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About the Creed in general and its origin
66. What is the Creed?
The Creed is a briefly and accurately described object of Christian faith.
67. How is the Creed read?
1. I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.
2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things were.
3. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from heaven, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.
4. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.
5. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.
6. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
7. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life-giving, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the Prophets.
9. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
10. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins.
11. I hope for the resurrection of the dead.
12. And the life of the next century. Amen.
68. Who composed the Creed?
The doctrine of faith was set out in this way by the fathers of the first and second Ecumenical Councils.
69. What is the Ecumenical Council?
The Ecumenical Council is a meeting of pastors and teachers of the Christian Catholic Church, if possible, from the entire universe, for the establishment of true teaching and decency among Christians.
70. How many Ecumenical Councils were there?
There were seven Ecumenical Councils: 1st – Nicaea (325); 2nd – Constantinople (381); 3rd – Ephesus (431); 4th – Chalcedonian (451); 5th – Second of Constantinople (553); 6th – Third of Constantinople (680); 7th – Nicene second (787).
71. Where did the rule of convening Ecumenical Councils come from?
The rule for convening Councils is based on the example of the apostles, who convened a Council in Jerusalem (see Acts 15). The basis for this is also the saying of the Lord Jesus Christ, which gives the definitions of the Church such power that whoever violates them finds himself deprived of grace, like a pagan. The way in which the Ecumenical Church expresses its definitions is the Ecumenical Council.
“Tell the church; and if he does not listen to the church, then let him be to you as a pagan and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:17).
72. Why were the first and second Ecumenical Councils convened?
The First and Second Ecumenical Councils, at which the Creed was compiled, were convened: the first - to establish the true teaching about the Son of God against the false teaching of Arius; the second is to establish the doctrine of the Holy Spirit against the false teaching of Macedonius.
73. How many rules did the first and second Ecumenical Councils make up?
The First Ecumenical Council compiled 20 rules (or canons), the Second Ecumenical Council compiled 7 rules.
74. How many members does the Creed consist of?
To better understand the Creed, you should pay attention to its division into twelve members (parts) and consider each member separately.
75. What does each member of the Creed say?
The first member speaks about God, namely, about the first hypostasis of the Holy Trinity, about God the Father and about God as the Creator of the world. In the second member - about the second hypostasis of the Holy Trinity, about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The third part is about the incarnation of the Son of God. The fourth part is about the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. The fifth clause is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sixth part is about the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven. The seventh part is about the second coming of Jesus Christ to earth. In the eighth member - about the third hypostasis of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The ninth clause is about the Church. In the tenth clause - about Baptism, where other Sacraments are implied. In the eleventh clause - about the future resurrection of the dead. In the twelfth term - about eternal life.
About the first member of the Creed
76. What does it mean to believe in God?
To believe in God means to have living confidence in His being, properties and actions and to wholeheartedly accept His revelation about the salvation of the human race.
77. From the Holy Scriptures one can learn what faith in God should consist of.
“Without faith it is impossible to please God; for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).
The apostle depicts the action of faith in Christians in the following prayer to God for them:
“That according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Eph. 3:16–17).
78. What is the action of faith in God?
The immediate and indispensable action of heartfelt faith in God should be the confession of faith itself.
79. What does it mean to profess faith in God?
To confess faith means to openly admit that we are Orthodox, and to confess this with such sincerity and firmness that neither seduction, nor threats, nor torment, nor death itself could force us to renounce our faith in the true God and in our Lord Jesus Christ.
80. Is it necessary to openly profess one's faith?
The Apostle Paul testifies that an open profession of faith is necessary for salvation:
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10).
81. To be saved you need not only to believe,
but also to confess the Orthodox faith, because if someone, in order to preserve his temporary life or earthly benefits, renounced his confession of faith, he would thereby show that he does not have true faith in God the Savior and in the future blessed life.
82. Why does the Creed talk about faith in one God?
The Creed does not say: I believe in God, but it is added: in one God - in order to reject the false teaching of the pagans, who, considering God’s creation to be God, thought that there were many gods.
83. How does Holy Scripture speak about the unity of God?
The words of the teaching of Holy Scripture about the uniqueness of God are included in the Creed from the saying of the Apostle Paul:
“There is no other God but the One. For, although there are so-called gods, either in heaven or on earth, since there are many gods and many lords; But we have one God the Father, from whom are all things, and we are for Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we through Him” (1 Cor. 8:4-6).
84. Is it possible to know the being of God?
The Being of God cannot be known. It is above all knowledge, not only of man, but also of angels.
85. The Holy Scripture says about this through the Apostle Paul,
that God “dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see” (1 Tim. 6:16).
86. What are the properties of God?
From the revelation of God we can borrow the following concepts about the essence and essential properties of God: God is an eternal Spirit, all-good, all-knowing, all-righteous, all-powerful, omnipresent, unchangeable, all-satisfied, all-blessed.
87. All this can be seen from the Holy Scriptures.
The Lord Jesus Christ himself said that “God is spirit” (John 4:24).
The prophet David speaks about the eternity of God:
“Before the mountains were born, You formed the earth and the world, and from everlasting to everlasting You are God” (Ps. 89:3).
The Apocalypse reads the following praise to God:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come” (Rev. 4:8).
The Apostle Paul says that the Gospel was proclaimed “according to the commandment of the Eternal God” (Rom. 14:25).
Jesus Christ Himself said about the goodness of God:
“No one is good except God alone” (Matthew 19:17).
“God is love” (1 John 4:16).
“The Lord is generous and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are in all His works” (Ps. 144:8–9).
About the omniscience of God, the Apostle John says:
“God is greater than our hearts and knows all things” (1 John 3:20).
The Apostle Paul exclaims:
“Oh, the depth of wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are His destinies and unsearchable His ways!” (Rom. 11:33).
The prophet David sings about God’s justice:
“The Lord is righteous, loves truth; He sees the righteous in His face” (Ps. 10:7).
The Apostle Paul says that God will “reward everyone according to his deeds” (Rom. 2:6) and that
“There is no partiality with God” (Rom. 2:11).
The psalmist says about the omnipotence of God:
“He said, and it was done; He commanded, and it appeared” (Ps. 32:9).
Archangel Gabriel says in the Gospel:
“No word of God will fail” (Luke 1:37).
The prophet David depicts the omnipresence of God as follows:
“Where shall I go from Your spirit, and where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven - You are there; If I go down to the underworld, you will be there too. If I take the wings of the dawn and move to the edge of the sea, Thy hand will lead me there, and Thy right hand will hold me. Shall I say: perhaps the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will become night, but the darkness will not be darkened from You, and the night is as bright as the day: as is the darkness, so is the light” (Ps. 139:7-12).
The Apostle James writes that with the Father of lights “there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
The Apostle Paul says that God “does not require the service of human hands, as if He needed anything, Himself giving to all things life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25).
“the blessed and only mighty King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15).
88. Why does Holy Scripture attribute bodily organs to God?
God is Spirit, but Holy Scripture ascribes to Him bodily organs, for example: heart, eyes, ears, hands. The Holy Scriptures are applied in this to ordinary human language, but must be understood in a spiritual and higher sense, for example: the heart of God means goodness, or the love of God, eyes and ears mean omniscience, hands mean omnipotence.
God is everywhere, but in heaven there is His special presence, revealed in eternal glory to the blessed spirits; also in churches there is His special presence, gracious and mysterious, reverently cognized, felt by believers and sometimes revealed in special signs.
“Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
90. How to understand the words of the symbol “I believe in one God the Father”?
The words of the Symbol: I believe in one (one) God the Father should be understood in the sense of relation to the mystery of the Holy Trinity, because God is one in essence, but trinitarian in persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity is consubstantial and indivisible.
91. What does Holy Scripture say about the Holy Trinity?
The most important sayings about this in the New Testament are as follows:
“Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
“Three bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1 John 5:7).
92. The Holy Trinity is also spoken of in the Old Testament, but not so clearly. For example:
“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host” (Ps. 32:6).
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of hosts! the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isa. 6:3).
93. Is it possible to comprehend the trinity of God?
God is one in three persons. We do not comprehend this inner mystery of the Divine, but we believe in it according to the immutable testimony of the word of God:
“No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11).
94. What is the difference between the persons of the Holy Trinity?
The difference between the persons of the Holy Trinity is that God the Father is not born and does not come from another person; The Son of God is eternally born from the Father; The Holy Spirit proceeds eternally from the Father.
95. What dignity do the persons of the Holy Trinity have?
The three hypostases, or persons of the Holy Trinity, are of absolutely equal Divine dignity. Just as the Father is true God, so the Son is true God, and so the Holy Spirit is true God; but, moreover, in such a way that in these three hypostases one Trinitarian God is revealed.
96. Why is God called Almighty?
God is called Almighty because He contains everything that exists in His power and in His will.
97. Why do we call God the Creator?
The words of the Creed: Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible, say that everything was created by God and nothing can be without God.
98. These words are taken from the Holy Scriptures.
The book of Genesis begins with the words:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).
The Apostle Paul says about Jesus Christ, the Son of God:
“By Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers—all things were created by Him and for Him” (Col 1:16).
99. Who do we mean by the name “invisible”?
In the Creed, the name invisible should be understood as the invisible, or spiritual world, to which the angels belong.
Angels are disembodied spirits, gifted with intelligence, will and power.
101. What does the name “Angel” mean?
The name "Angel" means messenger.
102. Why are they named like that?
They are so called because God sends them to proclaim His will. So, for example, Archangel Gabriel was sent to foretell the conception of the Savior to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
103. Who was created first: people or Angels?
The invisible was created before the visible, and angels before people (Orthodox Confession, part 1, question 18).
104. Evidence of this can be found in the Holy Scriptures.
In the book of Job, God Himself speaks about the creation of the earth as follows:
“On what were its foundations established, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” ( Job 38:6, 7 ).
105. Who are Guardian Angels?
The name of the Guardian Angel is taken from the following words of Holy Scripture:
“He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways” (Ps. 90:11).
106. For each of us there are guardian angels.
The following words of the Lord Jesus Christ confirm this to us:
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).
Not all angels are kind and beneficent. There are evil angels, who are otherwise called devils or demons.
108. They were created good, but became evil
because they violated the duty of perfect obedience to God and thus fell away from Him, and fell into self-love, pride and anger. According to the saying of the Apostle Jude, this
“angels who did not keep their dignity, but left their habitation” (Jude 1:6).
109. What does the word “devil” mean?
The word devil means slanderer or deceiver.
110. Why are evil angels called devils?
Evil angels are called devils because, being insidious towards people, deceiving them, they instill in them false thoughts and evil desires.
Jesus Christ speaks about this to unbelieving Jews:
“Your father is the devil; and you want to do the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not stand in the truth; for there is no truth in it. When he speaks a lie, he speaks his own; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
111. What does Holy Scripture say about the creation of the world?
The Holy Scriptures revealed to us about the creation of the world that in the beginning God created heaven and earth out of nothing. The earth was uneducated and empty. Then God gradually created: on the first day of the world - light; on the second day - the firmament, or visible sky; in the third - reservoirs of water on earth, land and plants; in the fourth - the sun, moon and stars; in the fifth - fish and birds; in the sixth - animals living on land, and, finally, humans. Creation ended with man, and on the seventh day God ceased His work of creation. Therefore, the seventh day is called Sabbath, which translated from Hebrew means rest (see Gen. 2:2).
112. Were visible creatures created as they look now?
Visible creatures were not created as we see them now. At creation, everything was good, that is, pure, beautiful and harmless.
113. What is the peculiarity of the creation of man?
God in the Holy Trinity said:
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26).
And God created the body of the first man Adam from the earth, breathed the breath of life into his face, brought Adam into paradise, and gave him, among other fruits of paradise, fruits from the tree of life as food; finally, taking a rib from Adam during sleep, he created from it his first wife, Eve (see Gen. 2:21–22).
114. What is the image of God?
The image of God consists, as explained by the Apostle Paul,
“in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24).
115. What is the breath of life?
The breath of life is the soul, a spiritual and immortal being.
The word paradise means garden. This is the name given to the beautiful and blissful dwelling of the first man, described in the book of Genesis as being like a garden.
117. How do we understand the paradise in which the first people lived?
The paradise in which the first people lived was material for the body, like a visible, blissful dwelling; and for the soul - spiritual, as a state of grace-filled communication with God and spiritual contemplation of God's creation (see St. Gregory the Theologian, word 38, 42; St. John of Damascus, Theology, book 2, chapter 12, art. 3).
118. What is the tree of life?
The tree of life is a tree, feeding on the fruits of which the human body would be painless and immortal.
119. Why was Eve created from Adam's rib?
Eve was created from the rib of Adam so that the entire human race, by its origin, would be one body and so that thanks to this people would naturally be inclined to love and take care of each other.
120. What is the purpose of man?
The purpose of man is to know God, love and glorify Him, and thanks to this, be eternally blissful.
121. What do we call God's predestination?
Predestination of God is the will of God regarding the destiny of man to eternal bliss.
122. God's predestination about the bliss of man
remains unchanged even now, when a person is not blissful. For man who had deviated from the path of bliss, God, by foreknowledge and by His infinite mercy, deigned to open a new path to bliss through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.
“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4), says the Apostle Paul.
123. What is God’s predestination in relation to people in general, and to each person in particular?
God has ordained and given to all men prevenient grace and the means to attain blessedness. He predestined directly to bliss those who voluntarily accept the grace He gives, use the saving means given by Him, and go to bliss along the path indicated by Him.
124. The Word of God speaks about it this way:
“Those whom He foreknew He also predestined” (Rom. 8:29).
125. In the statement of faith of the Eastern Patriarchs it is said about this:
Since He foresaw that some would use their free will well, and others poorly, He predestined some to glory, and condemned others (member 2).
126. What do we call God's providence?
The providence of God is the action of God that takes place following the creation of the world and man in relation to the world and especially to man.
127. The providence of God is the constant action of the omnipotence, wisdom and goodness of God, by which God preserves the existence and strength of creatures, directs them to good goals, helps every good, and suppresses or corrects the evil that arises through removal from goodness and turns it to good consequences.
128. How is it said about God’s providence in the Holy Scriptures?
About the providence of God in the Holy Scriptures, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself says:
“Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you much better than them? (Matthew 6:26).
In these words one can see both the general Providence of God for creatures and the special one for man. The entire Psalm 90 is an image of God’s special and varied providence for man.
About the second member of the Creed.
129. How should we understand the names “Jesus”, “Christ”, “Son of God”?
The Son of God is the second person of the Holy Trinity according to His Divinity. The Son of God is named Jesus when He was born on earth as a man. The prophets called Him Christ when His coming to earth was still expected.
130. What does the name “Jesus” mean?
The name Jesus means Savior and was named by the Archangel Gabriel.
131. This name was given to the Son of God at his birth on earth,
because He was born to save people.
132. What does the name “Christ” mean?
The name Christ means the Anointed One and it comes from the anointing with the sacred chrism, through which the gifts of grace of the Holy Spirit are given.
133. Who else was called the Anointed?
It is not only Jesus, the Son of God, who is called the Anointed One. From ancient times, kings, high priests and prophets were called anointed.
134. Why is Jesus, the Son of God called the Anointed One?
Jesus, the Son of God, is called the Anointed One because all the gifts of the Holy Spirit were immeasurably imparted to His human nature. Thus to Him belongs in the highest degree the knowledge of the Prophet, the holiness of the High Priest, and the power of the King.
135. What does the name “Lord” mean?
Jesus Christ is called Lord in the sense that He is the true God. The name Lord is one of the names of God.
136. How does Holy Scripture speak about the Deity of Jesus Christ?
Scripture about the Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, says this:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
137. Why is Jesus Christ called the only begotten Son of God?
Jesus Christ is called the only begotten Son of God because He alone is the Son of God, born from the being of God the Father, and therefore one being with God the Father; and therefore, without any comparison, surpasses all holy angels and holy men, who are called sons of God by “grace” (see John 1:12).
138. Does the Holy Scripture call Jesus Christ the only begotten?
The Holy Scripture calls Jesus Christ the only begotten. For example, in the following sayings of the Evangelist John:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father” (John 1:14).
“No one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has revealed” (John 1:18).
139. What is the difference between the Son of God and the other persons of the Holy Trinity?
The Creed says about the Son of God that He is “born” of the Father. This indicates the personal property by which He differs from the other persons of the Holy Trinity.
140. When was the Son of God born?
It is said that He was born before all ages (pre-eternal), so that no one would think that there was a time when He did not exist. This indicates that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, just as God the Father is eternal.
141. What do the words “Light from Light” mean?
In the Creed of the word Light from Light there is an example that to some extent explains the incomprehensible birth of the Son of God from the Father. When we look at the sun, we see light. From this light is born the light visible throughout the entire solar space, but both are one light, inseparable, of the same nature. Likewise, God the Father is eternal Light (see 1 John 1:5); from Him is born the Son of God, Who is also eternal Light, but God the Father and the Son of God are one eternal Light, indivisible, of one Divine nature.
142. What do the words “true God from true God” mean?
The words of the Creed: true God from true God mean that the Son of God is called true God in the same sense as God the Father.
143. These are the words of the Holy Scripture,
and they are taken from the following saying of the Evangelist John:
“We also know that the Son of God came and gave us light and understanding, so that we might know the true God and may be in His true Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).
144. Was the Son of God created?
The Creed says that the Son of God is begotten, not created. This was done to denounce Arius, who wickedly taught that the Son of God was created.
145. What do the words “consubstantial with the Father” mean?
The words consubstantial with the Father mean that the Son of God has one Divine essence with God the Father.
146. How does the Holy Scripture speak about the consubstantiality of the Son and the Father?
In the Holy Scriptures, Jesus Christ Himself speaks about Himself and about God the Father:
“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
147. What do the words “To whom everything happened” mean?
The words of the Creed in Whom all things were show that God the Father created everything by His Son, as by His eternal wisdom and His eternal word.
“Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3).
About the third part of the Creed
148. About whom does the Creed say “came down from heaven”?
He came down from heaven - this is what is said in the Creed about the Son of God.
149. How could God come down from heaven if he is omnipresent?
Being omnipresent, God is always in heaven and always on earth; but on earth He was first invisible, and then appeared in the flesh; therefore it is said that He came down from heaven.
150. This is stated in the Holy Scriptures in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ himself:
“No one has ascended into heaven except the Son of man, who is in heaven, who came down from heaven” (John 3:13).
151. Why did the Son of God come down from heaven?
The Son of God came down from heaven for us and for our salvation, as stated in the Creed.
152. Whom did the Son of God come to save?
It is said that the Son of God came down from heaven for us people, in the sense that He came to earth not for one particular nation and not for some people, but for the salvation of us all, people in general.
153. What did the Son of God come to save people from?
The Son of God came to earth to save people from sin, curse and death.
Sin is a transgression of the law.
“Sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
155. Where did sin enter people?
Sin entered people from the devil, despite the fact that they were created in the image of the One who is free from sin.
“Whoever commits sin is of the devil, because the devil sinned first” (1 John 3:8).
156. When did sin enter people?
Sin passed from the devil to people when the devil deceived Eve and Adam and persuaded them to break the commandment of God.
157. What commandment did Adam break?
God commanded Adam in paradise not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and at the same time told him that as soon as he tasted it, he would die.
158. Why was breaking a commandment deadly for a person?
It became deadly for a person to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, since it was associated with disobedience to the will of God. Disobedience separated a person from God and His grace and alienated him from life in God.
159. Why was the tree of paradise called “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”?
The name “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” corresponds to itself, because through this tree man learned from experience what good lies in obedience to the will of God and what evil lies in opposing it.
160. Why was disobedience to the will of God possible?
Adam and Eve obeyed the devil against the will of God. God, by His grace, at the creation of man gave him a will that was naturally disposed to love God, but also free; and man used this freedom for evil.
161. How did the devil deceive Adam and Eve?
Eve spoke in paradise with the serpent, who convinced her that if people ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would know good and evil and would be like gods. Eve was seduced by this promise and the beauty of the fruit and ate them; Adam ate these fruits following her example.
162. What happened from Adam's sin?
From Adam's sin came curse and death.
16Z. What is a curse?
A curse is the condemnation of sin by the righteous judgment of God, as well as the condemnation of evil on earth that occurred as punishment for people from their sin. God said to Adam:
“Cursed is the ground because of you” (Gen. 3:17).
164. What kind of death resulted from Adam's sin?
From the sin of Adam a twofold death occurred: bodily, when the body is deprived of the soul that enlivened it, and spiritual, when the soul is deprived of the grace of God, which enlivened it with higher spiritual life.
The soul can die, but not like the body. The body, dying, becomes insensible and collapses; and the soul, dying through sin, is deprived of spiritual light, joy and bliss, but is not destroyed or destroyed, but remains in a state of darkness, sorrow and suffering.
166. Why do people die?
Not only the first people died, but everyone dies because they descend from Adam infected with sin, and they themselves sin. Just as from a contaminated source flows a contaminated stream, so from a sin-contaminated and therefore mortal ancestor comes a sin-contaminated and therefore mortal offspring.
167. The Holy Scripture speaks about it this way:
“Just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Rom. 5:12).
168. Were the fruits of the tree of life useful to man?
The fruit of the tree of life after sin was not beneficial to man. After the sin, he could not eat them because he was expelled from paradise.
169. Did people still have hope for salvation?
When the first people confessed their sin to God, God, in His mercy, gave them hope of salvation.
170. What was this hope?
The hope for salvation was that God promised that the seed of the woman “shall bruise…(the devil) on the head” (Gen. 3:15).
171. What does this promise mean?
This promise means that the Lord Jesus Christ will defeat the devil, who has deceived people, and will deliver them from sin, curse and death.
172. Why is the Lord Jesus Christ called “the seed of the woman”?
The Lord Jesus Christ is called the seed of a woman because He was born on earth without a male seed from the Blessed Virgin Mary.
173. What benefit did this promise have for the people?
Since the time of this promise, people have been able to believe savingly in the coming Savior, just as we believe in the one who has come.
174. Did all people in ancient times believe in the coming Savior?
Few people in ancient times believed in the coming Savior, but most people forgot God's promise about the Savior.
175. Did God repeat his promise to people?
God repeated His promise many times. For example, He gave Abraham a promise of a Savior in the following words:
“In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed” (Gen. 22:18).
He repeated the same promise to the prophet David:
“I will raise up your seed after you... and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12–13).
176. What do we understand by the word “incarnation”?
The word incarnation means that the Son of God took on human flesh, except for sin, and became a man, without ceasing to be God.
177. The word incarnation is borrowed from the words of the Evangelist John:
“The Word became flesh” (John 1:14).
178. Why is it also said about the Son of God that He “became man”?
In the Creed, after it is said about the Son of God that He became incarnate, it is also added that He became man. This was done so that no one would think that the Son of God took only a body (flesh), but so that they would recognize in Him a perfect man, consisting of body and soul.
179. There is evidence of this from the Holy Scriptures.
“There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).
180. How many natures are there in the Lord Jesus Christ?
In the Lord Jesus Christ there is more than one nature (i.e. nature). In Him there are inseparably and unmerged two natures - Divine and human, and, according to these natures, two wills.
181. How many persons are there in the Lord Jesus Christ?
In the Lord Jesus Christ there are not two, but one person, God and man together, in one word - the God-man.
182. What does the Holy Scripture say about the incarnation of the Son of God from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary?
In the Holy Scriptures, the Evangelist Luke tells about the incarnation of the Son of God from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. When the Virgin Mary asked the angel who announced to Her the conception of Jesus:
“How will this be when I don’t know my husband?”
then the Angel answered Her:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:34–35).
183. Who was the Virgin Mary?
The Most Holy Virgin Mary came from the tribe of Abraham and David, from whose line the Savior was to come, according to the promise of God. She was betrothed to Joseph, from the same tribe, so that he would be Her guardian, since She was dedicated to God with a vow to always remain a Virgin.
184. Why do we call Her Ever-Virgin?
The Most Holy Mary truly always abided and remains a Virgin - before the birth, during the birth and after the birth of the Savior, and therefore She is called the Ever-Virgin.
185. Why do we call the Virgin Mary the Mother of God?
The Orthodox Church honored the Blessed Virgin Mary with another great designation - Theotokos.
186. This name is taken from the Holy Scriptures, from the following words of the prophet Isaiah:
“Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel” (Is. 7:14) (Immanuel translated from Hebrew means God with us).
Righteous Elizabeth also calls the Blessed Virgin the Mother of the Lord. And this naming is equivalent to the naming of the Mother of God.
“And where does it come from for me that the mother of my Lord came to me?” (Luke 1:43).
187. The Most Holy Virgin is named Theotokos, despite the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ was born from Her not according to His Divinity, which is eternal, but according to humanity. She is worthily called the Mother of God, because the one born of Her was at the very conception and birth from Her, as is and always, the true God.
188. What is the dignity of the Virgin Mary?
Being the Mother of the Lord, the Most Holy Virgin Mary surpasses in grace and proximity to God, and, consequently, in dignity, every created being, and therefore the Orthodox Church honors Her above the Cherubim and Seraphim.
189. About the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ from the Most Holy Theotokos
It should also be noted that since this birth was holy and free from sin, it was also painless: because among the punishments for sin, God determined for Eve “to bear children in illness” (see St. John of Damascus, Theology, book 4, chapter 14, art. 6).
190. By what signs could people recognize the born Savior?
The providence of God provided signs by which people could recognize the Savior born for them. These are many accurate predictions about the various circumstances of His birth and earthly life. For example, the prophet Isaiah predicted that the Savior would be born of a virgin (Is. 7:14). The Prophet Micah predicted that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem, and this is exactly how the Jews understood this prediction before they learned about the event itself (Matthew 2:4–6).
After the construction of the second temple in Jerusalem, the prophet Malachi predicted that the coming of the Savior was approaching, that He would come to this church and that a Forerunner similar to the prophet Elijah would be sent before Him, which clearly indicates John the Baptist (Mal. 3: 4–5). The prophet Zechariah predicted the triumphal entry of the Savior into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9). The Prophet Isaiah with amazing clarity predicted the suffering of the Savior (Isa. Ch. 53). The Prophet David in Psalm 21 depicted the Savior’s suffering on the cross with such precision, as if it had been written about it at the cross itself. The Prophet Daniel predicted the appearance of the Savior 490 years in advance, His death on the cross and the subsequent destruction of the temple and Jerusalem and the cessation of the Old Testament sacrifices (Dan. ch. 9).
191. Did people learn about the born Savior?
The Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior at the time when He was born and lived on earth was recognized by many and, moreover, in various ways. The eastern sages recognized Him by the star that appeared in the east before His birth. The Bethlehem shepherds learned about Him from the Angels, who announced to them that the Savior was born in the city of David. The holy righteous Simeon and Anna, by special revelation from the Holy Spirit, recognized Him when, forty days after His birth, He was brought to the church. John the Baptist on the Jordan River during Baptism recognized Him by revelation, by the descent of the Holy Spirit on Him in the form of a dove and by a voice from heaven from God the Father:
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
A similar voice spoke about Him to Peter, James and John during His transfiguration on Mount Tabor:
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; Listen to Him” (Matthew 17:5).
In addition, very many recognized the Savior by the extraordinary height of His teaching and especially by the miracles that He performed.
192. What miracles did Jesus Christ perform?
The Lord Jesus Christ performed many miracles. He healed people who were terminally ill and possessed by demons in the blink of an eye - with one word or the touch of his hand, and even through their touching His clothes. Once with five, and the next time with seven loaves, he fed several thousand people in a desert place. He walked on water and calmed the storm with a word. He raised the dead: he raised the son of the widow of Nain, the daughter of Jairus and the righteous Lazarus on the fourth day after his death.
193. How did Jesus Christ accomplish our salvation?
The Son of God accomplished our salvation through His teaching, His life, His death and His resurrection.
194. What was the teaching of the Savior?
The teaching of Christ was the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, or, in other words, the doctrine of salvation and eternal bliss, the same one that is now taught by the Orthodox Church (see Mark 1:14–15).
195. Under what conditions is the teaching of Christ salutary for us?
The teaching of Christ becomes saving for us if we accept it with all our hearts and act according to it. The false word of the devil, being accepted by the first people, became in them the seed of sin and death. And on the contrary, the true word of Christ, zealously received by Christians, becomes in them the seed of a holy and immortal life. Christians, according to the Apostle Peter,
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible seed, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Peter 1:23).
196. Under what condition is the life of Jesus Christ saving for us?
The life of Jesus Christ becomes saving for us if we imitate it, because He says:
“Whoever serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there will my servant also be” (John 12:26).
About the fourth article of the Creed
197. Why was the Lord Jesus Christ crucified?
The Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, while His teaching and deeds should have aroused reverence for Him in everyone. This happened because the Jewish elders and scribes hated Him because He exposed their false teaching and lawless life, and were jealous of Him because the people respected Him for His teaching and miracles more than them. Therefore they slandered Him and condemned Him to death.
198. When was the Lord Jesus Christ crucified?
It is said that Jesus Christ was crucified under Pontius Pilate in order to mark the historical date of His crucifixion.
199. Pontius Pilate was the Roman ruler of Judea, which was conquered by the Romans.
200. This circumstance is worthy of mention
because it indicates the fulfillment of Jacob's prophecy:
“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet, until the Reconciler comes, and to Him is the submission of the nations” (Gen. 49:10).
201. Why does the Creed say that Jesus Christ suffered?
The Creed not only says that Jesus Christ was crucified, but also adds that He suffered, to show that His crucifixion was not just an appearance of suffering and death, as some false teachers said, but was real suffering and death.
202. Why is it said that Jesus Christ is buried?
The mention that He was buried was given to strengthen the belief that He really died and rose again, since the enemies even placed guards at His coffin and sealed the coffin.
203. How could Jesus Christ suffer and die while being God?
Jesus Christ suffered and died, being God, not of Divine, but of human nature, and not because he could not avoid suffering, but because He Himself wanted to suffer. He said:
“I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it away from Me; but I myself give it away. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it again” (John 10:17–18).
204. Why is it said that Jesus Christ was crucified for us?
It is said that Jesus Christ was crucified for us because by His death on the cross He delivered us from sin, curse and death.
205. The Holy Scripture speaks about this as follows.
“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).
About getting rid of the curse:
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13).
On deliverance from death:
“And since the children share in flesh and blood, He also received them, in order by death to destroy the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and to deliver those who through the fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (Heb. 2:14-15).
206. How does the death of Jesus Christ on the cross deliver us from sin and death?
To make it easier to believe the mystery that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross delivers us from sin, curse and death, the word of God teaches about it, as far as we can comprehend, by comparing Jesus Christ with Adam. Adam is the head of all humanity according to the flesh, which is one with him by virtue of their descent from him. Jesus Christ, in whom the Divinity was united with humanity, graciously became the new omnipotent head of the people whom He united to Himself through faith. Therefore, having fallen through Adam under the power of sin, curse and death, through Jesus Christ we are delivered from this power. Of infinite value and dignity, the voluntary suffering for us of the sinless God-man and His death on the cross is the complete fulfillment of God’s justice, who condemned us to death for sin, as well as the immeasurable merit of the Savior, which gave Him the right, without violating justice, to give us sinners forgiveness of sins and grace for victory over sin and death.
“The mystery, which was hidden for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints, to whom God was pleased to show what is the riches of glory in this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:26–27).
“For if through the one’s transgression death reigned through one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:17).
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. Because the law, weakened by the flesh, was powerless, God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sacrifice for sin, and condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1-4).
207. Did the Savior suffer for all people?
For His part, the Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for all people and acquired grace and salvation for everyone. But those who, in turn, voluntarily take part in His sufferings take advantage of this, “being conformed to His death” (Phil. 3:10).
208. How do we participate in the suffering and death of Jesus Christ?
We participate in the suffering and death of Jesus Christ through living heartfelt faith, through the sacraments in which the power of the saving suffering and death of Jesus Christ is hidden and present, and, finally, through crucifying our flesh with its passions and lusts.
“By the law I died to the law,” says the apostle, “in order to live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:19–20).
“Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Rom. 6:3).
“As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).
“Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24).
209. How can we crucify our flesh with passions and lusts?
Abstinence from passions and lusts and actions opposite to them. For example, if anger excites us to scold our enemies and do harm to them, but we resist this, remembering how Jesus Christ prayed for His enemies on the cross, and begin to pray for our own, then in this way we crucify the passion of anger.
About the fifth article of the Creed
210. Why are the suffering and death of Jesus Christ saving for us?
Because He rose again, and thereby laid the foundation for our blessed resurrection.
“Christ has risen from the dead, the firstborn of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20).
211. In what state was Jesus Christ after his death until his resurrection?
The state in which Jesus Christ remained after His death until His resurrection is spoken of in the following church hymn:
“In the tomb carnally, in hell with the soul like God, in paradise with the thief, and on the Throne you were, Christ, with the Father and the Spirit, fulfilling all the Indescribable.”
212. What do we understand by the word “hell”?
Hell in Greek means a place without light. In Christian teaching, this name refers to spiritual prison, that is, the state of souls cut off by sin from the sight of God, the light and bliss united with Him (see Jude 1:6; Octoechos, tone 5, stichera 2, 4).
213. Why did Jesus Christ descend to hell?
The Lord Jesus Christ descended into hell in order to preach victory over death there too and to deliver souls who were awaiting His coming with faith.
214. There is the following evidence of this in the Holy Scriptures:
“For Christ also suffered once for our sins, the righteous for the unjust, to bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit, by whom He went and preached to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:18-19).
215. Where do the words “Risen on the third day according to the scriptures” come from?
The words of the Creed of the Risen One on the third day according to scripture are taken from the letter to the Corinthians:
“I taught you from the beginning what I also received, that is, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3–4).
216. What do the words “according to scripture” mean?
Words according to scripture mean that Jesus Christ died and rose again exactly as it was prophetically written in the books of the Old Testament.
217. For example, in the 53rd chapter of the book of the Prophet
The suffering and death of Jesus Christ are depicted in many detailed ways:
“He was wounded for our sins and tormented for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed” (Isa. 53:5).
About the resurrection of Christ, the Apostle Peter quotes the words of Psalm 15:
“For You will not leave my soul in hell, neither will You allow Your holy one to see corruption” (Acts 2:27).
218. Is there any indication in the Holy Scriptures that the Savior must rise on the third day?
In the Old Testament there is an indication that Jesus Christ had to rise on the third day. An image of this was given by the prophet Jonah:
“And Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights” (Jonah 2:1).
219. How did people know that Jesus Christ had risen?
The soldiers guarding the tomb learned with horror about the resurrection of Christ when the Angel of the Lord rolled away the stone with which His tomb was closed, and at the same time a great earthquake occurred; angels announced the resurrection of Christ to Mary Magdalene and some others; Jesus Christ Himself on the day of His resurrection appeared to many: the myrrh-bearers, the Apostle Peter, the two disciples going to Emmaus, and, finally, to all the apostles in the house whose doors were closed. Then He appeared to them many times over a period of forty days; one day He appeared to more than five hundred faithful together (1 Cor. 15:6).
220. Why did Jesus Christ appear to the apostles for forty days after the resurrection?
After His resurrection, Jesus Christ appeared to the apostles for forty days in order to continue teaching them the secrets of the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).
About the sixth article of the Creed
221. Where did the Creed’s indication of the ascension of the Lord come from?
The reference to the ascension of the Lord is taken from the following words of Holy Scripture:
“He who descended, he is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, to fill all things” (Eph. 4:10).
“We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven” (Heb. 8:1).
222. Did Jesus Christ ascend to heaven as a deity or humanity?
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven as humanity, but He always remained and remains in heaven as Divinity.
223. How should we understand the words “sits at the right hand of the Father”?
It is said that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father (i.e., on the right hand, next to). However, God is omnipresent. These words should be understood spiritually: Jesus Christ has the same power as God the Father.
About the seventh article of the Creed
224. How does Holy Scripture speak about the future coming of Christ?
The Holy Scriptures say the following about the future coming of Christ:
“This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him going into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
Angels told the apostles this during the ascension of the Lord.
225. How does Holy Scripture speak about the future judgment of Christ?
About the future judgment, His Holy Scripture says this:
“The time is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who have done good will come forth into the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil into the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28–29).
These are the words of Christ the Savior Himself.
226. How does Holy Scripture speak about the endless kingdom of Christ?
Holy Scripture says this about the endless kingdom of Christ:
“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:32–33).
These are the words of the Angel addressed to the Mother of God.
227. Will the second coming of Christ be any different?
The future coming of Christ will be very different from the previous one. He came to suffer for us in humiliation, but He will come to judge us “in His glory and all the holy Angels with Him” (Matthew 25:31).
228. Will He judge all people?
He will judge all people without exception.
229. How will He judge us?
The conscience of each person will open before everyone and not only all the deeds that someone has done throughout his entire life on earth will be revealed, but also all the words spoken, secret desires and thoughts.
“The Lord will come, who will illuminate the hidden things in darkness and reveal the intentions of the heart, and then everyone will have praise from God” (1 Cor. 4:5).
230. Will all our words and thoughts be judged?
He, without a doubt, will condemn us for bad words and thoughts if we do not blot them out with repentance, faith and correction of life.
“I tell you that for every idle word that people speak, they will give an answer on the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).
231. When will this judgment take place?
It is unknown when the Lord Jesus Christ will come to judge us, so we must live in such a way that we are always ready for this.
“The Lord is not slack in fulfilling his promise, as some count slackness; but he is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (2 Pet 3:9, 10).
“Stay awake; for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man will come” (Matthew 25:13).
232. Are there any signs of the coming of Christ?
In the word of God, some signs of the approaching coming of Christ are revealed, namely: a decrease in faith and love between people, an increase in vices and disasters, preaching the Gospel to all nations, the coming of the Antichrist (see Matt. Chapter 24).
233. Who is the Antichrist?
Antichrist is an opponent of Christ who will try to destroy Christianity, but instead he himself will die in a terrible way (see 2 Thessalonians 2:8).
234. What is the kingdom of Christ?
The Kingdom of Christ is: the whole world; all believers on earth; all are blessed in heaven. The first is called the kingdom of nature, the second the kingdom of grace, and the third the kingdom of glory.
235. Which of the kingdoms will never end?
The words of the Symbol that there will be no end to the kingdom of Christ refer to the kingdom of glory.
About the eighth article of the Creed
236. In what sense is the Holy Spirit called Lord?
The Holy Spirit is called Lord in the same sense as the Son of God, that is, the Holy Spirit is true God.
237. Holy Scripture testifies to this
in the words spoken by the Apostle Peter in rebuking Ananias:
“Why did you allow Satan to put into your heart the idea of lying to the Holy Spirit?.. You lied not to men, but to God” (Acts 5:3–4).
238. Why is the Holy Spirit called life-giving?
The Holy Spirit is called life-giving, and this should be understood to mean that He, together with God the Father and the Son, gives life to all created things, and especially spiritual life to people.
“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
239. What do we know about the procession of the Holy Spirit?
We know that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father from the following words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself:
“When the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me” (John 15:26).
240. Could there be another teaching about the procession of the Holy Spirit?
The doctrine of the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father cannot be subject to any change or addition. Firstly, because the Orthodox Church in this teaching repeats the exact words of Jesus Christ Himself; and His words are, without doubt, a sufficient and perfect expression of the truth. Secondly, because the Second Ecumenical Council, the main object of which was the establishment of the true doctrine of the Holy Spirit, without a doubt, satisfactorily expounded this doctrine in the Creed; and the Orthodox Church recognized this so decisively that the Third Ecumenical Council, by its seventh rule, prohibited the composition of a new Creed. Therefore, Saint John of Damascus writes: We confess the Holy Spirit to come from the Father and call Him the Spirit of the Father; We do not confess the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Son, but only call Him the Spirit of the Son (Theology, book 1, chapter 11, art. 4).
241. What degree of worship is due to the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit deserves equal worship and glorification with the Father and the Son. This is evident from the fact that Jesus Christ commanded to baptize “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
242. Why is it said that the Holy Spirit “spoke through the prophets”?
The Creed says that the Holy Spirit spoke (spoke) through the prophets. This was said to rebuke some false teachers who claimed that the books of the Old Testament were not written by the Holy Spirit.
243. Holy Scripture testifies
that the Holy Spirit actually spoke through the prophets. The Apostle Peter writes:
“No prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
244. Did the Holy Spirit speak through the apostles?
The Holy Spirit spoke through the apostles. The Apostle Peter writes:
“It was revealed to them (the prophets) that what was now preached to you by those who preached the gospel through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven was served not to themselves, but to us” (1 Peter 1:12).
245. Why are the apostles not mentioned in the Creed?
The apostles are not mentioned in the Creed because at the time of its composition no one doubted the inspiration of the apostles.
246. How did the Holy Spirit reveal himself to people?
The Holy Spirit revealed himself to people in a special way. He descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire on the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Christ.
247. Is the Holy Spirit communicated in our times?
The Holy Spirit is still communicated to all true Christians.
“Do you not know that you are the church of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16).
248. How can we become partakers of the Holy Spirit?
You can become a partaker of the Holy Spirit through fervent prayer and through the Sacraments.
“If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13).
“When the grace and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:4–6).
249. What are the main gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The prophet Isaiah indicates seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of knowledge, the spirit of power, the spirit of counsel, the spirit of understanding, the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of the Lord, or the gift of godliness and inspiration to the highest degree (see Isa. 11: 1–3).
About the ninth article of the Creed
The Church is a God-established society of people united by the Orthodox faith, the law of God, the hierarchy and the Sacraments.
251. What does it mean to believe in the Church?
To believe in the Church means to reverently honor the true Church of Christ and obey its teachings and commandments with the confidence that grace is present in it, acts savingly, teaches and governs, emanating from its one eternal head, the Lord Jesus Christ.
252. How can the Church be an object of faith?
The visible Church is the subject of faith, while faith is confidence in the invisible because: in the visible Church, the grace of God received by it and the people sanctified in it is invisibly present, which is the direct object of faith; The visible Church, to which all Orthodox Christians living on earth belong, is at the same time invisible, since it is also in heaven and all those who have died in true faith and holiness belong to it.
253. How do we know that the Church is simultaneously on earth and in heaven?
The concept of the Church, which is on earth and at the same time heavenly, is affirmed in the following words of the Apostle Paul addressed to Christians:
“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem and ten thousand angels, to the triumphant assembly and church of the firstborn who are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant” (Heb. 12:22–24).
254. How do we ascertain the presence of grace in the true Church?
We are confident in the presence of the grace of God in the true Church because: its head is the God-man Jesus Christ, “full of grace and truth,” and fills His body, that is, the Church with grace and truth (see John 1:14–17); Christ the Savior promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be with them forever, therefore, the Holy Spirit even today provides shepherds for the Church (see John 14:16). The Apostle Paul says about Jesus Christ that God the Father “has set Him above all things, to be the head of the Church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22–23). The same apostle says to the pastors of the Church:
“Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of the Lord and God, which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).
255. What evidence is there that grace will always abid in the Church?
The following words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and His Apostle confirm to us that the grace of God remains in the Church to this day and will remain in it until the end of time:
“I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
“I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen" (Matthew 28:20).
“To Him” (God the Father) “be glory in the Church in Christ Jesus to all generations, from age to age. Amen" (Eph. 3:21).
256. Why is the Church called one?
The Church is one (i.e., one) because it is one spiritual body, has one head - Christ, and is animated by one Spirit of God.
“There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Eph. 4:4–6).
257. Who is Jesus Christ in relation to the Church?
Jesus Christ is the only head of the only Church. The Apostle Paul writes that for the Church, as the building of God, “no one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). Therefore, the Church, as the body of Christ, cannot have another head other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The Church, which remains until the end of time, also needs its always abiding head, which can only be the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, even the apostles are called only ministers of the Church (see Col. 1:24–25).
258. What duty does the uniqueness of the Church impose on us?
The oneness of the Church imposes on us the responsibility to “preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).
259. How does the uniqueness of the Church relate to the presence of many local Orthodox Churches?
There is one Church, but there are separate and independent Churches, for example: Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople, Russia. These are private Churches, or parts of the one universal Church. The independence of the visible structure does not prevent them from spiritually being great members of the only body of the Universal Church, having one head - Christ and a common spirit of faith and grace. This unity is visibly expressed by the same profession of faith and communion in prayer and the Sacraments.
260. Is the Church that is on earth and that is in heaven one?
There is unity between the earthly and heavenly Church, both in their relation to the common head of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in connection with mutual communion with each other.
261. How is the Church on earth communicated with the Church in heaven?
The means of communication between the earthly Church and the heavenly Church is the prayer of faith and love. Believers from the earthly Church, offering prayer to God, also turn to the saints from the heavenly Church for help. The saints, who are at the highest levels of approach to God, with their intermediary prayers purify, strengthen and bring to God the prayers of believers living on earth, and also, by the will of God, graciously and beneficially influence them by invisible force, by their appearances, or in another way.
262. On what is the prayerful invocation of the saints of the heavenly Church based?
The rule of the Church on earth to call upon the saints of the heavenly Church in prayer is based on Holy Tradition, the beginnings of which are also visible in the Holy Scriptures. For example, when the prophet David cries in prayer:
“O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel our fathers!” (1 Chronicles 29:18),
then he remembers the saints to strengthen his prayer. In the same way, now the Orthodox Church calls upon Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother and all the Saints. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, in his explanation of the Divine Liturgy, says: “We also remember those who died before, firstly, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, so that through their prayers and intercession” God would accept our prayer (Holy Teachings, 5, ch. 9).
Saint Basil the Great, in his homily on the day of the Holy Forty Martyrs, says: “He who grieves turns to the Forty Martyrs, and he who rejoices also resorts to them: one - to free himself from sorrows, and the other - to preserve the good things that he has. Here we see a pious wife praying for her children, for her traveling husband, asking for health for the sick. Your petitions are addressed to the martyrs."
263. Is there evidence from Holy Scripture of the mediating prayer of the saints in heaven?
The mediating prayer of the saints in heaven is evidenced by Holy Scripture. Evangelist John in revelation saw an Angel in heaven, to whom it was given
“A lot of incense, so that he, with the prayers of all the saints, would lay it on the golden altar, which is before the throne. And the smoke of incense ascended with the prayers of the saints from the hand of an angel before God” (Rev. 8:3–4).
264. Is there evidence from Holy Scripture about the appearance of saints from heaven?
The Holy Scriptures testify to the beneficial appearances of saints from heaven. The Evangelist Matthew narrates that after the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, “many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were resurrected, and coming out of their tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many” (Matthew 27:52–53). Since such a significant miracle could not have happened without a high purpose, it must be assumed that the resurrected saints appeared in order to announce the descent of Jesus Christ into hell and His victorious resurrection, and with this preaching to facilitate the transition to the New Testament Church that was then opening to those who were born in the Old Testament Church.
265. How do we know that saints can perform miracles after death?
The following evidence confirms our belief that saints work miracles in one way or another after their death. The fourth book of Kings testifies that by touching the bones of the prophet Elisha, the dead were raised (see 2 Kings 13:21).
The Apostle Paul not only directly performed healings and miracles, but handkerchiefs and aprons taken from his body did the same in his absence (see Acts 19:12). From this example we see that saints, even after their death, can act beneficially through earthly means or objects that have received sanctification through them.
Saint Gregory the Theologian, in his first accusatory word against Julian, says: “I was not ashamed of the sacrifices made for Christ, I was not afraid of the great ascetics: John, Peter, Paul, James, Stephen, Luke, Andrew, Thekla and others, before and after them suffered for the truth, who suffered from fire, iron, beasts, tormentors, disasters and threats that happened, as if in other people’s bodies or at all disembodied, firmly opposed. For what? Yes, even a word will not betray piety! They are given great honors and celebrations are established. They drive away demons and cure diseases. They miraculously appear and left us their prophecies. Their bodies, when we honor and touch them, have the same power as the souls of the saints. Drops of their blood, these small signs of suffering, act in the same way as their bodies.”
Saint John of Damascus writes: “The relics of the saints, which the Lord Christ gave us as sources of salvation, exude manifold blessings. As if to explain this, he notes: Through the mind and in their bodies, God moved in” (Theology, book 4, chapter 15, art. 3, 4).
266. Why do we call the Church holy?
The Church is holy because it is sanctified by the Lord Jesus Christ through His suffering, His teaching, His prayer and through the Sacraments.
“Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her, in order to sanctify her, to cleanse her with the washing of water, through the word; that he might present it to himself as a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25–27).
In a prayer to God the Father for believers, the Lord Jesus Christ said:
“Sanctify them by Thy truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And for them I consecrate Myself, so that they also may be sanctified by the truth” (John 17:17–19).
267. How can the Church be holy if there are sinners in it?
The Church is holy, although there are sinners in it. Those who sin, but cleanse themselves by true repentance, do not prevent the Church from being holy; and unrepentant sinners, either by the visible action of church authority, or by the invisible action of the judgment of God, are cut off as dead members from the body of the Church, and thus, in this case, it remains holy.
“Cast out the wicked from among you” (1 Cor. 5:13).
“The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His”; and: “Let everyone who confesses the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness” (2 Tim. 2:19).
268. Why do we call the Church Cathedral?
The Church is called Catholic, or, which is the same thing, Catholic, or Ecumenical, because it is not limited to a place, a time, or a people, but includes true believers of all countries, times and peoples. The Apostle Paul says that
“the gospel... continues... in the whole world, and bears fruit and increases” (Col 1:5–6); and that in the Christian Church
“There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all and in all” (Col 3:11).
“Those who believe are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Gal. 3:9).
269. What important advantage does the Church have?
An important advantage of the Catholic Church is that it, in fact, has high promises (promises) that
“the gates of hell will not prevail against her”, that the Lord will “abide” with her “until the end of the age”, that the “glory” of God about “Christ Jesus will remain in her throughout all generations”;
that, therefore, she can never fall away from the faith, nor sin in the truth of faith or fall into error. “We undoubtedly confess as a firm truth that the Catholic Church cannot sin or be mistaken, and speak lies instead of the truth; since the Holy Spirit, always acting through the faithfully serving fathers and teachers of the Church, protects it from all error” (Message of the Eastern Patriarchs on the Orthodox Faith, part 12).
270. Is membership in the Catholic Church obligatory for salvation?
The Catholic Church includes all true believers in the world. Since the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the saying of the Apostle Paul, is “the head of the Church, and He is the Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23), then in order to be saved, it is necessary to be a part of His body, that is, a member of the Catholic Church. The Apostle Peter writes that Baptism saves us in the image of Noah's Ark. All who were saved from the Flood were saved only in Noah's Ark: so all who receive eternal salvation receive it only in the Catholic Church.
271. Why is our Church called “Eastern”?
In the paradise planted in the east, the first Church of the sinless ancestors was founded; There, after the Fall, a new foundation was laid for the Church of those being saved in the promise (promise) of the Savior. In the east, in the land of Judea, our Lord Jesus Christ, having completed the work of our salvation, laid the foundation for His Christian Church. From there it spread throughout the universe. To this day, the Orthodox Catholic universal faith, established by seven Ecumenical Councils, in its original purity is invariably preserved in the ancient Eastern and in the Churches of the same mind with them, which is the grace of God and the All-Russian Church.
272. Why is our Church called “Apostolic”?
The Church is called Apostolic because it continuously and invariably preserves from the apostles both the teaching and the succession of the gifts of the Holy Spirit through sacred ordination. In the same sense, the Church is also called Orthodox, or True Believer.
“You are no longer strangers and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:19–20).
273. The Creed, when it calls the Church Apostolic,
instructs us to adhere firmly to the teachings and traditions of the apostles and to avoid teachings and teachers that are not based on the teachings of the apostles. The Apostle Paul says:
“Therefore, brethren, stand steadfast and hold fast the traditions which you were taught either by word or by our letter” (2 Thess. 2:15).
“The heretic, after the first and second admonition, turn away” (Titus 3:10).
“There are many who are disobedient, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose lips must be stopped; they corrupt entire houses, teaching what they should not, for shameful gain” (Titus 1:10–11).
“If he does not listen to the church, he will be like a pagan and a publican to you” (Matthew 18:17).
274. There is an institution in the Church,
in which the continuity of apostolic ministry is maintained is the church hierarchy, or hierarchy.
275. Where does the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church originate?
The hierarchy of the Orthodox Church originates from Jesus Christ Himself and from the Holy Spirit who descended on the Apostles, and since then has continuously continued through successive ordination in the sacrament of the Priesthood.
“He appointed some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some shepherds and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11–12).
276. Which hierarchy can act on behalf of the entire Orthodox Church?
The hierarchy that can act on behalf of the entire Catholic Church is the Ecumenical Council.
277. To whom are the main parts of the Universal Church subordinate?
The main parts of the Universal Church are subordinate to the Orthodox Patriarchs.
278. Who are the ecclesiastical regions and cities subordinate to?
Smaller Orthodox regions and cities are subject to metropolitans, archbishops and bishops.
279. From what sources do we learn what the duty of obedience to the Church consists of?
In order to fulfill the duty of obedience to the Church, you need to know what it requires from its children. This can be learned from the Holy Scriptures, from the rules of the holy apostles, holy Ecumenical and Local Councils, the holy fathers and their Church statutes.
About the tenth article of the Creed
280. Why is Baptism mentioned in the Creed?
In the Creed, Baptism is mentioned because faith is sealed (affirmed) by Baptism and other Sacraments.
A sacrament is a sacred action through which grace, or the saving power of God, secretly acts on a person.
282. How many Sacraments are there in total?
There are seven sacraments: Baptism; Confirmation; Communion; Repentance; Priesthood; Marriage ; Blessing of Unction.
283. What spiritual power does each of these Sacraments have?
Each of these Sacraments has its own spiritual power: in Baptism a person is mysteriously born into spiritual life; in Confirmation he receives grace that promotes spiritual growth and strengthens him; in Communion he is nourished spiritually; in Repentance he is healed from spiritual illnesses, that is, from sins; in the Priesthood receives the grace to spiritually regenerate and educate others through teaching and the Sacraments; in Marriage he receives grace that sanctifies marriage and the natural birth and upbringing of children; in the Blessing of Anointing one is healed from bodily diseases, through healing from spiritual ones.
284. Why is all these Sacraments not mentioned in the Creed?
The Creed does not mention all the Sacraments, but one Baptism because there was a doubt about it: whether some people, for example, heretics, should not be baptized a second time; it was necessary to resolve this issue, which was done in the Symbol, which approved one (one) baptism.
Baptism is a Sacrament in which the believer, by immersing the body three times in water with the invocation of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies to a carnal, sinful life and is reborn by the Holy Spirit into a spiritual, holy life.
286. Where does Baptism originate?
Baptism began with the fact that at the beginning on the Jordan the Forerunner of the Savior
“John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in him who should come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus” (Acts 19:4).
Then Jesus Christ, by His example, sanctified Baptism, receiving it from John. Finally, after His resurrection, He gave the apostles a solemn command:
287. What is the main thing in the sacred rite of Baptism?
The main thing in the sacred rite of Baptism is three times immersion in water with the utterance of the words: “The servant of God (name) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen".
288. What is required of those who wish to receive Baptism?
Repentance and faith are required from those who wish to receive Baptism, therefore the Creed is read before Baptism.
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).
289. On what basis are infants baptized?
Infants are baptized according to the faith of their parents and adopters, who are obliged to teach them the faith when they come of age.
290. Is there evidence from Scripture that infants should be baptized?
It can be proven from the Holy Scriptures that infants should be baptized. During the Old Testament, circumcision was performed on eight-day-old infants, but in the New Testament, Baptism is performed instead of circumcision, therefore, Baptism must be performed on infants.
291. Whence does it follow that Baptism replaced Old Testament circumcision?
The fact that Baptism is performed instead of circumcision follows from the words of the Apostle addressed to believers:
“You... were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinful body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ... being buried with Him in baptism” (Col 2:11-12).
292. Why are recipients needed during Baptism?
At Baptism, recipients are needed in order to vouch before the Church for the faith of the person being baptized and, after Baptism, to take him under their care for confirmation in the faith (see Saint Dionysius the Areopagite. On the Church Hierarchy, Chapter 2).
293. Why is a spell recited over the person being baptized?
A spell is read over the person being baptized in order to drive away the devil, who, since the sin of Adam, has gained access to people and some power over them, as if over his captives and slaves. The Apostle Paul says that all people live outside of grace
“according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2).
294. What is the power of the spell?
The power of the spell lies in the name of Jesus Christ, invoked with prayer and faith. The Lord Jesus Christ promised the believers:
“In My name they will cast out demons” (Mark 16:17).
295. What power does the sign of the Cross have?
The Sign of the Cross has the same power as the name of Jesus Christ crucified, pronounced with faith by the movement of the lips; the same is the sign of the Cross, depicted with faith by the movement of the hand or in some other way.
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem writes: Let us not be ashamed to confess the Crucified One, let us boldly depict with our hands the sign of the Cross on our foreheads and on everything: the bread we eat, the cups from which we drink; let us depict him at entrances and exits, when we go to bed and get up, when we are on the road and resting. He is the great protection given to the poor as a gift and to the weak without effort. This is the grace of God, a sign for the faithful and fear for evil spirits (Catechetical Teaching, 13: 36).
296. Since when has the sign of the Cross been used?
The use of the sign of the cross dates back to the times of the apostles (see Saint Dionysius the Areopagite. On the Church Hierarchy, Chapters 2 and 5. Tertullian. On Crowns, Chapter 3; On the Resurrection, Chapter 8.).
297. What does white clothing worn after Baptism mean?
White clothes worn after Baptism mean purity of the soul and Christian life.
298. Why is the Cross placed on the person being baptized?
The Cross is placed on the person being baptized for a constant reminder of the commandment of Christ and a visible indication of it:
“If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).
299. What does it mean to walk around the font with a lamp?
The person being baptized walking around the font with a lamp signifies spiritual joy combined with spiritual enlightenment.
300. Why does the Creed say that there is only one Baptism?
The Creed commands us to recognize Baptism as one, that is, as one. Baptism is performed once and is not repeated.
301. Why is Baptism not repeated?
Baptism is not repeated because it is a spiritual birth: a person is born once, and therefore is baptized once.
302. Do those who sin after Baptism bear the same guilt as the unbaptized?
Those who sin after Baptism are more guilty of their sins than those who are not baptized in theirs, because they had special help from God to do good and rejected it.
“If, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome by them, then the last thing for them is worse than the first” (2 Pet. 2:20).
303. Can sins committed after Baptism be forgiven?
For those who have sinned after Baptism, there is a means to receive forgiveness of sins: this is repentance.
304. What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is a Sacrament in which the believer, when anointing parts of the body with consecrated myrrh (a composition of oils and incense - ed.), in the name of the Holy Spirit, is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, nurturing and strengthening in spiritual life.
305. What is said about this Sacrament in the Holy Scriptures?
The internal action of this Sacrament is spoken of in the Holy Scriptures by the Evangelist John:
“You have the anointing of the Holy One and you know everything. The anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you; But just as this very anointing teaches you all things, and is true and not false, whatever it has taught you, continue in it” (1 John 2:20, 27).
Likewise, the Apostle Paul says:
“He who established you and me in Christ and anointed us is God, who both sealed us and gave the deposit of the Spirit into our hearts” (2 Cor. 1:21–22).
This is where the words spoken at Confirmation are taken: The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
306. About the external effect of Confirmation
It should be assumed that the words of the Evangelist John also apply to him. It is also known that the apostles used ordination to give the baptized gifts of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 8:14–17). The successors of the apostles began to use Confirmation instead, which could be exemplified by the anointing used during the Old Testament (see Exodus 30:25; 1 Kings 1:39. Saint Dionysius the Areopagite. On the Church Hierarchy, Chapter 4).
307. What is the peculiarity of the holy world?
The right to consecrate the holy chrism belongs to the highest hierarchs as the successors of the apostles who performed the ordination to bestow the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
308. What does it mean to anoint parts of the body with holy chrism?
Anointing the forehead (forehead) means sanctifying the mind or thoughts.
– sanctification of the heart or desires.
310. Anointing of eyes, ears and lips
- sanctification of the deeds and entire behavior of a Christian.
312. What is the Sacrament of Communion?
Communion (or Eucharist) is a Sacrament in which the believer, under the guise of bread and wine, partakes of the authentic Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for eternal life.
313. How is this Sacrament established?
The Lord Jesus Christ performed the Sacrament of Communion for the first time immediately before His suffering, having previously presented in it a living image of this suffering. Having given communion to the apostles, He at the same time gave them the commandment to always perform this Sacrament.
314. What is the place of this Sacrament in Christian worship?
The Sacrament of Communion constitutes the main and essential part of Christian worship.
315. During what service is the Sacrament of Communion performed?
The Sacrament of Communion is performed during the Liturgy.
316. What does the word Liturgy mean?
The word liturgy means public service. However, only the service during which the Sacrament of Communion is performed is called Liturgy.
317. Where should the Liturgy be celebrated?
The Liturgy must be celebrated in a church in which there is a meal (throne) or, instead of a meal, an antimension, which must be consecrated by the bishop.
318. Why is the Church also called the Church?
The church is called a church because the believers who make up the Church gather in it for prayer and the Sacraments.
319. Why is the meal also called the throne?
The meal at which the Sacrament of Communion is celebrated is called the throne because at it Jesus Christ is mysteriously present as King.
320. What is the general order of celebrating the Liturgy?
The general order of the Liturgy is as follows: the substance for the Sacrament is prepared; believers prepare for the Sacrament; the Sacrament itself is performed.
321. What is the name of the part of the Liturgy in which the substance for the Sacrament is prepared?
The part of the Liturgy in which the substance for the Sacrament is prepared is called proskomedia.
322. What does the word “Proskomedia” mean?
The word proskomedia means bringing.
323. Why is the first part of the Liturgy called proskomedia?
The first part of the Liturgy is called proskomedia in accordance with the custom of the first Christians to bring bread and wine to church for the celebration of the Sacrament. For the same reason, this bread is called prosphora, which means offering.
324. What is the meaning of proskomedia?
Proskomedia, as part of the Liturgy, is a recollection of prophecies and prototypes, and partly of the events themselves relating to the birth and suffering of Jesus Christ. At the same time, the part necessary for performing the Sacrament is taken out of the prosphora, and the required amount of wine combined with water is poured into the sacred vessel. At the same time, the celebrant remembers the entire Church and the glorified saints, prays for the living and the dead, for the authorities and for those who, by faith and with zeal, brought prosphora or offerings.
325. What kind of bread is used for proskomedia?
For the Sacrament, bread is used that corresponds to the concept of bread, and which is required by the holiness of the Sacrament, the example of the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles, i.e.: leavened, clean, wheat bread.
326. Why is one bread used for Communion?
The use of one bread for Communion means, according to the apostle’s explanation, that
“There is one bread, and we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of one bread” (1 Cor. 10:17).
327. Why is the bread prepared for Communion called Lamb?
The bread prepared for Communion is called lamb, since it is an image of the suffering Jesus Christ, whose prototype in the Old Testament was the Passover Lamb.
328. What is the Passover Lamb?
The Passover lamb is the lamb that the Israelites, by the command of God, slaughtered and ate in memory of their deliverance from death in Egypt.
329. Why is wine for the Sacrament of Communion combined with water?
Wine for the Sacrament of Communion is combined with water because this sacred act is performed in the image of the suffering of Christ, when blood and water flowed from the wound inflicted on His rib.
330. What is the name of the part of the Liturgy in which believers prepare for the Sacrament?
The part of the Liturgy in which believers prepare for the Sacrament was called by the ancients the Liturgy of the Catechumens. In addition to those who have been baptized and allowed to receive Communion, catechumens, i.e., those preparing for Baptism, as well as penitents who are not allowed to receive Communion, can also attend.
331. Where does the Liturgy of the Catechumens begin?
The Liturgy of the Catechumens begins with a blessing, or glorification of the kingdom of the Most Holy Trinity.
332. What does the Liturgy of the Catechumens consist of?
The Liturgy of the Catechumens consists of prayers, chants, readings of the books of the Apostles and the Gospel.
333. How does the Liturgy of the Catechumens end?
The Liturgy of the Catechumens ends with the order for the catechumens to leave the church.
334. What is the Liturgy of the Faithful?
The part of the Liturgy during which the Sacrament of Communion is celebrated is called the Liturgy of the Faithful. Only the faithful, that is, those who have received Baptism, have the right to attend this Divine Service.
335. What is the most important effect of the Liturgy of the Faithful?
The most important action of the Liturgy of the Faithful is the recitation of the words spoken by Jesus Christ at the establishment of the Sacrament:
“Take, eat, this is My Body... Drink of it, all of you, this is My Blood of the New Testament”... (Matthew 26:26–28);
and then - the invocation of the Holy Spirit and the blessing of the Gifts, that is, the brought bread and wine.
336. What is the meaning of this action?
At this time, after the threefold blessing of bread and wine, they are transformed or transubstantiated into the true Body of Christ and into the true Blood of Christ.
337. How to understand the word “transubstantiation”?
The statement of faith of the Eastern Patriarchs says that the word transubstantiation does not explain the way in which bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of the Lord. This cannot be comprehended by anyone except God. It only shows that truly, truly and in essence, bread becomes the truest Body of the Lord, and wine becomes the very Blood of the Lord.
Likewise, Saint John of Damascus writes about the Holy and Most Pure Mysteries of the Lord: “The body is truly united with the Divine, precisely that which was received from the Most Holy Virgin. But the ascended Body does not descend from heaven, but bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of God. If you want to understand how this happens, then it is enough to know that it is the descent of the Holy Spirit. In the same way, from the Mother of God to Himself and in Himself, the Lord made flesh with the Holy Spirit. I no longer know that the Word of God is true, valid and omnipotent, but His action is incomprehensible” (Book 4, Chapter 13, Art. 7).
338. How should one begin the Sacrament of Communion?
He who approaches the Sacrament of Communion must test (open) his conscience before God and cleanse it by repentance for sins, which is facilitated by fasting and prayer.
“Let a man examine himself, and in this way let him eat of this bread and drink of this cup. For whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation for himself, not considering the body of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:28-29).
339. What happens to us in the Sacrament of Communion?
He who partakes of the Body and Blood of Christ is united with Jesus Christ Himself and in Him partakes of eternal life.
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in me, and I in him” (John 6:56).
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life” (John 6:54).
340. How often should one receive Holy Communion?
Ancient Christians took communion every Sunday; but now few have such purity of life as to always be ready to begin such a great Sacrament. The Church, with a maternal voice, exhorts those striving for a reverent life to confess to their spiritual father and partake of the Body and Blood of Christ four times a year or every month, and for everyone - once a year (see Orthodox Confession, Part 1, Question 90).
341. How do those who do not partake of the Holy Mysteries participate in the Liturgy?
Those who do not approach Holy Communion can and should participate in the Liturgy with their faith, prayer and especially the unceasing remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who commanded:
“Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).
342. What does it mean to march with the Gospel during the Liturgy?
When a procession with the Gospel takes place at the Liturgy, the Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared to preach, is remembered. Therefore, while reading the Gospel we should have the same attention and reverence as if we saw and heard Jesus Christ Himself.
343. How to perceive the procession with the prepared Holy Gifts?
When the entrance to the altar with the prepared Holy Gifts is performed at the Liturgy, one should remember the procession of Jesus Christ to free suffering, as a sacrifice to the slaughter, while more than twelve legions of Angels were ready to guard Him as their King. The King of kings and Lord of lords comes to sacrifice (a song at the Liturgy on Holy Saturday).
344. What should you remember while performing the sacrament?
At the very time of the Sacrament and during the communion of the clergy at the altar, one should remember the Last Supper of Jesus Christ Himself with the Apostles, His suffering, death and burial.
345. What does the opening of the curtain, the royal doors and the manifestation of the Holy Gifts mean?
The opening of the curtain and the royal doors and the appearance of the Holy Gifts signify the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself after the resurrection.
346. What does the last manifestation of the Holy Gifts to the people mean?
The last appearance of the Holy Gifts to the people, after which they are hidden, depicts the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven.
347. Will the Sacrament of Holy Communion always remain in the true Church?
The celebration and acceptance of the Sacrament of Holy Communion in the true Christian Church will continue until the coming of Christ, according to the words of the Apostle Paul:
Repentance is a Sacrament in which one who repents of his sins, having visibly received forgiveness from the priest, is invisibly freed from these sins by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
349. When did this Sacrament appear?
This Sacrament originates from Saint John the Baptist: to those who came to him, he preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” ... (and they) “were baptized by him ... confessing their sins” (Mark 1:4-5). Jesus Christ promised the apostles the power to forgive sins when he said:
“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).
After His resurrection He actually gave them this power when He said:
“Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven; on whomever you leave it, it will remain on him” (John 20:22–23).
350. What is required of a repentant?
The repentant is required to have contrition for sins, a firm intention to correct his life, faith in Christ and hope in His mercy.
“Godly sorrow produces unfailing repentance leading to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10).
“And when the wicked turned from his iniquity and began to do justice and righteousness, for that reason he will live” (Eze 33:19).
“About Him (i.e., Jesus Christ) all the prophets testify that whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:43).
351. What helps repentance?
Preparatory and auxiliary means for repentance are fasting and prayer.
352. What means does the Church use to help the repentant?
The Holy Church uses a special means to cleanse and pacify the conscience of a repentant sinner - penance.
353. What does the word “penance” mean?
The word penance means prohibition (see 2 Cor. 2:6). In the form of penance, of necessity, the penitent is prescribed certain pious exercises and certain deprivations in order to free himself from the power of sin and overcome sinful habits. For example, fasting beyond what is required for everyone, and for serious sins - excommunication from Holy Communion for a certain time.
354. What is the Priesthood?
The priesthood is a Sacrament in which the rightly chosen candidate is appointed by the Holy Spirit, through episcopal ordination, to perform the Sacraments and shepherd the flock of Christ.
“Everyone should understand us as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor. 4:1).
“Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of the Lord and God, which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).
355. What does it mean to shepherd the Church?
To shepherd the Church is to instruct people in faith, piety and good deeds.
356. How many degrees of Priesthood are required?
There are three degrees of priesthood: bishop, presbyter and deacon.
357. What is the difference in the degrees of the Priesthood?
The deacon will serve at the Sacraments (without performing them); the presbyter performs the Sacraments, being subordinate to the bishop; The bishop not only performs the Sacraments, but also has the power to teach others, through ordination, the gift of grace to perform them. Regarding episcopal authority, the Apostle Paul writes to Titus:
“For this reason I left you in Crete, so that you would complete what was unfinished and appoint elders in all the cities” (Titus 1:5). And Timothy:
“Lay hands hastily on anyone” (1 Tim. 5:22).
Marriage is a Sacrament in which, with the bride and groom freely promising mutual fidelity before the priest and the Church, their marital union is blessed in the image of the spiritual union of Christ and the Church and the grace of pious unanimity is given for the legal birth and Christian upbringing of children.
359. Why is marriage a Sacrament?
That marriage is a Sacrament is clear from the following words of the Apostle Paul:
“A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great; I speak in relation to Christ and to the Church” (Eph. 5:31–32).
360. Is it compulsory for everyone to get married?
It is not necessary for everyone to get married. Virginity is better than marriage for those who are able to keep it pure. This is exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ said:
“Not everyone can receive this word, but to whom it is given... He who can receive it, let him receive it” (Matthew 19:11–12).
“To the unmarried and widows I say: it is good for them to remain as I do. But if they cannot abstain, let them marry... The unmarried man cares about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but a married man cares about worldly things, how to please his wife... He who gives his maiden in marriage does well; but he who does not give out does better” (1 Cor. 7:8–9, 32–33, 38).
361. What is the Blessing of Anointing?
Blessing of oil is a Sacrament in which, when anointing the body with oil (consecrated vegetable oil), God's grace is invoked on the sick person, healing mental and physical illnesses.
362. Where does this Sacrament originate?
This Sacrament originates from the apostles, who, having received authority from Jesus Christ,
“They anointed many sick people with oil and healed them” (Mark 6:13).
The Apostles transmitted this Sacrament to the clergy of the Church, as can be seen from the following words of the Apostle James:
“If any of you is sick, let him call the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him” (James 5:14–15).
About the Eleventh Article of the Creed
363. What is the resurrection of the dead?
The resurrection of the dead, which we expect, is the action of God’s omnipotence, through which the bodies of dead people, uniting again with their souls, will come to life and become spiritual and immortal.
“The natural body is sown, the spiritual body is raised” (1 Cor. 15:44).
“This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:53).
364. Can a body be resurrected?
The body that has decayed in the earth and crumbled will be resurrected. Since God at the beginning created the body from the earth, in the end He will restore from the earth what was scattered. The Apostle Paul explains this by the similarity of sown grain, which rots in the ground, but from which a plant grows.
“What you sow will not come to life unless it dies” (1 Cor. 15:36).
All the dead will be resurrected, and the gross bodies of those who remain alive during the general resurrection will instantly change and become spiritual and immortal.
“We will not all die, but we will all be changed suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise incorruptible, and we will be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51–52).
366. When will the resurrection of the dead take place?
The resurrection of the dead will take place at the end of this visible world.
367. How will the visible world end?
This world, where death reigns, will end up being transformed into a world without death.
“The creation itself will be freed from the bondage of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21).
“According to His promise, we look forward to new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
368. Through what means should the world be transformed?
The world will be transformed through fire.
“The present heavens and earth, which are contained by the same Word, are reserved for fire for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7).
369. In what state are the souls of the dead until the general resurrection?
The souls of the dead righteous, until the general resurrection, remain in light, peace and the beginning of eternal bliss, and the souls of sinners are in the opposite state.
370. Do the souls of the dead righteous remain in complete bliss?
The souls of the righteous do not perceive complete bliss, because a person is predetermined to receive full reward for his deeds after the resurrection of his body and the final Judgment of God. The Apostle Paul says:
“And now there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all those who loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8). And one more thing:
“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what he has done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).
371. How do we know that the souls of the righteous are in the state of bliss?
The souls of the righteous remain in the beginning of bliss before the final Judgment, according to the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who says in the parable that the righteous Lazarus was immediately carried into Abraham’s bosom after death (see Luke 16:22).
372. What is the beginning of bliss?
The beginning of bliss is connected with the sight of Jesus Christ Himself. To a greater extent it is characteristic of the saints, as the Apostle Paul makes clear:
“I have a desire to be separated and to be with Christ” (Phil. 1:23).
373. What is the hope of the souls of believers who did not have time to bear the fruits of repentance?
The souls of those who died with faith, but did not have time to bear worthy fruits of repentance, can be helped to achieve a blessed resurrection by prayers offered for them, especially those combined with the offering of the bloodless sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ, and good deeds performed with faith in their memory.
374. This teaching is based on the tradition of the Catholic Church, the beginnings of which are already visible in the Old Testament Church.
Judas Maccabee made a sacrifice for the dead soldiers (see 2Mac 12:43). Prayer for the departed is always an indispensable part of the Divine Liturgy, starting from the Liturgy of the Apostle James. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem says: “There will be great benefit to the souls for whom prayer is offered at the time when the holy and terrible Sacrifice is offered” (Mystery Teaching, 5, Chapter 9). Saint Basil the Great in the prayers of Pentecost says that the Lord deigns to accept from us prayers and sacrifices for those who are held in hell, with the hope for them of peace, an end to torment and freedom.
About the twelfth article of the Creed
375. What is the life of the next century?
The life of the future century is the life that will happen after the resurrection of the dead and the general Judgment of Christ.
376. What will life be like in the next century?
This life will be so blissful for believers who love God and do good that we cannot even imagine this bliss now.
“It has not yet been revealed what we will be” (1 John 3:2).
“I know a man in Christ...” says the Apostle Paul, who “was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is impossible for man to utter” (2 Cor. 12:2, 4).
377. What will be the bliss of life in the next century?
Bliss will follow from contemplating God in light and glory and from union with Him.
“Now we see as if through a dark glass, fortune-telling, but then face to face; Now I know in part, but then I will know, even as I am known” (1 Cor. 13:12).
“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43).
“God will be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28).
378. Will the body participate in this bliss?
The body will also participate in the bliss of the soul. It will be glorified by the light of God, like the body of Jesus Christ during His transfiguration on Tabor.
“It is sown in humiliation, but is raised in glory” (1 Cor. 15:43).
“As we have borne the image of earth, let us also bear the image of heavenly” (i.e., our Lord Jesus Christ) (1 Cor. 15:49).
379. Will this bliss be equal for everyone?
Not everyone will be blessed in the same way. There will be different degrees of bliss, depending on how one labored here in faith, love and good works.
“There is another glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, another of the stars; and star differs from star in glory. So it is with the resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor. 15:41–42).
380. What will happen to the disbelievers and the wrongdoers?
Unbelievers and lawless people will be given over to eternal death, or, in other words, to eternal fire, eternal torment, along with the devils.
“Whoever was not written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15).
“This is the second death” (Rev. 20:14).
“Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).
“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life” (Matthew 25:46).
“It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye, than with two eyes to be cast into fiery hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:47–48).
381. Does God want the death of sinners?
God would not want sinners to perish, but they themselves perish “because... they did not receive the love of the truth for their salvation” (2 Thess. 2:10).
382. Does knowledge about the end of the world help a person?
Reflections on death, on the resurrection, on the last Judgment, on eternal bliss and on eternal torment help us to abstain from sins and free ourselves from addiction to earthly things; they console when deprived of earthly goods; encourage you to keep your soul and body pure, to live for God and for eternity, and thus achieve eternal salvation.
ABC of Faith Editor's Note:
The purity of a person’s life does not depend on the era, but on his individual spiritual structure. She was not so impeccable in the Early Church either. See note: Were the first Christians ideal? Therefore, we must strive to ensure that readiness for communion becomes the norm in the life of every Christian. The document “On the Participation of the Faithful in the Eucharist,” approved by the 2016 Council of Bishops, says: “The confessional feat of the Church during the years of persecution of the twentieth century prompted many clergy and church children to rethink the previously existing practice of rare communion. In particular, in 1931, the Provisional Patriarchal Synod, in its resolution of May 13, indicated: The wish regarding the possible frequent communion of Orthodox Christians, and for the successful among them, every Sunday, is considered acceptable...”
See also: How often to take communion.
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