An Orthodox church is a place of the special presence of God on Earth. It is necessary to behave reverently in the temple, so as not to offend the greatness of the shrine, not to incur the wrath of God.

It is necessary to come to the service in advance, 10-20 minutes in advance. Entering, cross yourself and make a waist bow. Upon entering, men take off their hats. Women enter the temple with their heads covered and dressed according to their gender. Clothing should be decent and neat.

Conversations in the temple should be limited to the limit. Briefly greet acquaintances, postponing conversations for later and beyond the threshold of the temple.

When you come to the temple with children, you should try not to let them run around and play pranks. A crying child should be tried to calm down, if this fails, it is advisable to leave the temple with the child.

You can sing along to the choir only very quietly. During the nationwide singing, do not allow "unbridled cries."

Sitting in the temple is allowed only due to illness or severe fatigue. You can't sit with your legs crossed.

If all the worshipers kneel, you need to join them. Smoking is not allowed on the church porch. Animals are not allowed to enter the temple. It is unacceptable to walk and talk while reading the Gospel, singing the "Cherubic" and the Eucharistic canon at the liturgy (from the Creed to the "Our Father"). At this time, it is also undesirable to put candles and apply to the icons.

You can make a remark to a neighbor who has violated the rules of good behavior, you can quietly and delicately, a it is better to refrain from remarks at all, unless, of course, there is a brazen, hooligan action!

Finally, you need to stay in the church until the full end of the service. You can leave early only because of weakness or serious need.

Church etiquette

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 the conversations of 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 older women, we call the affectionate word "mother".

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

Sometimes there is a need to address the clergyman in writing. Priests should be called "Your Reverend", Archpriests - "Your Reverence", Bishops - "Your Grace", Archbishops and Metropolitans - "Your Eminence", Patriarch - "Your Holiness".

Sectarians who do not have the priesthood reproach the Orthodox for an alleged violation of the words of Christ: "And call no one on earth your father: for one is your Father, who is in Heaven" (Matthew 23:9). But it is clear that "do not call" has the meaning of "do not worship", otherwise the words of the Lord can be turned into nonsense. As far back as the 1st century, the Evangelist John the Theologian in his Epistles of the Council addressed Christians as "children". The response was obviously appropriate. The point is not in the word, but in the internal attitude to it. Deacon Andrey Kuraev writes well about this:

“Even the most convinced Baptist calls his parent a father and does not mind when his son says “dad” to him. Here, as in relation to the icon: you can worship and serve only God. But you can and should honor those through whom we receive the gift of life ".

"Bless, father!"

Every believer considers it indispensable when meeting with a priest or bishop to ask for a blessing, but many do it wrong. Of course, there are no strict canons on this issue, but the traditions of the Church and simple common sense suggest how to behave.

The blessing has many meanings. The first one is a greeting. Only an equal in rank has the right to greet a priest by the hand; all the rest, even deacons, receive a blessing from him when they meet with the priest. To do this, you need to put your palms together, right over the left, in order to take a blessing hand in them and kiss it as a sign of respect for the holy dignity. And for nothing more! The addition of palms has no mysterious meaning, grace does not “fall” into them, as some old women teach.

You can be blessed by a priest not only when he is in church clothes, but also in civilian clothes; not only in the temple, but also on the street, in a public place. It is not necessary, however, to approach for a blessing outside the temple to an unclothed priest who is not familiar with you.

In the same way, every layman says goodbye to a priest. If several priests are standing side by side, and you want to be blessed by everyone, then first you need to approach the senior in rank.

The second meaning of the priestly blessing is permission, permission, parting words. Before starting any responsible business, before traveling, and also in any difficult circumstances, we can ask the priest for advice and blessings and kiss his hand.

Finally, there are blessings in the course of a church service. The priest, saying: "Peace to all", "God's blessing on you ...", "The grace of our Lord ...", overshadows those praying with the sign of the cross. In response, we humbly bow our heads, without folding our hands - after all, it is impossible to kiss the blessing right hand.

If the priest overshadows us with sacred objects: the Cross, the Gospel, the Cup, the icon, we are first baptized, and then we bow.

You should not approach the blessing at an inopportune moment: when the priest takes communion, burns the temple, anoints with oil. But you can do this at the end of confession and at the end of the Liturgy, while kissing the Cross. It is not worth it to abuse the blessing by approaching the same priest several times a day. The words "bless, father" should always sound joyful and solemn to a layman, and there is no need to turn them into a proverb.

church note

If you want the memorial note you submitted to the altar to be read carefully and slowly, remember the rules:

1. Write in a clear, understandable handwriting, preferably in block letters, trying to mention no more than 10 names in one note.

2. Title it - "about health" or "about repose."

3. Write the names in the genitive case (the question of "whom"?).

4. Put the full form of the name, even if you commemorate children (for example, not Serezha, but Sergius).

5. Learn the church spelling of secular names (for example, not Polina, but Pelageya; not Artem, but Artemy; not Yuri, but George).

6. Before the names of the clergy, indicate their dignity, in full or in an understandable abbreviation (for example, Priest Peter, Archbishop Nikon).

7. A child under 7 years old is called a baby, from 7 to 15 years old - a lad (maiden).

8. It is not necessary to indicate the surnames, patronymics, titles, professions of the commemorated and their degree of kinship in relation to you.

9. It is allowed to include in the note the words "warrior", "monk", "nun", "sick", "traveling", "prisoner".

10. On the contrary, it is not necessary to write "lost", "suffering", "embittered", "student", "mourner", "maiden", "widow", "pregnant".

11. In the memorial notes, mark the "newly deceased" (deceased within 40 days after death), "the ever-memorable" (the deceased, who have memorable dates on this day), "killed."

12. For those whom the Church has glorified as saints (for example, Blessed Xenia), it is no longer necessary to pray.

Those who have Christian names are remembered for health, and only those baptized in the Orthodox Church are remembered for repose.

Notes can be submitted to the liturgy:

At the proskomidia - the first part of the liturgy, when for each name indicated in the note, particles are taken out of special prosphora, which are subsequently lowered into the Blood of Christ with a prayer for the forgiveness of the sins commemorated;

At mass - this is how the people call the liturgy in general, and the commemoration after it in particular. Usually such notes are read by clergy and clergy before the Holy See;

On the litany - a commemoration for all to hear. It is usually performed by a deacon. At the end of the liturgy, these notes in many churches are commemorated a second time, on trebs. You can also submit a note for a prayer service or memorial service.

Candle

What does the first person who crossed the threshold of the temple do?

Nine times out of ten, it goes to the candle box.

With a small wax candle, our practical Christianity begins, initiation to the rite.

It is impossible to imagine an Orthodox church in which no candles are lit...

The interpreter of the liturgy, Blessed Simeon of Thessalonica (XV century), says that pure wax means purity and impurity.
the people who bring it. It is brought as a sign of our repentance for stubbornness and self-will. The softness and suppleness of wax speaks of our readiness to obey God. The burning of a candle means the deification of a person, his transformation into a new creature by the action of the fire of Divine love.

In addition, a candle is evidence of faith, a person's involvement in the Divine light. It expresses the flame of our love for the Lord, the Mother of God, angels or saints. You can not light a candle formally, with a cold heart. External action must be supplemented by prayer, even the simplest one, in your own words.

A lit candle is present at many church services. It is held in the hands of the newly baptized and those who are combined with the sacrament of marriage. Among the many burning candles, the funeral service is performed. Covering the flame of the candle from the wind, the pilgrims go to the procession.

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. An expensive big candle is not at all more beneficial than a small one.

Those who regularly visit the temple try to put a few candles each time: to the festive icon lying on the lectern in the middle of the church; to the image of the Savior or the Virgin - about the health of their loved ones; to the Crucifixion on a rectangular candlestick table (eve) - about the repose of the dead. If your heart desires, you can put a candle to any saint or saints.

Sometimes it happens that there is no free space in the candlestick in front of the icon, everyone is occupied with burning candles. Then it’s not worth extinguishing another candle for the sake of your own, it’s more appropriate to ask the attendant to put it on at a good time. And do not be embarrassed that your unburned candle was extinguished at the end of the service - the sacrifice has already been accepted by God.

There is no need to listen to talk that a candle should be placed only with the right hand; that if it went out, then there will be misfortunes; that melting the lower end of the candle for stability in the hole is a mortal sin, etc. There are many superstitions around the church, and they are all meaningless.

pleasing to God wax candle. But He appreciates the burning of the heart more. Our spiritual life, participation in worship is not limited to a candle. By itself, it will not free from sins, will not unite with God, will not give strength to invisible warfare. The candle is full of symbolic meaning, but it is not the symbol that saves us, but the true essence - Divine grace.

The temple is a place of peace and communion with the Lord. People come to the Church for prayers, worship of the Lord, confession and communion, as well as for listening to the Word of God. Those who attend services regularly know the rules of conduct in an Orthodox church.

Those who come only for the holidays are often lost, because they do not know that there are recommendations and rules that should be followed. This is necessary so that the church visit goes right and the person does not interfere with anyone.

How to behave in the temple

The rules of conduct in an Orthodox church are a set of recommendations, the knowledge of which and the implementation will help to defend the service correctly, without interfering with anyone and receiving from her maximum benefit. This does not mean that a person will be expelled from the church without the right to return for not fulfilling one of the points, but the implementation of these recommendations will allow you to spend this time in reverence and reverence for the Lord.

Communion in an Orthodox Church

Communion is performed after confession and the permissive prayer of the priest, with the exception of only children under 7 years old - they can take communion just like that. The process of taking the sacrament is as follows:

1. After the announcement of Communion, one must slowly, without haste, approach Holy Communion.
2. Waiting for your turn, do not push or wave your arms - this is a holy sacrament.
3. Having taken communion, you must kiss the Chalice and move away.
4. Drink a drink, standing nearby on the table.
5. Attach to the Cross at the priest and cross yourself.

Advice! You have to go to the temple every Sunday, as well as on holidays. Children should be taught to attend church regularly.

During the Divine Liturgy, you can submit notes to the priest about the health of loved ones and about the repose of the dead. You can serve them in the same place where you can buy candles before the start of the service.

General rules

Appearance is important to everyone. The church service obliges a person to look neat and dignified, without introducing anyone into temptation and temptation. It is necessary to come to church in clothes that are considered appropriate for the person’s gender: men in trousers, women in skirts.

How should a woman dress in the temple?

Unacceptable for the church:

• swimsuit;
• sportswear;
• clothes that are too open, bright and shiny for going to a disco and other provocative things.

Immodest clothing causes condemnation and temptation from others. A person comes to the temple for fellowship and worship of the Lord, and not for a fashion show. Strict clothing obliges to lead a person with dignity and respect.

It is not necessary to pour a bottle of perfume on yourself at work - the room is usually stuffy and someone may become ill from perfume. It is necessary to abandon sugary and pungent odors and limit yourself to taking a shower and applying deodorant.

Make-up should be inconspicuous, and clothing with non-Christian symbols is also unacceptable.

sign of the cross

It is necessary to be baptized slowly, together with everyone.

It is easy to overshadow yourself with the sign of the cross:

• connect together the thumb, index and middle fingers of the right hand;
• fold the remaining two and press to the palm of your hand;
• with the right hand, successively touch the forehead, the center of the abdomen, the right and left shoulder.

They overshadow themselves with the sign of the cross during the reading of the Gospel, the blessing by the priest, the doxology of the Trinity and Christ, proclamations, communion and veneration of icons, as well as during censing.

sign of the cross

For women

There are more rules for women in the temple:

• wear only skirts;
• do not wear clothes that expose the lower back, are too tight on the body or open the shoulders;
• open neckline is also unacceptable;
• no need to apply too catchy frank makeup - you can limit yourself to mascara and eyebrow pencil;
• no need to apply harsh perfume;
• during menstruation, you should not approach the altar, it would be best to stay closer to the exit;
• stand on the left side of the building;
• after childbirth, it is also worth standing closer to the exit, and on the 40th day, the priest performs a cleansing prayer over the woman.

More about church rules:

Going to church, you need to realize why go there at all? Wear war paint and seek suitors, or communicate and worship the Lord who sees the soul. Provocative clothing and makeup is a sign of indiscretion.

Appearance of a woman in a church

For men

For men, the rules are simpler, but they also exist:

• do not wear a hat in the church building - it must be removed before entering;
• have a neat and decent appearance;
• refuse sports or work clothes;
• be shaved;
• refuse jeans, open T-shirts or transparent clothes (mesh T-shirts);
• do not smoke or drink before visiting the temple for 5-6 hours;
• best to wear classic suit or trousers with a shirt;
• behave modestly and respectfully;
• stop on the right side of the building.

Attention! Men come to the sacrament first, after them women can come, and only then children. Their task is to respectfully and respectfully treat the clergy, not to whisper and not to discuss the surrounding women.

The rules for visiting the temple are important, because this is not just a meeting of a community or commune, but a meeting of believers. People who do not attend worship usually closely monitor how Orthodox go to church, how they behave at worship.

However, the biggest problem remains the condemnation of young people who come to church for the first time. Regardless of their appearance and behavior, one must show indulgence to them and not speak rudely or lecture - gently correct and help with advice, this will be right.

How to behave in an Orthodox church

Jan 20, 2019 15:41 Administrator

You can discuss the article and ask questions about the Orthodox faith in the comments:

It’s interesting to me, my wife was chosen to be the headman of a small church, and I know a lot about how the church turns into a feeding trough for the priest. Moreover, this happens quite brazenly, they are forced to hide that the priest has turned the parish into a feeding trough. It is also surprising that all services are paid! Today the metropolitan will give a ride, he will have ten thousand in his pocket for the service and as many as a gift, with him another 15-25 people, each with 500-1500 rubles in his pocket! Moreover, after the service, a banquet for them in a local pub at the expense of the parish! Crazy money)))) - but what a NEGATIVE!))) FOR PARISHOLDERS!. And the question is what to do with it? Is this a style of serving God? What do you recommend?

• Good afternoon. Of course, what you describe is terrible. If you are really sure that this is the case, and if you can provide at least some facts, you need to contact your diocese, the ruling bishop. Unfortunately, as in any area of ​​human activity, ungodly people also come across in the Church. It is absolutely unacceptable to make a “feeder” out of the parish in the sense in which you describe. You can and should respond to this.

  But there is another side of the coin. In a sense, the parish has always been the trough of its priest. Priests have no salaries and he and his family are fed only by their parish. Therefore, the conventional wisdom that everything in the Church should be free does not stand up to the test of realities and practice of life. The modern Church has a lot of financial needs - these are the payment of utility bills, and repairs, and the remuneration of some employees of the temple, and much more. In addition to all this, the priest is also an ordinary person of flesh and blood, he needs something to eat and satisfy other human needs. Very often, priests have large families with many children, and supporting several children in our time is a very costly business. Therefore, in reality, it is absolutely impossible to completely separate ministry in the Church from financial matters. One can argue for a long time whether this is good or not, but the practice is this and nothing can be done about it.

  But, of course, the practice of customary donations by parishioners to their temple should by no means take the form of extortion, mandatory payment, or anything like that. The fact that such facts are periodically recorded in various churches does not at all mean that this is a normal practice for our entire Church, as such. Unclean individual priests defile themselves and destroy their souls, violating all given vows. But the Church in its full understanding has never taught this and has never called for extortion.

• Let them tell who came up with these rules! I fully support you. I also have a friend who worked as a security guard in the church. In general, he never prayed and drank black. And the fact that he guarded there, in addition to the church, is generally incomprehensible to the mind ... The icons for which we so tearfully pray were stacked in the back room. Money in the church is a priority. Like in business. And no one read these rules to this guard. The church needs an obedient people. You won’t take much from a person who has his own opinion ... I’m always ready for the sake of faith in our Lord and our Creator to keep the 10 commandments and to do good for the sake of forgiveness of my sins and my ancestors. Jesus, through his martyrdom, paved the way for us to Paradise. And whether we follow him or not is everyone's business.

• good afternoon! yesterday I encountered rudeness and bad manners in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. it was very embarrassing and embarrassing. I am a believer, my husband is, let's say, a hard-believing person))) for the reasons described above, the person who told me about how the parish turns into a feeding trough. we often go to sergiev posad and also see clergy in their “modest” cars) and so on…. in general, it’s hard to bring a person to faith now, if you observe everything that’s going on around. began to yell at the whole laurel in a heart-rending voice, they say, hold him! catch him! he is in shorts! (the shorts, by the way, were below the middle of the calf, that is, they did not expose the knees and hips), and began to poke at her husband like crazy! of course the person experienced discomfort and embarrassment .... offended and left. and doesn’t want to go there anymore. that’s the question. really don’t they teach politeness and tolerance in the temple? why couldn’t you come up and say quietly, they say, young man I'll tell you what's what. and quietly explain calmly. and already trust would have been established and contact. and not arrange a shameful circus, yell at the top of your voice in the Lavra, breaking the prayer by the way of other parishioners, point your finger !! terribly ill-mannered people serve there (( ((as yourself lead in such a situation? and what to say now to her husband ....

• • Good afternoon. The dress code for christening should be such that you can go to church. The color of the dress, of course, can be black - black dress does not carry only mourning symbols at all. More importantly, your dress should be the right length (at least cover your knees), not have deep cut and didn't show too much of her shoulders. If you are confused by the strict black color, you can wear a white festive scarf or scarf on your head to look more elegant. Christening is indeed a joyful and festive day, so there is nothing shameful in thinking over an elegant look. Just don't give it too much great importance- you can look elegant, and festive, and beautiful, but at the same time your appearance should remain pious. Also, concerns about appearance should not take up much of your attention, so as not to distract from the most important thing - the spiritual meaning of what is happening.

• • Good afternoon. Yes, approaching Holy Communion, the priest asks the parishioners with something like this: “Do not be baptized either before or after Communion, just clearly state your names.” Such a rule is dictated by the most common safety precautions - in no case should you push the Chalice so that the Holy Gifts do not spill. If a crowd of people before and immediately after Communion begins to actively baptize, you can inadvertently push each other, the priest. Communion is the most important part of the Divine Liturgy, and Communion must be approached with the greatest reverence. Therefore, after taking communion, you need to calmly and carefully go to drink, eat a piece of prosphora and drink “warmth” (this is the name of sweet warm water, given to all those who take communion) and then, turning to the altar, be baptized and continue your prayer.

Rules of conduct in the temple and church etiquette

Behavior in the Temple

An Orthodox church is a place of the special presence of God on Earth. It is necessary to behave reverently in the temple, so as not to offend the greatness of the shrine, not to incur the wrath of God.

It is necessary to come to the service in advance, 10-20 minutes in advance. Entering, cross yourself and make a waist bow. Upon entering, men take off their hats. Women enter the temple with their heads covered and dressed according to their gender. Clothing should be decent and neat.

Conversations in the temple should be limited to the limit. Briefly greet acquaintances, postponing conversations for later and beyond the threshold of the temple.

When you come to the temple with children, you should try not to let them run around and play pranks. A crying child should be tried to calm down, if this fails, it is advisable to leave the temple with the child.

You can sing along to the choir only very quietly. During public singing, do not allow "unbridled cries."

Sitting in the temple is allowed only due to illness or severe fatigue. You can't sit with your legs crossed.

If all the worshipers kneel, you need to join them. Smoking is not allowed on the church porch. Animals are not allowed to enter the temple. It is unacceptable to walk and talk while reading the Gospel, singing the "Cherubic" and the Eucharistic canon at the liturgy (from the Creed to the "Our Father"). At this time, it is also undesirable to put candles and apply to the icons.

You can make a remark to a neighbor who has violated the rules of good behavior quietly and delicately, but it is better to refrain from remarks altogether, unless, of course, there is an impudent, hooligan action.

Finally, you need to stay in the church until the full end of the service. You can leave early only because of weakness or serious need.

Church etiquette

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 Nikolai”. You can refer to a deacon as "father deacon", to the rector of a church (monastery) as "father rector".

In the conversations of Orthodox people, the word "father" is often heard. It must be remembered that this word is used only when directly referring 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 older women, we call the affectionate word "mother."

Hierarchs - bishops, metropolitans, Patriarchs - should be addressed as "Vladyka" as vested with ecclesiastical authority.

Sometimes there is a need to address the clergyman in writing. Priests should be called “Your Reverend”, Archpriests – “Your Reverence”, Bishops – “Your Grace”, Archbishops and Metropolitans – “Your Eminence”, Patriarch – “Your Holiness”.

Sectarians who do not have the priesthood reproach the Orthodox for an alleged violation of the words of Christ: “And call no one on earth your father: for one is your Father, who is in Heaven” (Matthew 23:9). But it is clear that "do not name" has the meaning of "do not worship", otherwise the words of the Lord can be turned into nonsense. As far back as the 1st century, the Evangelist John the Theologian in his Epistles of the Council addressed Christians as “children”. The response was obviously appropriate. The point is not in the word, but in the internal attitude to it. Deacon Andrey Kuraev writes well about this:

“Even the most staunch Baptist calls his parent father and doesn’t mind when his son says “daddy” to him. Here, as in relation to the icon: you can worship and serve only God. But we can and should honor those through whom we receive the gift of life.”

"Bless, father!"

Every believer considers it indispensable when meeting with a priest or bishop to ask for a blessing, but many do it wrong. Of course, there are no strict canons on this issue, but the traditions of the Church and simple common sense suggest how to behave.

The blessing has many meanings. The first one is a greeting. Only an equal in rank has the right to greet a priest by the hand; all the rest, even deacons, receive a blessing from him when they meet with the priest. To do this, you need to put your palms together, right over the left, in order to take a blessing hand in them and kiss it as a sign of respect for the holy dignity. And for nothing more! The addition of palms has no mysterious meaning, grace does not “fall” into them, as some old women teach.

You can be blessed by a priest not only when he is in church clothes, but also in civilian clothes; not only in the temple, but also on the street, in a public place. It is not necessary, however, to approach for a blessing outside the temple to an unclothed priest who is not familiar with you.

In the same way, every layman says goodbye to a priest. If several priests are standing side by side, and you want to be blessed by everyone, then first you need to approach the senior in rank.

The second meaning of the priestly blessing is permission, permission, parting words. Before starting any responsible business, before traveling, and also in any difficult circumstances, we can ask the priest for advice and blessings and kiss his hand.

Finally, there are blessings in the course of a church service. The priest, saying: "Peace to all", "The blessing of the Lord upon you...", "The grace of our Lord...", overshadows those praying with the sign of the cross. In response, we humbly bow our heads, without folding our hands - after all, it is impossible to kiss the blessing right hand.

If the priest overshadows us with sacred objects: the Cross, the Gospel, the Cup, the icon, we are first baptized, and then we bow.

You should not approach the blessing at an inopportune moment: when the priest takes communion, burns the temple, anoints with oil. But you can do this at the end of confession and at the end of the Liturgy, while kissing the Cross. It is not worth it to abuse the blessing by approaching the same priest several times a day. The words “bless, father” should always sound joyful and solemn to a layman, and there is no need to turn them into a proverb.

church note

If you want the memorial note you submitted to the altar to be read carefully and slowly, remember the rules:

1. Write in a clear, understandable handwriting, preferably in block letters, trying to mention no more than 10 names in one note.

2. Title it - "about health" or "about the repose."

3. Write the names in the genitive case (the question of "whom"?).

4. Put the full form of the name, even if you commemorate children (for example, not Serezha, but Sergius).

5. Learn the church spelling of secular names (for example, not Polina, but Pelageya; not Artem, but Artemy; not Yuri, but George).

6. Before the names of the clergy, indicate their dignity, in full or in an understandable abbreviation (for example, Priest Peter, Archbishop Nikon).

7. A child under 7 years old is called a baby, from 7 to 15 years old - a lad (maiden) and is written: ml. Alexandra or neg. Hope.

8. It is not necessary to indicate the surnames, patronymics, titles, professions of the commemorated and their degree of kinship in relation to you.

9. It is allowed to include in the note the words "warrior", "monk", "nun", "sick", "traveling", "prisoner".

10. On the contrary, it is not necessary to write "lost", "suffering", "embittered", "student", "mourner", "maiden", "widow", "pregnant".

11. In the funeral notes, mark the "newly deceased" (deceased within 40 days after death), "the ever-memorable" (the deceased, who have memorable dates on this day), "killed."

12. For those whom the Church has glorified as saints (for example, Blessed Xenia), it is no longer necessary to pray.

Those who have Christian names are commemorated of health, and only those baptized in the Orthodox Church are commemorated of repose.

Notes can be submitted to the liturgy:

At the proskomidia - the first part of the liturgy, when for each name indicated in the note, particles are taken out of special prosphora, which are subsequently lowered into the Blood of Christ with a prayer for the forgiveness of the sins commemorated;

At mass - this is how the people call the liturgy in general, and the commemoration after it in particular. Usually such notes are read by clergy and clergy before the Holy See;

At the litany - a commemoration for all to hear. It is usually performed by a deacon. At the end of the liturgy, these notes in many churches are commemorated a second time, on trebs. You can also submit a note for a prayer service or memorial service.

Candle

What does the first person who crossed the threshold of the temple do?

Nine times out of ten, it goes to the candle box.

With a small wax candle, our practical Christianity begins, initiation to the rite.

It is impossible to imagine an Orthodox church in which no candles are lit...

The interpreter of the liturgy, Blessed Simeon of Thessalonica (XV century), says that pure wax means the purity and innocence of the people who bring it. It is brought as a sign of our repentance for stubbornness and self-will. The softness and suppleness of wax speaks of our readiness to obey God. The burning of a candle means the deification of a person, his transformation into a new creature by the action of the fire of Divine love.

In addition, a candle is evidence of faith, a person's involvement in the Divine light. It expresses the flame of our love for the Lord, the Mother of God, angels or saints. You can not light a candle formally, with a cold heart. External action must be supplemented by prayer, even the simplest one, in your own words.

A lit candle is present at many church services. It is held in the hands of the newly baptized and those who are combined with the sacrament of marriage. Among the many burning candles, the funeral service is performed. Covering the flame of the candle from the wind, the pilgrims go to the procession.

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. An expensive big candle is not at all more beneficial than a small one.

Those who regularly visit the temple try to put a few candles each time: to the festive icon lying on the lectern in the middle of the church; to the image of the Savior or the Virgin - about the health of their loved ones; to the Crucifixion on a rectangular candlestick table (eve) - about the repose of the dead. If your heart desires, you can light a candle to any saint or saints.

Sometimes it happens that there is no free space in the candlestick in front of the icon, everyone is occupied with burning candles. Then it’s not worth extinguishing another candle for the sake of your own, it’s more appropriate to ask the attendant to put it on at a good time. And do not be embarrassed that your unburned candle was extinguished at the end of the service - the sacrifice has already been accepted by God.

There is no need to listen to talk that a candle should be placed only with the right hand; that if it went out, then there will be misfortunes; that melting the lower end of the candle for stability in the hole is a mortal sin, etc. There are many superstitions around the church, and they are all meaningless.

God is pleased with the wax candle. But He appreciates the burning of the heart more. Our spiritual life, participation in worship is not limited to a candle. By itself, it will not free from sins, will not unite with God, will not give strength to invisible warfare. The candle is full of symbolic meaning, but it is not the symbol that saves us, but the true essence - Divine grace.

Sometimes it happens that the soul of a person reaches out to the temple, but many are not familiar with the basics of Orthodoxy, they do not know how to behave in church. But the temple of God is open to all.

An Orthodox Christian, first of all, needs precisely the desire for faith and the awareness of what a person receives through faith: the immutable true and perfect benefits of spiritual communion with God and eternal life. The essence of prayer is the filling of the mind and heart with the highest, which gives knowledge of God.

In addition to personal prayer, all Orthodox need to pray in the Temple during Divine Services.

How to behave in the Orthodox Church

A beginner who is just starting his spiritual path should feel free, watch the behavior of other people and do the same. In order not to unknowingly disturb the peace in the souls of other praying people and not to desecrate the greatness of the holy place, it is necessary to know and follow certain rules for finding a church.

Here are some highlights:

1. If a priest approaches, for example, while burning incense, you should not stand in his way, but you need to step aside.
2. You should not behave like in a museum, frankly consider others. As a rule, it is customary to stand with your head slightly bowed.
3. When you are in a small church, cathedral, or monastery, you should always conduct yourself with reverence.
4. If you want to attend a church service, then it is advisable to arrive a few minutes before the start of the service.
5. You can not enter the altar, as well as turn your back to the altar.
6. If there is a desire to sing along in prayer, then you need to do this in a quiet voice, making sure that your singing does not distract people standing nearby.
7. Sitting in the temple is allowed - in case of illness or with great fatigue, that is, in weakness. Sitting cross-legged is not allowed.
8. During kneeling prayers, which occur at various services, one should pray together with all the parishioners. At this moment, both the clergy in the altar and the parishioners kneel and unite in a single prayer (the priest reads special prayers aloud).
9. If you are on the territory of the temple, you can not smoke, and also take animals or birds with you.
10. If there is a reading of the Gospel, the Cherubic chants or the Eucharistic canon, you should just stand still and listen. You should not walk, talk, and also put candles at this time.
11. It is necessary to refrain from remarks to the neighbors so as not to cause them embarrassment, or to speak in a quiet and friendly voice. It is advisable to stay in place until the end of the service, you can leave if there is a need or if you feel unwell.

For beginners to get acquainted with Orthodoxy, it can be important in what order and which icons to approach in the church. In this case, there is no strict rule. Most often, at first they try to approach the icon, located on the lectern in the middle of the temple. This is an icon of the saint whose feast is celebrated on this day.

They cross themselves twice near it and apply it with their lips and forehead, and again they cross themselves. Then they approach the icons of the Savior, the Mother of God and those saints to whom there is a request or the soul has reached out.

How to go to church

Believing Christians go to church every Sunday - this is the commandment of God.

If you go to the morning service, it is not customary to have a hearty breakfast before this. A full stomach moves away from a prayerful mood, which is why many Christians do not have breakfast before going to church.

If you are going to confess and take communion, then you cannot have breakfast, drink water, smoke or take medicine. The shrine is taken on an empty stomach.

How to enter the church and what to say at the entrance

You need to enter with humility and meekness in your heart in order to bring justification out of the temple, like the gospel publican.

Entering the temple, you should cross yourself three times and bow at the waist. Each time you need to repeat to yourself the words of the Jesus Prayer: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner (sinner).”

Rules of Conduct for the Church

For women:

1. Female representatives, from little girls to elderly women, go to the temple of God with their heads covered - this is a pious tradition. For this, a scarf, shawl or cape is used, in winter time some are wearing hats - this is not forbidden, but it will be hot. It is not recommended to wear wide-brimmed hats, as this will interfere with others.
2. Clothing is chosen discreet, clean, while arms, shoulders and chest are not exposed even in summer (especially strictly in this regard in monasteries).
3. If a woman enters in trousers, you can tie yourself with a long scarf before entering, they usually hang outside the front door and are intended for everyone.
4. Lipstick must be wiped off so as not to leave marks when applied to icons and the cross. If you are going to church, do not wear bright makeup, it will look out of place.

For kids:

1. If you brought a child to the temple, then you need to watch him. It is advisable to explain to him at home that you can’t run and play pranks in church.
2. If the child bursts into tears, you should try to calm him down or go outside with him so as not to interfere with the service and the parishioners.
3. If you want to give communion to a child, then you need to take into account that it can be difficult for him to endure the entire service, and therefore you can go outside with him or come later, closer to communion, so that the child does not get tired and starts to act up. As a rule, everyone brings children to the Cherubic Hymn - about 11 o'clock.

For men:

1. Men, entering the temple, take off their hats. In addition, they must not be in shorts or tracksuits. We are going to meet the Lord, this is a holiday of the soul, and therefore in the old days, going to church, we wore the most festive clothes.
2. For confession, communion, anointing with oil (performed at the evening service) - men, boys and women with male babies are the first to approach. This is a long tradition and in many temples they try to observe it.

Church etiquette of behavior in the temple

It is not allowed to behave loudly and noisily in the temple, to walk with hands in pockets, to chew, to interfere with other believers during their prayer. When meeting with acquaintances, you can greet each other with an Orthodox kiss, and postpone conversations until you leave the church.

Coming to church, we always want to join the Christian rite and make a small sacrifice - a candle. There is no specific order in which candles should be placed. You can put a candle to the icon of the Saint to whom you want to pray.

If you come to the candlestick and do not find a free place, you do not need to extinguish other people's candles, there are special employees for this. You need to wait a bit for the space to become available.

If you see that your candle has not yet burned out, and it has already been extinguished by a church minister, do not be embarrassed. Your sacrifice is accepted by God. You should not listen to various superstitions. The candle is symbolic.

How to pray in church

For all believers, prayer in the church is very important. Since it is common, such prayer is stronger and purer than home prayer. When a priest conducts a service, one should carefully listen to the words of the prayer, as if passing them through the heart.

It happens that the thought is scattered, and attention is lost. You can briefly ask God in prayer for strength, patience and understanding. If other parishioners distract you with their actions, try to move to another place in the temple without causing disturbance to others.

But, as a rule, believers come before the start of the service, have time to light candles and greet the parishioners, go to confession and take a seat as close to the altar as possible. Thus, all those who are late or just dropping in will not bother you - by that time they simply will not get to you because of the crowd of parishioners.

Conclusion

Any believer should know the church charters, and understand what happens during the service. Church shops sell books "Divine Liturgy" - it explains the main points, prayers and actions of priests at the Liturgy. This book is recommended for every Christian.

For those who go to God with a pure heart, strive for knowledge, everything is gradually revealed. The main thing is the desire and spiritual burning, our love for God and our neighbors.

The proposed rules are the simplest, but at the same time necessary for everyone who wants to live the church life.

Visiting the temple and the rules of conduct for Christians

Visiting the temple, as a rule, requires advance preparation. So, before entering it, it is necessary to have an appropriate mental attitude. In the temple, you also need to behave in such a way that you do not involuntarily offend the feelings of believers.

Preparing to Visit the Temple

Going to an Orthodox church, you should turn off the mobile phone Or don't take it at all. Phone calls will distract believers from their prayers. Talking on the phone during the service should not be for the same reasons.

Spiritual attitude

Before going to church, you need to set yourself up spiritually. To do this, it is recommended to read the Bible or other spiritual literature. In general, before each holiday it is recommended to read the relevant literature.

Reading spiritual literature should encourage a person to reflect on how he lived the past week, what was in his heart or in his thoughts. It is advisable, testing yourself, to remember what you have sinned from the day of your last confession. You can even write down your sins so as not to forget them before confession, distracted by everyday problems.

It will also be useful during spiritual reflections to remember all the good gifts and graces received from God. For all this, we must thank Him.

One should especially carefully prepare mentally for communion.

Appearance

Clothing for church attendance should be modest and decent. In addition, it should be clean and ironed, shoes - cleaned, hair - neat. In no case should you come to church in what is usually worn at home or on the beach.

The appearance of a Christian (not only behavior, but also clothes) reflects his inner state, although it is not an indicator of his piety. However, the desire for cleanliness inside, as a rule, encourages a person to also be neat on the outside. If a person is modest and meek, this will also be expressed in modest dress and meek behavior. A person who has peace and tranquility in his heart will be quiet and restrained in conversation, all his gestures will be balanced. A believer will have a desire for order in everything.

In clothes, it is better to stick to calm tones. In some cases, it is recommended to come in light-colored clothes (for example, at Easter), sometimes, on the contrary, in black (on days of mourning). Screaming tones will be out of place.

Women should be especially careful about clothes. They should always look very modest in church. Recently, many go to church in jeans or trousers. However, you should still wear a skirt to confession or communion. It should be no higher than the knee, not transparent and without cuts. It is recommended to choose a jacket or blouse without a deep cutout on the chest and also opaque, dull, without sparkles, etc. Women should definitely cover their heads with a scarf. There are no strict requirements for shoes, but it is still recommended to choose the most comfortable one, since you have to stand for a long time at the services. You can not use cosmetics, especially paint lips. You should also not use perfume, especially in hot weather, as its strong smell can make others feel unwell.

Men may come in jeans or trousers, a sweater or shirt, or a suit. Shorts and T-shirts should not be worn. Unlike women, men, entering the church, always (even in winter) must bare their heads.

On the days of church holidays, you can dress more beautifully and solemnly, on the days of fasting, on the contrary, more modestly.

Young people should not come to the temple in T-shirts, especially with flashy stickers on them in the form of various slogans, images of pop music idols, etc. Only children under 7 years old are allowed to wear shorts.

Entrance to the temple

Arrive at the service 5-10 minutes before it starts. You need to enter the church with reverence, calmly and quietly. On the threshold, they usually make the sign of the cross three times and read a prayer. You can read the prayer "Our Father" or simply say: "Lord, have mercy." At the same time, one should look at the domes of the temple and the crosses on them. At the end of the prayer, you should bow. How to make the sign of the cross and bows will be described below.

Do not smoke at the entrance to the temple. Entering the porch, one should once again overshadow oneself with the sign of the cross, since it is believed that already here a person is in a holy place. All non-spiritual talk should be stopped.

One should not linger at the entrance to the temple, making it difficult for other pilgrims to enter it.

Having entered the temple, one must try, without disturbing anyone, to find a place for oneself and, turning to the altar, make three bows with the sign of the cross. If in this time runs service, men must pass and stand with right side and women on the left.

It is advisable to come to church on time, that is, at the beginning of the service, and not during it. Latecomers should try to calmly go ahead.

Conducting money matters, with the exception of buying candles, should be either before or after the service, but in no case during the service.

in the temple

It is not customary to talk inside the church, so as not to prevent others from turning to God in their thoughts.

In the church, parishioners pray, and, as a rule, to themselves. This unspoken rule also applies to singing. You should not quietly sing along to the singing choir, and also echo aloud the words of the priest or reader. Such an action may prevent neighbors from praying. It is desirable not to violate this order.

In the past, it was customary to pray out loud. Currently, parishioners can pray aloud together while reading the prayers "Our Father" and "I Believe", as well as sing troparia and magnification of the holidays.

Before the start of the service, you can go to the candle box, where you can get candles, buy books and other church utensils. At this time, you can say hello to friends or talk with a clergyman on some church or spiritual topic.

You can not walk, talk, and also put candles and kiss the icons while reading the Gospel, singing the Cherubim and the Eucharistic canon at the liturgy (from the Creed to Our Father).

In church, they usually stand, but it is also allowed to sit. According to the proverb, it is better to think about God while sitting than to think about your feet while standing.

Seats in church should be given to the sick and the old. Sitting people should not cross their legs.

However, during important points you should still get up.

When everyone kneels during the common prayer, one should also kneel.

In church, you should not keep your hands in your pockets and chew gum.

When coming to church with children, care must be taken that they do not run, laugh, or play in the temple. If the child cries, he should be immediately reassured; if this fails, it is better to take him outside and reassure him. After that, you can return to the church. It is forbidden to come to church with animals or birds.

It is undesirable to make remarks to those who misbehave out of ignorance. The exception is disorderly, hooligan behavior.

You must stay in the church until the end of the service. Leaving early is appropriate only for the weak or in case of urgent need.

Prayer

Before you start praying, you need to calm down and focus on the Divine, only after that say the words of the prayer. You can first put candles in front of the icons of the saints, to whom the prayer will be addressed.

Prayer should be performed quietly, without disturbing other worshipers. For this you need to choose comfortable spot, where other parishioners will not interfere with focusing on fellowship with God and His saints. You should not force other believers out of their places in front of the icons, it is better to wait until they leave, or choose another place. You can pray not only for your own needs, but also by taking part in worship, during which there is time for both personal and common prayer.

Even without speaking a word and not understanding the language in which the service is held (in Orthodox churches, the service is held in the Old Slavonic language), you can still feel your involvement in everything that happens in the church. This helps to internally tune in to spiritual reflections.

When thoughts involuntarily dissipate during worship, it is recommended to read the Jesus Prayer: "Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

The Sign of the Cross and Prostrations

An Orthodox Christian who comes to church should know when and how to make the sign of the cross.

The sign of the cross expresses a person's faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Faith in Christ means loving Him and doing His holy will in your life. It is this kind of faith that saves from the power of evil.

The first three fingers put together express faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, as in a consubstantial Trinity. Two fingers, pressed to the palm, mean Christ at the time of His descent to earth, when two essences were combined in him - divine and human.

Thus, the sign of the cross itself, like the cross worn around the neck, does not bring liberation or salvation, they cannot be used as talismans or protection from the evil demonic manifestations of this world. According to Orthodox doctrine, only true faith can save. The sign of the cross is only the visible manifestation of this faith.

The Orthodox make the sign of the cross as follows: the thumb, index and middle fingers of the right hand are folded together at the ends, and the ring finger and little finger are pressed to the palm.

Making the sign of the cross, one must first put folded fingers to the forehead (to sanctify the mind), then to the stomach (to sanctify the inner feelings), then to the right and left shoulders (to sanctify the bodily, physical strength).

Lowering your hand, you should bow, because by depicting the Calvary cross on yourself, the believer will certainly express his worship of Christ who performed the feat on it. You can not bow at the same time as the sign of the cross.

You need to be baptized only with your right hand.

The sign of the cross should be done correctly. At the same time, there is no need to rush, otherwise you will get a simple waving of your hand, which does not look very good and can be perceived by other believers as blasphemy.

The believer makes bows as a sign of humility before God. Bows are waist and earth. During waist bows, they bow to the waist, and during earthly bows, the believer kneels and touches the ground with his head.

The sign of the cross is usually performed in the following cases:

When approaching everything holy (at the entrance to the temple, applying to a cross or icon, etc.);

At the beginning, during and at the end of any prayer;

At the beginning of matins;

When the priest proclaims: "Blessed be God";

At the ascension of the name of the Most Holy Trinity, for example: “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit ...”;

During the raising of the name of the Most Holy Theotokos;

During the prayer "Most Honest";

When the name of the holy day is pronounced on the leave;

At key moments of worship, for example, with the exclamation "Yours from Yours", etc.

If the sign of the cross is not performed during prayer, you should say to yourself: “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.”

Priest's blessing

The blessing of the priest is the sign of the cross, with which he overshadows the faithful. At the same time, the priest folds his hands differently than with the usual sign of the cross. His fingers represent the letters IC. XC., which means Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus Christ himself, through the priest, blesses the believer.

The blessing should be received with reverence. Another meaning of blessing is permission, permission and parting words. For example, a believer asks a priest for blessings when going on a journey, before an important matter, or in any difficult situation.

Blessing is both general and private. The general blessing occurs during the divine service, when the priest, blessing all the believers present in the temple, says: “Peace to all”, “God’s blessing on you ...”, “The grace of our Lord ...”, - and overshadows them with the sign of the cross . At the same time, everyone bows in response, without folding their hands and without crossing themselves.

If the priest overshadows the believers with the sign of the cross with the help of sacred objects, such as the Cross, the Gospel, the Cup, the icon or others, those present must cross themselves and bow.

When a believer receives a blessing separately for himself, he must fold his hands in a cross and palms up - right to left. The priest overshadows him with the sign of the cross and puts his hand in the folded palms of the believer. Having received a blessing, the believer must kiss the hand of the priest with which he blessed, thereby, as it were, kissing the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Icons

Upon entering the church, believers usually approach the icon, which is located on the lectern in the center of the temple, and venerate it (kiss it). This is an icon of a holiday, it usually depicts a celebrated event, for example, “The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem,” or a saint whom the church commemorates on this day. One should venerate this icon, having previously made the sign of the cross twice with a bow, then one should kiss the icon and again, crossing oneself, bow.

AT Orthodox Church there is an order of kissing icons. Everyone who enters the temple must venerate the venerated icon of this local church.

A parishioner should not kiss all the icons of the temple and the iconostasis with a kiss. This is done only by the bishop. Violation of this rule by a layman is outrageous.

You should also not wander around the church from one icon to another, preventing the worshipers from concentrating on their prayers. Showing respect for icons should not go beyond the bounds of decency. Other icons can be approached at other times.

If there is no service in the church, you can go to the icon located in the center of the temple, cross yourself twice and kiss its lower part, and then cross yourself a third time. More details about the icons and their veneration will be discussed below.

Candles, lamps and lamps

Candles are a special symbol inherent in Orthodox churches. They are burned as a sign of sacrifice and dedication to God.

Icon lamps and candles in an Orthodox church burn in the altar behind the throne in a special lamp, called the menorah, on the High Place, on the throne, on the altar, as well as at individual icons. In the middle part of the temple, lamps are lit at all the icons. Several icon lamps are placed near especially revered icons. Candlesticks with many cells are placed near the icons so that believers can put their candles in them.

The largest candlestick is placed in the center of the temple on the east side of the lectern, near the icon revered that day. During the small entrances (at vespers and liturgy), the great entrance (at the liturgy), and also before the Gospel (if it is taken out at the entrances or for reading), a special candlestick with a large candle is used, which symbolizes the light of Christ's preaching to this world, as well as the Christ, who is the true Light.

Candles, which are placed before the icons of the saints, mean the fiery love of the saints for God, their sacrifice and complete dedication. Candles also remind us that the saints are lamps, burning and shining throughout the world with the feat of their faith and their virtues.

During the incense, a deacon walks in front of the priest with a censer, carrying a special deacon's candle, which symbolizes the light of the apostolic preaching, which preceded the peoples' acceptance of faith in Christ.

The lamp, lit in front of the icon, marks a pillar of fire that accompanied the people of Israel in the wilderness in ancient times. Candles placed around the lamp are an image of a non-burning thorn bush, in which God appeared to Moses. According to the Orthodox tradition, the non-burning bush is a prototype of the Mother of God.

Candles placed in regular circles symbolize the chariot on which Elijah ascended to heaven. The circles of light represent the wheels of this chariot.

Burning candles are used in various church services. They must be in the hands of those who are baptized or married. The funeral service is also held among many lighted candles. With candles, believers go to the procession.

On weekdays, when prayers of repentance and contrition are mainly heard in the temple, there are very few burning candles. On holidays and Sundays, when there is a solemn doxology and preaching of the Gospel, the whole church is illuminated with candles and lamps. And on the greatest Christian holiday, the Resurrection of Christ, in addition to lighting the church, all believers also hold lighted candles in their hands.

The candle is one of the foundations of practical Orthodox Christianity. Her wax, soft and supple, symbolizes a person who is ripe for repentance and ready for internal changes in obedience. The fire of a candle symbolizes the deification of a person through spiritual birth from above from the fire of Divine love. The purity of a candle means the purity of a person as a result of his repentance and communion with the Divine nature.

During the reading of the Six Psalms, which speaks of the realization of one's sinful state, almost all the candles are extinguished in the church so that in the twilight people are more attentive to what they hear and, if necessary, they can sigh or shed a tear. Darkness promotes mental focus on one's own soul. At the liturgy (worship at which the sacrament is celebrated), taking place both on weekdays and on holidays, candles are lit most of all. Before the beginning of the reading of the Gospel, candles are lit throughout the temple, reminding that the Word of the Good News illuminates the whole earth.

First of all, they light a candle on the altar, then on the throne, after which in front of the icons of the Savior, Mother of God, temple and saints.

Thus, the burning of candles by the clergy in the temple is part of the service. They burn them in a certain order with a certain meaning. At the same time, the parishioner should not interfere with worship with his unworthy behavior.

Candles are used in all rituals and sacraments:

During baptism (three candles are placed on the font as a symbol of the Holy Trinity, the recipients also hold candles in their hands, as if saying that the person being baptized goes from darkness to light);

At betrothal and wedding (candles are held by those who are engaged and getting married, which marks the purity of their life before marriage and after);

During the unction (near the lampada or a vessel with wine and oil, seven candles are placed, meaning the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and all those present also hold lit candles as a sign of fervent prayer);

At the burial (candles are placed in four candlesticks at the corners of the coffin, which symbolizes the cross, relatives also hold burning candles during the memorial service, which symbolize Divine light for a baptized Christian).

There are no special rules for where and how much to put candles.

A cash contribution is a kind of donation - small and affordable for everyone. The size of the candle and its manufacture play absolutely no role in the service of God.

People who constantly go to church, as a rule, always put several candles, for example, one each to the festive icon located on the lectern, to the image of the Savior or the Virgin (with prayers for the health of their loved ones) and to the Crucifixion, praying for repose deceased. You can also put a candle in front of the icon of any of the saints at the behest of the heart.

If there is no place on the candlestick in front of the icon because of the many burning candles set by other people, one should not extinguish someone's candle.

The believer also should not be offended or indignant if someone extinguished his candle before the end of the service, since it is believed that God reads in the heart and accepts the heart sacrifice, while the candle is only a reflection of this sacrifice in the outside world.

You should not take to heart the belief that if the candle goes out, then this is unfortunately. Also, do not listen to those who say that melting the lower end of a candle to install it in a candlestick should be considered a sin. There are no special instructions as to which hand should put the candle - right or left. Various superstitions that arise among the people are not accepted by the church.

Candles and lamps are lit not only in churches, but also in the homes of pious Christians.

To light a candle without disturbing others with your behavior, you should come before the start of the service. Often latecomers and those who come to the temple in the middle of the service distract other believers from prayer and worship by passing their candles through them. This behavior is unacceptable. In case of being late, it is better to wait until the end of the service, after which it will be possible to light a candle without disturbing others and without violating order.

Candles should not be the only participation of the believer in worship. After all, a candle in itself does not give spiritual healing, liberation from sins, strengthening the spirit. Despite its symbolic nature, the candle does not have the ability to save the soul. In order to light a candle, it is also necessary to have an appropriate mental attitude.

Burning candles are a sacrifice to God. Putting them in front of a specific icon, a person must have love, respect and reverence for the person depicted on it. If this is not in the heart, then the candles mean nothing to God. Often people put their candles in front of those saints about whom they know nothing, and therefore do not like them. It becomes useless.

Some people turn the lighting of candles into a simple ritual, not caring to learn something useful about God, the Mother of God or the saints, inspiring and bringing them closer to God. At the same time, they make God and all His saints so small that they think they need candles, and not a pure heart. One can hardly hope to receive anything from God in response to one's prayer or petition.

Some, having put a candle, believe that they have fulfilled their duty towards God, and this is enough to be called Orthodox Christian, righteous and pure. They quietly sin, deceiving and offending others, and then, like a sacrifice for sins, put candles to God or light lamps in front of the icons.

Candles should be lit only as a sign of displaying the fire that burns in the heart - the fire of love. If the darkness of sin and unbelief reigns in the soul, there is no need for candles. By their burning it is impossible to buy real purification of the soul. You cannot bribe God, as the pagans did in ancient times, by sacrificing various valuables to idols, including birds and livestock.

Thus, when lighting a candle, one should consider whether this is dictated by love for God, which is confirmed by pious behavior. If not, the candle is an attempt at bribery, which is not only pointless, but also offensive to God, especially if the candles are bought with money obtained by dishonest labor.

“Putting candles in front of the icons is good. But it is better if you sacrifice to God the fire of love for Him and for your neighbor. It's good if both happen together. If you put candles, but you don’t have love for God and your neighbor in your heart: you are stingy, you don’t live peacefully, then your sacrifice to God is in vain ”(Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt)

The Bible says that if people continue to do iniquity, the sacrifices they offer are contrary to God: “Why do I need the multitude of your sacrifices ...

As for relationships with people, one should try to live in peace with others. Putting a candle, having evil in your heart against someone, is an empty thing. If a person is in a hostile relationship with anyone in the family, at work, this sacrifice will be rejected.

Candles can be purchased in the temple in which a person came to pray. However, it is not forbidden to place and light candles purchased in any other Orthodox church in front of the icons.

Candles about the health of relatives and friends are usually placed in front of the icons of saints in special candlesticks, of which there are several in the temple. Such candlesticks, as a rule, are located in front of the icons of St. Nicholas (Nicholas the Wonderworker), Xenia of Petersburg, etc. The icon of the saint is chosen in accordance with the needs of the worshiper.

Candles for the repose of the souls of the dead are placed in a special funeral canon that exists in any temple. On it, as a rule, there is a small crucifix. On Easter Sunday, candles are not lit for the dead.

Memorial and church note

Commemoration books appeared not very long ago and are inherent only in the Orthodox Church. This is a special small book that can be purchased at the church and in which believing Christians enter the names of all relatives, both living and dead, as a keepsake for posterity. Commemorators should be treated with respect and kept clean and tidy at home near the icons.

At the service, the clergyman is served a one-time commemoration. It contains the names of living and dead people for whom you need to pray "for health" or "for repose." Such a commemoration is called a church note. It should also be treated with respect and recorded with care.

Church notes are brought by priests to the altar, where they are read during the Divine Liturgy before the Holy Altar. In this regard, they can also be called liturgical books. With all the more respect should be treated church records.

Even in a one-time commemorative book, names must be entered neatly, in legible handwriting, supplementing what is written with the image of a cross. Carelessly designed notes indicate that the author does not understand their meaning.

The church prayer for the dead is said during the liturgy, when bloodless sacrifices, or gifts, are offered - bread and wine, that is, Holy Communion is performed. Therefore, it is believed that prayers in the church are especially strong and grace-filled in comparison with home prayer.

The power of prayers uttered in the church is also great because they are offered by priests - people specially designated for the performance of sacred rites.

Prayer "for health" involves praying not only for physical health of a person, but also about his material well-being, mental and spiritual state. Therefore, praying "for health" for evil person, the believer asks God to correct this person, change him internally, turn him to salvation.

In a “health” note, a person can include everyone to whom he wishes not only health, but also the salvation of the soul, as well as simply prosperity in life.

The rules for filling out a church note are as follows:

It must have one of two names: “about health” or “about repose”;

It is necessary to write in a clear and understandable handwriting, it is possible in block letters;

You should not mention more than 5-10 names in it (in order to mention a larger number of relatives and friends, you should write several notes);

Names should be written in the genitive case (for this you need to ask the question “who?”);

Names must be written in full, even if they are the names of small children (for example, not “Volodya”, but “Vladimir”);

Names should be written in their church form (for example, Sergius, not Sergey, Appollinaria, not Polina, Anthony, not Anton, etc.);

Patronymic and surname, as well as ranks, titles, profession and degree of kinship should not be indicated in the notes;

The names of the bishops and priests are written first, their rank should be indicated (in full or in an understandable abbreviation), then the name of the submitter of the note and his relatives and friends should be indicated;

A child under 7 years old in a church note should be recorded as a baby (for example, baby Elijah), and children from 7 to 15 years old - as a boy or girl;

You should not write in notes “about health” the words “suffering”, “embittered”, “needy”, “lost”, “student”, “widow”, “maiden”, “pregnant”, “mourning”. You can use the words: "sick", "traveling", "prisoner", "warrior", "monk", "nuns";

In the notes “on the repose” it is necessary to note the “newly deceased” (about the deceased within 40 days after death), “the ever-memorable” (if the deceased has a memorable date on this day - the day of death, name day, etc.), the words "killed" and "warrior".

In the note "about health" you can enter everyone who has Christian names. Only the names of those baptized in the Orthodox Church are entered in the note "for repose".

Church records may be read before or during worship and at different form, which is discussed in advance at the request of the parishioner. He can submit a note for proskomedia, mass (liturgy) or litany.

Proskomediacalled the initial, preparatory part of the liturgy, during which the clergy prepare bread and wine for the upcoming sacrament. She passes in the altar and is invisible to the parishioners. At this time, the priest, for each name indicated in the note, takes out small particles from special prosphora served by believers, which he then lowers into a bowl of wine, symbolizing the Blood of Christ, and prays for the forgiveness of the sins of the commemorated people.

In the second case, the commemoration takes place immediately after the end of Mass and, as a rule, before the Holy Altar.

Litany- this is a common triple exclamation “Lord, have mercy!”, After which the names given in the notes are commemorated publicly. Names are read out, as a rule, by the deacon.

After the service, all submitted notes are read and commemorated a second time.

The dead, according to Orthodox tradition, must be commemorated on the days of their death, birth and name day. The names of suicides cannot be entered in the note “for repose” (except in special cases).

Commemoration notes should be submitted as often as possible, and always on such days as birthdays, baptisms and name days, both for your own and family members. Be sure to submit church records on the birthday and baptism of the child.

Custom note

A custom note is served for a prayer service or memorial service. These commemorations differ in that they are performed after the liturgy. Commemorative notes for them are served separately from ordinary church notes.

A prayer service is a special service in which the clergyman asks the Lord, the Mother of God and the saints for mercy and thanks for the blessings received. A prayer service takes place before the Liturgy and after it, as well as after Matins and Vespers.

A note “about health” with a prayer service differs from a simple note “about health” in that after removing the particles from the prosphora, the deacon reads out loud the names of those commemorated at the litany, then the priest repeats these names in front of the throne, at the end of the liturgy, the names from the registered note are also read during prayers at the moleben.

A custom note “on the repose” with a memorial service is carried out in the same sequence: after removing the particles with reading the names of the dead, the deacon pronounces these names aloud at the litany, then the priest repeats them in front of the altar, and after the service, the names of the deceased are commemorated at the memorial service.

A custom note can also be submitted for a special prayer service called magpie. This is a prayer service performed for forty days. Every day, particles are removed from the prosphora and the living or dead are commemorated. Especially often this type of prayer is ordered for seriously ill patients.

Panikhida called short services, including prayers for the forgiveness of sins and the repose of the soul of the deceased. During the memorial service, relatives and friends of the deceased are present at the service and hold burning candles in their hands. At the end of the service, the candles are extinguished without waiting for them to burn out to the end.

In the church, you can order the commemoration of the living or the dead for a month, six months or a year, as well as for eternal commemoration, which is practiced in some churches and monasteries.

In a note for a prayer service, first the name of the saint to whom the prayer service will be offered is indicated, then you need to write “about health” or “for repose” and enter the names of those who should be mentioned in prayer singing. When submitting a registered note, it is imperative to tell the minister whether it is necessary to perform a small blessing of the water during the prayer service or not.

Holiday services

Such services are held especially solemnly. As a rule, during such divine services, special actions are performed that are unique to them. The most striking example is the procession during the festive Easter service. For such cases, church etiquette prescribes special behavior.

Easter holiday

Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Christ. This is the greatest and most solemn Christian holiday. Believers begin to gather in the temple long before midnight. At the same time, they should be dressed in light-colored clothes. The beginning of the holiday is announced by a solemn Annunciation (shortly before midnight).

Easter matins are performed in the church, during which the canon of John of Damascus is sung, and the clergy with a cross and a censer go around the whole church and joyfully greet all those present with the words: “Christ is risen!”, To which all those present in the church respond in chorus: “Truly, He is Risen! ".

From the first day of Pascha until Vespers of the feast of the Holy Trinity, one is not supposed to kneel and make prostrations in the temple.

At the end of Matins, after it will be sung “Let us embrace each other with our hands: brethren! and we will forgive those who hate us all by the resurrection!”, all believers begin to greet each other with the words “Christ is risen!”, answering: “Truly he is risen!”.

In the next Easter days there are religious processions near the church, accompanied by the ringing of bells.

Feast of Pentecost (Holy Trinity Day)

This holiday is established in memory of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ.

The celebration begins with an evening service, at which the faithful read the three touching prayers of Basil the Great, while kneeling down. On the same day, prayers are offered for the dead.

On the feast of Pentecost, it is customary to decorate the temple and houses with tree branches and flowers. You should also come to the temple with flowers in your hands.

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

On this day, believers bring fruits to the temple - apples, pears, plums, which are blessed and consecrated by the priest after the service, at the end of the liturgy. In this regard, this holiday is also called the Apple Spas. It is believed that until the fruits have been consecrated in the church, they should not be eaten.

Feast of the Nativity

For the celebration of Christmas, believers prepare themselves with a forty-day fast. A particularly strict fast should be observed on the day before the holiday. This day is called Christmas Eve.

From evening to morning, an all-night vigil is performed.

Feast of the Epiphany (Theophany)

On this holiday, two great blessings of water are performed: one - on the eve of the holiday in the temple, the other - on the day of the holiday in the open air, on rivers, ponds and wells.

The Procession to the Epiphany is called the Procession to the Jordan, because it was there that the baptism of Jesus Christ took place.

What not to do in church

When readers or priests are reading, one should not interfere with them by moving in front of them from one place to another.

In general, you should not move around, buy and put candles, and also kiss the icons during the most important moments of worship.

Donations

Donations in the temple are brought mainly in the form of money, although you can donate any things that are used in the church, for example, bowls, candles, wine, cloth, oil for lamps, etc. Sometimes food is donated to the church for a meal for the clergy.

Donations can be brought to the temple or individual clergymen personally. You can give donations as payment for the remembrance of relatives, when performing the sacraments, etc.

Among Orthodox Christians, it is customary to make donations not only to the temple, but also to those who beg for alms on the porch.

The amount of the donation (in any case) depends on the wealth of the person who makes it. How much to donate, everyone decides for himself, there are no strict rules.

Rules for addressing the clergy

When addressing someone from the clergy, one should adhere to neutral words. You should not use the title "father" without using this name, as it will sound too familiar.

In the church, the clergy should also be addressed with "you".

In close relationships, the address "you" is allowed, but in public it is still better to stick to the address "you", even if it is the wife of a deacon or priest. She can address her husband as “you” only at home or alone, while in the parish such an address can belittle the authority of the minister.

In the church, addressing the clergy, one must call their names as they sound in the Church Slavonic language. For example, one should say “Father Sergius”, and not “Father Sergey”, “Deacon Alexy”, and not “Deacon Alexei”, etc.

When referring to a deacon, you can use the words "father deacon." To find out his name, one must ask: "Excuse me, what is your holy name?" However, in this way it is possible to address any Orthodox believer.

When addressing a deacon by his own name, the address "father" must be used. For example, “Father Alexy”, etc. In a conversation, when referring to a deacon in the third person, one should call him “father deacon” or a proper name with the address “father”. For example: "Father Andrew said that..." or "Father the deacon advised me...", etc.

The deacon in the church is approached to ask for advice or ask for prayer. He is an assistant priest. However, the deacon does not have ordination, therefore he does not have the right to independently perform the rites of baptism, weddings, unction, as well as serve the liturgy and confess. Therefore, you should not contact him with a request to carry out such actions. He also cannot perform rites, such as consecrating a house or performing a funeral service. It is believed that he does not have special grace-filled power for this, which the minister receives only during ordination to the priesthood.

When addressing a priest, the word "father" is used. AT colloquial speech it is allowed to call a priest a father, but this should not be done in an official speech.

When a priest is mentioned in a conversation and they talk about him in the third person, one can say: “Father rector advised”, “Father Vasily blessed”, etc. Calling him by rank will not be very harmonious in this case. Although, if priests with the same names are present at the parish, in order to distinguish them, a rank corresponding to each of them is placed next to the name. For example: "Hegumen Pavel is now holding a wedding, you can address your request to Hieromonk Pavel." You can also call the priest by his last name: "Father Peter Vasiliev is on a business trip."

The combination of the word “father” and the priest’s surname (for example, “father Ivanov”) sounds too formal, therefore it is very rarely used in colloquial speech.

When meeting, the parishioner must greet the priest with the word “Bless!”, while folding his hands to receive a blessing (if the greeter is next to the priest). Saying “hello” or “good afternoon” to a priest is not customary in church practice. The priest responds to the greeting: "God bless" or "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." At the same time, he overshadows the layman with the sign of the cross, after which he places his palms on his hands, folded to accept the blessing. right hand which the layman must kiss.

The priest can bless the parishioners in other ways, for example, overshadow the bowed head of a layman with the sign of the cross, or bless at a distance.

Male parishioners may also receive the priest's blessing differently. They kiss the hand, cheek, and again the hand of the servant blessing them.

When a priest blesses a layman, the latter must in no case at the same time make the sign of the cross upon himself. This action is called "be baptized into a priest." Such behavior is not very decent.

Asking for and receiving blessings are the main components of church etiquette. These actions are not a pure formality. They testify to the established relationship between the priest and the parishioner. If a layman asks for a blessing less often or completely stops asking for it, this is a signal for the minister that the parishioner has some problems in earthly life or a spiritual plan. The same applies to the situation when the priest does not want to bless the layman. Thus, the pastor tries to make it clear to the parishioner that something is happening in the life of the latter that contradicts the Christian life, that the church does not bless him.

Usually, the refusal of a blessing is painfully tolerated by both the priest and the laity, which suggests that such actions are not purely formal. In this case, both should try to smooth out the tension in the relationship by confessing and asking for forgiveness from each other.

From the day of Pascha and for the next forty days, parishioners should first of all greet the pastor with the words “Christ is Risen”, to which the priest usually answers: “Truly Risen” - and gives his blessing with the usual gesture.

If a parishioner finds himself in the company of several priests at once, he should ask for blessings first from the senior priests, and then from the younger ones, for example, first from the archpriest, then from the priest. If a layman is not familiar with them, you can distinguish the rank by the cross worn by priests: the archpriest has a cross with decorations or gilded, and the priest has a silver cross, sometimes gilded.

It is customary to take a blessing from all nearby priests. If this is difficult for any reason, you can simply ask: “Bless, honest fathers” - and bow. The address "holy father" in Orthodoxy is not accepted.

If several people come up to the priest for a blessing at once, the men should be the first to apply by seniority, and then the women. If church ministers are present in this group of people, they are the first to ask for blessings.

If a family comes to the priest, the husband comes out first to bless, then the wife, then the children in order of seniority. At this time, you can introduce someone to the priest, for example, a son, and then ask him to bless him. For example: “Father Matthew, this is my son. Please bless him."

When parting, instead of saying goodbye, the layman also asks the priest for blessings, saying: “Forgive me, father, and bless.”

If a layman meets a priest outside the church walls (on the street, in transport, in a store, etc.), he can still ask for a blessing, if at the same time he does not distract the pastor from other matters. If it is difficult to take a blessing, you just need to bow.

In dealing with a priest, a layman should show respect and respect, since the minister is the bearer of special grace, which he receives during the sacrament of ordination to the priesthood. In addition, the priest is ordained to be the shepherd and mentor of the faithful.

In a conversation with a clergyman, one should observe oneself so that there is nothing indecent in the look, words, gestures, facial expressions, posture. The speech of a layman should not contain rude, abusive, slang words, which are full of the speech of many people in the world. It is also not allowed to address the priest too familiarly.

When talking with a clergyman, you should not touch him. Better to be at a distance not too close. You can not behave cheekily or defiantly. No need to stare or grin in the face of the priest. The look should be meek. It's good to lower your eyes a little while talking.

If the priest is standing, the layman should not sit in his presence. When the priest sits down, the layman can sit down only after being asked to sit down.

When talking with a priest, a layman should remember that through a shepherd who participates in the mysteries of God, God Himself can speak, teaching the truth of God and righteousness.

Appeal of the laity to each other

All believers in Christ are brothers and sisters .

Therefore, in the church it is common to address each other as "brother" or "sister", although not as often as in churches in the West. When a Christian addresses a congregation of believers, he says, "Brothers and sisters."

Thus, the spiritual position of all believers in relation to one another is as between brothers and sisters.

In fact, even deacons, priests and bishops are just brothers for any layman, because they all have one spiritual Father - God.

In Orthodox churches, it is not customary to call each other by name and patronymic. Even older people should only be called by their first names.

When lay acquaintances meet each other, men greet each other with a handshake and a kiss on the cheek, and women only with a kiss on the cheek. A man and a woman should not greet each other with a kiss, it is enough just to greet with a word and bow their heads.

In dealing with one another, believers should be honest, sincere, meek, and humble. Having committed an offense, they should always be ready to ask for forgiveness from each other. For example:

I'm sorry brother.

God will forgive. Forgive me.

When parting, Orthodox believers say to each other: “God bless”, “God bless”, “God's help”, “Guardian Angel”, “I ask for prayers”, etc. Orthodox Christians do not say: “All the best” or "Goodbye".

If the interlocutor offers to participate in something dubious, the believer can easily refuse, saying: “I’m sorry, but I can’t agree to this, because it’s a sin” or “I’m sorry, but my spiritual father’s blessing is not on this,” etc.

There should be nothing obscene in the conversation. All abusive and slang words should be excluded from the lexicon. The look should be humble, not boring or riveting.

In a conversation, you should always try to listen carefully to the interlocutor, without interrupting him.

In turn, when expressing your own thoughts, you should not be too intrusive and tire the interlocutor with a conversation unless absolutely necessary. You don't have to be verbose.

Written communication

Correspondence in a church environment also has its own rules. Most often, believers in letters congratulate each other on church holidays, of which there are a great many, ranging from the Nativity of Christ, Easter, patronal holidays and ending with name days, birthdays, etc.

One of the basic rules of correspondence is to send both letters and responses to them on time. Congratulations for the holidays should come without delay. The text of congratulations should breathe love and joy, and also be quite sincere.

Congratulations on the holiday of the Nativity of Christ can begin, for example, with these words: “Christ is born - praise!”. The word "born" refers to Old Slavonic. These words are the first line of the first Christmas carol in the canon. At the end of the letter, the following can be attributed: “I wish you the help of the God-child Christ in your charitable deeds.”

Congratulations on the Easter holiday usually begin with the words “Christ is Risen!”, And end with “Truly Christ is Risen!”. These two phrases can be highlighted in the letter in red ink.

Congratulating on the birthday, as a rule, they wish the birthday man help

Church requirements

Church services are called church services, which are held at the request of believers.

The requirements include prayers for the living and the dead, as well as the consecration of food and household items.

Prayers for the living include prayers for the dead, and requiems and funerals for the dead. They were discussed above.

Priests consecrate food only on certain days, for example, on Easter (consecration of Easter cakes and eggs) or on the feast of the Transfiguration (consecration of apples and other fruits).

The priest also consecrates the house (apartment) or car. It is done at a convenient time, which is agreed in advance. In the Orthodox Church, the consecration of weapons by military personnel is also practiced.

How to invite a priest

A familiar priest can be invited to the request by phone. In this case, you should not start the conversation with the word "hello." Instead, they ask:

Hello, is this father Peter? Bless, father.

Then you should state your need. They end the conversation with the priest with thanksgiving and the word "bless", as in the beginning. Before the priest comes to fulfill the request, you should approach him in the temple or turn to the person standing behind the candle box and ask what needs to be prepared for the arrival of the priest.

If a priest is invited to a sick person in order to take communion or give parting words, the patient should be prepared and the room cleaned.

The house should have candles, water and a clean handkerchief. Animals from the room in which the patient is located should be taken away, the TV, radio and tape recorder should be turned off. Everyone present in the house must be dressed decently and behave accordingly.

If a priest is invited for unction, in addition to candles, wine, oil and cotton must be prepared in advance. For the funeral at home, you need candles, a permissive prayer, a funeral cross, a veil and an icon.

To consecrate a house or car, you need candles, vegetable oil and holy water.

After the prayer, the priest can be invited for a cup of tea, over which you can talk with him on spiritual topics, ask questions of interest, and sometimes solve some problems.

Church obedience

Church obedience includes selling candles and icons, cleaning the temple, guarding the territory of the local church, singing in the kliros, serving at the altar, etc. All this is done by ordinary parishioners.

People who carry out obedience in the temple should be a model of behavior for other parishioners. They should be meek and humble, and show love to those who come to worship. They should not be malicious, but friendly, patient, ready to help, explain incomprehensible things to newcomers and simply know the elementary rules of cultural behavior.

Those who are obedient should show by example how the holiness of the temple should be honored. This is, above all, decent clothing and cultural behavior in the church. Not rude, but attentive attitude towards parishioners, polite answers to telephone calls, attention and gentleness in dealing with those who seek clarification of church orders and traditions - these are the qualities that should be characteristic of people who are obedient. They themselves must know perfectly well not only all the church orders adopted in their parish, but also the basics of Orthodoxy in order to sensibly explain this to other people who are ignorant of these issues.

If one of the parishioners is faced with the rudeness or inhospitability of people bearing church obedience, they should not give room for offense in their hearts, but accept it with meekness and forgive in the love that Christianity teaches.

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