the temple force you to be like that? Are you required to wear boxing gloves when entering the temple? Do not hiss and do not swear yourself and then you will be able to correct others. As the apostle Paul says: “Who are you who condemns another's servant? Does he stand before his Lord, or does he fall? (Rom. 14:4).

It would be fair if the priests taught to swear and quarrel. But it's not like that. Neither the Bible, nor the Church, nor Her servants have ever taught this. On the contrary, in every sermon and in hymns we are called to be meek, merciful. So that's not the reason for not going to church.

It must be understood that people come to the temple not from Mars, but from the outside world. And there it’s just customary to swear in such a way that sometimes you won’t hear the Russian word among the peasants. One mat. But in the temple it just does not exist. We can say that the church is the only place closed to swearing.

It is in the world that it is customary to be angry and pour out your irritation on others, calling it a struggle for justice. Isn't that what the old women in the clinics do, washing the bones of everyone from the president to the nurse? And can these people, upon entering the temple, as if by a wave of a magic wand, instantly change and become meek, like sheep? No, God gave us free will, and nothing can change without our efforts.

We always remain in the Church only in part. Sometimes this part is very large - and then the person is called a saint, sometimes less. Sometimes a person clings to God only with his little finger. But we are not the Judge and Evaluator of everything, but the Lord. As long as there is time, there is hope. And before the end of the picture, how can one judge it, except for the finished parts. Such parts are sacred. It is by them that the Church must be judged, and not by those who have not yet completed their earthly journey. No wonder it is said that "the end crowns the deed."

The Church itself calls itself a hospital (the Confession says “because you have come to the doctor’s clinic, so that you will not be healed”), so is it reasonable to expect that it is filled with healthy people? There are healthy ones, but they are in Heaven. That's when everyone who wants to be healed will use the help of the Church, then she will appear in all her glory. The saints are the ones who clearly show the power of God at work in the Church.

So in the temple one should look not at others, but at God. After all, we do not come to people, but to the Creator. How often and why do you need to go to the temple?

“I am ready to go to church every week, but my wife or husband, parents or children won’t let me.

Here it is worth recalling the terrible words of Christ, which are often forgotten: “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”(Matthew 10:37). This terrible choice must always be made. The choice is between God and man. Yes, it's hard. Yes, it can hurt. But if you have chosen a person, even in what you consider small, then God will reject you on the Day of Judgment. And will a loved one help you with this terrible answer? Does your love for your family justify you when the Gospel says otherwise? Will you not remember with longing and bitter disappointment the day when you rejected God for the sake of imaginary love?

And practice shows that the one who chose someone instead of the Creator will be betrayed by them.

I will not go to this church, because there bad energy. I feel bad in the temple, especially from incense.

In fact, any temple has the same energy - God's grace. All churches are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Christ the Savior abides in all churches with His Body and Blood. Angels of God stand at the entrance to any temple. It's just about the person. It happens that this effect has a natural explanation. On holidays, when "visitors" visit temples, they are packed with people. Indeed, there are very few sacred places for such a multitude of Christians. And so it really becomes stuffy for many. Sometimes it happens that poor-quality incense is burned in poor temples. But these reasons are not the main ones. It often happens that people feel bad even in a completely empty church. Christians are well aware of the spiritual causes of this phenomenon.

Evil deeds, in which a person does not want to repent, drive away the grace of God. This is the resistance of the evil will of man to the power of God and is perceived by him as "bad energy." But not only does man turn away from the Lord, but God Himself does not accept the egoist. After all, it is said that “God resists the proud” (James 4:6). Similar cases are known in antiquity. So Mary of Egypt, who was a harlot, tried to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and bow to the Life-Giving Cross. But an invisible force threw her away from the gates of the church. And only after she repented and promised never to repeat her sin again, God allowed her into His house.

Also now there are cases when hired killers and prostitutes could not bear the smell of incense and fainted. Especially often this happens to those who are engaged in magic, astrology, extrasensory perception and other devilry. Some force twisted them at the most important moments of the service, and they were taken from the church in an ambulance. Here we are faced with another reason for the rejection of the temple.

Not only man, but also those behind his sinful habits do not want to meet the Creator. These beings are rebellious angels, demons. It is these impure entities that prevent a person from entering the temple. They also take away strength from those standing in the church. It happens that one and the same person can sit for hours in a “rocking chair” and is not able to spend ten minutes in the presence of the Creator. Only God can help someone who is captured by the devil. But He helps only those who repent and wish to live according to the will of the Lord Almighty. Otherwise, all these arguments are just an ill-conceived repetition of satanic propaganda. It is no coincidence that the very terminology of this objection was taken from psychics (and the Church knows that they all serve the devil), who are very fond of talking about certain energies that can be “recharged”, as if it were a battery, and not a child of God. .

Here are the symptoms of spiritual illness. Instead of love, people try to manipulate the Creator. This is just a sign of demonism.

The last objection, related to the previous ones, is most often encountered:

“I have God in my soul, so I don’t need your rituals. I do only good things. Is God going to send me to hell just because I don't go to the temple?

But what is meant by the word "God"? If we are talking simply about conscience, then, of course, in any person this voice of God sounds in the heart. There are no exceptions here. Neither Hitler nor Chikatilo were deprived of it. All the villains knew that there is good and evil. The voice of God tried to keep them from iniquity. But is it really just because they heard this voice that they are already saints? Yes, and conscience is not God, but only His speech. After all, if you hear the voice of the President on a tape recorder or on a radio, does this mean that he is in your apartment? Also, having a conscience does not mean that God is in your soul.

But if you think about this expression, then Who is God? This is the Almighty, Infinite, Omniscient, Righteous, Good Spirit, Creator of the universe, Whom the heavens and the heavens of heaven cannot contain. So how can your soul contain Him – Him, Whose Face the angels fear to see?

Does the speaker so sincerely think that this Immeasurable Power is with him? Let us doubt. Let him show Her manifestation. The expression "God in the soul" is stronger than trying to hide a nuclear explosion in oneself. Is it possible to hide Hiroshima or a volcanic eruption in secret? So we demand such evidence from the speaker. Should he perform a miracle (like resurrecting the dead) or show God's love by turning the other cheek to the one who hit him? Will he be able to love his enemies - even a hundredth of that, as our Lord, Who prayed for them before the crucifixion? Indeed, to truly say: “God is in my soul,” only a saint can. We demand holiness from the one who speaks like this, otherwise it will be a lie, whose father is the devil.

They say: “I do only good, will God send me to hell?” But let me question your righteousness. What is considered the criterion of good and evil, by which it can be determined that you or I are doing good or evil? If you consider yourself as a criterion (as it is often said: “I determine for myself what good and evil are”), then these concepts simply lose any value and meaning. After all, Beria, and Goebbels, and Pol Pot considered themselves absolutely right, so why do you yourself think that their deeds deserve censure? If we have the right to determine for ourselves the measure of good and evil, then the same must be allowed for all murderers, perverts and rapists. Yes, by the way, let God also disagree with your criteria, and judge you not by yours, but by His standards. Otherwise, it turns out somehow unfairly - we choose the yardstick for ourselves, and we forbid the Almighty and Free God to judge ourselves according to our own laws. But according to them, without repentance before God and Holy Communion, a person will end up in hell.

To be honest, what do our standards of good and evil stand in the face of God, if we do not even have the right to legislative activity. After all, we have not created for ourselves either a body, or a soul, or a mind, or a will, or feelings. Everything that you have is a gift (and not even a gift, but property temporarily entrusted for preservation), but for some reason we decide that we can dispose of it with impunity at our will. And to the One who created us, we deny the right to demand an account of how we used His gift. Doesn't this requirement seem a bit daring? What makes us think that the Lord of the Universe will fulfill our sin-damaged will? Have we violated the Fourth Commandment and at the same time we believe that He owes us something? Isn't it stupid?

After all, instead of devoting Sunday to God, it is given to the devil. On this day, people often get drunk, swear, debauchery, and if not, then they have fun in a far from nice way: they watch dubious TV shows, films where sins and passions overflow, etc. And only the Creator turns out to be superfluous in His Own Day. But doesn't God, who gave us everything, including time, have the right to demand from us just a few hours?

So hell awaits those despisers who ignore the will of God. And the reason for this is not God's cruelty but that they, leaving the springs of the water of Life, began to try to dig the empty wells of their excuses. They have refused the sacred Chalice of Communion, have deprived themselves of the word of God, and therefore wander in the darkness of this evil age. Moving away from the Light, they find darkness, leaving love, they gain hatred, leaving life, they throw themselves into the arms of eternal death. How can we not mourn their stubbornness and wish they would return to the house of our heavenly Father?

We, together with King David, will say: "According to the multitude of Thy mercy, I will enter Thy house; I will worship Thy holy temple in Thy fear"(Ps. 5:8). After all “We entered into fire and into water, and You brought us out to freedom. I will enter your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows, which my mouth has spoken and my tongue has spoken in my affliction.”(Ps. 65:12-14).

The questions were answered:
priest Anthony Merculo
priest Yaroslav Fateev
priest Daniil Sysoev
and others

1. To prepare for the morning visit, you need to prepare as follows:
Rising from bed, give thanks to the Lord, who gave you the opportunity to spend the night in peace and extended your days for repentance. Wash yourself, stand in front of the icon, light the lamp (from a candle) so that it evokes a prayerful spirit in you, put your thoughts in order, forgive everyone, and only then proceed to reading the prayer rule ( morning prayers from the Prayer Book). At the same time, it must be remembered that it is better to read one prayer with sincere contrition of the heart than the whole rule with the thought of how to finish it all as soon 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 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, not being afraid of what a 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. You should arrive at the temple 10-15 minutes before the start of the service. During this time, you can submit notes, put a donation on the eve, buy candles, put them on and venerate the icons. If you are late, you must behave in such a way as not to interfere with the prayer of others. If it is not possible to freely approach the icons and put candles, ask them to pass the candles through other people.

3. During the service, men should stand on the right side of the temple, women on the left, leaving free passage from the main doors to the Royal Doors. It is forbidden to sit in an Orthodox church, the only exception can be ill health or severe fatigue of the parishioner.

4. In the temple it is indecent to show curiosity and consider others. It is unacceptable to condemn and ridicule the involuntary mistakes of employees or those present in the temple. It is forbidden to talk during worship. You should not condemn and rebuke a newcomer who does not know the rules of the church. It is better to help him with polite and kind advice. Candles need to be bought exactly in the temple to which you came. If possible, you should not leave the church before the end of the service.

5. When visiting temples, dress appropriately most of the body was covered. It is not customary to go to the temple in shorts and sportswear. Women should not come to church in trousers, short skirts, with bright makeup on their faces, lipstick on their lips is unacceptable. The head must be covered with a headscarf or scarf. Men must remove their hats before entering the church.

6. You should not ask for blessings from deacons and ordinary monks, since they have no right to do this. Bless priests and bishops, as well as abbesses of monasteries in the rank of abbess. When accepting the blessing, you should fold your palms crosswise (the right palm over the left) and kiss the right, blessing hand of the clergyman, you do not need to be baptized before this.

Can I eat before visiting the temple in the morning?
According to the charter it is impossible, it is done on an empty stomach. Retreats are possible due to weakness, with self-reproach.

How to be baptized?

On right hand we fold the thumb, middle and index fingers so that they touch with pads (the symbol of the Trinity is God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit), we press the remaining two to the palm (the symbol of the dual nature of Jesus Christ - God and Man). Next, we bring our hand to the forehead (in the Name of the Father), on the stomach (and the Son), to the right shoulder (and the Holy Spirit), to the left shoulder (Amen) and bow.

How long do you need to be on duty?
Service must be upheld from beginning to end. Service is not a duty, but a sacrifice to God. Will it be pleasant for the owner of the house, to whom guests have come, if they leave before the end of the holiday?

Is it possible to sit in the service if there is no strength to stand?
To this question St. Philaret of Moscow answered: "It is better to think about God while sitting than about standing feet." However, while reading the Gospel it is necessary to stand.

How to kiss icons correctly?
Lobyzaya St. the icon of the Savior, you should kiss the feet, the Mother of God and the saints - the hand, and the Image Not Made by Hands of the Savior and the head of John the Baptist - in sackcloths.

How should you behave when cuddling?
When burning, you need to bow your head, as if you are receiving the Spirit of Life, and say the Jesus Prayer. At the same time, one should not turn one's back to the altar - this is the mistake of many parishioners. You just need to turn around a little.

Where to put candles for health?

Candles for health are placed on any candlestick, except for the eve (table at the Crucifixion) - candles are placed there with a prayer for the dead. Which saint? As your heart desires, to whom the heart will indicate. Your prayer is to the Lord. And the saints are our intercessors before Him and intercessors. You can also put candles, for example, for the icons of the Mother of God or the Feast, which are especially revered by you and your family.

Types of notes:

On health: proskomedia, litany, prayer service.
- about repose: proskomedia, litany, requiem.

For both the living and the dead, you can also order a magpie, semi-annual, annual, five-year and eternal commemoration.
Proskomedia: takes place before the Liturgy: particles are removed from the prosphora and placed in the Chalice, the liturgical prosphora is prepared - the Lamb. Names are read from notes submitted for proskomedia. And the particles are taken out for these people. Already during the Liturgy, after the Transubstantiation of the Gifts, the removed particles are immersed in the Holy Chalice with a prayer to Christ to wash away the sins of those who are commemorated.
Litany: the names are read during the Augmented Litany after the reading of the Gospel at the Liturgy.
Prayer: a separate service is ordered (more precisely, this is called a requirement). In a note for a prayer service, you can indicate to whom: for example, a prayer service to any icon of the Mother of God, a saint ...
memorial service: separate service for the dead. Done often. There are also Parental Saturdays, before which Parastas is served - a special memorial service. Notes filed on Parents' Saturday, are read the day before, on Friday, at the Parastasos, and on Saturday at the Liturgy at the litany, and after the Liturgy at the memorial service.
Sorokoust: prayer while reading the psalter in the monastery for 40 days;
semi-annual, annual, five-year and eternal commemoration - respectively, according to the same principle.
Notes should be served in the candlestick of the temple. There are samples everywhere. If the sample is not posted, you can ask the temple candlestick about the design - they will explain everything to you.

Only names are written in notes baptized people. Newborns (not yet baptized) are written like this: "mother's name" with a child. Pregnant - non-idle "name". If a person is sick - sick (go) "name". If the note is about the dead, then you can’t write suicides, unbaptized babies (they are prayed for at home).

What is confession?

Confession implies an open heart to God, a sincere desire to become better and part with bad thoughts and actions, get rid of the desire to do bad deeds (both in relation to others and to oneself). And repentance for the bad things that have already been done. What is sinful? There is enough sensible literature on this subject, which you can buy in a church shop, for example, “To Help the Penitent” by Ignaty Brianchaninov.

How to prepare for confession?

There is no universal recipe here. And you won’t ask anyone in particular: how do you prepare for confession? Because it's a very personal matter. Some generally write everything on a piece of paper the day before. The main thing to do is to tune in to reflect on your actions and thoughts.

How is the confession going?

Find out in the temple about the hours of confession. It can be evening (after or even during the service) and morning (before the Liturgy). If you know any priest (you saw him at the service, talked and were filled with confidence), find out in the candle-room when he confesses. It is better (especially for the first time) to go to confession to someone who disposes you to himself. Despite the fact that you confess to God, and not to the priest, the personal factor influences here, and at first we cannot do anything about it. Although it may not matter to some.

You must come to confession on a first-come, first-served basis. As you approach, bow your head. Start with "sinned" and list the sins. After you have said everything, finish the confession "Forgive me, Merciful Lord." After you have finished confession, the priest covers your head with an epitrachelion (an accessory of liturgical vestments is a long ribbon that wraps around your neck and descends to your chest with both ends) and reads a prayer. He will first ask for your name (do not forget that if your name is Rosa, and you are baptized with Hope, you must say “Hope”). After the prayer, you are baptized, kiss the Gospel lying in front of you, and the Cross (ibid.), and move away from the lectern.
The main thing is that you cannot take communion without confession, but you can confess without subsequent communion. Preparing for communion is much more difficult and longer than preparing for confession.

How to prepare for Communion?

Three days before Communion it is necessary to fast (do not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, and fasting - and fish). Fasting also includes quitting smoking, drinking and abstinence. It is necessary during the preparation to read the rule for Communion (it is in any Orthodox prayer book). On the day of Communion itself, after 12 o'clock at night (that is, from the beginning of a new day), it is not supposed to eat and drink until the end of the Liturgy. Formerly people dressed in bright clothes for communion - there was such a Orthodox tradition. Before the service or the day before, confession is prescribed.
During the Liturgy, towards the end of the service, having heard the singing: “One is Holy, One is the Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father. Amen. ”, start slowly moving to the right side of the temple. It is from there that they approach the Chalice. After the priest’s words “Come with the fear of God and faith” (he takes out the Cup) and singing “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, God the Lord and appear to us” - the prayer “I believe, Lord, and I confess ...” is read (you will already recognize it after home preparation for Communion). Her father reads himself, but the whole church silently (sometimes, out loud) repeats. After the prayer to the singing of “Take the body of Christ…” those who take communion approach the Chalice. Hands are folded crosswise on the chest - right to left.

Approaching the Cup, say your name in baptism, open your mouth and receive the Body and Blood of the Lord. After that, kiss the edge of the Chalice and move further to the left side of the temple. Take a piece of prosphora there and drink it down. It is not necessary to be baptized and bow at the Chalice itself, so as not to hurt it. Also, before you drink, you should not say anything. After communion, you should not immediately leave the temple. Wait until the end of the service, kiss the Cross, which the priest will give after the sermon, and only after that leave the church refreshed. Do not forget to read the prayers after Communion at home. Or listen to them in the temple at the end of the service.

Upon leaving the temple

Blessing
One must distinguish between worship before a shrine and before people, even if they are sacred. Accepting the blessing of a priest or bishop, Christians fold their palms crosswise, placing the right on the left, and kiss the right hand of the blesser, but do not cross themselves before that. This custom recalls that this hand held the Holy Chalice of the Eucharist.

General
Leaving their temple, make three waist bows with the sign of the cross.
The care of the Holy Church for us continues after the service, so that we do not lose the grace-filled mood, which, by the grace of God, we were honored in the temple. The Church commands us to disperse after the service in reverent silence, with thanksgiving to God, with a prayer that the Lord grant us to always visit His holy monastery until the end of our lives.
Smokers are forbidden to smoke even on the street within the church fence.
But it is absolutely necessary to delve into everything that happens for church service to feed on them. Only then will each one warm his heart, excite his conscience, revive his withered soul, and enlighten his mind.

Now we answer to frequently asked questions:

A basket of money (near the lectern at confession, near the drink after communion, or somewhere else in the church) is a voluntary sacrifice, not a payment for the sacrament. Decide according to your ability and conscience.

The fact that Communion is given with one spoon should not bother you either. No one has yet been infected by the Chalice.

After the first confession (especially if you repented in grave sins) You may not be allowed to take Communion. Rarely, but such cases do happen. Go quietly home, do what the priest said, and get ready for the next confession. It is impossible to approach the Chalice without blessing.

If you have a need to tell a priest about something, arrange an individual appointment with him. During confession, long conversations are inappropriate - most likely, there are many more people behind you.

What should I do if, while standing at a prayer service or other divine service, I did not hear the name that I filed for commemoration?
It happens that the clergy are reproached: they say, not all the notes were read or not all the candles were lit. And they don't know what to do. Judge not lest ye be judged. You came, brought - everything, your duty is fulfilled. And as the priest does, so it will be asked of him!

14. How many times a year do you need to take communion?
15. What is Unction?
16. How often should I visit the temple?
17. Why is a spiritual leader needed?
18. How should sorrows be endured?
19. How to overcome shame in confession?
20. What sin is called mortal?
21. How to relate to the disease?
22. How to overcome pride, anger, condemnation?
23. If suddenly there are questions
24. How to behave with beggars who meet in front of the temple?
25. Will the consecration of the apartment save from thieves, and the consecration of the car from the accident?
26. How many times a day should you pray?
27. How to apply to icons correctly?
28. How to choose a spiritual father?
29. How does Orthodoxy relate to various amulets and talismans, to folk signs?
30. What is the best way to read prayers at home: aloud, in a whisper or mentally?
31. If faith is not enough - how to increase it?
32. What is the correct way to address the temple servants?
33. How to be in the temple with children? Should they be brought to the temple?
34. Arriving at the temple, who should put a candle in the first place and what should you pray for? Who and how many candles should be placed? Is it possible to light a candle for the health of oneself?
35. Is it necessary to kneel in the temple?
36. Why do they go around the temple with trays and collect money?
37. What do bows mean and what are they?
38. What does censing symbolize and how should one behave when censing a temple?
39. What is a prayer service, memorial service, litany?
40. How can you commemorate a person?
41. What icons are placed in the center of the temple and how to apply to them correctly? Is it necessary to kiss the icon? Can you just touch your forehead for fear of infection?
42. Is it possible to pray and light candles for animals?
43. What should (or can be) the position of the hands during prayer - in the temple, at home, etc.? Sometimes people hold their hands in front of them bent at the elbows and clasping their palms in prayer. Sometimes they fold their arms crosswise on their chest, putting the right on the left. Sometimes - in front of you, closing them "in the lock" just below chest level. Most people just keep their hands down.
44. How can an Orthodox Christian properly spend his days off?
45. What does the folded fingers of the hand of the priestly blessing mean?
46. ​​How to endure grief at the death of a loved one?
47. What icons to buy for the home? Can any icon be hung in the house?
48. What is the use of taking prosphora and holy water?
49. What if there is nowhere to put a candle?
50. Why doesn't God make all people good?
51. Why is it necessary to confess?
52. What is sin? How to destroy it? Are all people sinners?
53. Where to put last year's consecrated willow?
54. Are repentance and confession one and the same?
55. On what days is a wedding not performed in the church?
56. What do the words "Take up your cross and follow me" mean?
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3. Is it possible to enter the temple with bags?
If there is a need, you can.

Only when a believer approaches Communion should the bag be put aside, since during Communion the hands are folded crosswise on the chest.

4. How many prostrations should be made 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:
I have sinned without number, Lord, forgive me.
Then do the same, entering the doors of the temple, bow on 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.

5. How long do you need to be on duty?
Service must be upheld from beginning to end. Service is not a duty, but a sacrifice to God. Will it be pleasant for the owner of the house, to whom guests have come, if they leave before the end of the holiday?

6. M Is it possible to sit in the service if there is no strength to stand?
To this question St. Philaret of Moscow answered: "It is better to think about God while sitting than about standing feet." However, while reading the Gospel it is necessary to stand.

7. What is important in bowing and prayer?
Remember that the matter is not in words and bows, but in the raising of the mind and heart to God. You can say all the prayers and put down all the aforementioned bows, but not remember God at all. And, therefore, without praying - to fulfill prayer rule. Such prayer is a sin before God.

8. How to kiss icons correctly?
Lobyzaya St. the icon of the Savior, you should kiss the feet, the Mother of God and the saints - the hand, and the Image Not Made by Hands of the Savior and the head of John the Baptist - in the sacks.

9. What does the candle placed in front of the image symbolize?
A candle, like prosphora, is a bloodless sacrifice. Candle fire symbolizes eternity. In ancient times, in the Old Testament Church, a person who came to God sacrificed to him the inner fat and wool of a slain (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 candle symbolically replacing it (preferably a wax one).

10. Does it matter what size candle you put in front of the image?
Everything depends not on the size of the candle, but on the sincerity of your heart and your capabilities. Even 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 is more pleasing to God than the most expensive candle, set with a cold heart.

11. What do the words "Amen" and "Hallelujah" mean in prayers?
"Amen" means "so be it". In Hebrew, the word "amen" is etymologically related to the words "firm", "reliable", "constant". The word hallelujah Hebrew translates as "praise the Lord." These words have passed almost unchanged into all translations of the Bible.

12. 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 a break.

During the holidays, believers approach the Cross, kiss it and the priestly hand holding the Cross as its footstool. Moving away, you need to bow to the priest.

Pray to the Cross:

I believe, Lord, and I worship Your Honorable and Life-Giving Cross, as if on Him I made salvation in the midst of the Earth.

13. How to order a prayer service for memorial and thanksgiving?
A prayer service is ordered by submitting a note, drawn up accordingly. The rules for designing a custom prayer service are posted at the candle counter.

In different churches, there are certain days when prayers are performed, including blessings of water. At the prayer service for water, you can consecrate a cross, an icon, candles. At the end of the prayer service for water, believers with reverence and prayer take holy water and take it daily on an empty stomach.

14. How many times a year should you take communion?
The Monk Seraphim of Sarov commanded the Diveyevo sisters: “It is inadmissible to confess and commune during all fasts and, in addition, the twelfth and great holidays: the more often, the better - without tormenting yourself with the thought that you are unworthy, and you should not miss the opportunity to use grace as often as possible, bestowed by the communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

The grace bestowed by communion is so great that no matter how unworthy and no matter how sinful a person is, but only in a humble consciousness of his great sinfulness will he come to the Lord, who redeems all of us, even if from head to toe covered with ulcers of sins, then he will be cleansed by the grace of Christ, become more and more bright, completely enlightened and saved.

It is very good to receive communion both on the days of your name day and on birthdays, and for spouses on the day of their marriage.

15. 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 said at confession, some will be forgotten, and some are simply not 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 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 for 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, he will be forgiven" (James 5:14-15).

Thus, in the sacrament of the Unction of the Unction, sins are forgiven us that are not said at confession due to ignorance or forgetfulness. And since sickness is a consequence of our sinful state, liberation from sin often leads to healing of the body.

16. How often should you visit the temple?
It is the duty of a Christian to go to the temple on the Sabbath and Sundays And definitely on holidays.

The establishment and observance of holidays is necessary for our salvation, they teach us the true Christian faith, excite and nourish in us, in our hearts, love, reverence and obedience to God.

But they also go to church to perform rites, rituals, in order to simply pray, when time and opportunities allow. Every visit to the temple for a Christian is a holiday, if the person is truly a believer. According to the teachings of the Church, when visiting the temple of God, there is a special blessing and success in all the good undertakings of a Christian. Therefore, it should be done so that at this moment there is peace in the soul and order in clothes. We don't just go to church. Having humbled ourselves, our soul and heart, we come to Christ. Precisely to Christ, who gives us the good in relation to us, which we must earn by our behavior and inner disposition.

17. What is a spiritual leader for?
In order to march without error with his help and reach the Kingdom of Heaven, and for this it is necessary, mainly, in practice to fulfill the instructions, advice and instructions of the confessor, to spend one's life piously.

There were examples of how some people, having the opportunity to often visit the elder, constantly heard his instructions and instructions, lived with him and remained barren, and some, rarely having the opportunity to be with the elder and briefly hear the instructions, succeeded.

So, the strength lies not in visiting the spiritual father often, but in fulfilling his instructions and not being fruitless. When they teach their children to read and write, why do they send them to a school and hire teachers who would explain what is written in the books? They would give them only books and textbooks, and let them study on their own without teachers. And they do it to teach the sciences, for a few years, although the sciences are useful only in this short-term life. How is it that they so neglect the immortal soul, saying that a guide is not needed for spiritual life?

18. How should grief be handled?
Sorrows should be endured in secret, like any feat. Then we will not lose our reward in heaven. Only with a spiritual father can we talk about sorrows, asking for his advice, and pray to God to patiently endure any temptation.

19. How to overcome shame in confession?
To be ashamed in confession to reveal sins is from pride. Having reproved themselves before God in the presence of a confessor as a witness, people receive peace and forgiveness.

Remember that unrepentant heavy sins after death will bring great and eternal punishment. First of all, you should confess that which most disturbs your conscience. Many talk about the insignificant, but keep silent about the important and, thus, leave unhealed from sinful ulcers and unresolved.

20. What is the mortal sin?
A mortal sin is such a sin, because of which, if you do not repent of it before death, then you go to hell; but if you repent of this sin, it will immediately forgive you. It is called mortal because the soul dies from it and can come to life only from repentance.

21. How to deal with illness?
God sent sickness. Give thanks to the Lord, for everything that comes from the Lord is for good.

If you feel and see that you yourself are to blame, then start with repentance and pity before God that you did not save the gift of health given to you by Him. And then, nevertheless, reduce it to the fact that the disease is from the Lord, for every combination of circumstances is from the Lord and nothing happens by chance. E There are such illnesses, the healing of which the Lord sometimes imposes a ban, when He sees that illness is more necessary for salvation than health. And after this, thank the Lord again!

Illness humbles, softens the soul and relieves its usual heaviness from many worries.

22. How to overcome pride, anger, condemnation?
Anger and condemnation from pride. Seek humility - anger and condemnation will lag behind by themselves. Against anger - gritting your teeth to be silent. This is the first start.

The second - when it takes away - to retire a little, so as not to see the one that provokes anger. When anger does not subside from this and you have to say nonsense and malfunctions, take a thicker rope and whip yourself, but only so that it is sensitive. Do this after every outburst of anger. This technique is also good against pride.

Against condemnation - rather remember your sins and keep them in front of your consciousness - and condemnation will depart. Fight in every way against these and other passions, driving away their very beginnings with prayer to the Lord.

23. If any questions arise
If you want to ask a priest something, first turn to him with the words: “Batiushka, bless!”, And then ask a question. When accepting the blessing, fold your palms crosswise (palms up, right to left) and kiss the right, blessing you, hand of the clergyman.

If the priest is not in the temple at the moment when you need to talk to him, then you can clarify when the priest will be there - go to the candle box and ask a question to the one who will stand behind him. If you have a question regarding a wedding, baptism or funeral service, then you can ask about it there.

Candle box (church box) - a place, usually at the entrance to the temple, where candles, icons, books, crosses and other items of external expression of faith are offered to believers. Behind the candle box, you can order prayers, panikhidas, christenings, funerals, weddings, commemorations of health and repose, and other rites.

24. How to deal with beggars who meet in front of the temple?
When you see the poor, remember first of all that Christ our Lord and the Holy Fathers teach and, one might say, ask us to give to the poor.

Doing good to others, everyone should remember that the Lord will not leave him. "Do you think that he who feeds Christ (that is, the poor)," says St. Augustine, "will not himself be fed by Christ?". After all, in the eyes of the Lord Himself, we should look, according to our sins, much more terrible and worthless than these unfortunate people living on alms.

We should not tempt (embarrass) ourselves with the idea that the beggars "earn" no less than we do, and sometimes they are dressed no worse. Everyone will be asked, first of all, for his deeds.

your business in this case- to show mercy, regardless of faces, with ease of heart. If, however, you see that there are beggars in front of you, using all the means for drinking, lend them not in money, but in food: give an apple, cookies, sweets, bread, etc. When the Monk Ambrose was asked why he gives to drunkards, he answered: to save them from another sin - theft.

25. Will the consecration of the apartment save from thieves, and the consecration of the car from the accident?
The consecration of an apartment, a car, an icon, a prayer is not a pagan amulet, not a spell from trouble. This should be a change in the inner world, in particular the attitude towards the thing that was consecrated, towards God, to whom they turned with prayer.

The man sanctified the car and stopped smoking, swearing, and acting out on the road in it, he remembers that the Guardian Angel is with him from now on.

He consecrated his house - that means he made it his small church.

And if, after consecration, a person does not keep the shrine, then how will God keep it and him?

Or does he make God dependent on his whims: since I turned to You, are You obliged to keep me?

The Lord always wishes good for a person, and that is why sometimes, as strict father, admonishes, making you think about life, about the world, about Divine Providence.

26. How many times a day should you pray?
Mandatory for Orthodox Christians are morning and evening prayers, as well as prayers before and after the meal. On the eve of the day of communion, you need to read the Following to Holy Communion and three canons: the Penitent One (or Jesus the Sweetest), the Most Holy Theotokos and the Guardian Angel.

Beyond this, the prayer rule for each day must be individualized. It is necessary that it correspond to the strength of a person and his life circumstances. It is unreasonable to take the rule beyond one's strength and capabilities. Then temptations may arise. The end result of this is despondency and relaxation.

27. How to apply to icons correctly?
It is customary to kiss the icons, that is, to kiss, applying to the images of hands, feet and clothes.

Thus, a Christian is called to exercise in humility and reverent attitude towards those depicted. It is impossible to kiss the faces on the icons.

28. How to choose a spiritual father?
There is no need to specifically look for or choose a spiritual father.

One day you will meet a priest with whom you will feel a spiritual connection. You will begin to go to him for confession, ask him for advice in difficult life situations and one day ask him to become your confessor.

If, however, such a connection did not arise with any of the priests, then there is no need to lose heart or undertake special searches. You just need to pray that the Lord would give a confessor and wait patiently.

29. How does Orthodoxy relate to various amulets and talismans, to folk signs?
All this Christianity regards as superstition, and nothing more.

Such superstitions sometimes so enslave a person that he can even fall ill. The great scholar Blaise Pascal wrote: "The unbelievers are the most gullible." And this gullibility prevents them from living calmly and with peace in their souls.

If the feeling is cold, and the thought runs away, then pronounce it with such a loudness that the ear, as it were, listens to the words. This is how attention is gathered “in hearing” and helps the integrity of prayer.

31. If faith is not enough - how to increase it?
Faith does not need to be "multiplyed" - try to live as the Gospel commands us, and this experience will help you treat God with greater trust, which is the essence of faith.

32. What is the correct way to address the temple staff?

It is difficult for a person who has crossed the church threshold for the first time to find a suitable appeal to his neighbor. Indeed, how to call a candlestick - "woman", "lady", "citizen"? How to address a priest - "sir", "sir", "comrade"? But there are no difficulties. Christians are one family where everyone is related to each other. Relatives do not need conventions. "Brother", "sister" - the best appeal to the laity. We are all children of the One God and descendants of Adam and Eve.

"Father" or "father" - this is how priests are called as performers of the sacraments, through which people are born into spiritual life. Usually, after the words "father" a name is added, for example, "father Peter".

You can address a deacon as "father deacon", to the rector of a temple (monastery) "father rector".

In conversations Orthodox people the word "father" is often heard. It must be remembered that this word is used only when referring directly to a person. It is impossible, for example, to say "Father Vladimir blessed me", this is illiterate.

It is not worth addressing the clergy as "holy father", as is customary in Catholic countries. The holiness of a person is known by his death.

The wives of the altar servers, as well as the elderly women, we call kind word"mother".

Hierarchs—bishops, metropolitans, Patriarchs—should be addressed as "Vladyka" as invested with ecclesiastical authority.

33. What about the children in the temple? Should they be brought to the temple?
Some people think so: he will grow up, then he will figure it out, he will understand. But this is not true: he will grow up and will not understand if you do not teach him! Bring your kids to church!

How should they behave there? Unfortunately, children often interfere with the service, prevent parishioners from praying. Parents should try to keep their children with them. Mothers should know how to take a child so that he does not act up, but this must be done quietly, without embarrassing anyone. Everyone understands that a child is a child who finds it difficult to stand motionless for an hour and a half. But this must be taught.

To instill the skill to be in the service, to stand without being distracted, is the business of parents.

34. Arriving at the temple, who should put a candle in the first place and what should one pray for? Who and how many candles should be placed? Is it possible to light a candle for the health of oneself?
First of all, it’s good to put a candle about the health of your loved ones in the center of the temple, where on a lectern (a special table with an inclined surface) lies an icon of a holiday or a temple icon, as well as to the image of the Savior, the Mother of God.

For the repose of the dead, they put a candle to the cross on a rectangular candlestick (this is the eve). You can put a candle to any saint or saints. It is necessary to pray for the forgiveness of sins, to thank the Lord for His good deeds, to ask for help in existing needs.

There are no binding rules on where and how much to put candles. Their purchase is a small sacrifice to God, voluntary and not burdensome. A large and expensive candle is not at all more beneficial than a small one. It’s good to put a candle to the “holiday” (central lectern) or a revered temple icon, then to the relics of the saint (if they are in the temple), and only then - about health (to any icon) or repose (on the eve - square or rectangular crucifix table).

Well, you can, of course, put a candle on the health of yourself. Whoever does not pray for himself, the righteous will not help him either.

35. Is it necessary to kneel in the temple?
If the priest and all the worshipers kneel, then you must also get up.

In exceptional cases, when a person is sick (for example, he has sciatica or sore legs) or when it is very crowded in the temple, you can not kneel.

36. Why do they go around the temple with trays and collect money?
As you know, the Church in our country is separated from the state, so it must support itself.

Donations are used to support liturgical activities and various economic needs: payment of utility bills (electricity, gas, heating, water supply, etc.), for the restoration, restoration and maintenance of the church and adjacent premises, for the salary of clergy and church employees ( singers, candle-makers, cleaners, janitors, watchmen).

Funds received for christenings, weddings, funerals and notes also go to the numerous needs of the church community.

37. What do bows mean and what are they?
Realizing their sinfulness and unworthiness before God, as a sign of humility, prayer is accompanied by bows.

Bows are waist, when they bend to the waist, and earthly, when, bowing and kneeling, they touch the ground (floor) with their heads.

38. What does censing symbolize and how should one behave when censing a temple?
Liturgical censing is complete when it covers the entire church, and small when the altar, the iconostasis and the people from the pulpit are censed. When incense is performed on sacred objects - icons, temples - it refers to God, giving Him due honor and glory. When the censer turns to people, this testifies that the Holy Spirit descends on all the faithful as bearing in themselves the image of God.

When a clergyman burns the temple, one must step aside so as not to interfere with him, and when burning the people, slightly bow his head. At the same time, one should not turn one's back to the altar - this is the mistake of many parishioners. You just need to turn around a little. You should not be baptized at this time.

39. What is a prayer service, memorial service, litany?
After the Liturgy, a moleben is usually served - a special service for which they ask the Lord, the Mother of God and the saints to send down mercy or give thanks for receiving blessings. A prayer service can be a thanksgiving, for the sick, for travelers, and you can order it to the Savior, the Mother of God (to Her various icons) or saints. You can order a water-blessed prayer service - in this case, a small consecration of water is performed, which is then distributed to believers.

Panikhida is a special divine service, consisting of prayers for the forgiveness of sins and repose in the Kingdom of Heaven of the souls of the departed Orthodox Christians. A memorial service is served before the eve. Near the eve, on a special table, you can leave an offering in memory of deceased loved ones. Usually on the eve they put bread, cookies, sugar - everything that does not contradict fasting (as there may be a fast day). You can donate lamp oil, Cahors on the eve.

Litany is a Greek word and means "diligent prayer." Litany - a petition to the Lord, which is proclaimed by a priest or deacon during worship. During the Divine Liturgy, after the reading of the Gospel, litanies are celebrated, on which custom-made notes about health and repose are read. Each litany ends with a cry from the priest, glorifying the Most Holy Trinity.

40. How can you honor a person?
In addition to notes on one-day commemorations, churches and monasteries also accept notes on the daily commemoration of the living and deceased Christians for long periods: for a month, for 40 days (magpie), for six months, for a year, for several years.

A long commemoration can be “with a particle” (when every day during the entire period a particle is taken out of the prosphora on the proskomedia) or “without a particle” (in this case, the names are recorded in the memorial synodic and the brethren of the temple or monastery during the specified period pray for each divine service these people).

Eternal commemoration lasts as long as the monastery exists.

41. What icons are placed in the center of the temple and how to apply to them correctly? Is it necessary to kiss the icon? Can you just touch your forehead for fear of infection?
In the center of the temple, on a lectern, an icon of the holiday is placed (if there is any religious holiday) or an icon depicting a saint whose memory is celebrated on this day. On other days, a temple icon lies on the analogion, that is, the icon of that holiday or saint, in whose honor the main altar of the temple is consecrated.

You should approach the icons slowly, without crowding, mentally saying a prayer (before the image of the Savior, you can say the Jesus prayer to yourself: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” Or briefly: “Lord, have mercy.” Before the icon Holy Mother of God can be pronounced a short prayer: "Most Holy Theotokos, save us." Before the icon of the saint: "Holy servant of God (name), pray to God for me (for us))".

You should cross yourself twice with a waist bow, then kiss the icon as a sign of love and veneration depicted on it. After that, cross yourself for the third time, bow and move away. The Savior depicted on the icon should kiss the feet, blessing the right hand (right hand), the edge of the clothes. The Mother of God and the saints have a hand or a hem of clothing, and the miraculous image of the Savior and the head of John the Baptist are in sackcloths.

If the icon depicts several saints, it is enough to venerate it once.

Kissing the holy icons and worshiping them testifies to love for those depicted on them - for God, the Mother of God and the saints. Through the veneration of holy icons, the blessing of God and the love of the holy saints of God are attracted to a person. No one ever gets infected through the shrine, on the contrary, numerous cases of healing from various ailments are known.

42. Is it possible to pray and light candles for animals?
Since God is the Creator of every creature, it is possible to pray for animals, but it is better to do this in home prayer. In the prayer books there are special prayers that are read in case of illness and loss of livestock.

Animals have a soul that dies with the body. The human soul is immortal, since it was created in the image and likeness of God and received a gift from Him. eternal life. A church candle has many deep spiritual meanings, one of which is evidence of a person's involvement in the Divine light. Therefore, it is necessary to put candles for people, and not for animals.

43. What should (or can be) the position of the hands during prayer - in the temple, at home, etc.? Sometimes people hold their hands in front of them bent at the elbows and clasping their palms in prayer. Sometimes they fold their arms crosswise on their chest, putting the right on the left. Sometimes - in front of you, closing them "in the lock" just below chest level. Most people just keep their hands down.
The position of the hands during prayer is not important. The main thing in prayer is attention to the spoken words. The closure of the palms is more of a Western tradition, catholic church. In Orthodox churches, it is customary to keep your hands lowered, which is called "at the seams", raising your right hand to overshadow yourself with the sign of the cross.

In the practice of ancient ascetics, there is even a method of beating oneself in the chest with a hand, for, as it were, a purely exaltation of words, but this is a private practice. In a word: "Where it is simple, there are a hundred angels"!

44. How can an Orthodox Christian spend the weekend correctly?
It is the duty of every Christian to try to attend the Sunday Divine Liturgy.

After it, it is advisable to put idle affairs aside and give your soul time for spiritual nourishment, because Monday will come, and these pressing matters will pile up with great force. What is the best thing to do with yourself? Everything depends on the person himself. A person who is predisposed to solitude can light a lamp and engage in prayer or spiritual reading. One who is close to fellowship might be advised to spend the evening with good friends who are able to talk on spiritual topics. A workaholic can do physical labor. A family man - to tidy up at home, naturally, illuminating all his work with inner prayer, and a lonely person can find some kind of obedience in the temple, guided by a reasonable initiative.

In general, rest Orthodox Christian should not be idleness, because idleness is a sin. A Christian's rest should be useful, and by choosing such a rest, one can be sure that on a weekend spent in this way, a person will receive a spiritual charge for the entire upcoming work week.

45. What does the folded fingers of the hand of priestly blessing mean?
The priest blesses in the name of Christ, or rather Christ blesses through the priest or bishop.

Two fingers fold into the letter “X” and mean Christ, one finger (little finger) stands alone and means the Slavic letter “I” and means Jesus, the other two fingers fold crosswise and mean the Cross of the Lord. Therefore, the priestly blessing contains the name of Jesus Christ and the Cross of the Lord.

46. How do you deal with grief at the death of a loved one?
You don't have to burn. It is necessary to pray intensely for the deceased, and it will become easier - you will feel a connection with him. After all close person did not die, but moved to another, eternal world, for the immortal soul of man - from God, to God and leaves. This life is temporary and filled with various sorrows, and no one can avoid them. And a loved one has now got rid of all these earthly sorrows, and will live forever in another world, where "there is neither sickness nor sorrow, but endless life." The whole human race goes there - no one can stay here.

47. What icons to buy for the home? Can any icon be hung in the house?
Be sure to have at home the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. In addition, there are many icons of God's saints. It is good to have at home an icon of a heavenly patron, that is, a saint whose name a person bears. It is better to purchase icons in an Orthodox church or in special church stores, where they have already been consecrated.

48. What is the use of taking prosphora and holy water?
If a person uses prosphora and holy water, then an unclean spirit does not approach him, the soul and body are sanctified, thoughts are illuminated to please God, and the person is more disposed to fasting, prayer and all virtue.

Not only Church Tradition convinces of the miraculous effect of holy water, but also personal experience believers. The grace descending on the water through the prayers of a priest of God gives her the power to heal illnesses (whether it be a headache or insomnia, irritation or what is called a “stressful state”), quench passions and weaken emerging sinful desires, free from all evil, cleanse from filth. Any thing from the everyday life of an Orthodox Christian is consecrated with holy water.

But, of course, all this must be done with faith.

49. What if there is nowhere to put a candle?
You can and should put a candle on a candlestick if there is nowhere to put it. Those who put two candles in one cell or take off someone else's candle to put their own do it wrong.

50. Why doesn't God make all people good?
God gave people free will. If this freedom were devoid of real choice, then it would not be needed. People would never know what good is if they didn't know what evil is. This is the real value and beauty that a person chooses the Kingdom of God and His love voluntarily, although there are many temptations around him. After all, everything that is done by force is devoid of true joy and happiness.

51. Why do you need to confess?
And why do you need to wash off the bodily dirt? However, a person takes care of the body, which lives temporarily, but even more, he must take care of the soul, which will live forever.

The dirt of the soul is the sins that can be cleansed only at Confession. The accumulated sins and transgressions that have not been removed from the conscience (not only large, but also many small ones) burden it so that a person begins to feel inner unrest or emptiness. He can suddenly fall into irritation, into some kind of nervous breakdown, he does not have internal hardness. A person often does not understand the reason for everything that happens, but it lies in the fact that unconfessed sins lie on his conscience. Through Confession, the purity that was lost due to sins returns.

Confession is God's great mercy to mankind, weak and prone to fall. This is a means available to all, which leads to the salvation of the soul, constantly falling into transgressions. Sincere confession brings a Christian not only the forgiveness of sins, but also the fullness of spiritual health: it restores peace of conscience and peace of the soul, weakens bad inclinations and passions, and keeps from new sins.

This Sacrament restores the state received in Baptism.

52. What is sin? How to destroy it? Are all people sinners?
Everything is a sin that offends the conscience and delights the flesh.

Sin is not a fact in a biography that can be lightly forgotten. Sin is a “black seal” that remains on the conscience until the end of days and is not washed away by anything except the Sacrament of Confession. Sin has a corrupting power that can cause a chain of subsequent, more serious sins.

These are the steps by which sin enters us: image, attention, interest, attraction, passion.

It's good not to be indebted to anyone. It is good to pay debts more often, otherwise they, having accumulated, become too large, burdensome, unpayable. So it is good to pay for sins - our debts to the Lord - as often as possible, repenting, confessing to the priest, and inwardly daily, hourly, constantly repenting before the Lord. The roots of sin are destroyed by the struggle with sinful thoughts and the repetition of confession even when thoughts begin to overcome.

Yes, all people sin a lot before God. Is not condemnation, vanity, idle talk, hostility, ridicule, obstinacy, laziness, irritability, anger - not constant companions human life? On the conscience of many lie more serious crimes: infanticide (abortion), adultery, turning to sorcerers and psychics, envy, theft, enmity, revenge and much more, making people sinners who are obliged to atone for their sins by repentance and good deeds.

53. Where to put last year's consecrated willow?
The consecrated willows are kept for a year as a sign of the all-pervading grace of God. Then the branches are burned (the ashes are not thrown into the trash, but buried in a place that is not trampled under foot or lowered into running water), replacing them with new ones, or they stuff a pillow with them, which they then put in a coffin under the head of the deceased Christian.

54. Are Repentance and Confession the Same?
Repentance is a sincere desire to change life according to the commandments of God, it is the most strict and captious self-criticism and self-assessment of all one's delusions, vices, passions - not only obvious, but also secret. Repentance requires that a person become a good example for others.

Confession is accusing oneself of sins before God with the testimony of a priest. True repentance consists not only in frankly confessing sins to the spiritual father, but also in not returning to them, in order to regret former sins with a contrite heart, and not only to regret, but also to make amends for them with good deeds, labors of repentance.

55. What days are weddings not held in the church?
According to the church charter, the Sacrament of the Wedding is not performed during many days of fasting (Great, Christmas, Petrov and Assumption), during Christmas time - from January 7 to 20, at Shrovetide (the week before the start of Great Lent, starting from the Meat Week, and on the Cheesefare Week ), on Bright Week (a week after the Easter holiday), on the days (and on the eve) of the Beheading of John the Baptist (September 11) and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 27), on the eve of the Twelfth, great and temple holidays, as well as on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of every week.

56. What does the words "Take up your cross and follow me" mean?
To take up one's cross means, with humility and humility, to submit to those temporary sorrows and calamities that the Lord is pleased to allow us to purify our sins. Taking up one's cross means voluntarily and with zeal to submit to hardships and exploits that curb the wordless aspirations of our flesh.

A man comes to the temple to give thanks higher power, repent of their sins, be morally reborn, and sincere prayers will certainly be heard by the Lord. However, today a common hindrance to attending church is simply ignorance of the rules of conduct in the temple of God.

As the clergy themselves say, there is nothing wrong with this, one cannot condemn a person who does not quite know the order of actions in the temple, because there are no ideal people. You can simply ask a clergyman about this or read special literature.

Orthodox church

The church is a special place. The norms of behavior in the temple went through a very long way of becoming. The general norms of behavior in all temples are only the following: do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, do not make noise and behave with respect for the place where God is present. All other rules are very different.

Believers know exactly how to behave in the temple, but many churches are open to the public huge amount tourists, and just people who, out of the need of the soul or out of curiosity, decided to go to the temple. In order not to make a mistake, not to hurt the feelings of believers and not disturb the peace of the temple, before visiting the church, you should familiarize yourself with the rules of conduct in it.

The whole church building is divided into the altar, the temple itself and the vestibule. The altar is fenced off from the temple itself by an iconostasis, which in most cases reaches the ceiling. In the altar are the throne and the altar. The Royal Doors (central), as well as the northern and southern gates lead to the altar.

Women are forbidden to enter the altar. Men can enter the altar only with the permission of the priests, and then only through the north or south gates. Only the clergy enter the altar through the Royal Doors.

Directly adjacent to the iconostasis is the salt - an elevated platform along the entire altar.

Opposite the royal doors is the pulpit - the central part of the salt. Without the permission of the clergy, it is also not allowed to ascend the pulpit and salt.

Since ancient times, it has been established to celebrate divine services three times a day: in the evening, in the morning and in the afternoon - the liturgy. You should know that the church day does not begin at 0000 hours of the calendar day, but at 1800 hours of the previous day.

The entrance to the temple from the street is usually arranged in the form of a porch - a platform in front of the entrance doors, to which several steps lead. Approaching the temple, you need to make the sign of the cross and bow from the waist. Climbing up to the porch, before entering the door, you again need to make the sign of the cross and bow. One should not, standing on the street, pray for a long time and for show.

Entering the temple, one should stop near the door and make three bows with prayers: - "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." - Bow. "God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me." - Bow. “Creating me, Lord, forgive me.” - Bow.

It is supposed to be baptized slowly, connecting together the first three fingers of the right hand, and the other two - folding and bending to the palm of your hand. With the right hand folded in this way, one should successively touch the forehead, abdomen, right and left shoulders.

You should arrive at the temple 10-15 minutes before the start of the service. During this time, you can submit notes, put a donation on the eve, buy candles, put them on and venerate the icons. If you are late, you must behave in such a way as not to interfere with the prayer of others. If it is not possible to freely approach the icons and put candles, ask them to pass the candles through other people.

During the service, men should stand on the right side of the temple, women on the left, leaving free passage from the main doors to the Royal Doors. It is forbidden to sit in an Orthodox church, the only exception can be ill health or severe fatigue of the parishioner.

During worship, one should not look around, it is indecent to show curiosity and examine the worshipers, ask them about something, chew chewing gum, keep their hands in their pockets, shake hands with friends, talk on the phone.

It is better to turn off the phone altogether or at least put it on silent mode. Leave Cell phones turned on in the temple - this becomes an obstacle to attentive prayer, while worship, on the contrary, enriches and pleases the human soul.

It is unacceptable to condemn and ridicule the involuntary mistakes of employees or those present in the temple. It is forbidden to talk during worship. You should not condemn and rebuke a newcomer who does not know the rules of the church. It is better to help him with polite and kind advice. Candles need to be bought exactly in the temple to which you came. If possible, you should not leave the church before the end of the service.

Photo and video filming is prohibited in temples. They are allowed only after the blessing of the clergy in special cases related to church sacraments.

When visiting temples, it is customary to dress in such a way that most of the body is covered. It is not customary to go to the temple in shorts and sportswear. T-shirts and shirts with short sleeves should also be avoided by men and women whenever possible. The woman's head must be covered.

Men are required to remove their hats before entering the temple.

You should not ask for blessings from deacons and ordinary monks, since they have no right to do this. Bless priests and bishops, as well as abbesses of monasteries in the rank of abbess. When accepting the blessing, you should fold your palms crosswise (the right palm over the left) and kiss the right, blessing hand of the clergyman, you do not need to be baptized before this.

How to be baptized?

On the right hand, we fold the thumb, middle and index fingers so that they touch with pads (the symbol of the Trinity is God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit), we press the remaining two to the palm (the symbol of the dual nature of Jesus Christ - God and Man). Next, we bring our hand to the forehead (in the Name of the Father), on the stomach (and the Son), to the right shoulder (and the Holy Spirit), to the left shoulder (Amen) and bow.

Where to put candles for health?

Candles for health are placed on any candlestick, except for the eve (table at the Crucifixion) - candles are placed there with a prayer for the dead. Which saint? As your heart desires, to whom the heart will indicate. Your prayer is to the Lord. And the saints are our intercessors before Him and intercessors. You can also put candles, for example, for the icons of the Mother of God or the Feast, which are especially revered by you and your family.

Types of notes:

- about health: proskomedia, litany, prayer service.
- about repose: proskomidia, litany, requiem.

For both the living and the dead, you can also order a magpie, an annual commemoration

Proskomedia: performed before the Liturgy: particles are removed from the prosphora and placed in the Chalice, the liturgical prosphora is being prepared - the Lamb. Names are read from notes submitted for proskomedia. And the particles are taken out for these people. Already during the Liturgy, after the Transubstantiation of the Gifts, the removed particles are immersed in the Holy Chalice with a prayer to Christ to wash away the sins of those who are commemorated.

Litany: names are read during the Augmented Litany after the reading of the Gospel at the Liturgy

Moleben: a separate service is ordered (more precisely, this is called a treba). In a note for a prayer service, you can indicate to whom: for example, a prayer service to any icon of the Mother of God, a saint ..

Requiem: a separate service for the dead. Done often. There are also Parental Saturdays, before which Parastas is served - a special memorial service. Notes filed on the Parents' Saturday are read the day before, on Friday, on Parastas, and on Saturday at the Liturgy at the litany, and after the Liturgy at the memorial service

Sorokoust: prayer during the reading of the Psalter in the monastery for 40 days;
annual commemoration - respectively, according to the same principle.
Notes should be served in the candlestick of the temple. There are samples everywhere. If the sample is not posted, you can ask the temple candlestick about the design - they will explain everything to you.

Only the names of baptized people are written in the notes. If a person is sick - sick (go) "name". If the note is about the dead, then you can’t write suicides, unbaptized babies (they are prayed for at home).

What is confession?

Confession implies an open heart to God, a sincere desire to become better and part with bad thoughts and actions, get rid of the desire to do bad deeds (both in relation to others and to oneself). And repentance for the bad things that have already been done. What is sinful? There is enough sensible literature on this subject, which you can buy in a church shop, for example, “To Help the Penitent” by Ignaty Brianchaninov.

How to prepare for confession?

There is no universal recipe here. And you won’t ask anyone in particular: how do you prepare for confession? Because it's a very personal matter. Some generally write everything on a piece of paper the day before. The main thing to do is to tune in to reflect on your actions and thoughts.

How is the confession going?

Find out in the temple about the hours of confession. It can be evening (after or even during the service) and morning (before the Liturgy). If you know any priest (you saw him at the service, talked and were filled with confidence), find out in the candle-room when he confesses. It is better (especially for the first time) to go to confession to someone who disposes you to himself. Despite the fact that you confess to God, and not to the priest, the personal factor influences here, and at first we cannot do anything about it. Although it may not matter to some.

You must come to confession on a first-come, first-served basis. As you approach, bow your head. Start with "sinned" and list the sins. After you have said everything, finish the confession "Forgive me, Merciful Lord." After you have finished confession, the priest covers your head with an epitrachelion (an accessory of liturgical vestments is a long ribbon that wraps around your neck and descends to your chest with both ends) and reads a prayer. He will first ask for your name (do not forget that if your name is Rosa, and you are baptized with Hope, you must say “Hope”). After the prayer, you are baptized, kiss the Gospel lying in front of you, and the Cross (ibid.), and move away from the lectern.

The main thing is that you cannot take communion without confession, but you can confess without subsequent communion. Preparing for communion is much more difficult and longer than preparing for confession.

How to prepare for Communion?

Three days before Communion it is necessary to fast (do not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, and fasting - and fish). Fasting also includes quitting smoking, drinking and abstinence. It is necessary during the preparation to read the rule for Communion (it is in any Orthodox prayer book). On the day of Communion itself, after 12 o'clock at night (that is, from the beginning of a new day), it is not supposed to eat and drink until the end of the Liturgy. Previously, people dressed in bright clothes for communion - there was such an Orthodox tradition. Before the service or the day before, confession is prescribed.

During the Liturgy, towards the end of the service, having heard the singing: “One is Holy, One is the Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father. Amen. ”, start slowly moving to the right side of the temple. It is from there that they approach the Chalice. After the priest’s words “Come with the fear of God and faith” (he takes out the Cup) and singing “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, God the Lord and appear to us” - the prayer “I believe, Lord, and I confess ...” is read (you will already recognize it after home preparation for Communion). Her father reads himself, but the whole church silently (sometimes, out loud) repeats. After the prayer to the singing of “Take the body of Christ…” those who take communion approach the Chalice. Hands are folded crosswise on the chest - right to left.

Approaching the Cup, say your name in baptism, open your mouth and receive the Body and Blood of the Lord. After that, kiss the edge of the Chalice and move further to the left side of the temple. Take a piece of prosphora there and drink it down. It is not necessary to be baptized and bow at the Chalice itself, so as not to hurt it. Also, before you drink, you should not say anything. After communion, you should not immediately leave the temple. Wait until the end of the service, kiss the Cross, which the priest will give after the sermon, and only after that leave the church refreshed. Do not forget to read the prayers after Communion at home. Or listen to them in the temple at the end of the service.

Upon leaving the temple

Blessing
One must distinguish between worship before a shrine and before people, even if they are sacred. Accepting the blessing of a priest or bishop, Christians fold their palms crosswise, placing the right on the left, and kiss the right hand of the blesser, but do not cross themselves before that. This custom recalls that this hand held the Holy Chalice of the Eucharist.

General
Leaving their temple, make three waist bows with the sign of the cross.
The care of the Holy Church for us continues after the service, so that we do not lose the grace-filled mood, which, by the grace of God, we were honored in the temple. The Church commands us to disperse after the service in reverent silence, with thanksgiving to God, with a prayer that the Lord grant us to always visit His holy monastery until the end of our lives.
Smokers are forbidden to smoke even on the street within the church fence.
But it is absolutely necessary to delve into everything that takes place during church services in order to feed on them. Only then will each one warm his heart, excite his conscience, revive his withered soul, and enlighten his mind.

Rules of conduct in the Orthodox Church

1. Enter the holy temple with spiritual joy. Remember that the Savior Himself promised to comfort you in sorrow: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11, verse 28).

2. Always enter here with humility and meekness, so that you can leave the temple justified, as the humble gospel publican came out.

3. When you enter the temple and see the holy icons, think that the Lord Himself and all the saints are looking at you; be especially reverent at this time and have the fear of God.

4. Entering St. temple, create - on weekdays three earthly, and on holidays three bows from the waist, praying: - "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." - Bow. "God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me." - Bow. “Creating me, Lord, forgive me.” - Bow.

5. Orthodox Christians serve during the Divine Liturgy - the main Christian service - notes on the health of their living relatives (baptized, Orthodox) and, separately, on the repose of the dead. They are formatted as follows:

Names are written neatly, legibly - complete, in the genitive case: about the health (or repose) of whom? - Tamara, John, Nikifor, etc. The number of names does not matter, but the priest usually reads a not very long note more carefully and more prayerfully. But it is precisely such notes that are served when a person often comes to the temple! Notes are served before the start of the service, usually in the same place where candles are bought. In order not to be embarrassed, you should remember that the difference in the price of the notes reflects only the difference in the amount of your donation to the temple needs. The same can be said about the price of candles.

6. Reverently treat the church candle: this is a symbol of our prayerful burning before the Lord, His Most Pure Mother, the saints of God. Candles are lit one from the other, burning, and, having melted the bottom of it, they put it in the nest of the candlestick. The candle should stand strictly straight. If, on the day of a great feast, a servant extinguishes your candle in order to light the candle of another, do not be indignant in spirit: your sacrifice has already been accepted by the All-Seeing and All-Knowing Lord.

7. It is good if there is a place in the temple where you are used to standing. Pass to him quietly and modestly, and passing by the Royal Doors, stop and reverently cross yourself and bow. If there is no such place yet, do not be embarrassed. Without disturbing others, try to stand up so that singing and reading can be heard. If this is not possible, stand in a free place and carefully perform the inner prayer.

8. In St. temple always come to the beginning of worship. If you are still late, be careful not to interfere with the prayer of others. Entering the temple during the reading of the Six Psalms, the Gospel, or after the Cherubic Liturgy (when the transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts is performed), stay at the entrance doors until the end of these important parts of the Service.

9. During the service, try not to walk around the temple even to light candles. It is also necessary to venerate the icons before the start of the Divine service and after it, or at the appointed time - for example, at the all-night service for anointing with oil. Some moments of the service, as already mentioned, require special concentration: reading the Gospel; Song of the Theotokos and Great Doxology at Vespers; the prayer “Only Begotten Son…” and the entire Liturgy, beginning with “Who are the Cherubim…”.

10. In the temple, with a silent bow, greet your acquaintances, even with especially close ones, do not shake hands and do not ask about anything - be truly modest. Do not be curious and do not peer at those around you, but pray with sincere feeling, delving into the order and content of the services.

11. One must stand in the temple, and only in cases of illness is it allowed to sit down and rest. However, the Metropolitan of Moscow Filaret (Drozdov) said well about the infirmity of the body: “It is better to think about God while sitting than standing about your feet.” But during the reading of the Gospel and in especially important places of the Liturgy, one must stand.

12. When a clergyman burns the temple, one should step aside so as not to interfere with him, and bow the head slightly when burning the people. You should not be baptized at this time. It is also customary to bow the head when the Royal Doors are opened or closed, when the priest proclaims "Peace to all" or blesses the people with the Gospel. During the consecration of the Holy Gifts (prayer “We sing to you”), if the temple is not very crowded, you need to bow to the ground. On holidays and Sundays, prostrations are not required, and they are not performed even after Communion. On these days, make bows from the waist, touching the floor with your hand.

13. In the temple, pray as one participating in Divine services, and not only present, so that the prayers and hymns that are read and sung come from your heart; follow the service carefully so that you pray for exactly what the whole Church prays for. Place the sign of the cross on yourself and make obeisances at the same time as everyone else. For example, during Divine services, it is customary to be baptized during the doxology of the Holy Trinity and Jesus Christ, during litanies - to any exclamation of “Lord, have mercy” and “Give, Lord”, as well as at the beginning and end of any prayer. You need to cross and bow before approaching the icon or putting a candle, and leaving the temple. It is impossible to hastily, inattentively make the sign of the cross over ourselves, because in doing so we appeal to the Lord's love and grace.

14. If you come with children, make sure that they behave modestly and do not make noise, accustom them to prayer. If the children need to leave, tell them to cross themselves and leave quietly, or take them out yourself.

15. Never allow a child to eat in a holy temple, except when the priests distribute the blessed bread.

16. If a small child bursts into tears in the temple, immediately take him out or carry him out.

17. Do not condemn the involuntary mistakes of employees or those present in the temple - it is more useful to delve into your own shortcomings and ask the Lord to forgive your sins. It happens that during the Divine service, in front of your eyes, someone prevents the parishioners from praying with concentration. Don't get angry, don't bully anyone. Try not to pay attention, and if, due to weakness, you cannot cope with the temptation, it is better to move quietly to another place.

18. When you go to the temple of God, still at home prepare money for candles, prosphora and church fees: it is inconvenient to change them when buying candles, because this interferes both with Divine services and those who pray.

19. Until the end of the Divine Service, never, unless absolutely necessary, leave the temple, for this is a sin before God. If this happens, tell the priest in confession.

20. According to our old customs, men should stand on the right side of the temple, and women on the left. No one should occupy the passage from the main doors to the Royal Doors.

21. Women should enter the temple modestly dressed and with their heads covered. It is unacceptable to partake of the Holy Mysteries and venerate shrines with painted lips.

22. The main thing is the mutual love of parishioners and understanding of the content of the Service. If we enter the temple of God with reverence, if, standing in the Church, we think that we are in heaven, then the Lord will fulfill all our petitions.

23. After the end of the service, when leaving the temple, you should cross yourself and bow three times and then head home, trying to preserve the grace acquired by temple prayer

Now we answer frequently asked questions:

- a box with money (near the lectern or somewhere else in the temple) is a voluntary sacrifice, and not a payment for the sacraments. Decide according to your ability and conscience.

- the fact that Communion is given with one spoon, don't bother you either. No one has yet been infected by the Chalice.

- after the first confession (especially if you have repented of serious sins) you may not be allowed to take Communion. Rarely, but such cases do happen. Go quietly home, do what the priest said, and get ready for the next confession. It is impossible to approach the Chalice without blessing.

— if you have a need to tell a priest about something, arrange an individual appointment with him. During confession, long conversations are inappropriate - most likely, there are many more people behind you.

Rules of conduct in the church

How to behave in the temple for children

Children's program from the cycle "Kind Word", TV channel "My Joy"