Benefit for godparents. Reminder about baptism
REMINDER FOR GODSPARENTS Dear godparents, before you become godparents, you must realize the full responsibility and importance of the upcoming event - the Sacrament of Baptism. You have a huge responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of your godchild; together with your parents, you are responsible for him before God. In order to teach their godchildren the basics of the Christian faith, godparents themselves must understand and be able to explain to the child what and in whom they believe. If you feel that you are not well informed on these matters, it is time to fill in the gaps in your knowledge of Orthodox Christianity. Today there is every opportunity for this: in church shops there is a lot of religious literature, including children's literature, which tells about God, Faith and the Church. Priests are always ready to discuss with you the issues of spiritual upbringing of children, in many churches training (disclosure) conversations are held with future godparents. A colorful edition of the children's Bible is a wonderful Orthodox gift for a child on Christening. During the Sacrament of Baptism, the Our Father and the Creed are read; the godfathers need to know these prayers by heart and understand their meaning. Before the Sacrament of Baptism, it is advisable to observe a three-day fast, confess and take communion. At Baptism, you should dress appropriately and be sure to wear a body orthodox cross. A woman must cover her head and wear a skirt below the knee. Mom and godmother cannot use lipstick - kissing a cross and kissing icons with painted lips is unacceptable. A man should not come to the temple in shorts and a T-shirt, despite the summer heat. Dear godparents and young mothers, remember that a woman should refrain from participating in church sacraments during the days of female infirmity. Therefore, do not plan the Baptism of a child for this period, and if, nevertheless, an unexpected thing happened and it is not possible to transfer the Sacrament, be sure to repent at confession with a priest. In addition, there are also prohibitions regarding the age, status and faith of future godparents: only adult believers baptized in Orthodoxy can become godparents. A husband and wife or a couple about to get married cannot become godparents. the spiritual kinship established between the recipients in the Sacrament of Baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage. For the Baptism of a child, you need to have a baptismal shirt, a diaper and a cross on a ribbon. It is better to take care of this in advance - sew or buy a lace baptismal set, choose a beautiful one to your liking. pectoral cross. Then in the temple you will only need to purchase candles, an icon of the heavenly patron as a gift from the godparents, take the payment or make a donation for the Sacrament. Dear godparents, remember that your role does not end after Baptism. By your own example, you must show the baby human virtues, teach the godson the basics of the Christian religion. You are obliged to teach your godchildren to resort to the saving Sacraments of confession and communion, you must give them knowledge about the meaning of worship, the peculiarities church calendar, about the grace-filled power miraculous icons and other shrines. You must teach your godchildren to attend church services, fast, pray, and observe other provisions of the church charter. But most importantly, you should always pray to the Lord for your godson. Remember that you promised God to bring this baby to him. If you feel that you are not yet internally ready for the role of a godfather, it is better to refuse parents to become a godparent to their baby. At least it will be more honest with the child than taking responsibility for his spiritual upbringing and not fulfilling his promise.
Elena Samokish
First, an anecdote. Two middle-aged gentlemen and an old man collide on the street. They begin to crumble in apologies. And suddenly they recognize each other! Joyful hugs, exclamations: "Oh, it's you, professor! You haven't changed at all!!" "- And this is you, Vasya Sokolov! You have matured so much, quite an adult! And tell me, my friend, the knowledge you received at my department of higher mathematics was useful to you in life?". Just recently, my expensive natural felt hat, bought in London, was blown away by the wind and lowered right in the middle of a huge deep puddle. ) But I want to talk not about the useless, sometimes even exotic knowledge that we taught at the university, but on the contrary, about the knowledge that was useful to you not only as professionals, but also in everyday life. the world around us is much more than those who have not received this knowledge. I’ll start with myself. Well, for example, having studied 7 chemistry pretty well, I know exactly which household chemicals and cosmetics should be bought, and which one should stay away from. That most of the procedures that they offer in salons - complete nonsense and a waste of money, because due to the anatomy of hair and skin, they simply physically cannot work. life-threatening. And that pills are just not "toxic chemistry", but very highly effective and much safer substances than "herbs". That drinking coffee "for vivacity" is pointless. And that green tea has 3 more caffeine , and in tomatoes-in 2 than in coffee. That absolutely all cereals must first be soaked for at least 2 hours (so that they release fitin into the water, which is poisonous and swollen and reveals all its beneficial properties when cooked). And that in the rice left at room temperature, uneaten during dinner, bacteria begin to multiply violently after 2 hours. And if you eat it in the morning for breakfast, intoxication (lethargy, weakness are provided to you). non-woven rags that need to be thrown away every day. Well, I know a lot more)) And you? Well, for example, banking specialists, which cards definitely do not need to be opened. Or personnel officers, what exactly should not be written in a resume?)
490Anonymka Anonymovna 77
Good day to all! We need advice on two Russian capitals for spending leisure time with children - 6,11 and 14 years old. About a week for each city. Well, housing options are also welcome))))
Children - the first time, I myself was about 20 years ago, so it's also like the first time.
Tetyana Nekrasova
When it's not needed. And when necessary - the weight is worth ...
That's how different organisms and metabolisms are for everyone. After Christmas and New Years, most begin to lose weight. Lose the pounds you've put on over the holidays.
My household is now eating one and a half times more than usual, apparently, the stomachs are stretched))
But they also don’t know what to do with energy)) My son goes to the gym every day, the missus cuts through the bike and demands intimacy as soon as possible))
And I lost my appetite. I didn’t notice right away)) At work they ask if I’m going to have lunch? “Yeah, now, I’ll finish with the contract and go.” And then: one or the other, and the working day has already ended. But we have a fruit basket, so I eat up pears with tangerines)))
I came home, cooked dinner (of course, I tried a couple of spoons). And that's it. I don't want to eat anymore... Actually. I want a cup of tea. With lemon and honey.
Still not fully recovered, maybe this is the case yet? Ordinarily, right? Today I fried a turkey fillet in an egg, cooked my favorite rice. And no appetite...
Now weighed - 46 kg. For summer it is absolutely fine. But now it's winter!
Sacrament of Baptism
Baptism is a Sacrament in which the believer, when the body is immersed three times in water and when those who baptize call on his name Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies to a carnal, sinful life, and is reborn by the Holy Spirit into a spiritual and holy life. Thus, the person being baptized is introduced into the Church and becomes a member of it.
The very definition of the Sacrament of Baptism suggests that it is associated with a radical change in a person's life. Becoming a Christian does not mean changing your beliefs or even your way of life, it means resolutely being reborn, becoming a new person. The words of the Lord that the grain will not come to life if it does not die (), or: “Who does not carry his cross ... cannot be My disciple” (), or said to Nicodemus: “Who is not born of water and the Spirit, cannot enter the Kingdom God's" (), do not remain without fulfillment. Sacred history, like the history of Christianity, knows many examples, beginning with the Apostle Paul, when those who believed in Christ and then were baptized became truly new people.
Spiritual birth means that a person ceases to live for himself, but begins to live for Christ and other people, finding in this and for himself the fullness of life. Conversion to Christ completely changes the center of interest.
This conversion is sometimes abrupt or gradual. The baptism of adults is the result of a spiritual upheaval that has taken place in them, and the grace of the Sacrament sanctifies and consolidates it, and at the baptism of children, although they still do not have conscious faith, the seed of grace-filled life is also sown in them, which subsequently leads to a complete rebirth of the baptized, provided that proper Christian upbringing.
For a worthy acceptance of Baptism, faith and complete repentance are needed, the rejection of the former selfish life, with the awareness of its connection with the action of evil spirits and renunciation of them. Infant baptism has been around since ancient times. Of course, one cannot expect faith and repentance from them, but they are baptized by virtue of the faith of their parents and godparents, who have a sacred duty to teach the baptized the truths of the faith and help them be reborn for a new life. We pray for children and believe that, through our prayers, the Lord can grant them various blessings. Is it possible, therefore, to doubt that the grace given to children, through the prayers of the entire Church, in the Sacrament of Baptism will bear the due fruit? We know that the Lord Himself allowed the children to come to Himself () and that St. John the Baptist glorified the Lord in the womb of the mother. Grace also affects the subconscious of a person. At the same time, all Christians must remember that the talent given in the Sacrament of Baptism, the guarantee of a new life, is multiplied through personal efforts, sometimes through the feat of a lifetime. In other words, we must never forget our Baptismal vows. Nevertheless, already at the very acceptance of Holy Baptism, an indelible change takes place in the baptized: he is freed from the power of original sin, and Satan is expelled from his heart. Although the possibility of tempting remains with the devil, he becomes, as it were, external to man. An unbaptized person, by virtue of original sin, in essence cannot help but sin, and a baptized person, although he can sin, is powerful not to sin.
Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism.
Baptism is the Sacrament of incorporating a person into the Church by adoption by the power of Christ to God the Father. Thus, Baptism is the common cause and triumph of the Church. In ancient times, it was most often timed to coincide with the greatest Christian holiday, Holy Pascha, and was performed solemnly in the assembly of believers in the temple. Preparation for Baptism, teaching faith or, also took place in the temple.
At present, this general church concern for those preparing for Baptism has been preserved in prayers for them at the liturgy of the catechumens; now only the reading of proverbs and some other features of the Great Saturday service remind us of the former custom of baptizing on Pascha. Gradually, the Sacrament of Baptism (christening) acquired the character of a private family rite, but its general church and Paschal significance, of course, remains, and priests should be constantly reminded of this, as well as of the great, but often forgotten responsibility of recipients.
The announcement, as the final act of preparation for Baptism, which was previously a separate rite, now immediately precedes Baptism. All the symbolic sacraments of this rite have a deep and effective meaning. The most significant of them: the incantation of Satan, the renunciation of him, the subsequent vow to be combined with Christ and, finally, the confession of the Orthodox faith. Christians know from personal spiritual experience what is the power of the bearer of evil - the devil, actively fighting against good. The spell of Satan, according to the word of the Lord: “In My name they will cast out demons” () opens up the opportunity for the person being baptized to fight with the enemy removed from him, and the subsequent renunciation of Satan is a challenge thrown to him. From this moment on, the person being baptized becomes a soldier of Christ and until his death he will fight against the spirit of evil, which, in turn, will not forget the challenge thrown to him and will fight cruelly with the Christian until his last breath. This struggle was already waged for all of us by the God-Man Jesus Christ, and it was crowned with His complete victory. Therefore, although the Lord said, “Be afraid. . . one who can destroy both soul and body in hell ”(), having the Lord the Conqueror Himself as an assistant, a Christian should never lose heart in his own.
Contains all the Christian truths that in ancient times people knew before Baptism, and these days are usually studied in the course. Responsibility for this training is assumed by the recipients, and they commit the gravest sin if they forget about it.
The Sacrament of Baptism itself consists of the consecration of water and oil, anointing with consecrated oil, and the subsequent most important sacrament - three times immersion of the baptized person in water with the words: “The servant of God (his name) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen." Having descended into the Jordan, the Lord Jesus Christ sanctified the waters and with them all the elements and all the matter of the world. From this event, all nature became again able to receive gifts of grace and to be, to some extent, a repository of grace. This is the basis for the consecration of water and other elements and objects. Water has been a symbol of purification since ancient times, and immersion in it is a symbol of repentance. Along with this, as necessary for life, it was also a symbol of life. Having chosen water for the performance of the Sacrament of Baptism, the Lord gives the symbols associated with it an effective force.
According to the saint, "after consecration, the water becomes for the baptized ... a tomb and a mother." A tomb because, having entered the font, a person in likeness is united with the death of Christ; mother - because through baptismal death his new birth is accomplished.
The consecrated oil, which during the Sacrament is first anointed with water, and then baptized, is a symbol of healing and health, reconciliation and peace. Candles depict the light of the right faith, the censer - the fragrance of the Holy Spirit, the white clothes of the newly baptized - freed from the power of sin and Satan, the new life or soul of a Christian, which he must keep unstained, finally, the pectoral cross - the cross following Christ and a sign of faith in His victory. In case of extreme need, baptism can be performed by simple immersion in water (or even by sprinkling), when pronouncing baptismal words, every Orthodox Christian, by virtue of his belonging to the "royal priesthood", that is, to the Church.
The Holy Church also knows Baptism in the blood, when a person who has not had time to be baptized seals his fidelity to Christ by martyrdom.
Word of Bishop Alexander (Semenov of Tien Shan) on the Sacrament of Baptism
Symbol of faith
in Church Slavonic | In Russian |
1. I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. |
I believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, of everything visible and invisible. |
2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Whom all was. | And in the one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, one being with the Father, by Him all things were created. |
3. For us, man, and for our salvation, who descended from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became human. | For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation, he descended from heaven, and took flesh from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became a man. |
4. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. | Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffering, and buried. |
5. And resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures. | And risen on the third day according to the Scriptures. |
6. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. | And ascended into heaven, and sitting on the right side of the Father. |
7. And the packs of the coming with glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. | And coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. |
8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. | And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who is worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets. |
9. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. | Into one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. |
10. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. | I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. |
11. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, | Waiting for the resurrection of the dead |
12. and the life of the age to come. Amen. | and the life of the next century. Amen (that's right). |
Since the time of the apostles ... Christians have used "creeds" to remind themselves of the basic truths of the Christian faith. IN ancient church there were several brief creeds. In the fourth century, when false teachings about God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit appeared, it became necessary to supplement and clarify the old symbols. Thus arose the creed now used by the Orthodox Church. It was compiled by the Fathers of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils. The First Ecumenical Council accepted the first seven members of the Symbol, the Second - the remaining five. The first Ecumenical Council was held in the city of Nicaea in 325 after the Nativity of Christ for the approval true doctrine about the Son of God against the false teaching of Arius, who believed that the Son of God was created by God the Father. The Second Ecumenical Council was held in Constantinople in 381 to affirm the true doctrine of the Holy Spirit against the false doctrine of Macedonia, which rejected the divine dignity of the Holy Spirit. According to the two cities in which the fathers of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils met, the Symbol is called Niceo-Tsaregradsky. When studied, the Creed is divided into twelve members. The first part speaks of God the Father, then up to the seventh inclusive - about God the Son, in the eighth part - about God the Holy Spirit, in the ninth - about the Church, in the tenth - about baptism, in the eleventh and twelfth - about the resurrection of the dead and about eternal life.
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven! May your name be hallowed. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily bread today; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you; Blessed are you in women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, as if the Savior gave birth to our souls.
Ten commandments of God
1. I am the Lord thy God; let there be no bosi inii for you, except for Mene.
2. Do not make for yourself an idol, and any likeness, a fir tree in heaven, a mountain, and a fir tree on the earth below, and a fir tree in the waters under the earth; don't bow down to them, don't serve them.
3. Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy: do six days, and do all your works in them, but on the seventh day - the Sabbath of the Lord your God.
5. Honor your father and your mother, may it be good, and may you be long on earth.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Don't steal.
9. Do not listen to a friend, your testimony is false.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy sincere wife, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, nor his village, nor his servant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any of his livestock, nor all that is thy neighbor's spruce. (Book of Exodus, ch. 20, v. 2, 4-5, 7, 8-10, 12-17)
The essence of these commandments the Lord Jesus Christ stated as follows:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second, similar to her: love your neighbor as yourself ”(Gospel of Matthew, ch. 22, st. 37-39).
Reverend's rule for the laity
Saint Seraphim of Sarov considered prayer to be as necessary for life as air. He asked and demanded from his spiritual children that they pray unceasingly, and he commanded them to pray the rule, which remained under the name "Rules of Father Seraphim."
Having woken up from sleep, everyone should protect himself with the sign of the cross and, standing in a chosen place, read that saving prayer that the Lord Himself conveyed to people, that is, “Our Father” (thrice), then “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice” (thrice), and Finally, once the Creed. Having completed this morning rule, let every Christian go about his business and, studying at home or while on the road, should read quietly to himself: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner”: If people surround, then, doing business, to speak only with the mind: “Lord, have mercy,” and so on until dinner. Before dinner, make a morning rule.
After dinner, doing their work, everyone should read quietly: “Most Holy Theotokos, save me a sinner,” which should continue until nightfall.
When it happens to spend time in solitude, you need to read: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner, the Mother of God,” and going to bed at night, every Christian should repeat the morning rule and fall asleep after it with the sign of the cross. At the same time, St. The elder spoke, pointing to the experience of St. fathers, that if a Christian clings to this small rule as a saving anchor amidst the waves of worldly fuss, fulfilling it with humility, he can achieve a high spiritual measure, for these prayers are the foundation of Christianity: the first is as the word of the Lord Himself and given by Him as a model of all prayers, the second was brought from heaven by the Archangel as a greeting to the Blessed Virgin, Mother of the Lord. The latter contains all the articles of faith.
He who has time, let him read the Gospel, the Apostle, other prayers, akathists, canons. If it is impossible for someone to fulfill this rule - a servant, a bonded person - then the wise old man advised to follow this rule both lying down, and when walking, and in deed, remembering the words of Scripture: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
About the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ
The Son of God who came to earth, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Savior of mankind. By will and compassion for us, sinful people, He came into the world and became a man.
By His word and example, He taught people how to believe and live in order to become righteous and be worthy of the title of children of God, a participant in His immortal and blessed life. To cleanse our sins and overcome death, He died on the cross and rose again on the third day. Now, as the God-man, He is in heaven with His Father. Jesus Christ is the head of the Kingdom of God founded by Him, called the Church, in which believers are saved, guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Before the end of the world, Jesus Christ will come to earth again to judge the living and the dead. After that, His Kingdom of Glory will come, a paradise in which the saved will rejoice forever. It has been predicted so, and we believe it will be so.
For the greatest event in the life of mankind - the coming to earth of the Son of God - the Lord has been preparing people, especially the Jewish people, for thousands of years. From among the Jewish people, God put forward prophets who predicted the coming of the Savior of the world - the Messiah, and by this laid the foundation of faith in Him. In addition, God for many generations, starting from Noah, then - Abraham, David and other righteous people, pre-cleansed that bodily vessel from which the Messiah was to take flesh. So, finally, the Virgin Mary was born, Who was worthy to become the Mother of Jesus Christ. Mary was an orphan and was cared for by a distant relative, the elderly Joseph, who lived in Nazareth, one of the small cities in the northern part of the Holy Land. The Archangel Gabriel, having appeared, announced to the Virgin Mary that She had been chosen by God to become the Mother of His Son. When the Virgin Mary humbly agreed, the Holy Spirit descended on Her and She conceived the Son of God. The subsequent birth of Jesus Christ took place in the small Jewish town of Bethlehem, in which King David, the ancestor of Christ in the flesh, had been born earlier. Historians attribute the time of the birth of Jesus Christ to 749-754 years from the founding of Rome. The accepted reckoning "from the Nativity of Christ" begins in 754 from the founding of Rome.
The life, miracles and conversations of the Lord Jesus Christ are described in four books called the Gospels. The first three Evangelists - Matthew, Mark and Luke - describe the events of His life, which took place mainly in Galilee - the northern part of the Holy Land. The Evangelist John, on the other hand, supplements their narratives by describing the events and conversations of Christ, which took place mainly in Jerusalem.
Almost nothing is known about the life of Jesus Christ before the age of thirty. In the thirtieth year of his life, Jesus Christ received baptism from the prophet John in the Jordan River. Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee by choosing twelve apostles. The apostles were sent by Christ to preach the approach of the Kingdom of God. He himself also traveled in the Holy Land, preaching, gathering disciples and spreading the doctrine of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus Christ revealed His divine dignity through many miracles and prophecies. Soulless nature obeyed Him unconditionally. So, for example, according to His word, the storm was immediately tamed; He could walk on water as on dry land; multiplying five loaves and some fishes. He fed a crowd of thousands; when necessary, He turned water into wine. He raised the dead, cast out demons, and healed countless sick people. At the same time, Jesus Christ avoided human glory. For His need, Jesus Christ never resorted to His almighty power. All His miracles are imbued with deep compassion for people. The greatest miracle of the Savior was His own resurrection from the dead. This resurrection He defeated the power of death over people and initiated our resurrection from the dead, which will take place at the end of the world.
Evangelists recorded many predictions of Jesus Christ. Some of them were already fulfilled during the life of the Apostles and their successors. Among them: a prediction about the denial of Peter and the betrayal of Judas, about his own crucifixion and resurrection, about the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, about the miracles that the Apostles will perform, about persecution for the faith, about the destruction of Jerusalem, etc. Some prophecies of Christ related to end times , begin to be fulfilled, for example: about the spread of the Gospel throughout the world, about the corruption of people and about the cooling of faith, about terrible wars, earthquakes, etc. Finally, some prophecies, such as, for example, about the general resurrection of the dead, about the second coming of Christ, about the end of the world and the Last Judgment is yet to be fulfilled. The public ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ continued for more than three years. The chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees did not accept His teachings and, jealous of His miracles and success, looked for an opportunity to kill Him. Finally such an opportunity presented itself. After the resurrection of the four-day Lazarus by the Savior, six days before Easter, Jesus Christ, surrounded by the people, solemnly, as the son of David and the king of Israel, entered Jerusalem. The people gave Him royal honors. Jesus Christ went straight to the temple, but when he saw that the high priests had turned the house of prayer into a "den of thieves", he expelled all the merchants and money changers from there. This aroused the wrath of the Pharisees and the high priests, and at their meeting they decided to destroy Him. Meanwhile, Jesus Christ spent whole days teaching the people in the temple. On Wednesday, one of His twelve disciples. Judas Iscariot, invited the members of the Sanhedrin to secretly betray their Teacher for thirty silver coins. The chief priests happily agreed. On Thursday, Jesus Christ, desiring to celebrate the Passover with His disciples, left Bethany for Jerusalem, where His disciples prepared a large room for Him. Appearing here in the evening, Jesus Christ showed His disciples the greatest example of humility, washing their feet, which the servants of the Jews usually did. Then the sacrament of the Eucharist or Communion was established. After the Last Supper, Jesus Christ went out into the Garden of Gethsemane, where His inner sufferings began for our sins. At that time armed Jews came into the garden under the leadership of Judas and took Jesus to the chief priests. After Christ recognized himself as the Son of God and the Messiah, they accused Him of blasphemy, for which, according to the law, the death penalty followed. On Friday morning, Jesus Christ was brought to trial before the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate. At first, Pilate did not want to confirm the death sentence, but then, fearing a denunciation of himself in Rome, he yielded to the demand of the Jews. Christ was taken to Mount Golgotha and there he was crucified on a cross between two thieves. He uncomplainingly accepted this execution. It was noon. Suddenly the sun went dark and darkness spread over the earth for three whole hours. Finally He said: “…It is finished!” and gave his spirit to God the Father. Two secret disciples of Jesus - Joseph and Nicodemus - received permission from Pilate to take the body of their Master. They buried Him in the tomb of Joseph, in the garden near Golgotha. Members of the Sanhedrin sealed the entrance to the tomb and assigned military guards to it. On Sunday (probably April 8th), the third day after His death on the cross, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The first witnesses of this event were the soldiers guarding the coffin, who fled in horror at the appearance of the Angel, who rolled away the stone from the entrance. Then the myrrh-bearing women, who came to anoint the body of Jesus, found the tomb empty and were honored to see the Risen One Himself and hear from Him the greeting: “Rejoice!” After Jesus Christ appeared to many of His disciples at different times. For forty days, Christ talked with His disciples more than once, giving them final instructions. On the fortieth day, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven in full view of His disciples. As we believe, Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father, that is, he has one authority with Him. Secondly, He will come to earth at the end of the world to judge the living and the dead, after which His glorious and eternal Kingdom will begin, in which the righteous will shine like the sun.
The entire life and teachings of the Savior were aimed at laying new spiritual principles in human life: pure faith, living love for God and neighbor, striving for moral perfection and holiness. On these principles we should build our religious outlook and our life. Building our lives on the commandments of Christ, we console ourselves with the thought that the Kingdom of God will certainly triumph, and the promised peace, justice, joy, and immortal life will come to the renewed earth. May the Lord make us worthy to inherit His Kingdom!
Reminder for godparentsbaptized and their parents
1. The main prayers of Christians
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, Thou art = in Heaven = x! May Thy=be holy=and=me, may Thy=kingdom=come=, may=be in Thy=favour=, I=to in Heaven= and on earth=. Our daily bread, yes=wait for us today, and leave us to=lie on=sha, I=skin and we leave=the debtor=m on=our; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the bow.
Prayer of the last Optina Elders
Lord, give me peace of mind to meet everything that the coming day brings me. Let me completely surrender to Your holy will. For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything. Whatever news I receive during the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and firm conviction that everything is Thy holy will. In all my words and deeds guide my thoughts and feelings. In all unforeseen cases, do not let me forget that everything is sent down by You. Teach me to act directly and reasonably with each member of my family, without embarrassing or upsetting anyone. Lord, give me the strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events during the day. Guide my will and teach me to pray, believe, hope, endure, forgive and love. Ami=n.
2. Recipients at the Sacrament of Baptism (godparents)
A). General information about godparents
Since ancient times, in the Orthodox Church, there has been a custom dating back to apostolic times to have godparents at Baptism. On the day of the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, the recipient or godparent undertakes before God to take care of the upbringing of the godchild (or goddaughter) in faith in Christ, to teach a pious life, diligence, meekness, temperance and love. In the Sacrament of Baptism, a relationship of spiritual kinship is established between the recipient and the godson. According to the church rule, only one sponsor is considered necessary: a man for a male person being baptized or a woman for a female person. However, over the past centuries, the custom that has survived to this day to be at Baptism to two godparents has become widespread: the godfather and the godmother.
B). Choice of godparents
When choosing godparents for their children, parents should make sure that the future godfather is really Orthodox Christian living according to the commandments of Christ in communion with the Orthodox Church, and will be able to fulfill the duties of a godfather (which are discussed below). Unbelievers, unbaptized, heterodox, ignorant of Orthodoxy, minors and the mentally ill cannot be recipients. It is unacceptable for parents to be the godparents of their own children or the husband to be the wife's godparent (or vice versa). Church rules do not prohibit being godparents of the same baby to a brother and sister, a father with his daughter, or a mother with her son, if they are from a different family than the one being baptized. It is perfectly acceptable to be a godfather or grandparent, uncle or aunt, cousin or sister, etc.
G). Participation of godparents in baptism
During the baptism of infants, the godparents hold their godchildren in their arms throughout the entire rite of the sacrament of Baptism. If there are two recipients, then the boy can be kept godmother, and the girl - the godfather until immersion in the font. After three immersions in the font, the baby is transferred to the arms of the recipient of the same sex as the baby. Being guarantors for their godson, they make vows to God for him:
1st vow- this is a renunciation of the devil and all his deeds, a promise not to sin, not to follow the suggestions of the enemy of the human race, not to oppose the will of God, but to fulfill it in everything;
2nd vow- a promise to believe in Christ and thus be combined with Him. To testify to this, the godfather reads the "Symbol of Faith" (see below), which every Orthodox, including godparents, should know by heart.
D). Duties of godparents
The name of a Christian obliges us to always have Christ in our thoughts and hearts, always have His spirit in our whole life, imitating His life, fulfilling His Holy Commandments. And from that day on, we have also taken upon ourselves the responsibility, to the best of our ability, to engage in the Orthodox upbringing of the godson (or goddaughter) until he reaches the age of majority and pray for him all his life.
Godparents should teach spiritual knowledge to godchildren: explain to him the basics of the Orthodox faith, lead him to Communion, take care of his moral and spiritual condition, pray together and attend services, participate with him in the Holy Mysteries of the Church, study the Holy Scriptures in the spirit of the Orthodox patristic tradition, help him to establish himself in faith, piety, deeds of goodness and love by his own example.
Godparents should pray for the approval of their godson or goddaughter in the faith, they can give good advice to godchildren, give them icons and spiritual books, bless them for marriage, reinforcing the authority of their parents.
Godparents need to remember that on the day of the Last Judgment they will give God an answer about those received from the baptismal font.
Therefore, confirming before the face of the Orthodox Church our faith in the Orthodox teaching on the salvation of the soul, we are also obliged to replenish our spiritual knowledge:
· Study the Holy Gospel and other books of the New Testament, and their Orthodox interpretation.
· To spend your life in communion with the Orthodox Church and her Holy Sacraments.
· Always remember that "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead" (James 2:26).
If we ourselves live in a Christian way, then our godson, listening to us and seeing our deeds, will be drawn to the Light of Christ, and it will be bitter for us if we do deeds contrary to the Commandments of Christ, thereby distorting in the eyes of the godson (tsy) their bright title of mentor.
There is no need to be afraid of people who intend to become godparents, but do not fully meet the requirements mentioned above. It is never too late to engage in spiritual self-education, especially if it is done not only for oneself, but also for the sake of another person. At present, there are many books, magazines, as well as Orthodox Internet sites that present the foundations of Orthodoxy in an accessible form. If you have any questions, you should seek the advice of a priest.
3. Preparation for the Sacraments of Penance and Communion
A). A few days before Communion, we begin to fast (fast). We fast from 3 days to a week (as the spiritual father blesses us). The post implies restrictions:
· in food - we do not eat modest food (food of animal origin);
· bodily - marital abstinence;
· spiritual - less entertainment, we will protect ourselves from empty pastime. We read morning and evening prayers.
B). We read the canons (we start 1-3 days in advance, finish on the eve of Communion) from the prayer book:
· Canon of Repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ
· "Canon of Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos"
· "Canon to the Guardian Angel".
IN). Before Communion:
· We make peace with everyone.
· On a piece of paper we write down all our sins that have not been confessed to this point (for memory).
· If there is an evening Divine service (on Saturday it almost always happens), then you need to be present at it and confess your recorded sins there, as well as what else we will remember. If there is no evening service the day before, then we confess our sins at the morning service on the day of Communion.
· At home, we read the beginning of “Following Holy Communion” to the verse “Before the Communion of the Terrible Sacrifice, the Life-Giving Body of Vlady=chnya…».
· After 12 o'clock at night: do not eat or drink, abstinence from smoking is obligatory.
G). On the morning of Communion:
· We read the morning prayers and the end of the “Following to Holy Communion” (from the verse “Before the Communion of the Terrible Sacrifice, the Life-Giving Body of Vlady=chnya…»).
· We arrive at the church at the beginning of the service (or confession, if it starts earlier), having a cross on us.
· We are sure to be present at the entire service, we confess (if we were not at Confession the night before). During Confession, we take a blessing from the priest for Communion.
· At the end of the Liturgy, after singing "Our Father ...", we come closer to the altar, folding our right hands to the left on our chest. When the priest comes out with the Holy Chalice, we repeat the prayers after him. Then, with fear and trembling, we proceed to Holy Communion (help us, Lord). Then we go to drink warmth.
· After Communion, we try to maintain a reverent attitude towards the accepted shrine, holiness in deeds and thoughts.
D). If you plan to take unction, then it is necessary before or after the sacrament
Unction to confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
Notes .
1). In our church, Liturgy and Communion are celebrated almost every day. Children under 7 years old can be given communion without confession and fasting, and if they are already 3 years old, then on an empty stomach.
2). Do not forget to take communion to children, grandchildren and godchildren more often.
3). IN Great Lent Communion is usually celebrated: on Wednesday and Friday - for everyone, except for children under 7 years old (i.e. babies); Saturday and Sunday - for everyone.
4). Be sure to check the day and time of the Liturgy according to the schedule, as changes are possible.
4. Memo on the Baptism of children
1. Godparents and parents need:
A) Before Epiphany, listen to two obligatory conversations (decree of the Bishops' Council of 2009): 1st inSunday from 13.00 to 15.00 , 2nd on Wednesday from 18.15 to 20.15 .
b) Know by heart the "Creed", its interpretation and read the Gospel (at least one).
V) Psychologically prepare the child for Baptism with full immersion and introduce him to the godparents so that he is not afraid duringBaptisms.
G) On the eve of Epiphany (which usually takes place on Saturday at 12.00), or even earlier, call the church shop and sign up for Baptism.
e) Immediately before Epiphany (on Saturday at 11.45) bring to the church shopa photocopy of the birth certificate of the baptized baby (or the original certificate), the name and day of memory of his heavenly patron saint,A Also list of parents and godparents (surnames, first names, patronymics).
2. Godparents and dad need: on the day of Epiphany or confess in advance and take communion.
3. At Baptism you need to have with you:
A) on a chain or gaitanconsecrated pectoral cross(if it is not consecrated, it must be consecrated in advance);
b) a towel (or two) for wrapping and wiping the baby, a diaper. Clean (can be new, white) vest and diaper, which are put on after diving and then stored;
V) head scarves and skirts for mothers and godparents;
G) 5 candles.
4. Before or after Baptism, ask the priest to read over the mother of the baptized
prayer of the 40th day.
5. The clothes of the mother, godparents and guests should be modest and strict, without the use of
cosmetics.
5. Reminder for adult baptism
1. An adult to be baptized must:
A) Know the Symbol of Faith.
V) Wash the night before.
G) On the day of Epiphany, do not smoke (after 12 pm), put on clean (preferably white) clothes, come to the temple and complete the necessary documents, fill out a Baptismal Certificate, buy 3 candles.
e) Listen to two conversations before Epiphany: 1st on Sunday from 13-00 to 15-00,
2nd on Wednesday from 18-15 to 20-15. Baptism takes place on Saturdays at 12:00.
e) Remove earrings (if any).
2. You need to have with you:
a) a consecrated cross on a chain or gaitan (if it is not consecrated, it is needed
consecrate in advance);
b) towel, slippers;
c) head scarf and skirt for women;
G) passport.
3. For those who take communion on the day of Epiphany: after 12 noon and before Communion, do not eat or drink.
6. Sacrament of Repentance
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Gospel of Matthew, ch. 4, verse 17).
Orthodox Christians of all times purify their souls from sin by passing through a special Sacrament of Penance established by Jesus Christ himself.
For the purification of the soul in the Sacrament of Penance, it is necessary:
1) Awareness of one's sins and contrition of the heart (realization alone is not enough).
2) Finding the root cause of your sins.
3) Sincere confession to the priest as the successor of God, with the intention not to sin again. Only a priest has been given authority from God to forgive sins.
Penitential confession helps to proceed to Holy Communion - to worthily receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Union with Christ brings unspeakable peace to the soul, love and reconciliation with all. Thus, from time immemorial, the Church of Christ has formed the spiritual structure of pious generations, peacefulness, patience, and health.
To cleanse the body of dirt, we use water and soap. The uncleanness of the body is heavy for us. In order to purify the soul from spiritual dirt, that is, to free it from the heaviness and remorse of conscience that arise as a result of committed sins (wrong life), the Church offers the MYSTERY OF REPENTANCE. This is the spiritual bath of our spiritual impurity.
The priest is given authority from God to "bind and loose our sins." “I forgive and forgive your sins...,” the priest says to those who come to confession and repent of sins. Everyone who is able to wash away their sins in the Sacrament of repentance and cleanse their conscience receives great relief. How to hurry to cleanse the soul from sin, because no one knows what is prepared for him tomorrow and how much of the earthly path is left. Can we be cleansed by repentance? Can we recognize our sinfulness? Hurry, Christian. Remember that nothing unclean enters the Kingdom of Heaven.
Approaching confession with faith and hope, test yourself, Christian:
Do not blaspheme God. Do you have the fear of God? Are you worried about your salvation? Do you wear a cross on your chest. Do you condemn priests, monastics and other clergy? Do you follow the posts? Do you attend church services on weekends and holidays? Are you breaking your vows? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Are you helping your neighbor? Are you judging your neighbor? Do you show compassion to your neighbor (as well as compassion to homeless and sick animals and birds). Do you visit patients in the hospital and at home. Do you give to the poor and needy from your abundance? Are you doing good deeds? Do you not live by someone else's labor, being in laziness. Do you cherish, do you value someone else's work, the fruits of labor, your own time and someone else's. Do you respect your elders and parents? Don't you offend? Are you raising your children in God? Do you pray for them? Do you pray for mentors, relatives, neighbors (living and deceased). Are you chaste before marriage? Are you cheating on your husband (wife). Is your marriage blessed by God (whether the Sacrament of the Wedding is performed). Are you killing a baby in the womb (abortions, spirals, pills and other means). Do you give such advice (indirect murder in the womb). Are you defiling yourself with prodigal touches? Do you take part in other bodily perversions? Do you delight in obscene images? Are you singing obscene songs? Do not participate in obscene dances. Do not seduce anyone with obscene seductive behavior and clothing. Don't get drunk on wine. Don't you smoke. Do not use drugs. Don't you swear. Do not tell obscene jokes. |
Do you have any other bad habits? Do you play cards and other games of chance, including computer and slot machine games? Do you guess on the cards, or by the hand, or in another way. Do you go to fortune-tellers, fortune-tellers, grandmothers, psychics, astrologers, hypnologists, etc. for help? Do you accept any witchcraft and sorcery (techniques of white and black magic, hypnosis, spiritualism, dowsing as a kind of spiritualism, etc.). Being about the bosom christian church Do you turn to other religions. Do not curse children, relatives. Are you angry for no reason? Are you not vindictive? Do you repay evil for evil? Are you lying? Are you perjury? Are you not slandering? Don't you steal? Do not take anything government. Do you have a passion for luxury and things. Do you have an addiction to food (gluttony, secret eating, delicacy). Do not idle talk (empty talk). Are you mocking the weak and helpless? Don't you offend anyone? Are you killing cattle, birds, insects in vain? Do you patiently bear your cross and sorrows. Do you love your enemies? Do you pray for those who attack and persecute you? Have they not sinned with pride, conceit, vanity, love of glory? Have they not sinned in deed, in word, in thought, in sight, in hearing, in touch, and in all their senses? Did they sin by laziness, negligence in the performance of their duties? Did they sin by negligence in prayer, disrespect for the Saints and the Mother of God. Have they not sinned with lack of faith and despondency? Did they not sin by unworthy Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, approaching them without preparation, without contrition, without the fear of God. Forgetting that Holy Communion is a fire that consumes our sins. Forgetting that in the Sacrament of Communion we are united with the Lord Himself, who descended invisibly from heaven and turned bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. |
Do not commit the sin of killing your child! Abortion is murder!
Doctors say death is a very likely outcome for a woman who has an abortion.
Abortion, in addition, will necessarily affect the health of subsequent children. But most importantly, the murder of an unborn child is a mortal sin, for which parents will be held accountable before God. Therefore, do not be surprised if, after an abortion, a family breaks up, a serious illness begins, or another misfortune occurs. Do not be surprised. These are the consequences of infanticide. Material well-being cannot be built on blood. Abortion is always a false step. And if you made this mistake, then repent of it.
Fear God!
The sin of infanticide deprives parents of the grace of God.
In ancient times, for such an act, the mother was excommunicated from the Church for 20 years, along with murderers. Since the unborn person, like an adult, has his own immortal soul, then after death there will be a meeting of parents with the souls of the children they killed.
Beware of "healers"
Beware of "healers", astrologers, psychics, hypnotists, people involved in removing "damage and the evil eye", witchcraft, divination, yoga, white and black magic, quackery, psychotherapy, auto-training, dianetics, etc. - turning to them for help leads to in-depth communication with fallen spirits (demons), makes you guilty of the mortal sin of direct communication with invisible demons.
True healing, foresight is the lot of the saints and the righteous and is given only to Orthodox ascetics in the feat of humility, fasting, prayer, these are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and only the will of God determines the receipt of such gifts. The cause of all diseases is our sins. Live with God according to His commandments in the bosom of His only Church - the Orthodox, participate in the Sacraments of the Church. Healing from sin is the healing of the soul, which also contributes to healing from diseases.
What is coding?
It works almost flawlessly, does not require willpower on the part of the encoded. So what is his disagreement with Orthodoxy?
A person gets rid of this or that vice for a certain time under the influence of the psychological influence of the “doctor”. All this can be defined by the concept of fear. As a result, after the expiration of the set period, the encoded person again becomes subject to the previous vice or passions and, thus, does not get rid of addiction and more often falls into a more severe addiction (which is also kindled by the influence of fallen evil forces - demons).
In a Christian way, a person must himself realize his vice, and direct his free will to its correction, and first of all, internally struggle with sin. In this struggle, one cannot do without the grace-filled help of God.
Man is prone to sin. And if we restrain ourselves in word and deed, then it is impossible for us to restrain ourselves in thought without the help of God. The depths of mental mud are bottomless. It is mental impurity that pushes us to bad deeds and words. Our thoughts are completely open to the Lord, saints and angels. If we do not learn to think pure here on earth, then in heaven our impurity will be revealed to everyone.
We constantly condemn, forgetting that the one who makes the judgment will be asked for his deeds in the same measure of severity. Judging your neighbor “behind the eyes”, do you have the courage to express your discontent “in the eyes” and rebuke? Will you be right? Do you have the strength to resist such a test, for which you condemned? Do you take on the sins of others? Remember, condemning, the Lord will equally ask from both. From one will ask for perfect sin, and on the other - for the audacity of the taken powers of the court. Daring to judge - you only see how your neighbor falls in sin. But you do not see how his heart cries and laments in repentance.
The doors of repentance are open to everyone, but will we have time to get through them? It is most difficult for a proud person to realize his impurity. Such do not see their sin and are in constant self-delusion and exaltation of the mind. They are pleased with themselves and rarely look into the depths of their conscience. But conscience is hard to deceive. It is the voice of God Himself convicting us.
Every living thing has free will. How will we manage it? Will our deeds and intentions bring us closer to God? Our good deeds - did we do them with a pure heart and love? The Lord always sees your heart, Christian. What is there - humility or proud exaltation, patience or irritation?
Are our works pleasing to God? No one knows. Nobody knows what the final answer will be. No one knows which angel will come for us to lead us to the Supreme Court. Will there be white or black wings behind his back?
Remember, Christian: the thief who hung next to Christ on the cross repented with humility and entered paradise following the Lord. The Lord forgave and accepted him. Judas Iscariot was a disciple of Christ, but he betrayed his teacher and, without repentance, went to hell out of his pride. God works in mysterious ways.
Believe, Christian, the Lord strengthens everyone who comes to Him with repentance. The Lord helps to resist sin and not repeat it.
Before Confession and Communion, it is necessary to forgive all those who offend and hate us. And only then can we ask the Lord for forgiveness of our sins.
7. Scheme of the Divine Service of the Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation.
Prayers to the baby, anticipating Baptism.
Name naming.
The rank of announcement.
Solution from clothes.
Reading a prayer in a hedgehog create a catechumen.
Reading four prayers for the prohibition of evil, spirits.
Renunciation of Satan.
Combination to Christ.
Final prayer of the rank of announcement.
Order of Baptism.
Lighting candles, burning the font.
Exclamation: "Blessed is the Kingdom...".
Peace litany, a priest's prayer for himself and a prayer for the blessing of water.
Prayer for the blessing of oil. Anointing with the consecrated oil of water while singing "Alleluia", as well as anointing the baptized with the pronunciation of the words: "The servant of God will be anointed ...".
Mystery words and the very baptism of an infant (or adult). Singing Psalm 31.
Dressing the baptized in white clothes with the laying of the cross.
The rite of Anointing.
Reading a prayer and anointing the newly baptized with the Holy Peace.
Walking around the font.
Reading prokimen, Apostle, Gospel.
Reading three prayers and washing the parts of the body anointed with Holy Peace.
Reading two prayers and cutting the hair of the baptized.
A special litany and dismissal.
Churching.
Prayers of the 40th day (3rd and 4th prayers).
Introduction to the temple with the words: "Churching ..."
Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
Vacation
8. About the duties of husband and wife
The apostle Paul says about the relationship between husband and wife: Wives, obey your husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. But just as the Church obeys Christ, so do wives obey their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her... So let each of you love his wife as himself; and the wife is afraid of her husband» (Eph. 5, 22-33).
But the word “afraid” must be understood not in the worldly sense of slavish fear, but in the religious one, that is, to be afraid of offending, causing trouble, not doing something. God divided the activities of husband and wife: he entrusted the wife with the management of the house, and left all civil affairs to the husbands. It is very important that each one himself be the first to fulfill his duties, and not demand this from the other first. This serves as the basis for peace and harmony in the family.
9. Creed
1). I believe in God alone = the Father =, the Almighty = body, the Creator = no = boo and earth =, visible to everyone and invisible = dim.
2). And in one=nagogod=of the Lord Jesus=Christ=, Sy=on God=of the Only-Begotten, Who=from the Father=before=the birth=of all ages; Light=that from Light=ta, God=ga and=true from God and=true, born=nna, uncreated=nna, consubstantial=shchna to the Father=, by Him all things would be.
3). We are ra=di human=to and our=our ra=di salvation=descended=descent from heaven=and incarnate=stepping from the Spirit=ha Holy=and Mary=and De=you, and human=shshasya.
4). Crucified = the same for us at Ponti = we saw Pila = those, and suffering = louse, and cellar = nna.
5). And resurrected on the third day according to Scripture.
6). And ascended=stepping into heaven=, and sat=at the right hand of the Father=.
7). And pa=ki come=together with glory judge=those=alive=m and dead=for=there=is=no end to His=Kingdom=.
8). And in the Spirit=ha of the Holy=th, God=of the life-giving=god, And=from the Father=coming=forward, And=with the Father=m and the Son=we=em and slav=vim, glago=loving prophet= ki.
9). In the unity of the Holy, Cathedral and Apostolic Church.
10). Confession = I blow one = but baptism = in the forsaking = of sin = in.
11). Cha=yu resurrection=of the dead,
12). and live = know future = future century = ka. Ami=n.
Interpretation of the Creed
A detailed interpretation of the Creed is given in the catechisms.
The creed consists of twelve members (parts). Each of them contains the truth of the Orthodox faith.
I believe in one God the Father: I believe that God contains everything in His power and governs everything, that He created heaven and earth, the visible and invisible world. With these words, we say that we are sure that God exists, that He is one and there is no other besides Him, that everything that exists (both in the visible physical world and in the invisible, spiritual), i.e., all the vast universe was created by God. And we wholeheartedly accept this faith. Faith is confidence in the real existence of God and trust in Him.
God is one, but not alone, because God is one in essence, but trinity in Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity is consubstantial and indivisible.The unity of three, infinitely loving each other faces.
2 And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, Who was born from the Father before all ages, Light from Light, God is true from God is true, begotten, not created, consubstantial with the Father, by Him all was. |
2 And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, one being with the Father, through whom all things were created. |
I believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is the same Only God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. He is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father, born before the beginning of time, that is, when there was no time yet. He, like Light from Light, is also inseparable from the sun. He is the True God, born of the True God. He was born, and not at all created by God the Father, that is, He is one being with the Father, consubstantial with Him.
I believe that He appeared on earth for the salvation of our human race, was incarnated from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human, that is, he took not only the body, but also the human soul and became a perfect man, without ceasing at the same time to be God. Became a God-man.
St. Orthodox Church calls the Virgin Mary the Theotokos and honors Her above all created beings, not only humans, but also angels, because she is the Mother of the Lord Himself.
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ during the time of the Roman ruler of Judea - Pontius Pilate - was crucified on the cross for us people, that is, for our sins and for our salvation, because He Himself was sinless. At the same time, He really suffered, died and was buried.
The Savior suffered, of course, not with the Deity, Who does not suffer, but with humanity; suffered not for His sins, which He did not have, but for the sins of the entire human race.
I believe that He rose on the third day after His death, as foretold in the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus Christ truly died for us - as the True Immortal God, and therefore He was resurrected!
Since in the writings of the prophets Old Testament It was clearly foretold about the suffering, death, burial of the Savior and about His resurrection, that's why it was said: "according to the scriptures." The words "according to the scriptures" refer not only to the fifth, but also to the fourth article of the Creed.
Jesus Christ died on Good Friday at about three o'clock in the afternoon, and resurrected after midnight from Saturday on the first day of the week, called "Sunday" from that time. But in those days even a part of a day was taken as a whole day, which is why it is said that He was in the tomb for three days.
6 And he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand Father. |
6 And ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand Father. |
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ on the fortieth day after His Resurrection with His most pure flesh ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand (on the right side) of God the Father.
The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven in His humanity (flesh and soul), and in His Divinity He always abode with the Father.
" seated at the right hand of the Father" means: on the right side, in the first place, in glory. These words express that the human soul and body of Jesus Christ received the same glory that Christ has in His divinity.
By His ascension, our Lord Jesus Christ united the earthly with the heavenly and glorified our human nature, exalting it to the throne of God; and showed us that our fatherland is in heaven, in the Kingdom of God, which is now open to all who truly believe in Him.
I believe that Jesus Christ will come to earth again to judge all people, both living and dead, who will then be resurrected; and that after this Last Judgment the Kingdom of Christ will come, which will never end.
This judgment is called terrible, because the conscience of each person will be revealed to everyone, and not only good and evil deeds will be revealed, which someone has done all his life on earth, but also all spoken words, secret desires and thoughts.
According to this judgment, the righteous will go to eternal life, and sinners to eternal torment - because they did evil deeds, which they did not repent of and which they did not make up for with good deeds and the correction of life.
Who proceeds from the Father - Who proceeds from the Father; Even with the Father and the Son, we worship and glorify - Who should be worshiped and Who should be glorified along with the Father and the Son. The spokesman of the prophets - who spoke through the prophets.
I believe that the third Person of the Holy Trinity is the Holy Spirit, the same true Lord God as the Father and the Son. I believe that the Holy Spirit is Life-Giving, He, together with God the Father and God the Son, gives life to everything, especially spiritual life to people. He is the same Creator of the world, on a par with the Father and the Son, and He should also be worshiped and glorified. I also believe that the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets and apostles and that all the sacred books were written by His inspiration.
The Holy Spirit was revealed to people in a visible way: at the baptism of the Lord in the form of a dove, and on the day of Pentecost He descended on the apostles in the form of fiery tongues.
I believe in one, Holy, Catholic Church (in which all believers participate), founded by the apostles.
Here we are talking about the Church of Christ, which Jesus Christ founded on earth to sanctify sinful people and reunite them with God. The Church is the totality of all Orthodox Christians, living and dead, united among themselves by the faith and love of Christ, the hierarchy and the holy sacraments.
Each individual Orthodox Christian is called a member, or part of the Church. Therefore, when we say that we believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church, here by the Church we mean all people in the aggregate who profess the same Orthodox faith, and not the building where we go to pray to God and which is called a temple God's.
I acknowledge and openly declare that for spiritual rebirth and the forgiveness of sins, one needs to be baptized only once.
In the Creed, only baptism is mentioned, because it is, as it were, the door to the Church of Christ. Only those who have been baptized can use the other sacraments.
A sacrament is such a sacred action through which the grace of the Holy Spirit, or the saving power of God, is secretly, invisibly given to a person.
The Holy Orthodox Church contains seven sacraments; baptism, chrismation, repentance, communion, marriage, priesthood and unction.
11 Tea of the resurrection of the dead. |
11 I look forward to the resurrection of the dead. |
I expect (tea) with hope and confidence that a time will come when the souls of dead people will again unite with their bodies and all the dead will come to life.
The resurrection of the dead will follow simultaneously with the second and glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the moment of the general resurrection, the bodies of dead people will change, in essence the bodies will be the same that we now have, but in quality they will be different from the current bodies - they will be spiritual - incorruptible and immortal. The bodies of those people who will still be alive during the second coming of the Savior will also change. Corresponding to the change of the person himself, the whole visible world will also change, namely, it will turn from the perishable into the incorruptible.
12 [Tea] and the life of the next century. Amen. |
12 and the life of the next century. Amen. |
I expect that after the resurrection of the dead, the judgment of Christ will take place, and for the righteous there will come the endless joy of union with God. The word Amen means confirmation - truly so! Only in this way can the truth of our faith be expressed and cannot be changed by anyone.
10. Ten Commandments of the Law of God
1. I am the Lord thy God;
2. Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol and any likeness, eating in the heavens on the mountain, and eating on the earth below, and eating in the waters under the earth;
This commandment condemns idolaters, that is, those who worship any creature as the True God. Besides gross idolatry, there are even more subtle sins against the second commandment; these are: covetousness, gluttony, pride, which also includes vanity.
3. And you did not receive the Lord your God for all.
This commandment forbids us to use the name of God in vain, that is, without need, in empty and vain conversations, and even more so to use it to confirm any lie.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy: six days you shall do and do (in them) all your works, on the seventh day it is the Sabbath, to the Lord your God.
This commandment commands us both on Sunday and on all holidays to visit the temples of God in order to repay God the honor that the creature is obliged to repay the Creator, without postponing this for any reason, except for a serious illness. Those who, due to laziness or other reasons, do not attend the temples of God, as well as those who attend temples without reverence, sin against this commandment. Those who, on holidays, allow themselves immodest spectacles and entertainments, greatly offend the sanctity of the holidays.
5. Honor your father and your mother, may it be good, and may you be long on earth.
This commandment teaches us sincerely and without hypocrisy to love and honor our parents, to obey them in everything, to nourish and rest them during illness and old age. The name of parents should also be understood as everyone who in various respects is for us instead of parents: state power and the Fatherland, shepherds and spiritual teachers, elders, benefactors, rulers.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
This commandment forbids killing or taking the life of a neighbor in any way. In addition to physical murder, there is spiritual murder. A kind of spiritual murder is a temptation when someone seduces a neighbor into unbelief or draws him into iniquity and thereby exposes his soul to spiritual death. When it is forbidden to harm the life of a neighbor, then it is commanded, as far as possible, to protect his life and well-being. In this regard, we should do the following: help the poor, serve the sick, comfort the sad, alleviate the situation of the unfortunate, be merciful, treat everyone with meekness, love and edification. Sinning against this commandment are those who, indulging in passions, upset their health or recklessly take their own lives.
7. Do not create adultery.
8. Don't steal.
This commandment forbids the theft or appropriation in any way of what belongs to others. There are special sins forbidden by this commandment: robbery, or the taking of someone else's thing by violence; stealing, or stealing someone else's thing secretly, appropriation of someone else's cunning, deceit; sacrilege, or appropriation of what is consecrated to God and what belongs to the Church; bribery (bribery). When these sins are forbidden, the following virtues are prescribed through this: selflessness, fidelity, justice, mercy to the poor.
9. Do not listen to a friend, your testimony is false.
This commandment forbids false witness against one's neighbor and also any other lie. Prohibited under the name of false evidence: false judicial evidence; false evidence, except in court, when someone is slandered in absentia or someone is unjustly rebuked to his face.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy sincere wife, covet not thy neighbor's house, nor his village, nor his servant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any of his livestock, nor all that is thy neighbor's tree.
In the previous commandments, it was forbidden to harm one's neighbor by deed or word, and the tenth commandment forbids any unclean thought against the honor and property of one's neighbor. Envy in all forms is the main sin against this commandment. The tenth commandment imposes on us the following duties: to keep a purity of heart, to be content with everything.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
8. Blessed are the exiles for the sake of righteousness, for those are the Kingdom of Heaven.
9. Blessed are you, when they reproach you and betray you, and they say all sorts of evil words, against you lying to me for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is many in Heaven.
(Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5, verses 3 - 12).
Interpretation of the Beatitudes
1. Those who desire happiness must be poor in spirit. Being poor in spirit means having a spiritual conviction: everything that we have is given by God, and we cannot do anything good without God's help and grace; and thus, to consider that we are nothing, and in everything to resort to the mercy of God. Briefly, spiritual poverty is humility of mind.
2. Those who desire bliss must be weeping. Those who weep are those who lament and weep in repentance for their sins, that is, they lament that they serve unworthily before God and offend His majesty with their sins and deserve His wrath. Those who weep will be comforted, that is, they will receive forgiveness of sins and peace of mind.
3. Those who desire happiness must be meek. The meek are people who try not to irritate anyone and not be irritated by anything. These are gentle, patient in relation to each other, people who do not grumble at God. The meek shall inherit the earth, that is, the kingdom of heaven.
4. Those who desire happiness must be hungry and thirsty for righteousness. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are those who, like food and drink for the body, desire salvation for the soul - justification through faith in Jesus Christ. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied, that is, they will receive the justification and salvation they desire.
5. Those who desire happiness must be merciful. The merciful are those who show mercy and compassion to their neighbor, or, in other words, who do works of mercy. The works of bodily mercy are as follows: one who is hungry to feed, one who is thirsty to drink, to clothe the naked or lacking in necessary and decent clothing, to visit the one in prison, to visit the sick, to minister to him and help him recover or Christian preparation for death, to take the wanderer into the house and provide rest, to bury the dead in squalor (in poverty, poverty). The works of spiritual mercy are as follows: by exhortation to turn the sinner from the wrong path, ignorant to teach the truth and goodness, to give good and timely advice to the neighbor in difficulty or in case of danger he has not noticed, to pray for him to God, to console the sad, not to repay for the evil that others have done to us , wholeheartedly forgive insults. The Lord promises the merciful that they will receive mercy. Here is meant pardon from eternal condemnation for sins at the Judgment of God.
6. Those who desire happiness must be pure in heart. Purity of heart is not quite the same as sincerity. Sincerity or sincerity, according to which a person does not show hypocritically good dispositions without having them in his heart, but shows good dispositions of the heart in good deeds, is only the lowest degree of purity of heart. A person achieves a high degree of purity by constant and unremitting feat of vigilance over himself, banishing from his heart every unlawful desire and thought and every addiction to earthly objects and unceasingly preserving in his heart the remembrance of God and the Lord Jesus Christ with faith and love for Him. The pure in heart will see God, that is, they will receive the highest degree of eternal bliss.
7. Those who desire happiness must be peacemakers. Peacekeepers are those people who live in peace and harmony with everyone, forgive insults to everyone and try, if possible, to reconcile others who quarrel with each other, and if it is impossible, pray to God for their reconciliation. The peacemakers are promised the grace-filled name of the sons of God, since by their feat they imitate the Only Begotten Son of God, who came to earth to reconcile a sinning person with the justice of God.
8. Those who desire happiness must be ready to endure persecution for the sake of righteousness. This commandment requires the following qualities: truthfulness, constancy and firmness in virtue, courage and patience. For patiently and meekly enduring persecution, they are promised the Kingdom of Heaven.
9. Those who desire blessedness must be ready to endure all sorts of reproach, calamity, even death itself for the name of Christ. The feat, according to this commandment, is called the feat of martyrdom. The Lord promises for this feat a great reward in Heaven, that is, a predominant and high degree of bliss.
12. Orthodox literature on the family and the upbringing of children
1. Nun Nina (Krygina) (professor in the world, candidate of psychological sciences). Cycles of lectures and programs on the family theme.
2. Priest Ilya Shugaev: “Once and for all life”, as well as sermons, talks, lectures about the family. 15.Phone of the catechist: 8-908-165-85-68 (Oleg).
The baptismal period has begun and many future godparents are already asking various questions regarding the rite of baptism, baptismal outfits, yes, a lot of things worries future godparents before a responsible step - Becoming a second parent for a baby!
Especially for future godparents, I post answers to the most exciting questions.
So, baptism is necessary for a person to be saved. Baptism is a new birth for spiritual life, in which a person can reach the Kingdom of Heaven. And it is called a sacrament because through it, in a mysterious, incomprehensible way for us, the invisible saving power of God, grace, acts on the person being baptized. Like other sacraments, baptism is established by God. The Lord Jesus Christ himself, sending the apostles to preach the gospel, taught them to baptize people: “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Having been baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church of Christ and from now on can proceed to the rest of the sacraments of the Church.
Is it possible to baptize infants, because they do not have an independent faith?
Quite right, young children do not have independent, conscious faith. But don't the parents who brought their child to be baptized in the temple of God have it? Will they not instill faith in God in their child from childhood? It is obvious that parents have such a faith, and most likely will instill it in their child. In addition, the child will have godparents - godparents from the baptismal font, who vouch for him and undertake to raise their godchild in Orthodox faith. Thus, infants are baptized not according to their own faith, but according to the faith of their parents and godparents who brought the child to baptism.
For God, the desire to “get to know each other better” or “unwillingness to stain the passport with unnecessary stamps” cannot be an excuse for fornication. In fact, people living in a "civil" marriage trample on everything Christian concepts about marriage and family. Christian marriage implies the responsibility of spouses for each other. During marriage, they become one, not two. different people who made a promise to live under the same roof from now on. Marriage can be compared to two legs of one body. If one leg stumbles or breaks, won't the other leg bear the full weight of the body? And in a "civil" marriage, people do not even want to take responsibility for putting a stamp in their passport.
Can an adoptive father (mother) become a godfather to an adopted child?
Can the parents of a child become godparents of their godfathers (their godchildren)?
Can a priest be a godfather (including one who performs the sacrament of baptism)?
Continuing the theme of reception, one cannot help but recall such a phenomenon as the desire of parents due to some, sometimes completely incomprehensible, reasons to “take a godfather in absentia”.
How many times can a person become a godfather?
Is it possible to refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't that be a sin?
At what age can you become a foster child?
What to do if you quarreled with the parents of your godson and for this reason you cannot see him?
What to do if, due to objective reasons, you do not see your godson for years?
Is it possible to refuse godparents who do not fulfill their duties, who have fallen into serious sins or lead an immoral lifestyle?
Is it necessary to baptize a person who does not know for sure whether he was baptized in childhood?
According to Rule VI 84 Ecumenical Council, such people must be baptized if there are no witnesses who could confirm or refute the fact of their baptism. In this case, a person is baptized, pronouncing the formula: “If not baptized, the servant (slave) of God is baptized ...”.
What does a person who is preparing to become an Orthodox Christian need to know? How can he prepare for the sacrament of baptism?
Can a girl be the first to baptize a girl? They say that if a girl is baptized first, and not a boy, then the godmother will give her her happiness.
Can a pregnant woman become a godmother? Would this affect her own child or godson in some way?
Is it true that in order to remove the damage induced on a person, it is necessary to re-baptize, and keep the new name a secret so that new attempts at witchcraft do not work, because. conjure precisely in the name?