February 20, 7534
“What dangers might a person face during the catechumenate period or immediately after baptism? Sometimes, especially during the process of becoming churched, a person sees or experiences “scary things” from demons. How can this be explained, and how can one protect themselves from such attacks?” The venerable Abba Dorotheus, in his book Spiritual Instructions, writes that…
This article provides a brief overview of the writings of the main religious polemicists of Synodal theology regarding the form of the sign of the cross. Let us begin with the former Patriarch Nikon. Patriarch Nikon is one of the most controversial figures in the history of the Russian Church. The wide range of opinions,…
The sign of the Cross is a gesture made with the fingers of the hand arranged in a specific way. According to apostolic tradition, to make the sign of the Cross one must join together three fingers of the right hand—the thumb, ring finger, and little finger—as a sign of faith in the Holy Trinity….
By George Neminuschy In the mid-17th century after the birth of Christ, the Russian authorities, led by Patriarch Nikon and Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, undertook the infamous reforms of the Church order. According to some sources, these reforms were not without the influence of the Roman Catholic Jesuit order. The goal of these reforms was to…
Every Christian arranges the fingers of their right hand for the sign of the cross as follows: three fingers (thumb, ring finger, and little finger) are joined together, symbolizing faith in the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The other two fingers (index and middle) represent the two natures of Christ—divine…
The Stoglav Council of 1551 decreed that the sign of the cross, after touching the forehead, should be made upon the chest, where the heart is, and that those who do not cross themselves in this manner, according to chapter 32 of the Stoglav, should be excommunicated from the Church. Why, then, do we place…
The sign of the cross is a “hidden apostolic tradition,” as stated by St. Maximus the Greek. We believe that from the very beginning, the sign of the cross took the form of the two-finger gesture (dvoeperstie), as affirmed by Orthodox Church Fathers, including Blessed Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus; St. Peter of Damascus, hieromartyr and…
Faith is one of the cornerstones of our salvation from sin and of attaining eternal life with Christ. The spiritual life of every person, all knowledge of God, begins precisely with faith. Without faith, there are no truly good deeds; without faith, there is no sincere prayer; without faith, communion with God is impossible —…
It is said that there is one answer that suits every question. That answer is: “I don’t know.” Likewise, there is one justification that suits every wrongdoing, every sin, every bad and foolish habit. This justification states: “So it is done,” “I am not the only one who does it,” “Everyone does it.” Ask, for…
Reading the teachings of the holy fathers, one cannot cease to marvel that what they said many centuries ago is addressed also to us who live today. Only technology and means of passing the time have changed; our essence has remained the same. In conversations with various people, this problem has been discussed repeatedly, and…