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The Kingdom of God is twofold: the kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory. The concept of holy tells us about both. Tikhon in his Spiritual Treasure, collected from the world under the following articles: 1) citizen, 2) lunch or supper, 3) those who eat and drink - at the meal, but other hungry people are not allowed. 1) Citizen. We see in this world that a person, no matter where he lives, calls himself a resident of the city or a citizen in which he has his home, for example: Moscow resident, Moskvich, Novgorod resident, Novgorodian, etc.... Thus, true Christians, although they are converted in this world, nevertheless have a city in the heavenly fatherland, its creator and artist is God (Heb. 11:10). And the inhabitants of this city are called citizens. This city is heavenly Jerusalem, which St. saw. John (Apoc. 21:18–23). On its hills a sweet song is constantly sung: Alleluia. You cannot bring any evil into this city (Apoc. 21:27). Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, creating holiness in the passion of God. 2) Supper. It happens in the world that a noble and rich man holds a rich and noble supper, and invites many people: so God, the Heavenly King, created a great supper of eternal bliss, filled with every consolation and joy, and he called and is calling everyone according to His love for mankind - all, I say, both the glorious and the ignominious, the rich and the poor. He called through the prophets, He called through His only begotten Son, He called through the apostles of the saints; He also calls now through the preachers of His word, shepherds and teachers: Come, for you are all ready (Luke 14:17). Beloved. Christian! And we, the unworthy, are called to this great supper. Let us gratefully accept this mercy of the Heavenly King towards us, and let us hasten with joy to that holy and sweet supper. There we will see the King of Heaven face to face. Let us see His fiery servants, Angel and Archangel; We will see the face of the patriarchs, the face of the prophets, the face of the apostles, saints, the face of the martyrs, the face of the reverend fathers and all those who pleased God, and with all of them we will have a kind friendship. We see that many, as before, denied, and now refuse to go to that sweet supper, and, instead of eternal and heavenly blessings, choose temporal and earthly blessings, and through this they show themselves ungrateful to the King of heaven, and they incite Him to righteous anger: I say to you, says the Lord, that not a single man of those called will taste My supper: for many are call, but few are chosen (Luke 14:24)... This word is terrible! It will come true to those who despise the title of God. Let us fear, and having listened to Him who calls us, let us philosophize on things above, and not on earth. Question What truths regarding the kingdom of God are holy. Tikhon clarifies in the articles Spiritual Treasures: those who eat and drink are at the meal, but other hungry people are not allowed, for their guilt? And those who enter the royal palace (Part 13)? Rep. Listen: as it happens in a certain house, some eat and drink at the meal and are consoled, but the master of the house does not allow others to the meal because of some guilt, and sorrow and sorrow overwhelm them: the same will happen to sinners. They will be overcome by sorrow, and sadness, and unbearable pain, and late regret, when they see the righteous, in consolation, honor and glory, eating at the table of the Lord, but they are deprived of this bliss and are in great torment. And this is what the Lord says to the Jews: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets in the kingdom of God, but you will be driven out (Luke 13:28). So the rich man of the Gospel saw the poor Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham, being consoled, and himself suffering, and heard the answer: Child! remember... etc. (Luke 16:25). The same answer will be heard by all who are now comforted by the blessings of God, but forget God and despise the wretched Lazarus... Those entering the royal palace. Holy for this. Tikhon says this. We see that people who want to enter the royal palace dress in light and clean clothes, but in rags and bad attire they are not allowed there. So only those souls who have bright and pure clothes of conscience enter the palace of the heavenly King... Christians in St. By baptism by the grace of God, they are stripped of their sinful rags and dressed in a pure wedding robe, and thus become worthy of entering the heavenly palace... But many Christians, alas! - many have lost their richly woven clothes and have put on sinful rags... Let's look around, brothers! “A true Christian king is one who rules the people in accordance with the laws and is gifted with the ability to rule. (St. Clim. Alexander. Stromata lib. 1 vol. 1 pag. 416).” We must honor kings and pray for them. God Himself speaks through the mouth of the King-Prophet: do not touch My anointed (Ps. 104:15). Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's (Matthew 22:21). Fear God, honor the King (1 Pet. 2:17). Submit yourselves to every human creature, for the Lord's sake: whether to a King, as He is predominant, or else to a prince, as He has sent Him (1 Pet. 2:13, 14). There is no power but from God; The existing powers were created by God (Rom. 13:1). By the same token, one resists the authorities; one resists God’s command... (Rom. 13:2 et al.). I beg you, first of all, to make prayers, intercessions, petitions, and thanksgivings for all people, for the King and for all who are in power (1 Tim. 2:1, 2). Honor the King, but honor him thoroughly by obeying him and praying for him. For by doing this, you will fulfill the will of God (as the law of God commands Proverbs 24:21, 22. S. Fheophili ad Autolicum, lib. 1. ab calcem operum Sancti Iustini, pag. 344). Question Like St. Tikhon teaches about the Tsar and Monarch? Rep. 1) The monarch does not have an owner over him on earth, but has in heaven - the One who rules heaven and earth (Dan. 4:22). He has no ruler on earth, but he has one in heaven; - has no overseer and judge of man, but has (judge and overseer) God, who does not spare face, but the nobles are put to shame (Wis. 6:7). For this reason, a pious monarch, what he commands to his subjects, himself first has a duty to fulfill; and what he forbids them, he himself must first withdraw from, so that, for what he judges his subjects, his conscience itself does not judge him before God. 2) The king sits in a high place, and therefore is visible to everyone, everyone turns their eyes to him, his deeds and words are noticed, and everyone wants to know what he is doing in their chambers, and they accept their way of life from him and set him as an example for themselves. Therefore, all Christians, and especially those placed on a high candle, should remember this word of Christ: so may your light be enlightened before men (etc. Matthew 5:16). 3) The royal throne is surrounded by many flatterers and caresses, some of whom seek to sneak into the royal favor, others to fulfill their malice against their rivals, etc.... Therefore, the pious crown should not quickly believe such, but test them, and drive out slanderers, following the example of St. David (Ps. 100:5). 4) The royal crown is decorated with wisdom, truth and mercy. The truth demands that everyone be given their due: the good and loyal subjects receive a reward for their loyalty, the evil and faulty receive punishment, and others also have fear. Mercy wants to warm everyone with its embraces; but since many turn out to be unworthy of mercy, wisdom dissolves it with righteousness... This is what the King of Kings does to us... He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). 5) The blessed king has the duty to protect and spread the Holy Church, according to the prophecy: and kings will be your feeders (Isa. 49:23). 6) since the kingdom is governed not by human, but by God's wisdom, and is protected and preserved not by human, but by God's almighty power: then the pious king prays to the King of heaven, that He himself will instruct and make him wise to rule the kingdom. 7) The king bears a great burden of work, and endures a lot of boredom, sadness and exhaustion: therefore, the king’s faithful heart consoles itself and encourages itself with the hope of future reward in the eternal life... For the Lord is righteous: He will reward everyone according to their deeds (Ps. 24:8). Question What truths does St. Tikhon follows. article Spiritual Treasures Gathered from the World: The King Entering a City or a House? Rep. It happens that when a king wants to come to a city or house, his servants and envoys say to the other people living in the city or house: open the gates! The king is coming! And so the king enters the city or house and is received with honor from the citizens or household. So Christ the Lord, the Heavenly King, having come to earth and brought about eternal salvation in the midst of the earth, sent His holy disciples and apostles to all the cities and all the countries of the whole earth to announce His coming and His saving entry to us (Mark 16:15). These messengers of God and faithful servants of Christ, having gone out, preached everywhere, hastening the Lord and confirming the word with subsequent signs (Mark 16:20). In every city and country they said: Open the gates, and the King of heaven will come to you, your King, but unknown to you. He wants to reign in you... And so the King of glory entered the cities and countries of the pagans with His grace and eternal salvation. The Jews, to whom he was sent, did not accept Him as a true King, according to what is written: He came to His own people, and His own did not receive Him (John 1:11). Therefore, the kingdom of God was taken away from them. The pagans, who did not know Him and did not expect Him, with joy and faith opened their cities to Him, and received Him and worshiped Him. And therefore the kingdom of God turned to them. For where Christ is Lord and King of glory, there is the kingdom of God. Thank God that the King of glory and peace, Jesus Christ, has entered into our country, and into our Russian fatherland, and into our cities, and first into Kyiv, and from it to the north, and with him the kingdom of God! Let us cherish this kingdom and life in our souls and in the entire Orthodox Church of our Heavenly King, the Lord Jesus Christ with the Father and His Holy Spirit! Let us strive diligently and effectively so that this kingdom and co-dwelling will last in us all the days - until the end of the age, as Christ the Lord promised (Matthew 28:20)! Question How does Saint Tikhon teach about the Church? Rep. The Church here, of course, is not the church of God, he says (Article 2, Chapter 1, Part 7), as ordinary people generally call it, although the Church of God can be called the Church; because in it the faithful gather for common prayer, glorification of God, thanksgiving, hearing God's word, communion of the Mysteries of Christ, etc. But of course the Church is a meeting of the faithful, living all over the world, in God and Christ - the Son of God right and true believers, enlightened by the preaching of the word of God, and rightly holding the Holy Mysteries. This is what is called the Church! Question What word is Church? Rep. Greek – marks: convocation; because the faithful who are in the Church are called out and brought from the realm of Satan into the kingdom of Christ, from darkness into His wonderful light, as the Apostle teaches: you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, etc.... (1 Pet. 2:9). Question What names does the Church have? Rep. The holy word of God ascribes various names to the holy church. 1) Called the spiritual body of Christ; and her sons are spiritual members who have and recognize the blessed Head of Christ, and are united with that Head by faith and love. For in one natural body there are many uds of imams, says St. ap. Paul (Rom. 12:4, 5): we are also one body in Christ... (See 1 Cor. 10:17; Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18). 2) The Church is called the House of God, because in it, as in His house, sanctified by the blood of Christ, God is pleased to graciously dwell and preserve it. Yes, show how it is fitting to live in the house of God, since the Church of God is alive (1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:6). 3) The bride of Christ is called: I will betroth you (the faithful) to the One Husband and present a pure virgin to Christ (2 Cor. 11:2; Isa. 62:5; Rev. 19:7). Her betrothals are prophets and apostles... St. Chrysostom says this: “This is the image of the deed that happened under Abraham. For he sent a faithful servant to betroth a pagan damsel. And here God sent his servants, to betroth the Church to his Son, and the Prophets from above proclaiming this: hear, daughters, and see... and the King will desire your kindness (Ps. 44:11, 12).” 4) The Church is called the mother of the faithful (Isa. 54:1). She gives birth to her children, not corrupted from seed, but incorruptible, by the word of the living God and abiding forever (1 Pet. 1:23). He educates and grows them with the food of the word of God and St. Tain. 5) The Church is called a sheepfold (John 10:1). In this holy courtyard the faithful, like meek, gentle, peaceful, loving, simple-hearted sheep, are lodged and grazed by the Lord, their Shepherd, who laid down His life for them. 6) The Church is called grapes: you brought grapes from Egypt (Ps. 79:9; Jer. 2:21; Matt. 20:9–18). The vine in this grape is Christ the Son of God; the worker is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:1). The clinging birth to this true vine are His faithful ones, who, by faith and love, uniting with this Vine, are revived by the juice of its grace, are watered and bear fruit. 7) The Church is called the mountain of the Lord, holy and faithful Zion, in which Christ, the Son of David in the flesh, is with the Father and Holy. He has His dwelling place in the Spirit. The Prophet speaks about this mountain of the Lord: and in the last days the mountain of the Lord will be revealed, and the house of God will be on the top of the mountains... and all the nations will go to her and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob (Isa. 2:2, 3; Ps. 14:1). 8) The Church is likened to a ship. You, l. b. Every day you proclaim yourself a son of the Church, reading from the Creed: I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I will explain to you the general concepts of the Church with holy reflection. Tikhon about the ship. “We see in the world,” says the Zadonsk ascetic, ships built for various needs and sailing on the seas. As a ship is at sea, the Holy Church is in the world. The ship is controlled by the helmsman; The Holy Church is ruled by the helmsman Jesus Christ, our Lord. As long as the ship floats on the sea, it is subject to every storm and bad weather and the winds, and wavers: the Holy Church, while it exists in the world, is subject to every storm - troubles, misfortunes and temptations and the temptations of the world, like waves, wavers. But it is said about her: the gates of hell will not prevail against her, - it is said from the helmsman Jesus Christ himself (Matthew 16:18). A ship, sailing on the sea, strives for its place and destination; The Holy Church, floating on the sea of ​​this world, strives for a quiet, eternal haven: there she will have peace. The Holy Church was largely prefigured by Noah's Ark. In Noah's ark various animals, livestock and birds were gathered: so various peoples, like marvelous beasts, gathered into the Holy Church. And behold, foreign women, and Tire, and the people of Ethiopia, these were there (Ps. 86:4). It’s wonderful that in Noah’s ark the fierce beasts were meek and agreed: it was God’s command. Thus, those who have entered the Holy Church put aside their former morals and become meek, peaceful, chaste, accepting the most holy morals of Christ. L.b.! Let's look around, are we inside the Church? The Church is Holy; Her sons must also be saints. What good is it to be registered in the Church, but in the eyes of God to be, like a monster, outside the Church? Fear and save yourself from this! Question What do these names, which belong to one Holy Orthodox Church, suggest to us? Rep. These names, truly great and glorious, ascribed to the Holy Church by the Holy Spirit, serve, says St. Tikhon, for our consolation and instruction. To consolation; for if the Church is so highly exalted by God, then you, as her true son, partake of the same honor and glory, and from thinking about this, such joy may follow in your heart that no sorrow, sorrow, or misfortune that happens in this world can truly sadden you, and you, in the midst of the most ferocious waves of temptation, will dare, crying with the Apostle: who will separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35)? For guidance; - for if the Church is the spiritual body of Christ, and you want to be a member of this blessed Body, then judge for yourself: how holy and pure you should live! What love one must have both for the Most Holy Head of the Body and for Her holy members, that is, true Christians! What a close and pure union with the Most Holy and Most Pure Head and Her members must be! Nothing foul or unclean enters into this holy communion. What has righteousness to do with lawlessness? Or some communication between light and darkness (2 Cor. 6:14)? Take note of this, Christian, when you want to be a member of St. Church of Christ. Holy is the Lord, the Head of the Church; His body, the Church, is holy. Let us also cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, creating holiness in the passion of God (2 Cor. 7:1), so that we will not be cast out from this holy society. Question What a moral teaching from St. Does Tikhon deduce from the name of the Church the house of God? Rep. If the Church is the house of God, the dwelling and city of the heavenly King, and you want to be a citizen and resident of this glorious city: then with what love and zeal should you obey the law of the heavenly King, listen to Him and serve Him, so as not to lose citizenship and the communion of the saints and blessed citizens living in that glorious city?.. Judge for yourself, who does not work for their king? Who does not keep the law and remains without punishment? Who can be a servant of Christ when he does not work for Christ the King in faith and righteousness, and resists the commandment of the Holy Spirit: work for the Lord with fear (Ps. 2:11). Question What do the names of the Church teach us: the bride of Christ, the mother of the faithful, the sheepfold, the grapes of God? Rep. If the Church is the bride of Christ, and you are in this spiritual and mysterious marriage: then what kind of fidelity, purity and love should you maintain towards the immortal and heavenly Bridegroom - Christ the Son of God? How can we be wary of carnal lust, selfish lust and worldly pride, like the fornicators of Babylon? If the Church is the mother of the faithful and is yours: how should you love, honor, listen to Her, as if She gave birth to you by water and the Spirit, and obey Her saving instructions? If the Church is a sheep yard, and you are among the sheep in this yard: think about how you should listen to the voice of Christ, who is the good Shepherd and the Shepherd of His sheep, as He Himself says: My sheep listen to My voice (John 10:11, 3, etc.)? How, I say, should you obey this good Shepherd when you do not want to go astray from His blessed flock and be devoured by the destructive wolf - the devil, who roars like a lion and walks around, looking for someone to devour? If the Church is the vine of God, and you are in it: then how tightly should you hold on to the faith and love of the true vine - Christ, and produce fruit pleasing to the Worker God, so that, like an indecent rod that does not produce the fruit of good, you are not cast out, and, like a withered one, are not given over to be burned with eternal fire, according to the word of Christ: unless anyone abide in Me, it is cast out like a rod, and it dries up, and they gather it, and put it into the fire, and it burns up (John 15:6), and His Holy Forerunner: every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:10)? Question What moral teaching does St. Tikhon from the names of St. Orthodox Church: Mount of the Lord, ship? Rep. If the Church of Christ is the mountain of the Lord, and you dwell in this mountain; then you must in every possible way remove yourself from the filthy swamps and bogs of this world, in which all uncleanness and stench is found, and rise in spirit to the heavenly mountain, in which is the dwelling place of the blessed spirits, peace and triumph, and which is spoken of (Heb. 12:22, 23). Finally, when the Church of Christ is a ship saving us from the wrath of God and the terrible flood of hell, and you are in this ship: beware of angering the Helmsman - Christ, so that you do not fall out of this ship of salvation and perish in the eternal wrath of God and the judgment flood. For all in this one ark are saved - all who have been saved and are being saved... Do you see, beloved brother, that there is a Church of Christ, and how great is Her splendor, and how blessed are those who are Her true sons? Know, in addition to this, that these names actually belong only to St. The Orthodox-Catholic Church, which is one, is the true Church of God, that these names cannot be adopted either by Latin Catholicism, or by Lutheranism, or by schism, or by any other heretical and schismatic community. Question I see, I see with reverence, and I thank my Trinitarian God for the fact that I am the son of St. The Orthodox Church, and not some wrong false Christian community. But who is this true St. Son of the Church? Rep. He who rightly and sincerely believes in God and Christ the Son of God, by the bath of St. He has been washed and shows the fruits of his Faith and new spiritual birth, he lives piously in Christ Jesus, he has the true fear of God, he strives against all sin and strives to do good deeds. But Christians who live fearlessly and do not practice repentance and its fruits do not belong to the Holy Church, although they are baptized in the name of the Most Holy Trinity; since they do not have true faith, and without faith to be a member of the Holy. Church is impossible. Which of these will turn sincerely and create the fruits of repentance; he is again accepted into Church communion by the mercy of God and becomes a true son of the holy Church. Question What are the properties of the Holy Orthodox Church? Rep. Eternity. The Holy Church, as it was and is, so it will be until the end of time, according to the promise of the Lord: the gates of hell will not prevail against Her (Matthew 16:18). “Behold, I am with you until the end of the age,” says Christ (Matthew 28:20). Unity. The Holy Church is one. For 1) there is one God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to whom the Holy. The Church believes, serves, worships and honors. 2) The one foundation of the Church is Jesus Christ: for no one can lay another foundation than the one that lies, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). There is only one teaching of God's word, by which She is instructed, enlightened, strengthened and saved. 4) One is the faith that She has in the one Trinitarian God. 5) The Holy Mysteries by which one is saved are one. 6) There is one spiritual and mysterious body, whose head is Christ. 7) There is one Spirit by whom he is led, quickened and sanctified. 8) There is one hope for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. All this is St. The Apostle briefly put it this way: one body, one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in us all (Eph. 4:4, 5, 6). For although the faithful and saints of God are scattered over the face of the whole earth, they nevertheless form one blessed society for the reasons explained. Question Why is the Holy Church called militant? Rep. The Holy Church, which is on earth in this world, is called militant because, with the help of God, it struggles against its enemies: the devil, the flesh, the world and sin. The holy Apostle, the brave warrior of Christ, speaks to her: my brethren, pray for the Lord and for the power of His strength; Put on the full armor of God, for you are able to stand against the wiles of the devil: for our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the principles and against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spirits of wickedness in high places. For this reason, accept all the weapons of God, so that you will be able to resist on the day of cruelty, and everything you have done. Therefore gird your loins with truth, and put on the breastplate of righteousness, and put on your shoes, in preparation for the gospel of peace; over all these, take up the shield of faith, and take up the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:10–17). Question What is meant by the triumphant Church? Rep. The Militant Church, when through its labors and exploits it rests in the heavenly fatherland, and looks forward to the resurrection of the dead, and according to it - the most perfect reward with the same bodies with which they labored here, is called from St. The Father and teachers are triumphant, because he triumphantly triumphs over the devil, death, and hell, and together with the face of the Angels he sings and praises God. Note, Christian, the saint adds. Tikhon. 1) Who really is a member of the militant Church and struggles against the devil and sin; he, at the end of his temporary life, moves into the triumphant Church, if he is faithful to the end. He who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). Be faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life (Apoc. 2:10). 2) After the general resurrection and the end of the universal judgment of Christ, there will be one triumphant Church, which will endlessly see God face to face (1 Cor. 13:12), and rejoice and be glad, exclaim and in the joy of the spirit praise His infinite goodness. 3) We, dear Christians, we strive to be true sons of the Church of the saints, militant, struggling, and in the triumphant one we will achieve the grace of Christ our Savior, to whom, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be honor, glory and thanksgiving forever. Amen. Remember us, O Lord, for the good pleasure of Your people! Visit us with Thy salvation, to see Thy chosen ones in goodness, to rejoice in the joy of Thy tongue, to glory in Thy inheritance (Ps. 106:4, 5. Book 7)! Question Like St. Tikhon talks about the triumph and eternal glory of God's chosen ones? Rep. And I heard the voice of many people, and the voice of many waters, and the voice of mighty thunder, saying: Alleluia: for the Lord Almighty reigns. We rejoice and are glad and give glory to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared food for herself. And it was given to her to be clothed in fine linen, clean and bright: for the fine linen is the justification of the Saints (Apoc. 19:6–8). At the end of the righteous judgment of Christ, St. speaks these words. Tikhon, the chosen ones of God will go with triumph and shouting into the eternal belly: they will enter into the joy of their Lord as faithful servants (Matthew 25:21), they will receive an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, preserved in heaven for their sake (1 Pet. 1:4). They will not hunger, they will thirst, and the sun and every heat will not be allowed to fall on them: for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed me, and will guide them to the springs of animal waters (Apoc. 7:16, 17). Move into St. the heavenly Jerusalem, which has the glory of God (Apoc. 21:11), where there will be no night, for the Lord God enlightens me; and they will reign forever and ever (Apoc. 22:5). They will rejoice in the Lord with joy, saying: Let my soul rejoice in the Lord, for he has clothed me with the robe of salvation (Isa. 61:10)! The Lord will also rejoice over them: and it will be as the groom rejoices over the bride, so the Lord will rejoice over you (Isa. 62:5). They will see God their Father face to face (1 Cor. 13:12). And they will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). God will also look at them, like a loving father at his beloved sons. They will see Christ the Son of God, who redeemed them with His blood; they will see Him in His Divine glory, Whom they followed here with humility, love, and patience; about which He himself prayed: Father, you have given them to Me, even as I want them, that even where I am, they also may be with Me, that they may see My glory, which You have given to Me (John 17:24). They will be filled with all gifts, consolation, joy and sweetness of the Holy Spirit, like a living and life-giving source. They will have a kind friendship with St. The angels, and together with them, will praise the Lord forever and ever. Then they will triumph gloriously and cheerfully in the joy of spirit over death, hell and the devil. Where is the sting, death? Where is the victory (1 Cor. 15:55)? They will sing a sweet song: Alleluia. Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to God. O God the Father, the Only Begotten Son of God and the Holy Soul, Trinitarian God, my Creator, Savior and Provider, unflickering light, unfalse truth, eternal love, endless goodness, incomprehensible omnipotence, incomprehensible wisdom, ever-present eternity, beginningless beginning, all active power, the life of all living! Live me, enlighten me and enlighten me, so that I can see Your love and goodness, which You have shown to the human race (Part 9). Question What sacred rite serves as the door to St. Church ? Rep. Holy Baptism is the door by which those who are baptized enter the Church of God. And what is the key to opening this door? Faith in Christ the Son of God is, as it were, the key with which this door of salvation is opened. For anyone who wishes to be baptized must first believe in Christ, as the Savior and Savior of the world, and know no other means to receive eternal life except Him (John 14:6). And then, with this faith, be baptized in the name of the Trinitarian God - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and enter into the maternal womb of St. Churches. Question What should we most know and remember about St. baptism, which is the door to St. Church and about faith, which is the key to this door? Rep. Holy baptism mainly consists of: 1) the denial of Satan and all his works, angels, etc. as in the statutes on Baptism it is depicted: this negation is pronounced by the aged themselves, and instead of infants - by their recipients. Who is this Satan? Who are his angels and what are his works? Satan is an evil spirit, created good by God, but by his own will he departed from his Creator and became evil and the leader of all evil and sin. His angels are also spirits created by God as good, and they are also evil spirits for the human race, like their leader, very hostile (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6; John 8:44). His deeds are dark deeds, sins and iniquities. He is the inventor and leader of that daring sin into which he led our ancestors, and with them us, with his cunning, and took us away from God into his dark region. He serves Satan who, fulfilling his evil will, commits sin (1 John 3:8). We renounce all this, that is, Satan, his evil deeds, his evil and destructive ministry. For everyone who is outside the Church, without true faith in Christ, is in the kingdom and region of the devil, and serves and works for him as captives. Question How is our liberation through baptism from the power of the devil depicted in the Old Testament? Rep. Just as the Israelites, through the passage of the Red Sea, were freed from the work of Pharaoh by the power of God, so Christians, the new Israel, by faith and the Holy. through baptism they are delivered from the work of the devil. 2) In St. At baptism, having renounced Satan and his vile ministry, we promise to serve Christ the Son of God with the Father and the Holy Spirit until death. And just as the warriors of the world, this and others, who are included in the ranks and ranks, promise, and affirm their promise with an oath, that they have to serve the monarch and society with faith and truth: so those who are baptized are enrolled in the service of Christ and promise to work faithfully with Him with the Father and the Spirit, to listen to and fulfill His commands, repeating this promise, as well as the denial, three times, and thus in St. At baptism we enter into a covenant with God. Question What should we remember about faith? Rep. Faith is the key, as stated above, to baptism. What is faith? If someone said that true faith is the right content and the confession of right dogmas, he would be telling the truth. But this single knowledge and confession does not make a person a truly faithful and true Christian... True faith in Christ is in the heart (and not just in the mind), and is fruitful, humble, patient, loving, merciful, humane, compassionate, hungry and thirsty for righteousness... it moves away from worldly lusts and cleaves to the one God, always to the heavenly and eternal - strives against all sin struggles, and constantly asks and seeks help from God. Hence, the Apostles everywhere in their Epistles encourage believers to know the fruits of faith, that is, good deeds: give virtue to your faith, to virtue reason, to reason abstinence, to abstinence patience, and so on. (2 Pet. 1:5–7). And they incite people to struggle against sin (1 Pet. 5:8, 9). External composition of St. The Church is composed of pastors and flocks, or clergy and laity. The meaning and duties of the clergy are holy. Tikhon sets out ten points of his conversation with the clergy. “By the grace of God, humble Tikhon, Bishop of Voronezh and Yelets, the archimandrites, abbots, hieromonks, archpriests, priests and other clergy of the Voronezh diocese, the brethren, beloved in Christ, rejoice in the Lord God. 1) Woe, according to Christ’s words, to the man to whom temptation comes. You are the one who placed the lamps on the candlestick, which everyone looks at and accepts as an example! You are the light of the world! You are the salt of the earth! How will you serve - perform sacred services in the morning, when yesterday your delegates saw you drunk, quarreling, and disorderly? For this purpose, I pastorally advise, I fraternally exhort: beware of intemperance in every possible way, so that you can more easily avoid sin and not cause stumbles to your neighbor. 2) Not only a bad word, but also a rotten word, I say apostolically, let it not come out of your mouth. Every word that is idle, unhelpful, spoken not for the purpose of creation, is a rotten word, for which you will have to give an answer on the day of judgment... 3) Have peace and love among yourselves - brotherly love... enduring each other with love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace... (Eph. 4:1-3). If anyone is hostile and angry at his neighbor, he should not even begin to serve in the priesthood, otherwise he will greatly sin. 4) Remember also that Christ the Lord has made you guards of His house, that is, the Holy Church. You must, as faithful servants of Christ, protect His holy house in deed, word and thought. By deed - showing an example of honest and Christ-imitating life to the people entrusted to you by Christ our Savior, so that by seeing your good deeds they will glorify the Heavenly Father. In a word, it is fitting to instruct and teach to keep the law of God. By thought: always think about the spiritual benefit of verbal sheep. The 5th paragraph talks about Christian joy on holidays, which is already given above in this book. Points 6, 7, 8, and 9 of Tikhon’s instructions to the clergy contain a pastoral reminder of how to prepare and begin the priestly service, thinking, reflecting and reasoning, how and with what feelings it is appropriate to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, which forms the entire mystery of the viewing of our Savior; about reading St. Scripture, and especially the Gospel and the Apostolic Epistles. If you read the Gospel, Christ God speaks to you. When you read and pray to Him, you are talking to Him. If you leave Him, what will happen to you?.. Behold for you! God between you and me is a mediator. Finally, paragraph 10 talks about the reasoning and fear with which the confessor should confess the penitent. St. Tikhon concludes: Having written this briefly to you, I conclude with the word of the Apostle: I will testify before God and our Lord Jesus Christ and His chosen Angels that you may preserve this without hypocrisy, doing nothing out of deviation (1 Tim. 5:21). And again: be an image by faithful speech, life, love, spirit, faith and purity (1 Tim. 4:12). May the Lord God have mercy on you and protect you with His Divine fear and enlighten your heart to do His holy will and live worthy of the title! Pray also for my unworthiness, that the merciful Lord may have mercy on me and instruct me in how I should live in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen". Note About the flock or the laity was previously in its place. It is absolutely necessary, says Saint Tikhon in letter 3 about faith (Part 14), who wants to be saved - to maintain Orthodoxy or the right Faith. But this alone is not sufficient for salvation. For even demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). They believe that there is one God, that Christ came into the world, and they fear His holy name. For this reason, the Apostle demands that we show faith by works (James 3:13). For just as a good tree comes from good fruits, so true and heartfelt faith is known from good deeds. Many call themselves Orthodox Christians, that is, true believers, but their deeds show otherwise. They show faith and Orthodoxy on their lips, but from their deeds they are pagans or inferior. They confess God, but by works they repudiate Him (Titus 1:16). It is therefore necessary, along with Orthodoxy, to have a living faith, which will inevitably be followed by similar deeds... Strive to have this faith, and you will be saved. Save yourself. Question What should an Orthodox Russian know about the beginning and initial state of the Orthodox Russian Church? Rep. This is what we read about this subject from St. Demetrius of Rostov in his chronicle. 1) The Orthodox city of Kyiv - the holy cradle of the Russian Church - was founded in the same year, there is no news in many Russian chronicles; but its beginning is traced back to the beginning of the Gospel sermon. When the grace of the Holy Spirit Having received the apostles, they burst into tears throughout the whole earth - to preach the Gospel to every creature: then our great Russian intercessor, St. the Apostle Andrew the first-called, by lot, sowing the fruitful seed of the Gospel in Europe, set off for the Greek land to the Scythians; He reached Kherson and, having learned that the mouth of the Dnieper was nearby, sailed up the Dnieper and, approaching the high mountains (which are now Kyiv), stood under them, and ascending these mountains, blessed them, and planted a cross on the place where the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was later built (now from the generosity of Elisaveta Petrovna, a tall and elegant architecture - in the name of St. Apostle Andrew), and He prophetically spoke to his disciples: the grace of God will shine on these mountains, and the city will be great, and the Lord God will erect in it many churches. 2) Leta from R. X. 955, Grand Duchess of Kiev and all Russia - Olga, with a great estate, go by ship to Constantinople, with Russian bolyars and nobles in the presence of Caesar of Greece, giving him great gifts and receiving St. baptism... Returning, Grand Duchess Olga, the original from St. baptism, Mother of Russia - Elena, to Kyiv, converted many Rosses to Christ... and in Kyiv, the first Church of St. Place Nicholas on Oskold's grave. 3) With this blessing and prayer, the Patriarch of Constantinople admonished Olga: blessed art thou among the wives of Russia! Bless you all! 4) When Grand Duke Vladimir, Olga’s grandson, autocrat of all Russia, became famous more than others for his courage and greatness... ambassadors from different kingdoms and principalities began to come to him, everyone praising their faith - Mohammedans, Germans, Jews, Latins; but they were all sent away, only ambassadors from the Greek Caesars and Patriarchs had a place with him with faith and their charter, says the chronicler. Kirill the philosopher, like a wise man, talked a lot with Vladimir about the Christian faith, starting from the creation of the world. The latter, having proposed the second coming of Christ, handed him from the Greek Caesars and the Patriarch an image of the Last Judgment of God... Vladimir, having heard the explanation of the one depicted, sighed and said: blessed are these who stand at the right hand; woe to those who will be left behind. If the king were baptized, Cyril answered, and if you cease evil deeds, you will be at the right hand; If you live in filthiness, your place will be ruined. “I will reason,” said Vladimir, and tempt the good of all faiths,” and released the philosopher with gifts and honor. 5) After the departure of St. Kirill the philosopher... Vladimir offered his boyars a word about various ambassadors sent to him to praise their faith, and about Kirill, who told him from the beginning of the world to the incarnation of the Lord, and about the resurrection and about the kingdom of heaven and about Gehenna. “Everyone always praises his own, and never blasphemes,” replied the boyars. But you, Grand Duke, if you want to know for sure, go into all the kingdoms of the earth, so that those sent will see and know all faith, and how anyone serves God.” According to this advice, Vladimir soon sent selected men who, having been in different countries, finally came to Constantinople, and announced to the Greek kings Vasily and Constantine, the brothers, the guilt of their coming; The kings, rejoicing, informed the Patriarch of Constantinople Sergius about this... During the Liturgy, the ambassadors of Vladimirov, seeing the beauty of the glory of God and hearing the sweet singing, were greatly surprised, not on earth, but in heaven, they stood for me: in the autumn for them at that time the heavenly light... 6) Upon their return to Kyiv, Vladimir ordered them, in front of all the bolyars, and advisers and wise ones, to tell what they had seen and heard about all faiths and services. The envoys said that not a single ministry and faith was loved as much as the Greek ones. “When, so they said, they brought us into the Greek Church, in which they pray to their God and perform the rite of God’s service, we saw there the indescribable beauty and splendor in their church, and the singing was so sweet to hear, where the cloud of autumn was bright for all of us, and we were in a frenzy; I imagine we are not on earth, but in heaven at that time... For this reason, we believe that their true Faith exists, and the true God only lives with them.” Then the boyars also added this: “If only the Greek Faith were not truthful; then your woman Olga would not have believed; for the woman is not very wise. Vladimir, illuminated by the grace of the Holy Spirit, from the darkness of idolatry, as if from a dream, having risen, the Holy Greek Faith with external and internal eyes, like a luminous light on the candlestick, saw and knew that it was truly righteous and true, and said: “What will I do? I will go to the land of Greece, and I will take the cities, and there I will find teachers.” And as he intended, so he did. 7) Vladimir gathered great strength and went to Tavrikia, now called Perekop; took Kafa (present-day Sevastopol), and then the main place of all Tauria - Kherson (here, two years before this, the Church of the Lord was founded, but the Anglo-Franco-Turkish force prevented the matter). He wrote to the Greek kings: “Because I love your faith more than all others, send a bishop to baptize me, and come to me with your sister, or send her to me as a wife; I will return to you all of Tavrikia and Kherson.” He was afraid of the gods, having lost his sight; but, on the advice of the arriving princess Anna, having received holy baptism, he regained his sight with his physical and spiritual eyes. 8) Ithako, writes St. Demetrius of Rostov in his chronicle, the great All-Russian autocrat Vladimir Svyatoslavich, having accepted the Orthodox Christian Faith, began to baptize in Kherson, in the year 6,496 from the creation of the world, and 988 from the birth of Christ. When they began to be baptized, a glorious miracle happened: for as soon as Vladimir entered the holy font, and the Archbishop of Kherson laid his hand on him, that he might receive the Holy Spirit, when the blindness in his eyes, like scales, fell away, and he saw clearly and cried out: “Now I know the true God.” Then the boyars and the entire Russian army were baptized in front of him... He erected a stone church in Kherson in the name of St. Vasily, in memory of the name of his baptized one. In joyful union with Princess Anna, having received the blessing from Patriarch Sergius and Metropolitan Michael, he set off back by water to the mouth of the Dnieper; and brought with him to Kyiv the relics of St. the Hieromartyr Clement and many others, as well as icons, vessels and various church utensils and the Archpriest of Kherson Anastasius, and many presbyters, deacons, clergy, singers, monks and artists for the construction of God’s holy churches. 9) The great autocrat Vladimir appointed a day for baptism for all the people. At the appointed time, men and women all gathered at the Pochaina River; and Vladimir himself arrived with the entire synclite and consecrated cathedral; - and people went into the river, older ones - deeper, younger ones - shallower, some - up to the neck, others - up to the waist; and the priests gave names to each, and read baptismal prayers, immersing themselves in water and making the sign of the cross in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. In this place, during the reign of Pochaina, a church was built in the name of Boris and Gleb (now it does not exist). 10) At that time, Metropolitan Michael baptized the twelve sons of Vladimir at the source, which is still called Khreshchatyk. 11) According to St. baptism, Vladimir offered this prayer to the Lord God: Lord God, who created heaven and earth! look upon your newly baptized Russian people, and grant them, Lord, to truly know You, the true God, confirm them in the Orthodox Faith, and help me. Amen. And he ordered the idols and idols to be destroyed, crushed and completely eradicated, and in their places to build Divine churches... And Vladimir sent throughout all the cities and villages of his entire Russian state to baptize all the Russian people; for those who did not want to be baptized, as against God and themselves, he instituted execution... And soon, with three bishops sent from Patriarch Sergius, he personally set off from Kiev to the countries of Suzdal, Rostov, Novgorod to introduce the faith of Christ. And so, from that time on, all the Russian peoples received the holy Orthodox Faith from the Greeks, and were enlightened by holy baptism, and strengthened in Christianity, they remain strong and motionless, says the chronicler. Question How should Christians celebrate their holidays? Rep. The pagans, who do not know the true God, celebrate their vain gods or demons - in drunkenness, in uncleanness, lust, goat-crying, abominable and fornicating songs, disgraces, horse riding and in other disorderly gaiety, as we read in the stories about them. Christians should look around to see if they, too, are celebrating their Church celebrations in the likeness of the pagans - celebrations dedicated to the living and terrible God, Who in those glorious days performed miracles and poured out great blessings on our race? When they celebrate this way, they undoubtedly celebrate not the living God, but the demons, His enemies, although they name the name of the true God; and so they make a sacrifice to them, although they do not notice it... Since this matter is lawless and terrible, I leave it to them to judge. There was a notable one between pagan holidays - a holiday dedicated to the idol Bacchus, called Bacchanalia, and in Russian dialect it can be called Maslenitsa. On this frantic holiday, all drunkenness and all uncleanness spilled out. Following this madness and fury of the pagans, many Christians, having been chosen by their name for their race, the royal priesthood, the holy language, the people of renewal (1 Pet. 2:9), established the celebration of Shrovetide, on which, as everyone knows, all passions and whims commit frenzy. I cannot describe this fury, says St. Tikhon, but I only remember such Christians that they have forgotten their title, that they and the idolaters sacrifice their souls to the demon, which Christ the Son of God redeemed not with silver or gold, but with honest blood. Christians should avoid such celebrations, such as pagan abominations, in which the demonic will is carried out and the name of God is blasphemed, according to the admonition of the Apostle (Rom. 13:12). And those who celebrate this way should feel and repent, and leave them behind, so that not with the pagans in eternal fire, instead of joy and sweets, they will cry forever and uselessly... Moving away from pagan custom, how can one celebrate holy holidays in a Christian way and worthy of one’s calling? 1) The saints gather in church for common prayer, glorification, praise of God, hearing the word of God - and gather in the evening, morning and noon; that is, for Vespers, Matins and Liturgy, and in homes - do not abandon sacred activities. 2) Remember the wonderful and saving deeds of God, mercifully accomplished in those days for our salvation; meditate on them, and with a joyful spirit thank God for them. These deeds are fairly described and explained in church verses and songs sung on those holidays. 3) From these holidays, raise your mind and heart by faith to the eternal holiday, on which God’s chosen ones, having rested from the labors and illnesses suffered in this world, will unceasingly celebrate and silently sing and praise the goodness of God; and raising your mind, pray to God, who loves mankind, and grant some of the elect themselves... 4) Although always, but most importantly - in these days, bring the poor into your homes, and feed and give alms. With such sacrifices God is pleased (Heb. 13:16). 5) Oh, what a bright and favorable holiday it would be, when Christians, putting aside all malice and all flattery, and hypocrisy, and envy and all slander, and other whims, running away, visited each other, and kissing the saints with a kiss, told each other God's miracles, boasted about His holy name, talked about eternal life and its joy, and how sweet it is food, they nourished their souls... 6) A wonderful holiday, which the Christian heart always desires, to eat - to be abolished from sin (Rom. 6:6): this holiday is not only on the solemn and bright days of St. Churches, but Christians should always celebrate. For without this, no Christian holiday can be celebrated in a Christian way. I will offer you, reverent reader of Saint Tikhon, an explanation of some Church hymns from his works. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked will perish (Ps. 1:6). What do we learn from the holy singer? 1) Because the life of every person in this world is a path; and every person, as long as he lives in this world, is a traveler; He begins this path at birth and ends it at death. 2) Through the path here we mean all kinds of undertakings, intentions, words, deeds and works. 3) The path is twofold - the path of the righteous and the path of the wicked. Just as the Lord created the sensual sun, so that they could see and do all their deeds in its radiance: so the same Creator gave the lamp of His law, so that everyone, looking at it, could direct their life according to it, that is, their thoughts, words, deeds. A lamp for my feet is Your law, and a light for my paths (Ps. 119:105). 4) The Lord knows and praises the righteous path, that is, life in accordance with the law, and leads to a prosperous end, eternal bliss. The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: the Lord knows Him who is (2 Tim. 2:19). He also knows the way of the wicked, but does not praise it, for God does not like iniquity (Ps. 5:5). Therefore, their path will not perish, that is, it will lead them to eternal destruction... Then they will feel it and cry out: for we have gone astray from the true path, and the light of righteousness has not shone upon us (etc. Pres. 5:6). And now the king understand, punish all those who judge the earth. Work for the Lord with fear (Ps. 2:10:11). What is David singing here? 1) This psalm, i.e. the second, contains a prophecy about Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world, to reign over the Church and over the whole world, and about the resistance to Him and the rebellion against Him of the Jews, kings and all languages, vain and vain... But the pricks are cruel against him. What God has decreed and determined in His holy council is also accomplished by deed itself. Who can resist His will? The Lord destroys the councils of tongues... But the council of the Lord endures forever (Ps. 32:10, 11). Therefore, the Holy Spirit exhorts through David: “And now kings understand,” the Holy Spirit exhorts, so that they may feel and look around and understand how foolish it is to resist the One whose power, mania and will they all obey. 2) God, being generous and merciful, does not want the death of a sinner; Therefore, he exhorts them to correct themselves and accept the salvation that He sent them through His only begotten Son... And now the kings understand. Now, before time has passed, until the time of grace. Work for the Lord with fear, etc. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Understand the power of Christ's coming into the world. He was sent into the world from the Heavenly Father. Then, thinking about your unworthiness and reasoning about His Majesty, with joy bow your neck under His holy and good yoke. Work for the Lord. Cast off the heavy yoke of Satan from your neck, and take the yoke of Christ upon yourself. This paternal admonition applies not only to all people who do not accept Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world, such as: idolaters, Mohammedans, Jews, but also those who are called Christians, who, although they accept Christ and His teaching, but by their deeds reject Him, they are abominations, and are disobedient and unskillful in every good work (Tit. 1:16). Blessed are all who hope, David concluded his inspired song (Ps. 2:12). What's here? 1) The holy prophet calls those blessed who, with heartfelt faith, accept the Son of God as their Redeemer and Savior, and place all their hope in Him... 2) Hope is embellished by adversity and disaster. It is clear here who is relying on whom - whether in Christ God, or in something else!.. Faith, hope and patience are inseparable. Faith sees and recognizes Christ as its helper and deliverer; hope is confirmed in Him, and asks for help and deliverance from Him; patience awaits Him, although He hesitates. Be patient with the Lord (Ps. 26:14). The greatest and most severe temptation is hope, when thoughts confuse and want to lead one into despondency and despair, and one hears in the heart: there is no salvation for him in his God. This is the devil’s deceit... Here we must endure most of all, take courage, strengthen ourselves and overcome the wiles of the enemy with hope... Our hope sits at the right hand of God. Let us hold on to it, and let us not be ashamed forever. Blessed are all who hope. Be healthy and be saved in Christ! To him be thanksgiving and glory forever! Amen (Part 1). Question What are the church commandments? Rep. The Orthodox Confession of the Catholic and Apostolic Church of the East indicates nine of the most important church commandments. The first commands everyone to pray to God with contrition and tenderness of heart and to fulfill the statutes of the Church on all Sundays and holidays, that is, to listen to Matins, Liturgy, Vespers and teachings... The second prescribes that a Christian annually observe four specific fasts... Moreover, he must fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, and on September 14 and August 29. The third church commandment prescribes that the spiritual be given due respect, as servants of God and mediators who intercede for us before God, especially those who confess us as spiritual fathers, and that we consult with them about our salvation... The fourth is that we, four times a year, confess our sins before a priest legally and orthodoxly ordained; and those who succeed in piety and holy life, every month... Patients must first of all try to clear their conscience through confession and partake of the Holy mysteries. Fifth, so that those inexperienced in the knowledge of St. Scriptures and sciences did not read books written by heretics, did not listen to their blasphemous teachings and would not have any treatment with them. The sixth commands us to pray to the all-good God for every rank of people... for the sovereign, for the entire synclite, and for the entire government, for the army, and especially for those who benefit the saint. churches, and care about the spread of the Catholic Orthodox faith; for the spiritual, such as: for the most holy patriarch, (for the Holy Synod), for the metropolitan, for the diocesan bishop (1 Tim. 2:1-3). In addition to this, pray for the departed who died in the Orthodox faith; and - for heretics and schismatics, so that they turn to the Orthodox faith before the end of their lives. The seventh prescribes fasts and prayers, appointed especially by the metropolitan or bishop in his diocese, for some need, such as: to turn away the righteous wrath of God that threatens the people, for deliverance from ulcers or hunger, or lack of rain, etc., must certainly be observed in that diocese following the example (Acts 12:5). The Eighth inspires and prescribes the inviolability of Church property of all kinds and for everyone. The ninth prohibits marriages on unblessed days; also attend unauthorized games and shows. Observe this, every Orthodox Christian! One of the most important and powerful obstacles to maintaining chastity is vain and charming adornment. Question What does St. say about this? Tikhon? Rep. The beginning of clothing is sin (Gen. 3:7, 21). Sin revealed their nakedness to the first people and created shame and disgrace that required covering. Therefore St. Andrey Kritsky broadcasts in the newscast. canon like this: “Sewing leather garments is a sin for me, exposing me to richly woven garments. How bad do people do who look for decoration in clothes, and make clothes not for the sake of covering their nakedness, but for the sake of decoration and ostentation! They set themselves in honor that which shows dishonor; from this they seek praise, because they expose sin; We are proud of something that should humble us: our clothing is a sign of transgression... The great vanity and disgrace to Christianity is that wives smear their faces with whitewash, paints and ointments. For why are they doing this trifle? It is impossible to find any other reason other than to appear to people or, what is worse, to enter into love... Young and unsteady hearts will suffer no small battle from this charm. But if decoration lovers look around, this is what they will see. 1) They put up for auction what is not for sale and what should be kept like the apple of their eye. Ah, that poor Christian who brightens her face but darkens her soul! He decorates his appearance, but loses the beauty of his soul, and, like a monster, appears as a soul before God and the angels. 2) By vain and charming decoration, in addition to undermining and destroying chastity, they distort, or rather distort, God’s work, a perfect work, and thereby humiliate the all-wise Creator, who bestowed upon everyone his age, appearance and kindness, like that ignorant artist who would have conveyed a beautifully painted image from a painter in his own way... It is more fitting for Christians to adorn themselves, not with the outward braiding of their hair, and the overlay of gold and the fineness of their garments, but with the secret of their hearts, in the incorruption of a meek and silent man (1 Pet. 3:3, 4)... 3) They do something bad when they go to dinners and evenings in beautiful adornment; but, even worse than that, with the same trifles the saints dare to enter churches, and to show off and display themselves to those entering... They turn the holy churches into disgraces or into something more dishonest than disgraces... “What do you say, Chrysostom denounces them? Do you come to pray to God, clothed in gold and wickerwork? Have you come to rejoice? Should I join the marriage? Did you come to the apparition? Tamo gold, tamo chasuble, tamo weaving, etc. (Conversations 8 on 1 to Timothy).” Question Like St. Is Tikhon admonishing lovers of charming and vain decoration? Rep. 1) To decorate the body, which will soon turn to dust and earth, but neglect the immortal soul, is great madness. It is impossible for him not to neglect the soul, who adorns his body for display and vanity... Only virtue is the adornment of the soul. 2) Wives who beautifully and vainly adorn themselves should give an answer to the righteous Judge for the temptation. Woe to that man, for to them the temptation comes (Matthew 18:7)! It’s no small insult to a young heart from a woman’s face, much less from a face that is adorned to seduce. For the devil does not have a better and more convenient tool for seducing young hearts and trapping in a net of uncleanness, like a woman’s face, and even more so, a skillfully constructed one, and smeared with stinks and ointments. Such a face is a strong arrow, with which he wounds many... It is terrible to seduce one person, because every person has been redeemed by the blood of Christ: how much more - many. And how many of them are there who, with feigned beauty, seduce and destroy chastity!.. Let this word thunder in the ears of wives and husbands who love adornment to deceive: woe, temptation comes to them (Read. 3 ch. Isaiah. From the book 5)! Note Chastity is a virtue so high that in all St. We ask God for it from God many times a day through the prayer of St. Ephraim: the spirit of chastity... grant me.