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The archpastor celebrated the liturgy at the Cathedral of Taratranslated

July 12, 2026 · 1 min read

Talking while standing at church services or looking around with your eyes is not only indecent, but also angers the Lord with inattention and fearlessness. If we cannot mentally, then at least physically and visibly we behave decently.

Physical and visible decency can lead us to a good arrangement of internal thoughts. Just as the Lord first created a human body from the earth, and then breathed into it an immortal soul, so external training and visible decency precede spiritual well-being, and it begins with preserving the eyes and ears and especially with holding the tongue, since the Lord in the Gospel says: With your mouth I will judge you (Luke 19:22), that is, we often, out of inattention, say that for which we will be judged most of all and first of all.

It is very easy and convenient to say many things, but to bring repentance for this is very inconvenient - it is written in the Symphony based on the works of the Monk Ambrose, the Elder of Optina (2, part 1, pp. 28–29).

On the day of memory of this saint, July 10, 2026, Bishop Vikenty of Tara and Tyukalinsk, in concelebration with the cathedral of monks of the cathedral church, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the main cathedral of the Tara diocese.

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💬 Comments (4) 🌐 Show original

Екатерина Попова

Thank you for recalling the words of St. Ambrose. I always have a problem with the language - either an unnecessary word will slip out, or I’ll whisper to my neighbor. Now I will try at least not to run my eyes around during the service, as it is written.

James Bennett

Спасибо, что привели эти слова Амвросия Оптинского про язык и глаза. У меня тоже часто вырывается лишнее, а потом жалею. Буду пробовать хотя бы во время службы держать взгляд на иконах или на службе, как он советует, и не вертеть головой.

Светлана Волкова

Thank you for citing these exact words of Ambrose Optinsky about the tongue and eyes. I, too, often have too much to say at work, and then I spend the whole day regretting it. Now I’ll at least try not to look around, as he writes, maybe I’ll become calmer inside.

Alexander Miller

I get that too, James — my tongue gets ahead of me more than I'd like, especially after coffee before the service. Fixing my eyes on the icon of the Mother of God in the center usually helps me stay put. Have you tried that one in particular?