On Guardian Angels
What role does a guardian angel play in our lives? How does he inspire us with the right thoughts? How can we learn to hear them? Sometimes a fleeting thought comes, you don’t pay attention to it right away, and…
OB Author Rodin, Priest Mikhail
Why did the Lord create hellish torments? Isn’t this unmerciful? The teaching about eternal torment is addressed to all believers, not just evildoers, yet most people do not commit grave sins. How does it apply to them?
In His parable about the Last Judgment, the Lord Jesus Christ explains the purpose of hell. To those who failed to show mercy to “one of the least of His brethren,” the Lord will say: “Verily I say unto you,…
Why is it necessary to attend church? Why is personal prayer at home not enough? Why are services so long and held so often (sometimes several times a week)?
The Lord Jesus Christ once said: “Verily I say unto you, If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.…
What advice can be given to an adult who wants to join Christ’s Church and receive true baptism, but whose close relatives oppose it, accuse them of fanaticism, and try to pull them out of the Christian community as if it were a sect?
A person who has decided to follow Christ and become a true Christian needs to carefully read the Gospel and understand that hostility from relatives and close ones toward any true Christian’s faith is not unusual. Our Lord Jesus Christ…
On Pets
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…
What does Christian life include? What should be observed, and which Sacraments should one participate in?
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.…
How should one interact with unbelievers in a group setting (at school, university, or work)?
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…
Is it permissible to visit cafeterias, cafés, or restaurants? Should one pray openly before and after meals and make the sign of the cross?
Strictly speaking, Church rules contain prohibitions against eating in taverns. However, it’s important to understand that taverns in ancient times, when these rules were formulated, were not merely “places of public dining.” They were associated with questionable individuals and unrighteous…
Every Christian is called to bring the light of Christ’s teaching into the world. How can an ordinary, everyday Christian fulfill this in the modern world?
Indeed, the Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples: “Ye are the light of the world.” Clearly, this applies not only to the apostles but to all Christians. In the Epistle to the Ephesians, St. Paul writes to all Christians:…
Why is the new rite considered heresy?
To answer this question, we must first examine the meaning of the word “heresy.” Often, words lose their original meanings over time, and people use them in new contexts, leading to confusion. This has also happened with the word “heresy.”…