The beginnings of Christian teaching, or a brief Sacred History, and a short catechism

Book of St. Philaret of Moscow (Drozdov) “The Beginnings of Christian Teaching or a Brief Sacred History” was published by order of Emperor Nicholas I for teaching in schools. By the decree of the Ministry of Education of December 8, 1828, which determined the new Charter of secondary and lower educational institutions of this department, the Long Catechism and the Elements of Christian Teaching were made educational books on the subject of the Law of God. The essay is a concise and accessible presentation of the key events of Biblical history and the foundations of Christian teaching. The book covers topics such as the creation of the world, the blessed state of the first people, the Fall, the flood, the fate of the patriarchs, the stay of the Jewish people in Egypt, the receipt of the Law and wanderings in the desert, the most important moments in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ (Christmas, Baptism, miracles, suffering and Resurrection), as well as the acts of the holy apostles and the formation of the Christian community. Like newborn babies, love verbal and unflattering milk, so that through it you will grow into salvation. A Brief Sacred History The One God worshiped in the Holy Trinity is eternal, that is, has neither the beginning nor the end of His existence, but has always been, is and will be. Apart from God, everything has a beginning. God created everything out of nothing. God had no need of any creature; because in Himself He has always been and is completely content and happy; but He created everything solely out of His goodness, so that creatures would receive from Him as much good as they could accept, and would rejoice and be blissful. God created everything by His word: for He is Almighty. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth unsettled, and gave them order in six days. On the first day He created light. In the second firmament, or visible sky. In the third, he separated the water from the earth, and commanded the earth to produce plants. In the fourth, he created the sun, moon and stars. In the sixth, earthly animals, and finally humans. God created the human body from the earth, and breathed into it an immortal soul. On the seventh day, God rested from all His works and sanctified it, that is, established it so that man would devote the seventh day especially to serving God. The Blissful State of the First Men The first man's name was Adam, and the first wife's name was Eve. God created Eve from a rib that he took from Adam during sleep. Humans are created in the image and likeness of God. The image of God is not in the body, because God is incorporeal; but in the soul, in a pure mind and holy will. Adam and Eve lived in Paradise, in a beautiful garden, which was not planted by human hands, but prepared for them by God. God gave paradise, and the whole earth, and all the creatures of the earth into the power of men. The most excellent of the trees of paradise was the tree of life. People, eating its fruits, did not have to die in body. Adam and Eve had no need for clothing: because there was nothing harmful or destructive to the body in the air, and because their bodies were incorruptible and clean, and therefore there was no need to cover them. Man's duty was to know and love God: and in this especially consisted his blessedness. God also commanded him to cultivate and maintain paradise; and forbade people to eat the fruit of only one tree, which was called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, with the idea that if he ate it, he would die. Sin, Death and the Hope of Redemption Before the visible rational creature, that is, man, God created the invisible rational creature, spirits, which are called Angels. One of these bright spirits, with some spirits subordinate to him, had the audacity to leave obedience to the all-good will of God his Creator; and through this he lost the light and bliss given to him, and became an evil spirit. He is called the devil. The devil was jealous of the bliss of people; and, in order to deprive them of it, he used cunning. He entered the serpent and persuaded Eve to taste the forbidden fruit. Eve persuaded Adam to do the same. Thus, having eaten the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the first people acted against the will of God, against the commandment of God, against the law of God, in a word, they sinned. The first consequences of sin were shame and fear: then the sinners suffered grueling labor, illness and death. God cursed the serpent; expelled Adam and Eve from paradise; and the land with its products was deprived of its former blessing, that is, its former perfection and contentment. All people come from Adam who sinned and was condemned: and therefore everyone will be born in a state of sin and condemnation. However, God, in His mercy, soon after the first sin, gave people the hope of deliverance from the deceiver of the devil, from sin and from all the troubles that came from sin. God promised that a Savior would be born from a woman who would defeat the serpent, that is, the devil. The human race before the flood Adam's first son was Cain, the second Abel. Cain was engaged in farming. Abel became a shepherd of the sheep. Once they brought a gift to God: Cain from the fruits of the earth, Abel from the firstborn of the flock. God, knowing hearts, showed Abel a sign of His favor, but not Cain. Cain, out of envy and frustration, killed his brother Abel. God cursed the murderer, and after that Cain did not find peace and security in the whole world. Instead of Abel, God gave Adam a third son, Seth. From Seth came pious and good people; and from Cain the wicked and evil. Among the descendants of Seth, Enoch is especially famous for the holiness of his life. He was so pleasing to God that he was taken into heaven without illness or bodily death. Over time, the children of the good tribe entered into marriages with the children of the evil tribe. Because of this, almost all people became corrupted. Noah was left alone, righteous and worthy of God’s favor. The righteous God condemned the corrupt human race to destruction by the flood, and chose righteous Noah for the renewal and continuation of the human race after the flood. For this purpose, God commanded Noah to build an ark, that is, a type of great, quadrangular, long ship. Noah entered this ark with his family, and took two pairs of cattle, animals and birds, and some seven pairs, so that they could be divorced again after the flood. It rained for forty days; seas and rivers overflowed their banks; water covered the whole earth; all the people and other animals of the earth were drowned, except Noah and those with him in the ark. At the end of the flood, Noah offered a thanksgiving sacrifice to God for his salvation. The propitiated God promised that there would not be another global flood. The human race after the flood and the origin of nations Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. From them after the flood came all the people who now live on earth. Ham was disrespectful to his father; and for this reason he is deprived of his blessing. Evil people again came from Ham after the flood. Over time, evil people, and evil deeds between people, multiplied. It got to the point where they stopped worshiping God; and having ceased to honor Him, they began to completely forget Him. When they forgot the true God, and yet some feeling remained in the conscience that it was impossible to be without God, they decided to regard the sun, moon and other creatures as God. This is called paganism and idolatry. The knowledge of the true God was barely preserved in the descendants of Shem. Descending from one person, people spoke the same language and constituted one clan. Pride inspired them with the vain enterprise of building a tower to heaven in order to become famous. As punishment for this, God confused their languages, so that they could no longer understand each other, and scattered them throughout the whole earth. From this came different peoples speaking different languages. Abraham and other Patriarchs of the Jewish people In order to preserve among people the knowledge and veneration of the true God, for this purpose God chose Abraham, from the descendants of Shem. God commanded Abraham to leave his home, family and fatherland, and go to an unknown land, which he promised to give him as an inheritance. Abraham believed God's promise and moved from the land of the Chaldeans to the land of Canaan. To confirm Abraham in faith, God appeared to him in a dream and in various visions. One day God appeared to Abraham and promised to make him the father of many nations, and to be especially his God. In this God made a covenant with Abraham. The sign of this covenant was circumcision. At the same time, God promised to give Abraham a son, Isaac. At another time, Abraham saw three strangers and called them to him for rest and refreshments. It turned out that in the form of these wanderers there was the Lord, and with Him two Angels. The Lord confirmed to Abraham that in a year he would have a son. This was fulfilled, although Abraham was then already a hundred years old. God showed the faith and obedience of Abraham as an example to posterity especially in the following way: He commanded that Abraham offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham built an altar; He laid firewood on him, and Isaac on them: and he already raised the knife to kill him: but an Angel, by the command of God, restrained his hand. For this obedience, God not only blessed Abraham, but also promised to bless all the nations of the earth in his seed. This meant that the Savior of the world should be born from the tribe of Abraham. From Isaac was born Jacob, otherwise called Israel, and from Jacob were born twelve sons. All of them are called Patriarchs, that is, Forefathers: because they are the ancestors of the Jewish people. The blessing God gave to Abraham passed on to his descendants, according to their dignity. This is especially evident in Jacob and Esau. They were siblings and twins, but of very different properties: Esau was wild, and his favorite pastime was hunting; Jacob was meek and pious. Esau was the eldest, and therefore had the first right to his father's blessing: but, being intemperate and impatient, he sold his primacy to Jacob for lentil stew. After that, although Isaac, their father, wanted to bless Esau as his firstborn, but, being blind at that time, he mistook Jacob for Esau, and thus the blessing went to the most worthy. One of Jacob's sons was Joseph. Jacob especially loved him for his innocence and simplicity of heart. Joseph had dreams that foreshadowed that his brothers would bow to him. For these reasons, the other brothers hated him and secretly sold him to Egypt. In this pagan land, Joseph remained faithful to the true God: and therefore God glorified him. Joseph interpreted dreams for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, that foreshadowed a seven-year famine. Pharaoh instructed him to prepare bread for the hungry years: and made him his first ruler in Egypt. When the famine came, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to buy wheat. Joseph recognized them; opened himself to them; forgave their guilt against him; and he called them, together with his father, to Egypt. The Jews remained there even after the death of Jacob and Joseph; and multiplied greatly. The new king of Egypt began to fear the Jews as strangers. He began to treat them as slaves; tried to exhaust and weaken them with hard work; and finally ordered to kill their male babies. To save them from destruction and to deliver them, God sent Moses. When Moses was born, his mother wanted to hide him so that the Egyptians would not kill him: but when it was impossible to hide, she took him to the river and put him in a tarred basket on the water. The daughter of the king of Egypt found him there and raised him as a son. But he wanted rather to suffer with the people of God than to rule over the pagans: and therefore he hid from the house of Pharaoh. Afterwards, at the command of God, he appeared to Pharaoh, with his brother Aaron, and demanded in the name of God that the Jews be released from Egypt. since Pharaoh persisted, God performed great miracles and struck Egypt with various plagues, the last of which was the beating of all the firstborn of Egypt by an angel in one night. On that very night, God led the Jews out of Egypt, commanding them, just before setting out on the journey, to celebrate the Passover, and to continue to celebrate it in memory of their deliverance. The Egyptians persecuted the Jews: but God miraculously preserved the Jews and destroyed the Egyptians. With a strong wind He divided the Red Sea, so that the Jews walked along its dry bottom; and when the Egyptians came after them, the sea covered them and they were drowned. The celebration of Easter consisted of sacrificing an immaculate lamb, that is, without any bodily defects, which was reverently eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This sacrifice was a transformation, that is, some preliminary image and likeness of how the promised Savior of the world had to sacrifice Himself in order to deliver people from the slavery of the devil and sin. Law and Scripture Before Moses, people were guided by natural law and sacred tradition. Under the name of natural law we mean what God shows to man through reason and conscience. The name of sacred tradition means when the teaching about God and about a godly life, revealed to people directly from God, through retelling and example, passes from parents to children, and then to offspring. The preservation of the legend was facilitated by the fact that people lived for a long time, namely, before the flood, up to nine hundred years or more, and after the flood, up to three hundred years or more. Thus, one person could recount the affairs of God and man for several hundred years. Around the time of Moses, human life became much shorter than before: and therefore tradition was not enough to preserve the truth. In addition, evil deeds between people multiplied, and as a result, mind and conscience became more and more darkened. Therefore, in order to preserve and spread the truth among people, God was pleased to give the revealed law and the sacred Scriptures. The revealed law is the teaching about God and about pleasing God, which God himself revealed to people. Holy Scripture refers to books written by inspiration of God. On the fiftieth day after the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, God revealed His presence to them on Mount Sinai, with fire, smoke, and the sound of a trumpet; and gave them a law, of which the main ten commandments are as follows: 1. I am the Lord your God: let you have no gods other than Me. 2. Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol, or any likeness, such as the tree in the heavens, and the tree below on earth, and the tree in the waters under the earth: thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them. 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 4. Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy: you shall do six days, and in them you shall do all your work; but on the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 5. Honor your father and your mother, may you be well, and may you live long on earth. 9. Do not listen to your friend’s false testimony. 10. Thou shalt not covet thy true wife, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, nor his village, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any of his livestock, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s. These commandments were written on two tablets, or stone tablets, and placed in the ark of the covenant, made of precious wood and overlaid with gold; and this ark was placed in the tabernacle, or the moving church of God. The tabernacle also contained an altar for burning incense, a lamp, and a table for offering bread. An altar was built in front of the tabernacle, on which various sacrifices were instituted. The High Priest, Priests and Levites from the tribe of Levi, the son of Jacob, were chosen to serve in the tabernacle. God demanded obedience to His law and at the same time reassured the Jews that He would give them the land of Canaan, promised to Abraham. He also renewed to them the promise of the Savior of the world, under the name of the great Prophet, of whom Moses was only a type. Moses wrote the law of God and the promises of God in the first Holy Books. Wandering in the wilderness and entering the promised land The Jews walked from Egypt to the land of Canaan through the Arabian desert. So that they could better establish their faith in God, He performed many miracles for them during this journey. An angel of God walked before them, in a cloud during the day and in a pillar of fire at night, and showed them the way. How they ran out of bread; then God fed them with manna, which came down from heaven in the morning. One day, when they could not find water except bitter water, God commanded Moses to put some wood in it, and it became usable. At another time, when they found no water at all, Moses, at the command of God, struck a stone mountain with his staff, and water flowed out of it in such abundance that it was enough for six hundred thousand Jews. Despite all this, the Jews were not faithful to God. When Moses, by the command of God, was on Mount Sinai for forty days: at that time they cast down the golden calf and worshiped this idol as God. They often grumbled against Moses and against God himself. When, approaching the land of Canaan, they learned that the peoples living in it were strong: The Jews had so little hope in God, who led them to this land, that they wanted to go back to Egypt. God punished them for this with a forty-year wandering in the desert. At the end of this journey, Moses died on the border of the promised land. Joshua brought the Jews into it; defeated the nations that lived in it, and divided it among the twelve tribes of the Jews. God helped His people with new miracles. The Jordan River flowed upward and left a dry bottom for the Jews to cross. The walls of the besieged city of Jericho fell just because the ark of the covenant was carried around it, and the priests blew the trumpets. When the Jews were to settle in the Promised Land, God commanded them to expel all the former inhabitants from it. The Jews did not fulfill this: and this caused many troubles for them. The old inhabitants of the land of Canaan were pagans. They also drew the Jews into paganism: and through this they were deprived of the grace and help of God. The pagans overcame them and enslaved them. When, enlightened by misfortunes, the Jews turned to the true God: He showed them His mercy and sent them deliverers. Courageous people, hoping in God, and inspired by God himself, took command over them, defeated the pagans, and brought peace and tranquility to their people. These people are known as the Judges of Israel. For example, Gideon, by the appearance of an Angel, was called to deliver the Jews from Midian. With three hundred unarmed, he walked around the enemy camp at night, and with the sudden sound of trumpets and the light of lamps, he threw them into such confusion that they rushed to kill each other and fled. Gideon pursued them and destroyed their army and leaders. The last Judge was Samuel the Prophet. He defeated the Philistines; restored the fallen service to the true God; and ruled the Jews with perfect unselfishness. Samuel's two sons indulged in covetousness and violated justice. On this occasion, the Jews wished to have a King. God, through Samuel, appointed Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, as their king. Samuel anointed him with holy oil. But Saul did not fulfill the will of God. In his place, God chose David, the youngest of the seven sons of Jesse, from the tribe of Judah. David became famous for the fact that in the war he killed Goliath, a Philistine of extraordinary height and strength, with a sling stone. Saul was jealous of his fame. But David with meekness and patience endured long-term persecution from him, honoring in him the Anointed of God. David's meekness and piety gained him special favor from God. After Saul's death he reigned over the Hebrews; conquered many nations; spread his kingdom: but, most importantly, like Abraham, he again received the promise that from his tribe would be born the Savior of the world, who would reign forever. David's successor was Solomon his son. He is famous for the wisdom that he asked from God through prayer. Instead of the previous tabernacle, he created a magnificent church for the glory of God in the capital city of Jerusalem. His reign was peaceful. For all his wisdom, Solomon was not very careful. He fell into luxury, became addicted to pagan women, and they even drew him into idolatry. Thus, he lost the favor of God and upset his kingdom. After his death, his kingdom was divided. Two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, remained faithful to his son Rehoboam, the other ten deserted and Jeroboam reigned over them without any right. This is how two kingdoms arose: Judah and Israel. Jeroboam feared that his subjects would not join the kingdom of Judah again if they went to Jerusalem to worship the true God: and therefore he tried to seduce them into idolatry. This evil has spread, and with it the pagan corruption of morals; and because of this the kingdom of Israel was destroyed. since the same infection penetrated into the kingdom of Judah, it too collapsed, only later than the kingdom of Israel. From ancient times, God chose certain pious people and filled them with His spirit, so that they would reveal His will to other people. They are called Prophets: because, by the way, they predicted the future. After the division of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, the Prophets appeared especially often. They denounced idolatry and vices; predicted punishments for these; and pious people were consoled and strengthened by the hope of God's grace and salvation. The Prophet Elijah was a strong denouncer of idolatry. He predicted three years of drought and famine for Achaab, king of Israel, an idolater; and at the end of this time, in order to prove the insignificance of false gods and the power of the true God, he brought fire from heaven onto the prepared sacrifice. Elijah raised the son of the widow of Sarepta; was honored to talk with God on Mount Horeb; and finally taken into heaven like Enoch. The fall of the kingdom of Judah, Jerusalem and the church was predicted by many prophets, especially Jeremiah, who also predicted the restoration of Jerusalem. But the main subject of the Prophetic predictions was the promised Savior of the world. They called Him the Son of David, the Messiah or Christ, that is, the Anointed One, the King of Truth, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Father of the Age to Come; and described in many details how He would appear on earth; for example, that He will be born of a Virgin, that He will be sinless, but will suffer for our sins in order to save us from our sins with His sufferings; that God will give men a new everlasting covenant; and that the pagans themselves will turn to Christ and worship Him as the true God. The unrighteous kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians in such a way that it was not restored afterwards. Most of the people were taken into captivity and scattered across different countries. The kingdom of Judah was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jerusalem is destroyed; the church was burned; Most of the people were taken to Babylon. However, God did not allow this people to perish, in which the Savior of the world was to be born. Nebuchadnezzar saw a terrible dream: and could not only understand, but also remember it. God revealed this secret to the Prophet Daniel also in a dream; and he brought it to the king’s memory and interpreted his terrible dream, which foreshadowed four kingdoms, one after the other, during which God would establish an eternal kingdom. Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar glorified the true God, and gave great power to Daniel in the kingdom of Babylon. Ananias, Azariah and Mishael, by order of the same Nebuchadnezzar, were thrown into a fiery furnace because they did not worship the golden idol. But God miraculously kept them unharmed. Therefore Nebuchadnezzar again glorified the true God: and gave Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael authority over the Jews who were in his kingdom. Thus, the Jews in Babylon were preserved from the idolatry that prevailed there, and even corrected themselves from their previous inclination towards idolatry. Through them, little by little, the pagans began to know the true God. God revealed to Daniel, among other things, that Christ would appear in the world at the end of the seventy weeks, that is, about four hundred and ninety years after the restoration of Jerusalem. Times of the Weeks of Daniel Cyrus, king of Persia, conquered the kingdom of Babylon: and, in accordance with the prophecies, he gave the Jews freedom to return to their fatherland and again build Jerusalem and the church of God in it. Returning to Jerusalem, the Jews remained dependent on the kings of Persia: and under their patronage they created the second temple of Jerusalem. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged and encouraged them in this matter; and Malachi predicted that Christ would appear in this very church. When Alexander the Great destroyed the Persian kingdom and founded the Greek one; then the Jews entered into relations more than before with the Greeks, Syrians, Egyptians, and finally with the Romans. The Holy Scriptures were translated into Greek, the most commonly used language among the peoples of those times. Being weak, the Jews suffered a lot from neighboring peoples. They suffered the most severe persecution from the Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes, who wanted to introduce pagan worship among them, and placed an idol in the temple of Jerusalem itself. The Maccabean family, a priestly family, rose up to defend the true faith. They restored Divine services according to the law of God; defended their fatherland: and became leaders of the Jews. However, the Jews in these times almost continuously saw themselves in danger of new enslavement from the pagans. In these difficult circumstances they encouraged themselves with the hope that the promised Christ would soon come. But many of them were mistaken in thinking that He would come to establish an earthly kingdom in which they would dominate. Among the priests of the second temple of Jerusalem there was someone named Zechariah. He had a wife, Elizabeth. Both of them were virtuous people. They lived to old age without having children; because Elizabeth was barren. One day, when Zechariah entered the church for incense, an Angel appeared to him and told him that a son would be born to him from Elizabeth, named John, who would precede Christ the Savior and prepare people to receive Him. Zechariah doubted: and as a punishment for this he was mute until his son was actually born, and he, seeing the fulfillment of the words of the Angel, ordered to name him John. John lived in the desert; wore clothes made of camel's hair and a leather belt; he ate locusts and wild honey, the most meager and harsh food. By the command of God, he appeared on the Jordan: he preached repentance and the approach of the kingdom of heaven, that is, of Christ; and he baptized those who confessed their sins in the Jordan. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Soon after the Angel foretold the birth of John the Baptist, Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Nazareth. She came from the tribe of Judah, from the family of David, therefore the royal one; however, she lived in poverty. She was betrothed to Joseph from the same tribe: but only so that he would take care of Her; but in fact she intended to remain a virgin. The Archangel preached to her that she would give birth to a Son, without a husband, from the Holy Spirit; He will call His name Jesus; and that He will be called the Son of the Most High, and will reign forever. Mary accepted this with faith and humility, and conceived in her womb from the Holy Spirit. Soon after this, when she came to Elizabeth, God revealed this secret to Elizabeth; and she called Mary Mother of the Lord. At that time, the land of Judea was dependent on the Romans. Augustus reigned in Rome. He ordered a national census to be taken. Therefore, Joseph and Mary from Nazareth came to their native city of Bethlehem. Here our Lord Jesus Christ was born from the Most Holy Virgin and was laid in a manger; because, due to the crowd of people, it was impossible to find space in the house. That same night, an Angel appeared to the Bethlehem shepherds, who were guarding their flock, and announced that a Savior had been born, who is Christ the Lord; and so that they could recognize Him, the Angel added that they would find the Child lying in a manger. And so they truly found the Lord, and they were the first to worship Him. Eight days after the birth of the Savior, He was circumcised, according to the custom of the Old Testament: and His name was given: Jesus, appointed by the Angel, even before His conception in the womb. On the fortieth day after his birth, the baby Jesus was brought by Joseph and Mary to the church of God, as prescribed in the law of God through Moses. At this time, Simeon lived in Jerusalem, a pious man, who was promised by God that he would not die until he saw Christ the Lord. At the inspiration of the Spirit of God, he came to the church; He took the baby Jesus in his arms and said: Now you are releasing Your servant, O Master, according to Your word in peace; for my eyes have seen Your salvation. Together with Simeon, Anna the Prophetess then praised God and spoke about the Savior to everyone who was waiting for Him with faith. Magi also came from the east to worship the born Savior, that is, wise men who learned about His birth from the appearance of a certain special star. At that time, the king of Judea was Herod, who did not come from a royal family. When he heard the wise men asking: Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? then he became confused, fearing that the born King would eventually take his kingdom away from him. Therefore, he found out exactly where Christ was and who He was: and when he could not find Him, he ordered in Bethlehem and all its surroundings to kill all infants under two years of age, hoping to kill Christ among them. But before this was accomplished, an Angel appeared to Joseph in a dream; Herod's intentions were revealed to him; and ordered to leave with the baby Jesus and His Mother to Egypt. There they were until the death of Herod: and then they returned to Nazareth. Having about thirty years from His birth on earth, Jesus Christ came to the Jordan to John and demanded baptism from him: not because he needed it, but to set an example for us. John, on the contrary, wanted to be baptized by Him himself: however, he obeyed His will and baptized Him. When Jesus, after His baptism, came out of the water: then the heavens were opened above Him; The Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove; and the voice of God the Father was heard from heaven: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. After baptism, the Lord Jesus Christ spent forty days in the desert, in fasting and prayer: he withstood temptation from the devil, and defeated him with the word of God: then he appeared in the world. He preached in cities and villages, and in the temple of Jerusalem. The main content of His sermon was this: repent and believe in the Gospel. The gospel means the good news that God forgives people's sins and grants the kingdom of heaven through Christ. To repent means to hate your sins, confess them, ask God for forgiveness, and firmly decide to live according to the will of God. To spread the Gospel among people, Jesus Christ chose twelve His disciples from among many to send them to different places to preach. That's why he called them Apostles. Their names are these: Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, Judas Jacob and Judas Iscariot, who later became a traitor. Jesus Christ often prayed, especially at night, in solitude. The apostles asked Him to teach them to pray. He gave them, and through them all of us, the following prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors: and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Often Jesus Christ offered His teaching to the people in parables, that is, in similitudes, and, as it were, in riddles. For example, here is one parable, briefly, with an explanation. The sower went out to sow. Some seed fell near the road and was trampled or eaten by birds; another was a rocky place, and, having grown, soon dried up; some among thorns and died; other on the good land, and brought forth abundant fruit. The Sower is Jesus Christ. Seed means the word of God. Earth means the human heart. Just as a seed that falls near the road is trampled by passers-by or pecked out by birds, so the devil steals the word of God from the hearts of scattered people. Like a seed on a rocky place, although it sprouts, it soon dries up: so fickle people, not deeply imbued with the teaching of Christ, although they accept it, fall away from it during persecution. Just as a lot of bad grass choke out the wheat in a field, so a lot of worldly worries and passions choke out the active power of the word of God in the heart. Just as on good soil a seed bears abundant fruit, so in good hearts that receive the word of God with faith and with patience, it produces abundant fruit of spiritual gifts, virtues and blessedness. In addition to Divine teaching, Jesus Christ revealed himself as the Savior of the world through Divine deeds, or miracles. He usually performed miracles out of mercy for the needy: for all His miracles over people were beneficial. He gave health to the sick, sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, tongue to the dumb, life to the dead: and he did all this only with touch and word, and sometimes without touch, in one word. After teaching about repentance and faith, Jesus Christ preached the doctrine of the Cross. He predicted that He, in order to save the world, must suffer, die, and then be resurrected. He also said that His followers must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him; that is, in order to maintain faith in Him, and to save their souls, they must be ready to lose everything and endure everything. As His sufferings should have frightened His disciples, He first showed some of them His glory in order to strengthen them with hope. One day, when He was praying on the mountain, His face shone like the sun, His clothes became white as snow; Moses and Elijah appeared to him; a bright cloud overshadowed Him and the Apostles who were with Him, and the voice of God the Father was heard: This is My beloved Son, listen to Him. The Apostles Peter, James and John were witnesses to this glorious Transfiguration of the Lord. One of the miracles that especially glorified the Lord Jesus before His suffering was the resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus Christ came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, on the fourth day after his death. Lazarus was already buried. When the Lord ordered the coffin to be opened, then Lazarus’s sister Martha said that a rotten smell could already be heard from the body. Despite this, the Lord said: Lazarus, get out! and Lazarus rose again and came out of the tomb. Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem When, after the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus went to Jerusalem, on the occasion of the approaching Easter holiday: then many of the people took palm branches, came out to meet Him, and exclaimed: Hosanna to the Son of David! blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! And others spread their clothes along the road. Jesus sat on a donkey covered with the disciples' clothes. Thus, His solemn Royal entry into Jerusalem took place. The Jewish leaders and scientists were indignant at Jesus Christ because He exposed their vices, and they were jealous of His glory. After the resurrection of Lazarus, and after the honor shown to Jesus Christ by the people upon His entry into Jerusalem, the malice of His enemies reached the extreme. They agreed to kill Him. And so that the people would not interfere with their evil intent: they tried to take Him secretly, through cunning. One of the Apostles, Judas Iscariot, infected with greed, suggested that the Jewish leaders betray Jesus to them for money. They promised him thirty pieces of silver. He agreed, fulfilled his intention, and died in despair. When the evening came, on which, according to the law of Moses, the Passover was to be celebrated, Jesus Christ came for this purpose with the Apostles to the upper room prepared in the house of a certain Jerusalemite. Here He washed their feet to show them an example of humility. At this supper He accurately predicted the upcoming events. He pointed out His betrayer: and Peter, who showed himself ready to die with Him, said that this Apostle on this night, before the cock crows, would deny Christ three times. At this time, for the future remembrance of His suffering, death and resurrection, and for His eternal union with the believers, He established the great sacrament of Holy Communion. He took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the Apostles, saying: Take, eat, this is My Body. Then he took the cup of wine, blessed it, and gave it to the Apostles, saying: drink of it, all of you, this is My Blood of the New Testament. This very thing is happening to this day, in the Divine Liturgy. The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ After the Last Supper, Jesus Christ went out into the Garden of Gethsemane. There His internal suffering began for our sins. He grieved and grieved; and prayed until he sweated blood. An angel appeared to Him to strengthen Him. Then the Jews came with weapons; They took Him, at the direction of Judas the traitor; and they took him to the chief priests of the Jews, while his disciples fled. Here slanderers appeared with false denunciations against Him, but they could not prove anything. Finally, when asked by the high priest: Are you the Son of God? He answered: You speak, and added that they would soon see Him at the right hand of the Majesty of God: then they declared Him worthy of death, beat Him on the cheeks, and cursed Him in other ways. In the morning they brought Him to trial before Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea. He, finding Jesus innocent, wanted to let him go: but the people, at the instigation of the high priests, demanded His death. Pilate ordered to beat Jesus, put a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns on Him, and in this form showed Him to the Jews, thinking thereby to bring them into pity: but they shouted in a frenzy: crucify Him! The cowardly Pilate gave in to their demand, washing his hands before the people as a sign that he recognized Jesus as innocent. Jesus was taken to Mount Golgotha; and there they crucified him on the cross, between two thieves. One of these, already on the cross, repented and said to Jesus: remember me, Lord, when you come in Your Kingdom. The Lord answered him: today you will be with Me in Paradise. While on the cross, Jesus prayed for His enemies; He consoled His Most Pure Mother; and commanded the Apostle John to be with Her instead of a son. During this time of His suffering, the sun was darkened, the earth shook, the stones were broken, many dead were raised, and they appeared to many in Jerusalem. Finally He said: it is finished! and gave up His spirit to God His Father. Jesus Christ died on the cross in the evening, from Friday to Saturday. Joseph of Arimathea, His secret disciple, took His body down from the cross, asking Pilate for permission; He wrapped it in a clean shroud and placed it in a new stone coffin in his garden. The Jews who were hostile to Jesus heard that He had predicted His resurrection. They did not believe this prediction: but acting cunningly themselves, and judging the Apostles by themselves, they feared that they would steal the body of Jesus. Therefore, on Saturday, they asked Pilate for military guards, and assigned them to the tomb in which the body of Jesus then lay; and this tomb was sealed. On the morning of the first day of Saturday, which is now called Sunday, some pious women went to the tomb of the Lord Jesus to anoint His body with oil, which they did not have time to do during the burial. Meanwhile, the Angel rolled away the stone with which the Holy Sepulcher was closed. The guards, horrified by his appearance, fled. The myrrh-bearers saw the open tomb, and in it they found only the vestments of the Lord. Angels appeared to them and said that Jesus, who had been crucified, had risen. Then the risen Lord Himself appeared to the Myrrhbearers and the Apostles, and to many many times. He even allowed Thomas, who doubted His resurrection, to touch His wounds. He appeared to the Apostles for forty days; spoke with them about the Kingdom of God; promised them the descent of the Holy Spirit soon; commanded them to go into the whole world, preach the Gospel to all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Appearing to the Apostles on the fortieth day after His resurrection, the Lord led them out of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, blessed them, and in their sight ascended into heaven. Following this, the Angels appeared and told them that He would come again from heaven, just as they saw Him going into heaven. After the Ascension of the Lord, the Apostles returned to Jerusalem and remained in unanimous prayer, awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit. On the fiftieth day from the Resurrection of the Lord, in the morning, suddenly there was a noise from heaven, as if from a strong wind; and tongues of fire descended on each of them. At the same time, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in different languages, which they did not know before. People gathered; and marveled at this extraordinary phenomenon. On this occasion, the Apostle Peter began to preach with such success that on the same day about three thousand people were baptized. Thus, from the ancient Jewish one, a new Christian Church began to form, that is, a collection of believers in Christ. At another time, when the Apostle Peter healed a lame man at the door of the Temple of Jerusalem, and the people came running to this miracle; Again, with one sermon, Peter converted five thousand people to Christ. Unbelieving Jews, wanting to prevent the spread of the teachings of Christ, initiated persecution first against the Apostles, and then against other believers in Christ in Jerusalem. The apostles suffered imprisonment and wounds: and the first Deacon Stephen was stoned. But God turned this persecution in favor of Christianity: because those who were scattered from Jerusalem due to persecution spread the teachings of Christ in other places. Saul, one of the persecutors, going to Damascus, suddenly saw the Lord Jesus in the open heavens, who said to him: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? By this appearance, the Lord himself turned Saul to himself and made him His Apostle. He was baptized in Damascus, and became a zealous preacher of the faith of Christ, under the name of Paul. Cornelius, a centurion of the Roman army, unenlightened by the pure knowledge of the true God, but pious and charitable, according to the instructions of the Angel, called the Apostle Peter to him to hear from him the word of salvation. When Peter preached to him and those who were with him about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and about salvation through faith in Him: the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard the word. Peter baptized them, and from that time on they began to preach Christ, not only to the Jews, but also to the pagans. The Apostle Paul preached to many pagan nations, especially to many Greek tribes. In the established churches, to perform the Sacraments and teach Christian doctrine, the Apostles appointed Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons. Holy Scripture of the New Testament The apostles not only preached by word, but, in order for the teaching of Christ to be more accurately preserved, they wrote it in books, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in the likeness of the ancient Prophets. The first book of the New Testament is the Gospel of Matthew, written about eight years after the Ascension of the Lord. It contains the history of earthly life and the teachings of Christ. After him, three similar Gospels were written by the Evangelists Mark, Luke and John, to whom the Church primarily assigned the title of Theologian, because in his Gospel the pre-eternal birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and the procession of the Holy Spirit from God the Father were primarily proclaimed. The Apostles James, Peter, John, Jude and Paul wrote twenty-one epistles about the teachings of Christ and the rules of Christian life. Messages can more simply be called letters. The Apostle John the Theologian, in the Apocalypse, wrote a prophecy about the fate of the Christian Church until the end of the world. Addition to the history of the sacred from the church Christianity spread with wonderful speed throughout the entire universe: but in many places it suffered many persecutions from Jews and pagans. The Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, converted to Christ by the appearance of the sign of the cross in heaven, gave peace to the Church of Christ; and was baptized himself. He made Constantinople the Christian capital of his Empire. The Slavic peoples also accepted the preaching of Christianity from Constantinople. Saints Cyril and Methodius, sent by the Patriarch to Moravia, sanctified the Slavic language with their translation of the Word of God and the establishment of Divine services in the Slavic language. From Moravia their works moved to Bulgaria, Serbia and Russia. The Bulgarians received baptism, with their Prince Boris, from the Bishop sent by Patriarch Photius, who rejected the false wisdom and claims of the Pope. The Serbian Church was improved by St. Savva, the first Archbishop of Serbia, appointed by the Patriarch of Constantinople. For Bulgaria and Serbia, the Athos monasteries were breeding grounds for enlightenment and piety. Christianity was brought to Russia from Constantinople by Grand Duchess Olga: and it was established in Russia and made the dominant religion of this State by Grand Duke Vladimir. One Lord, one faith, one Church. The like-minded children of the one Orthodox Catholic Church are all bound by the law of love. Everyone understands this, for you are My disciples, as the Lord said, if you have love among each other. The Church after the Apostles is governed by Holy Scripture and Apostolic tradition: and in special cases, Councils meet to expose false teachers and resolve doubts. They are Ecumenical, that is, assemblies of Pastors and Teachers of the faith from all churches in the universe; and Local, or private, of certain special churches. Nine Local and seven Ecumenical left their rules to the leadership of the Church. The work of the first two Ecumenical Councils, Nicaea and Constantinople, especially worthy of attention, is the Creed, that is, a summary of the teachings of the Christian faith, made to preserve the truth, and to expose false teachings. This Creed is as follows: I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who was born of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, by Whom all things were. 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. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. 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. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. I hope for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen. Question . What teaching is most necessary for every person? Answer . Christian teaching. A. Because it leads to God, to eternal salvation, or in other words, to eternal bliss. Q. How can one draw closer to God? O. Thoughts, desires, deeds. Q. Who approaches God with thoughts? A. He who rightly believes in Him. Q. Who draws near to God by desires? Q. Who draws near to God by works? A. One who acts according to the will of God and according to the law of God. Q. What is the most convenient way to learn the right to believe? A. Through the Creed. Q. How to learn to pray? A. Through the Lord's Prayer. Q. How to learn to act according to the will of God and according to the law of God? A. Through the ten commandments of God. Q. How is the Creed divided? Q. How is the first clause of the Creed read? A. I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. Q. What doctrine of faith is contained in this member? A. It contains the following teaching: 2) Being one in essence, He is Trinity in persons. 3) The First Person of the Holy Trinity is God the Father. 4) This Triune God created heaven and earth, everything visible and invisible. 5) God contains everything in His power and controls everything. Q. How is the second clause of the Creed read? A. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, and by Him all things were. 1) The Second Person of the Holy Trinity is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. 2) Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, and there is no other Son of God like Him. 3) The Son of God was born of God the Father before all ages and times; and therefore as eternal as God the Father. 4) Jesus Christ is true God, born of true God, and is one being with the Father. 5) The Son of God was not created, but by Him all things were created. Q. How is the third clause of the Creed read? A. 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. Q. What is the teaching in these words about the Son of God? A. They contain the following teaching: 1) The Son of God came down from heaven; took upon Himself human nature, that is, human soul and body; became a man, without ceasing to be God, and appeared on earth, where he was named Jesus Christ. 2) Jesus Christ was born on earth from the Blessed Virgin Mary, who conceived Him through the influx of the Holy Spirit, and always remains a virgin. 3) Jesus Christ came to earth to save people from the sin in which they were born and live, and from the death to which they were condemned starting from the first man. Q. How is the fourth article of the Creed read? O. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. Q. What is the teaching here about Jesus Christ the Son of God? A. The following teaching is presented here: 1) Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, having endured many and severe sufferings, died and was buried. 2) He endured all this not for Himself, since He is innocent of anything and completely sinless, but for us; that is, He endured all the punishments for all human sins, and even death itself, in order to deliver us from sin and death. Q. How is the fifth article of the Creed read? A. And he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures. Q. What is the teaching here about Jesus Christ? A. Jesus Christ rose from the grave on the third day after His death, as it is written about in the books of the Prophets. Q. How is the sixth article of the Creed read? O. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. O. Jesus Christ, on the fortieth day after His resurrection, ascended with His body into heaven and will sit at the right hand of God the Father, being equal to Him in power and glory. Q. How is the seventh article of the Creed read? O. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. A. Jesus Christ will come again from heaven in glory to judge all men, living and dead, who will all be resurrected for this purpose. Q. How is the eighth article of the Creed read? O. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life-giving, who proceeds from the Father, who is with the Father and the Son, worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Q. What doctrine of faith is contained in this member? A. It contains the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, and is as follows: 1) The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Most Holy Trinity. 2) The Holy Spirit comes from God the Father. 3) The Holy Spirit, together with God the Father and the Son, gives life to creatures, especially spiritual life to humans. 4) The Holy Spirit is given the same worship and glorification as the Father and the Son, as the true Lord and God. 5) When the Prophets and Apostles proclaimed the will of God to people, or when they wrote sacred books: then they spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Q. How is the ninth article of the Creed read? O. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. A. The True Christian Church is one, Holy, Catholic, or Ecumenical, and Apostolic, that is, from the Apostles continuously and invariably continuing and having to continue until the end of the world: and therefore we must honor her, obey her, and beware of schism, that is, separation from the one Orthodox Church. Q. How is the tenth article of the Creed read? A. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. Q. What doctrine is contained in this member? A. It contains the doctrine of the sacrament of holy Baptism, and makes it an obligation for every believer to be baptized once. Q. Why is Baptism called a sacrament? A. Because the grace of God secretly works in him. Q. Besides Baptism, are there other Sacraments? Q. What is Baptism? A. In that the believer is immersed three times in water, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Q. Why is a person baptized? A. In order to be mysteriously washed from sins and receive a grace-filled life. Q. What does Confirmation consist of? A. In the fact that the baptized person is anointed with holy oil, with the pronunciation of mysterious words: the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Q. What does Communion consist of? A. In the fact that the believer, under the guise of bread, partakes of the very Body of Christ, and under the guise of wine, the very Blood of Christ. Q. What benefit does the communicant receive? A. He is united with Christ, and in Him becomes a partaker of eternal life. Q. What is Repentance? A. The fact is that after Baptism, the sinner confesses his sins to the Priest, and through him receives forgiveness from Jesus Christ himself. Q. What is the Priesthood? A. The fact is that through the ordination of Bishops the power to perform the Sacraments is given to the chosen one. Q. What is the sacrament of Marriage? A. The fact is that, by the free consent of the bride and groom, their union is blessed in the Church, in the image of the union of Christ with the Church. Q. What does the Blessing of Unction consist of? A. The fact is that the sick person is anointed with oil, and healing grace is called upon him. Q. How is the eleventh article of the Creed read? O. Tea of ​​the resurrection of the dead. A. All dead people, at a time determined by the destinies of God, will be resurrected, with bodies that will already be incorruptible and indestructible. Q. How is the twelfth article of the Creed read? O. And the life of the next century. A. After the general resurrection and judgment of Christ there will be eternal life, in which believers and those who have ended earthly life in repentance and virtue will receive eternal bliss; and unrepentant sinners will be subject to eternal torment. Q. How can the Lord's Prayer be divided? A. For the invocation, seven petitions and doxology. Q. How is the invocation read? O. Our Father, who art in heaven. Q. Why did Jesus Christ command us to call on God under the name of the Father? A. So that we stand before God in prayer, not only with fear, like slaves before the Lord, but also with love and hope, like children before the Father. Q. How is the first petition of the Lord's Prayer recited? Q. What do we ask from God through this? A. We ask His help so that we can reverently contain His Holy Name in our minds and pronounce it with our lips; and also to contribute through holy deeds and life to the spread of His glory among people. Q. How is the second petition of the Lord's Prayer read? O. Thy kingdom come. A. We ask for God's help, so that sin does not reign in us, but so that the Spirit of God rules us for good and bliss. Q. How is the third petition of the Lord's Prayer read? O. Thy will be done as it is in heaven and on earth. Q. What are we asking through this? A. Through this petition we offer our will as a sacrifice to God, and ask Him to do with us whatever He pleases, according to His wisdom; also so that other people would willingly obey His will on earth, just as the Angels in heaven completely obey it. Q. How is the fourth petition of the Lord's Prayer read? O. Give us this day our daily bread. A. We ask that God, in His good providence, grant us what we need to exist, or live, somehow: food, clothing, housing; We ask this for the present day, without further concern for the future, because such concern would be contrary to hope in God. Q. How is the fifth petition of the Lord's Prayer read? A. And forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors. A. We ask that God forgive us our sins, just as we forgive those who have sinned against us or offended us. Q. But what happens if we do not forgive others? A. In this case, we ourselves cannot expect forgiveness from God; and therefore it is imperative to forgive offenses and try to be at peace with everyone. Q. How is the sixth petition of the Lord's Prayer read? O. And do not lead us into temptation. A. We ask that God does not allow the devil to somehow deceive us and lead us into sin. Q. How is the seventh petition of the Lord's Prayer read? A. But deliver us from evil. A. We ask that God will deliver us from all evil and disaster. Q. How is the doxology of the Lord’s Prayer read? O. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Q. Why is this added to prayer? A. So that the one who prays not only asks for mercy from God, the Almighty and Ruler of all, but also brings Him the glory that justly belongs to Him. A. The word is sacred, confirming. It means: true or so be it. About the Ten Commandments of God Q. What is the first commandment of God's law? O. I am the Lord your God: let there be no gods for you but Me. Q. What does God command by this commandment? A. By this commandment God commands us: 1) To know Him with our mind. 2) With our hearts, believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him. 3) With our lips we confess and glorify Him. 4) Worship Him with all our being and reverently serve Him with all our might. 5) Apart from the one true God, do not recognize or honor any imaginary gods, and do not give the honor that belongs to the one God to creatures. Q. How should one reason about the veneration of holy Angels and holy men? A. They should be revered not as we honor God, but as servants of God who can bring our prayers to God and give us His grace; why we should ask God for help through them. Q. What is the second commandment of God? O. Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol, or any likeness, such as the tree in heaven, and the tree below on earth, and the tree in the waters under the earth: thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them. Q. What does God forbid with this commandment? A. Prohibits the worship of idols. A. A material representation of some creature, or some fictitious deity, which is worshiped instead of the true God. Q. How should one talk about the veneration of Icons? O. Icons, that is, images of the true God in the flesh, and His Saints, should be used for reverent remembrance of the deeds of God and His Saints, and one should pray before them to God and His Saints. However, this correct and holy reverence for Icons can be turned into the vice of idolatry, when someone attaches all their respect to the holy Icons and relies on their substance, without raising their mind and heart to what they depict. Q. What is the third commandment of God? O. Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. A. Forbids using the name of God in vain. Q. When can you use the name of God? A. You can use the name of God in prayer, in the teaching about God, in oaths and oaths, at the request of your superiors, and then with fear and reverence. Q. Is it permissible to swear in ordinary conversations? Oh no. This is contrary to the third commandment of God. Q. What is the fourth commandment of God? O. Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy: six days you shall do, and in them you shall do all your work; but on the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. A. Work six days a week and do the work to which one is called, and dedicate the seventh day to God, that is, especially use it for prayer, for teaching about God, and for God-pleasing works. Q. Why should the seventh day be dedicated to God? A. Because God created the world in six days; and on the seventh day he rested from all his works. Q. Which of the seven days should we celebrate? A. In ancient times, they celebrated Saturday: and since the resurrection of Christ, the Christian Church has celebrated Resurrection Day. Q. Are there still days that should be dedicated to God? First, the feasts of the Lord. Secondly, the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thirdly, the feasts of the Saints. Fourthly, fast days, which must be sanctified by decent abstinence, according to the establishment of the Church. Q. What is the fifth commandment of God? O. Honor your father and your mother, may you be well, and may you live long on earth. A. Commands us to honor our parents and obey them. Q. Should only parents be honored? A. According to this commandment, we must also honor those who in various respects take the place of parents for us, namely: 1) The Sovereign, as the father of the entire people and the State. 2) Shepherds and spiritual teachers. 4) Educators and benefactors. Q. What is the sixth commandment of God? A. It prohibits taking people’s lives, by violence or cunning, and in any way disturbing the safety and tranquility of one’s neighbor; and therefore this commandment also prohibits quarrels, anger, hatred, envy, and cruelty. Q. What is the seventh commandment of God? A. Adultery, or any disordered and unclean carnal love, as well as everything that can excite lawless love, such as: drunkenness, immodest and shameless words and body movements, reading seductive books, singing and listening to seductive songs, looking at seductive images and sights. Q. What is the eighth commandment of God? A. It prohibits the appropriation of someone else's property, by force or by cunning. Q. What is the ninth commandment of God? A. Do not listen to your friend’s false testimony. A. It prohibits false testimony against someone in court, or, outside of court, to slander, dishonor and slander someone, in person, or in absentia, and in any case to lie or deceive. Q. What is the tenth commandment of God? O. Thou shalt not covet thy sincere wife, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, nor his village, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any of his livestock, nor anything that is thy neighbor's. A. It prohibits not only doing bad things, but also wishing bad things and thinking about bad things, so that bad thoughts and desires do not lead to bad deeds. Q. How should one protect oneself from evil deeds, desires and thoughts? A. We must always remember that the Holy, Just and Almighty God constantly sees us; and therefore, when thinking about sin, one should speak to Joseph, the son of Israel: How can I create this evil verb and sin before God? Addition to the Shorter Catechism Christian instructions adapted to the rank of warriors Main rules of conduct 1. The Holy Apostle Peter wrote: Fear God, honor the King. 1 Peter 2:17. And our Lord Jesus Christ himself said: Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and the things that are God's to the Gods. Matthew 22:21. These are the main rules of behavior for Christians as subjects. 2. And so a Christian warrior must constantly keep in mind two main duties: firstly, to serve God piously, and secondly, to faithfully serve the Sovereign. 3. Believe with all your heart in one God, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, as the Orthodox Church believes. In this faith lies the Divine, all-conquering power. This is the victory that has conquered the world, our faith. 1 John 5:4. 4. Pray in faith. since God is the Creator of everything, nothing good is done without God: and only that is done with God that is done with prayer. Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive it as a believer. Matthew 21:22. 5. When the work of the service does not allow you to come to prayer in church on the legal day and hour: call on the name of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, where and when you can, according to the word of David: bless the Lord, all His works, in every place of His dominion, bless the Lord my soul. Ps.103:22. 6. Love God as an all-good Father, and fear to anger Him with evil deeds, as an omniscient and righteous Judge. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are on their prayer: the face of the Lord is on those who do evil, to consume their memory from the earth. Ps.33:16, 17. 7. If you have sinned: do not hesitate to repent, in the hope of forgiveness for the sake of the Savior of sinners Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whose blood cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7. 8. Remain faithful to the Sovereign in all cases: for you swore an oath of allegiance to Him before God: and therefore, if you become disloyal to the Sovereign, you will thereby prove to be not faithful before God, and God’s oath will fall on your soul. 9 . Be content with the position assigned to you by the Emperor. God especially gave this commandment to the soldiers through John the Baptist: be content with your dues. Luke 3:14. In relation to the Chiefs 10. Obey the Leaders, out of obedience to the Sovereign, who appointed them, for the Divine commandment says: submit to every human authority for the Lord’s sake: whether to the King, as he is predominant, or to the prince, as sent from him, for vengeance by an evildoer, or for praise by a doer of good. 1 Peter 2:13, 14. In relation to colleagues 11. Live in fraternal harmony with everyone, especially good colleagues, and be ready to help them in every labor and need. Brother from brother we help, like the city is hard. Proverbs 18:19. 12. But if they agree to do something vicious, contrary to the law and the oath: then remember the Apostolic word: it is fitting to obey God rather than man, Acts 5:29. and not only firmly refuse consent to evil, but also try prudently to prevent evil. In relation to service matters 13. On guard, be vigilant: a warrior who is careless or unfaithful in the matter of guarding is guilty against his oath, and moreover becomes guilty of any crime that may be committed due to careless or unfaithful guards. 14. In war, be brave, trusting in God, the all-powerful Protector and Helper. Tell yourself what David said to himself: I have trusted in God, I will not fear what man will do to me. Ps.55:12. Behold the eyes of the Lord on those who fear Him, trusting in His mercy, to deliver their souls from death. Ps.32:18, 19. 15. Do not lose courage in danger. If you are faithful to your position, then God will either save you from death or save you by death, which will bring you an imperishable crown. Or evil will not come to you, and the wound will not approach your body: as His Angel commanded you, keep you. Ps.90:10, 11, or your soul will be in the hand of God, among those who, even in the presence of men, will receive torment, their hope of immortality will be fulfilled. Prem.3:1, 4. Remember the word of the Savior: do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Matthew 10:28. 16. Be hardworking and willingly endure the hardships of service. To the first man, and in him to all men, God gave this commandment: by the sweat of your brow you shall eat your bread. Gen.3:19. 17. Do not so much protect your body from wounds and from exhaustion by exploits, but rather protect your soul from the wounds of sin, and your body from defilement and weakening by sinful deeds. Beware of forgetfulness of God, which darkens and hardens the soul; and carnal intemperance, which upsets both soul and body. 18. Try to become a winner over your bad inclinations, as well as over external enemies. The Heavenly King encourages you to this perfect victory when he says: he who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the fearful and unfaithful, and the abominable, and murderers, and those who commit fornication, and those who perform enchantments, idolaters and all who lie, their portion will be in the lake of burning fire and the bogeyman, which is the second death. Rev.21:7, 8. You might be interested in: