Блуд

A deacon who, after accepting the diaconate, fell into fornication, must be expelled from this rank. But let him, who has been reduced to the state of a layman, not be prohibited from communion, because the ancient rule is that those who fall from their degree should be subjected to this one kind of punishment, in which the ancients, as I think, followed this law: not “those who sweep away twice in bulk” (cf. Nahum. 1:9) 8 . But the rule also has another reason, namely, that those who are in the class of the laity, having been cast out from the place of the faithful, are again accepted into the place from which they fell. And the deacon once forever suffers the long punishment of exposition. Why, since the diaconate was not returned to him, did they limit themselves to this one punishment. And this is according to the regulations. In general, the most effective healing is removal from sin. Why did he reject grace for carnal pleasure? If, with heartfelt contrition and all possible enslavement of himself to abstinence, he renounces the pleasures that brought him to the point of fall, he will present to us perfect proof of his healing. Therefore, we must know both: both prescribed by the rules and introduced by custom; in the reasoning of those who cannot achieve perfection, follow the faithful rule (6). Fornication is not marriage or even the beginning of marriage. Therefore, if it is possible for those who have entered into a relationship to be separated for fornication, then this is best, but if they strongly desire to live together, then let them suffer punishment, but also receive permission, so that nothing worse happens (6). Girls who marry against the will of the Father commit fornication. By reconciling with the parents, things seem to be getting better. However, they are not suddenly allowed to participate in communion, but they will remain under punishment for three years (6). Let the fornicator not partake of holy things for seven years, and let him be weeping for two years, listening for two, falling down for two, and standing only with the faithful for one year; in the eighth year he will be admitted to communion (6). Whoever has defiled himself with his sister according to the Father or according to the Mother is not allowed to enter the house of prayer until he renounces this illegal and forbidden deed. He who has come to the consciousness of this terrible sin, let him cry for three years, standing at the door of the prayer house and asking the people who come in to pray, so that each of them, out of compassion, would bring earnest prayer for him to God. After this, in another three years, let him be allowed only to listen to the Scriptures; after listening to the Scriptures and teachings, let him be expelled and not be rewarded with fellowship in prayer. Then, if he seeks prayer with tears and falls to the Lord with contrition of heart and strong humility, then let him be given the right to be among those who fall for the next three years. And thus, when he shows worthy fruits of repentance, in the tenth year let him be admitted to prayer with the faithful without offerings and, having participated in prayer with the faithful for two years, finally may he be granted communion with the Good. The same rule applies to those who marry their daughters-in-law (6). The fathers kept silent about polygamy as something bestial and completely alien to the human race. But to me this sin seems to be something greater than fornication. Therefore, it would be fair to deal with them according to the rules, namely: leave them crying for one year, falling down for three years, and then accept them (6). In Russian translation: the disaster will not happen again. You might be interested in: