March 2, 7534
An Essay on History and the Contemporary Situation By Valeriy Selishchev Illustrations by Anastasia Rumyantseva Repent, ye people, repent, pray to God with tears. And with heartfelt sobbing altogether. For the Antichrist sits upon the throne— This is the cunning seven-headed serpent. He has spewed forth his bitter fury. Throughout all the earth, throughout the…
By Iakov Bogatenko In recent times, a rather strange and deeply regrettable phenomenon has been observed among the urban Old Believer community, particularly in central Russia, such as in large cities, not to mention the capitals. Old Believer youth, and recently even mature Old Believers (with very rare exceptions), seem to be avoiding the use…
Nothing in the human body has sparked such heated debates, divisions, and even bloodshed as the beard. Take, for example, the hand. No one demanded that hands be cut off every infant, no one wrote multi-volume treatises defending hands, no one taxed hands, and no one saw in hands a sign of the righteousness or…
Can a woman use decorative cosmetics (mascara, eyeshadow, lipstick, foundation), perfume, or dye her nails and gray hair? If we turn to Holy Scripture, we find the Apostle Peter addressing women: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;…
Why should a married woman cover her head? Is it permissible to leave part of her hair uncovered? Should she also sleep with her head covered? This question invites reflection. Indeed, it would seem unusual for those raised in a Christian environment from childhood. In pre-schism Rus’, such a question would have been unthinkable. In…
The spiritual condition of modern Russian society, living in the postmodern era, is characterized as secularized. Our present time is marked by the fact that the overwhelming majority of our fellow citizens do not connect their lives with any religious norms, customs, or traditions. Despite the church revival of the late 20th and early 21st…
Unfortunately, what was once considered natural for believers is today met with profound misunderstanding. Before the Church schism of the 17th century, all Orthodox men in Rus’ did not shave their beards—such an idea, I think, never even occurred to them. Wearing a beard was a common religious and ethical norm. The same was true…
Why is a man prohibited from shaving his beard? Why should we so strictly follow the Old Testament today? The strict prohibition against shaving the beard is indeed found only in the Old Testament: “Neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.”(Leviticus 19:27) However, the New Testament does not explicitly address many things, including…
B.P. Kutuzov “The Lord is King, He is clothed with beauty…” (Ps. 92:1). “Thou coverest Thyself with light as with a garment…” (Ps. 103:2). Why Clothing Is Needed Clothing is appearance—it is the outward look, external representation, external information about a thing, its visible self-expression. It is what we see. The Creator fashioned a beautiful…
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…