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Paul, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, says and urges: “Strive to have peace with everyone and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). He calls chastity holiness, according to which everyone should be content with his wife and not fall for another. And whoever is not content cannot be saved, but will inevitably perish, even if he had thousands of virtues. Indeed, it is impossible for a fornicator to enter the Kingdom of Heaven; and here it is no longer fornication, but much more – adultery. Just as a wife who is connected with her husband, if she is still in connection with another, will already commit adultery, so a husband who is connected with his wife, if he still has another, will commit adultery. But such a one will not inherit the Kingdom, but will be cast into Gehenna. Listen to what Christ says about such people: “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44). Truly, there is no excuse for anyone who acts outrageously with another in front of his wife, because this is already intemperance. If many abstain from their wives when the time of fasting or prayer comes, then what kind of fire does he gather for himself who is not even content with his [wife], but also has a relationship with another? If one who has let go and rejected his wife is not allowed to have intercourse with another, because this is adultery, then what sin does he commit who, having a wife in his house, brings another? Let no one allow such an illness to remain in his soul, but let everyone uproot it. [The adulterer] does not harm his wife so much as he harms himself. This sin is so grave and unforgivable that if a wife leaves her husband, even an idolater, against his will, then God punishes her; and when she leaves the adulterer, she does not punish. Do you see how evil this is? If any faithful wife, it is said, has an unbelieving husband, and he agrees to live with her, she should not leave him (1 Cor. 7:13). But that’s not what it says about the harlot, so what? “Whoever divorces his wife, except for the guilt of adultery, gives her cause to commit adultery” (Matthew 5:32). If through cohabitation [husband and wife] constitute one body, then he who lives with a harlot necessarily becomes one body with her. How, after this, will an honest wife, being a member of Christ, accept such a [husband]? Or how will she unite with herself the member of a harlot? And look what a feature! A woman who cohabitates with an unbeliever does not therefore become unclean: “For an unbelieving husband,” it is said, “is sanctified by a believing wife” (1 Cor. 7:14). But that is not what is said about the harlot, but what? “Shall I take away the members of Christ to make them the members of a harlot?” (1 Cor. 6:15). There sanctification remains and is not taken away, despite cohabitation with an infidel, but here it is removed. Truly, adultery is a grave sin, and it is grave, and prepares endless punishment! And even here it brings countless disasters. In fact, such a person is forced to lead a hard and sorrowful life, and his condition is no better than the condition of those condemned to execution, when he secretly enters someone else's house with fear and great trepidation and is equally afraid of everyone - both slaves and freemen. Therefore, I beg you, try to free yourself from this disease. If you do not obey, then do not enter these sacred vestibules. Sheep covered with sores and infected with disease should not graze with healthy sheep; they must be driven away from the herd until they are freed from their illness. We have become members of Christ - let us not be members of a harlot! Here is not a dissolute house, but a Church; and if your members are fornicators, then do not stand in the church, lest you dishonor this place. Even if there had been no Gehenna, even if there had been no punishment - and in this case, like you after those contracts and marriage lamps, after that legal bed, after childbearing, after such communication - how can you allow yourself to cleave to another? How can you not be ashamed and blush? Don’t you know that many condemn even those who bring in another wife after the death of their [first] wife, although this matter does not deserve punishment? And while your wife is still alive, you take another one! What licentiousness! Find out what is said about such people: “their worm,” he says, “does not die, and the fire does not go out” (Mark 9:44). Fear this threat! Fear such punishment! The pleasure here is not as great as the punishment there (8). You might be interested in: