July 6, 7533
Much depends on the circumstances—whether you are visiting them or they are visiting you. There are numerous Church rules that regulate our conduct regarding heretics. What do these rules say? Looking at their context and interpretations, they prohibit joint prayer with heretics or those excommunicated from the Church, whether at home, privately, or in a…
Christians are called people “not of this world,” not because they live outside the world, but because they do not submit to the prince of this world, that is, the devil. Instead, they submit to Christ, who, on the contrary, sends them into the world. Why? To proclaim the message of Christ: “As Thou hast…
Theaters, public performances, and other forms of entertainment have long been integral parts of social life. The Christian Church has coexisted with these phenomena for centuries and has documented its experiences in the canons of Ecumenical and Local Councils. These canons are explained by well-known Orthodox canonists such as Zonaras, Valsamon, and Aristenes. If we…
The surrounding world changes, but “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). God’s commandments, which people must follow, also remain unchanged. The values and virtues that we should strive for are constant. The methods for achieving virtues and fighting sin have been described once and for all. Human nature itself does not…
Modern individuals have stopped engaging in many traditional activities and crafts. For instance, many women no longer practice needlework. Does this have any negative consequences, and what were the benefits of women’s needlework and embroidery? Indeed, modern society has largely shifted to urban living. Just a hundred years ago, many activities and skills that seemed…
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,…
What should be a Christian’s attitude toward pets? Many modern people treat cats and dogs better than their neighbors, spending significant time and money on them. What should one do with kittens if no one wants to adopt them? Some people even set up animal shelters at home. A healthy attitude toward all animals should…
Christian life can be described using two expressions from Sacred Scripture: “walking before God” and “following Christ.” “He walked before God and was blameless”—this phrase is used by the Lord in Scripture to characterize the righteous of the Old Testament. Walking before God is also called “the fear of the Lord,” which does not imply…
What should be the outward appearance of a Christian in church and outside of it? Are there restrictions? Is it permissible to attend church in non-traditional Russian but modest modern clothing? Can this clothing be worn outside church? May men wear shorts and sleeveless shirts? Can women wear trousers? How should a woman dress in…
It might be best to say that unbelievers should be treated as one would treat seriously ill relatives. For instance, having a gravely ill family member nearby can be difficult to bear: such individuals often behave aggressively, are demanding, overly sensitive, unjust, and fail to understand your care for them. They may refuse necessary medicine…