Is it possible to go to church if you are on your period? Is it possible to go to church while on your period: the opinion of Orthodox pastors

We think there is no need to talk about what menstruation is - every girl already knows this. But many people don’t even know why you can’t go to church during menstruation. Today we will reveal this secret to you.

Reason for ban

This topic is actually quite interesting. So, if the Catholic Church has long ago resolved all issues on this matter, the Orthodox Church has still not come to a common opinion. Meanwhile, at present there is no ban on visiting church during “these” days. Why? The fact is that there has never been a ban as such, but human blood cannot be shed in the temple. Otherwise, by doing this, the woman seems to be desecrating the church, as a result of which it must be re-consecrated. It turns out that in fact the clergy are simply afraid of blood leaking out. Remember, even if you hurt your finger while in the temple, you need to get out of it to stop the bleeding. However, if we talk about women, then for them the problem of bloodshed has long been solved - in any pharmacy or even supermarket you can buy pads or tampons, whichever is more convenient for you. It turns out that in this case the girl can safely come to the temple.

What can you do in the temple during menstruation?

Let’s say you are a woman and “those” days have come to you. You came to church and... And then the question arises - what are you allowed to do? And this is where the opinions of the clergy differ significantly. So, one half assures that in this case a woman cannot do anything at all. Roughly speaking, I went into the room, stood, prayed and left. The other half claims that there are no prohibitions on this matter and women can “live” a full church life, that is, light candles, confess, take communion, and so on. Who to believe? This issue is very complex and controversial, so it is necessary to listen to the arguments of both sides. And they have them, although they are very controversial.

Those Orthodox Christians who support the first position, which does not allow doing practically anything in the temple, say that, first of all, the tradition of the Old Testament plays a role, according to which a woman during her period was kept away from the general gathering of people, and never visited the temple . True, the defenders of this theory for some reason forget that she did this not at all because she was afraid of harming the church, but in order to comply with the usual standards of hygiene. They also cite other factors, which, however, are unlikely to be relevant. For example, they talk about the healing of a woman who touched the clothes (namely the clothes, not the body) of Jesus and was completely healed. Or about a dead egg that leaves the body of the weaker half of humanity during menstruation (miscarriage). But, let us repeat once again, all this is not directly related to the ban.

Now let’s return to people who support the second position, who believe that a woman can not only attend church, but also live a full church life. They claim that this has always been the case even in ancient times, with the only difference that in those distant times, unfortunately, they had not yet invented products for feminine hygiene. But their argument is that, unlike their Slavic brothers, the Greeks do not sanctify the church, so, at first glance, there is nothing for a woman to desecrate there. The latter boldly entered the church, prayed, confessed, venerated the icons, and so on. It was this tradition that later came to us. Honestly, the argument is unconvincing, and even if the temple is not consecrated, this does not mean that the grace of the Lord is absent in it.

And yet, in the past, Russian girls respected the rule that they never visited the temple during. However, among them there were those who ignored the order and went to church at any time they pleased. But no one separated them from this anyway. Saint Gregory Dvoeslov, who lived in the sixth century, wrote that women should not be prohibited from visiting temples during menstruation, because it is not their fault that nature has endowed them with such a feature. Based on this, we can conclude that the natural cleansing of the body of a living person, whom the Lord created, is not something dirty.

So is it possible?

Summarize. Most clergy agree that a girl can safely attend church during “these” days. You can safely pray, read the Gospel... But what you should not do is participate in baptism, wedding or communion, it is not advisable to touch shrines, that is, crosses or icons. Why? By touching sacred objects, a woman, without wanting to do so, seems to defile them, because the female body at this moment is not considered clean.

A strict ban on women visiting the temple during menstruation has been passed down from generation to generation. Some people believe in this and strictly enforce the rule. Others are indignant and outraged by the ban, thinking why it’s not possible. Still others, not paying attention to critical days, come to church at the behest of their souls. So is it permissible to go to church during your period? Who, when and why forbade women to visit her on these special days for the female body?

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The creation of man and woman

You can get acquainted with the moments of the creation of the Universe by the Lord in the Bible in the Old Testament. God created the first people on the sixth day in his own image and likeness and called the man Adam and the woman Eve. It follows from this that initially the woman was pure and did not have menstruation. Conceiving a child and giving birth should not have been painful. In their world, filled with perfection, there was nothing unclean. The body, thoughts, actions and soul were pure. But the perfection was short-lived.

The devil incarnated himself in the form of a serpent and began to tempt Eve so that she would eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He promised her power and knowledge. The woman tasted the fruit herself and treated her husband to it. This is how the fall of mankind occurred. Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise. God doomed the woman to suffer. He said that from now on she would conceive and give birth in pain. It is from this moment that a woman is considered unclean.

Prohibitions of the Old Testament

Rules and laws were important to the people of that time period. All of them were spelled out in the Old Testament. Temples were created for communication with God and for making sacrifices to him. A woman was not a full member of society, but was a man's complement. Everyone remembered Eve’s sin, after which she began to menstruate. Menstruation was a reminder of what the woman had done.

The Old Testament clearly answered the question of who was allowed and who was forbidden to visit the Holy Temple and why. Didn't visit:

with leprosy;
with ejaculation;
those who touched the corpses;
with purulent discharge;
women during menstruation;
women who gave birth to a boy - 40 days, women who gave birth to a girl - 80 days.

In Old Testament times, everything was looked at from a physical point of view. A dirty body was considered a sign of an unclean person. During critical days, women were forbidden to visit the Temple., as well as places with a lot of people. She was far from the gatherings of the people. Blood could not be shed in holy places. This lasted until the coming of Jesus Christ and the bringing of the New Testament.

Uncleanness Abolished by the New Testament

Jesus Christ focused on the spiritual and tried to reach the human soul. He came to atone for all human sins, including Eve's sin. If a person did not have faith, all his deeds were considered unspiritual. A person's dark thoughts turned him into an unclean person, even with the purity of his body. The Holy Temple did not become a specific place on Earth, but was transferred to human souls. Christ said that the soul is the Temple of God and His Church. Men and women have become equal in rights.

One day a situation occurred that outraged all the clergy. While Christ was in the Temple, one woman, who had suffered from bleeding for many years, walked through the crowd to him and touched his clothes. Christ, sensing her, turned around and said that her faith saved her. Since that time, a split has occurred in the consciousness of mankind. Some remained faithful to physical purity and the Old Testament. They were of the opinion that a woman should never go to church during her period. And those who obeyed the teachings of Jesus Christ and followed faith in the New Testament and spiritual purity stopped adhering to this rule. After his death the New Testament came into force. The shed blood became a sign of the beginning of a new life.

Answers of priests to the question about the ban

So is it possible to go to church during your period?

Catholic priests have long decided for themselves the issue of women attending church on menstrual days. They consider periods to be a natural occurrence and see nothing wrong with them. Blood has long stopped spilling on the floors of the church, thanks to modern hygiene products.

But Orthodox priests cannot come to a common opinion. Some say that a woman should not go to church while on her period. Others say that you can come if your soul requires it. Still others allow women to come to church during menstruation, but prohibit some sacred sacraments:

wedding;
confession.

Bans are mostly related to physical aspects. For hygienic reasons, you should not go into water during menstruation. It's not very pleasant to look at blood mixing with water. The wedding takes a long time and a woman’s weakened body during menstruation may not be able to withstand it. Fainting often occurs, the woman experiences weakness and dizziness. During confession, the psycho-emotional state of a woman is affected. And during her period she is in a slightly inadequate state. Therefore, if a woman decides to confess, she may say something that she will regret for a long time. This is why you cannot confess during your period.

Is it possible to go to church during menstruation or not?

Modernity has mixed the sinful with the righteous. Nobody knows the origins of this ban. Priests ceased to be the spiritual ministers that they were considered to be during the times of the Old and New Testaments. Everyone perceives information in the way that is most convenient for them. The church is a building, the same as it was under the Old Testament. It follows that everyone must adhere to the rules established in those times. You can't go to church while you're on your period.

But the modern democratic world has made its own amendment. If we consider that shedding blood in the temple was considered sinful, then in the present period of time this problem has been completely solved. Hygiene products such as tampons and pads absorb blood well and prevent it from leaking onto the floor of the sacred place. A woman is not unclean. But there is a downside to this too. During menstruation, the female body cleanses itself. This means that the woman is still unclean, and she cannot attend church during her period.

But the New Testament and its purity of soul come to her aid. This means that if the soul feels the need to touch the shrine, to feel Divine support, then you can come to the temple. Even necessary! After all Jesus helps those who sincerely believe in him. And cleanliness of the body does not play a big role in this. Those who adhere to the rules of the New Testament are not prohibited from going to church during menstruation.

But there are amendments here too. Since the Church and the Holy Temple are in a person’s soul, then it is not at all necessary for him to come to a certain room for help. A woman can pray to God anywhere. And if the prayer comes from a pure heart, then it will be heard much faster than when visiting a temple.

Bottom line

No one can say for sure whether it is possible to go to church during menstruation. Everyone has their own opinion on this matter. A woman must answer this question herself and decide why she wants to go to church.

There is a ban and there is no ban. You need to look at what intentions a woman wants to go to church with.

If the purpose of the visit is to ask for forgiveness, repentance of sins, then you can go at any time, even during menstruation. Purity of soul is the main thing.

During critical days, it is best to reflect on your actions. Sometimes during your period you don’t want to leave the house at all. And during menstruation you can go to temple, but only if your soul requires it!

There are many different opinions on this topic. Some clergy say that you can go to church during your period. But most of them claim that this is prohibited. Many women are interested in knowing at what time during menstruation they can attend church, and whether it is possible at all. Much has changed since the times of the Old Testament; now almost no one blames a woman for the presence of such a natural process as regula. But many churches have restrictions and rules of behavior for women who decide to attend church during menstruation.

Is it possible to go to church while on your period?

Many women are interested in the question of whether it is possible to go to church with menstruation. Nowadays, more and more clergy agree that women who are on their menstrual periods are allowed to enter church. However, some rituals are recommended to be postponed until the end of menstruation. These include baptism and wedding. Also, many priests do not recommend touching icons, crosses and other church attributes during this period. This rule is only a recommendation and not a strict prohibition. The woman herself has the right to decide what exactly to do. In some churches, the clergyman may refuse to conduct confession or a wedding, but a woman has the right, if she wishes, to go to another church, where the priest will not refuse her this. This is not considered a sin, since the Bible itself does not reveal any prohibition related to the presence of menstrual periods for women.

The rules of the Russian Orthodox Church do not prohibit girls from visiting the temple during regul. There are some restrictions that priests strongly recommend adhering to. Restrictions apply to Communion; it is better to refuse it during menstruation. The only exception to the rule is the presence of any serious illness.

Many clergy argue that you should not avoid going to church on critical days. Menstruation is a natural process in the female body, which should not interfere with being in the temple. Other priests share this opinion. They also claim that menstruation is a natural process that is caused by nature. They do not consider a woman “dirty” and “unclean” during this period. The strict ban on visiting the temple remains in the distant past, during the times of the Old Testament.

What Came Before – Old Testament

Previously, there was a serious ban on visiting church while menstruating. This is because the Old Testament views menstruation in girls as a sign of “uncleanness.” In the Orthodox faith, these prohibitions were not written down anywhere, but there was also no refutation of them. This is why many still doubt whether it is possible to come to church while menstruating.

The Old Testament views menstruation as a violation of human nature. Based on it, it is unacceptable to come to church during menstrual bleeding. Being in the temple with any bleeding wounds was also considered strictly prohibited.

What to do anyway

Everyone must decide for themselves whether it is possible to go to church while on their period. The Bible does not reflect a categorical prohibition; it does not discuss this issue in detail. Therefore, a woman has the right to do as she sees fit.

Before going to a holy place, it is better to decide when is the best time to go to church. Many will not be able to visit the temple in the first days after the start of menstruation, but this has nothing to do with any prohibition. This is due to the fact that for most women, the onset of menstruation is accompanied by severe pain, general malaise, nausea and weakness. Many people will find it difficult to be in such a state in the temple. A woman may become ill; it is recommended to avoid such situations. It is better to postpone going to church until the end of the critical days or until the moment when the condition returns to normal.

Questions and answers frequently asked by new Christians.

35 short frequently asked questions for new Christians about the temple, candles, notes, etc.

1. How should a person prepare to visit the temple?

You need to prepare for the morning visit as follows:
Getting out of bed, thank the Lord, who gave you the opportunity to spend the night in peace and extended your days for repentance. Wash yourself, stand in front of the icon, light a lamp (from a candle) so that it evokes a spirit of prayer in you, put your thoughts in order, forgive everyone, and only then begin to read the prayer rule (morning prayers from the Prayer Book). Then subtract one chapter from the Gospel, one from the Apostle and one kathisma from the Psalter, or one psalm if you are short on time. At the same time, we must remember that it is better to read one prayer with sincere contrition of heart than the whole rule with the thought of how to finish it all as quickly as possible. Beginners can use an abbreviated prayer book, gradually adding one prayer at a time.

Before leaving, say:
I deny you, Satan, your pride and your service, and I unite with you, Christ Jesus our God, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Cross yourself and calmly go to the temple, without fear of what the person will do to you.
Walking down the street, cross the road in front of you, saying to yourself:
Lord, bless my ways and keep me from all evil.
On the way to the temple, read a prayer to yourself:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

2. How should a person who decides to go to church be dressed?

Women should not come to church in trousers, short skirts, with bright makeup on their faces, and lipstick is unacceptable. The head should be covered with a headscarf or scarf. Men must remove their hats before entering the church.

3. Is it possible to eat before visiting the temple in the morning?

According to the regulations, this is not possible; this is done on an empty stomach. Departures are possible due to weakness, with self-reproach.

4. Is it possible to enter the temple with bags?

If there is a need, it is possible. Only when the believer approaches Communion should the bag be put aside, since during Communion the hands are folded crosswise on the chest.

5. How many bows should one make before entering the temple and how to behave in the temple?

Before entering the temple, having previously crossed yourself, bow three times, looking at the image of the Savior, and pray for the first bow:
God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
To the second bow:
God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me.
To the third:
Without number of sins, Lord, forgive me.
Then do the same, entering the doors of the temple, bow to both sides, saying to yourself:
Forgive me, brothers and sisters, stand reverently in one place, without pushing anyone, and listen to the words of the prayer.
If a person comes to church for the first time, then he needs to look around, notice what more experienced believers are doing, where their gaze is directed, in what places of worship and how they make the sign of the cross and bow.
During a service, it is unacceptable to behave as if in a theater or museum, that is, with your head raised, looking at icons and clergy.
During prayer, you must stand reverently, with a feeling of repentance, slightly lowering your shoulders and head, as those who have done wrong stand before the king.
If you do not understand the words of the prayer, then say the Jesus Prayer to yourself with contrition of heart:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Try to make the sign of the cross and bows with everyone at the same time. Remember that the Church is the earthly Heaven. When praying to your Creator, do not think of anything earthly, but only sigh and pray for your sins.

6. How long do you need to be on duty?

The service must be defended from beginning to end. Service is not a duty, but a sacrifice to God. Would it be pleasant for the owner of the house to whom the guests came if they left before the end of the holiday?

7. Is it possible to sit at the service if you don’t have the strength to stand?

To this question, Saint Philaret of Moscow answered: “It is better to think about God while sitting than about your feet while standing.” However, you must stand while reading the Gospel.

8. What is important in bowing and praying?

Remember that it is not a matter of words and bows, but of raising your mind and heart to God. You can say all the prayers and make all the indicated bows, but not remember God at all. And, therefore, without praying, fulfill the prayer rule. Such prayer is a sin before God.

9. How to kiss icons correctly?

Lobyzaya St. the icon of the Savior, one should kiss the feet, the Mother of God and the saints - the hand, and the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands and the head of John the Baptist - on the hairline.

10. What does the candle placed in front of the image symbolize?

A candle, like prosphora, is a bloodless sacrifice. The candle fire symbolizes eternity. In ancient times, in the Old Testament Church, a person coming to God offered him the internal fat and wool of a slaughtered (killed) animal, which were placed on the altar of burnt offering. Now, when we come to the temple, we sacrifice not an animal, but a symbolically replacing it with a candle (preferably a wax one).

11. Does it matter what size candles you place in front of the image?

Everything depends not on the size of the candle, but on the sincerity of your heart and your capabilities. Of course, if a wealthy person puts out cheap candles, then this indicates his stinginess. But if a person is poor, and his heart burns with love for God and compassion for his neighbor, then his reverent standing and fervent prayer are more pleasing to God than the most expensive candle, lit with a cold heart.

12. Who should light candles and how many?

First of all, a candle is lit for a holiday or a revered temple icon, then for the relics of a saint, if there are any in the temple, and only then for health or repose.
For the dead, candles are placed on the eve of the Crucifixion, mentally saying:
Remember, Lord, Your deceased servant (name) and forgive his sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant him the Kingdom of Heaven.
For health or any need, candles are usually lit for the Savior, the Mother of God, the holy great martyr and healer Panteleimon, as well as those saints to whom the Lord has given special grace to heal illnesses and provide help in various needs.
Having placed a candle in front of the saint of God you have chosen, mentally say:
Holy Servant of God (name), pray to God for me, a sinner (oh)(or the name for whom you are asking).
Then you need to come up and venerate the icon.
We must remember: in order for prayers to achieve success, one must pray to the holy saints of God with faith in the power of their intercession before God, with words coming from the heart.
If you light a candle to the image of All Saints, turn your mind to the entire host of saints and the entire Heavenly army and pray:
All saints, pray to God for us.
All the saints always pray to God for us. He alone has mercy on everyone, and is always lenient towards the requests of His saints.

13. What prayers should be said before the images of the Savior, the Mother of God and the Life-Giving Cross?

Before the image of the Savior, pray to yourself:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner, or without number of sinners, Lord, have mercy on me.
Before the icon of the Mother of God, say briefly:
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Before the image of the Life-giving Cross of Christ, say the following prayer:
We worship Your Cross, Master, and we glorify Your Holy Resurrection.
And after that, bow to the Honorable Cross. And if you stand before the image of Christ our Savior or the Mother of God, or the saints of God with humility and warm faith, then you will receive what you ask for.
For where the image is, there is the original grace.

14. Why is it customary to light candles for the repose at the Crucifixion?

The cross with the Crucifixion stands on the eve, that is, on the table for remembering the dead. Christ took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, original sin - Adam's sin - and through His death, through the Blood that was shed innocently on the cross (since Christ had no sin), reconciled the world with God the Father. Besides this, Christ is the bridge between being and non-being. On the eve, in addition to burning candles, you can also see food. This is a very long Christian tradition. In ancient times there were so-called agapies - meals of love, when Christians who came to the service, after its end, all together consumed what they brought with them.

15. For what purpose and what products can be put on the eve?

Usually on the eve they put bread, cookies, sugar, everything that does not contradict fasting (since it can also be a fast day). You can also donate lamp oil and Cahors on the eve, which will then be used for the communion of believers. All this is brought and left for the same purpose for which a candle is placed on the eve - to remember one’s deceased relatives, acquaintances, friends, and not yet glorified ascetics of piety.
A note of remembrance is also submitted for the same purpose.
It should be firmly remembered that the offering must come from a pure heart and a sincere desire to make a sacrifice to God for the repose of the soul of the person being remembered and must be obtained from one’s labor, and not stolen or acquired by deception or other deceit.

16. What is the most important memorial for the dead?

The most important thing is the commemoration of the dead at the proskomedia, for the particles taken from the prosphora are immersed in the Blood of Christ and cleansed by this great sacrifice.

17. How to submit a note of remembrance at the Proskomedia? Is it possible to remember the sick at the proskomedia?

Before the service begins, you need to go to the candle counter, take a piece of paper and write as follows:

About repose

Andrey
Maria
Nicholas

Custom

The note prepared in this way will be submitted to the Proskomedia.

About health

B. Andrey
ml. Nicholas
Nina

Custom

In the same way, a note about health, including those who are sick, is submitted.

The note can be submitted in the evening, indicating the date on which the commemoration is expected.
Don’t forget to draw an eight-pointed cross at the top of the note, and at the bottom it is advisable to write: “and all Orthodox Christians.” If you want to remember a clergyman, then his name is put first.

18. What should I do if, while standing at a prayer service or other service, I did not hear the name that was submitted for commemoration?

It happens that clergy are reproached: they say that not all the notes were read or not all the candles were lit. And they don’t know that they can’t do this. Judge not lest ye be judged. You came, you brought it - that’s it, your duty is done. And what the priest does is what will be asked of him!

19. Why is the commemoration of the dead performed?

The whole point is that the dead cannot pray for themselves. Someone else living today must do this for them. Thus, the souls of people who repented before death, but did not have time to bear the fruits of repentance, can receive liberation only through intercession for them before the Lord from living relatives or friends and through the prayers of the Church.
The Holy Fathers and teachers of the Church agree to recognize the possibility for sinners of liberation from torment and the beneficial significance in this regard of prayers and alms, especially church prayers, and predominantly bloodless sacrifice, that is, commemoration at the Liturgy (proskomedia).
“When all the people and the Holy Council,” asks St. John Chrysostom, - they stand with their hands stretched out to heaven and when a terrible sacrifice is presented, how can we not appease God by praying for them (the dead)? But this is only about those who died in the faith” (St. John Chrysostom. Conversation on the last to Phil. 3, 4).

20. Is it possible to include the name of a suicide or an unbaptized person in a memorial note?

It is impossible, since persons deprived of a Christian burial are usually deprived of church prayers.

21. How should you behave when censing?

When censing, you need to bow your head, as if you were receiving the Spirit of Life, and say the Jesus Prayer. At the same time, you cannot turn your back to the altar - this is the mistake of many parishioners. You just need to turn around a little.

22. What moment is considered the end of the morning service?

The end, or completion, of the morning service is the exit of the priest with the Cross. This moment is called release. During the holiday, believers approach the Cross, kiss it and the priestly hand holding the Cross as its foot. Having walked away, you need to bow to the priest. Let's pray to the cross:
I believe, Lord, and worship Your Honest and Life-giving Cross, as on It you brought salvation in the midst of the Earth.

23. What do you need to know about the use of prosphora and holy water?

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, when you come home, prepare a meal of prosphora and holy water on a clean tablecloth.
Before eating, say a prayer:
Lord my God, may Your holy gift and Your holy water be for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities, according to Your infinite mercy through the prayers of the Most Pure One Your Mother and all Your saints. Amen.
The prosphora is taken over a plate or a clean sheet of paper so that the holy crumbs do not fall on the floor and are not trampled on, for the prosphora is the holy bread of Heaven. And we must accept it with the fear of God and humility.

24. How are the feasts of the Lord and His saints celebrated?

The feasts of the Lord and His saints are celebrated spiritually, with a pure soul and undefiled conscience, and by obligatory attendance at church. If desired, believers order thanksgiving prayers in honor of the Holiday, bring flowers to the icon of the Holiday, distribute alms, confess and receive communion.

25. How to order a memorial and thanksgiving prayer service?

A prayer service is ordered by submitting a note formatted accordingly. The rules for registering a custom prayer service are posted at the candle counter.
In different churches there are certain days when prayer services are held, including holy water services.
At a water blessing service you can bless a cross, an icon, and candles. At the end of the water-blessing prayer service, believers with reverence and prayer take holy water and take it daily on an empty stomach.

26. What is the sacrament of repentance and how to prepare for confession?

The Lord Jesus Christ said, addressing His disciples: Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.(Matthew 18:18). And in another place the Savior, blowing, said to the apostles: Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven; those whose sins you retain, they will remain (John 20:22-23).
The apostles, fulfilling the will of the Lord, transferred this power to their successors - the shepherds of the Church of Christ, and to this day everyone who believes Orthodoxy and confesses their sins sincerely before an Orthodox priest can receive permission, forgiveness, and complete remission of them through his prayer.
This is the essence of the sacrament of repentance.
A person who is accustomed to maintaining the purity of his heart and the neatness of his soul cannot live without repentance. He waits and longs for another confession, just as a parched earth awaits life-giving moisture.
Imagine for a moment a person who has been washing off bodily dirt all his life! So the soul requires washing, and what would happen if there were no sacrament of repentance, this healing and cleansing “second baptism”. Accumulated sins and transgressions that have not been removed from the conscience (not only large ones, but also many small ones) weigh on it so much that a person begins to feel some kind of unusual fear, it begins to seem to him that something bad is about to happen to him; then suddenly he falls into some kind of nervous breakdown, irritation, feels general anxiety, has no inner firmness, and ceases to control himself. Often he himself does not understand the reason for everything that happens, but the reason is that a person has unconfessed sins on his conscience. By the grace of God, these sorrowful sensations remind us of them, so that we, puzzled by such a plight of our souls, come to the consciousness of the need to purge all the poison from it, that is, turn to St. the sacrament of repentance and thereby get rid of all those torments that await after the Last Judgment of God for every sinner who has not cleansed himself here in this life.
Almost the entire sacrament of repentance is performed this way: first, the priest prays with everyone who wants to confess. Then he makes a brief reminder of the most common sins, talks about the meaning of confession, the responsibility of the confessor and the fact that he stands before the Lord Himself, and the priest is only a witness to his mysterious conversation with God, and that the deliberate concealment of any sins aggravates the guilt penitent.
Then those who are confessing, one by one, approach the lectern on which the Holy Gospel and the Cross lie, bow to the Cross and the Gospel, stand in front of the lectern, bowing their heads or on their knees (the latter is not necessary), and begin to confess. It is useful to draw up a rough plan for yourself - what sins to confess, so as not to forget later in confession; but you will have to not just read from a piece of paper about your ulcers, but with a feeling of guilt and repentance, open them before God, take them out of your soul, like some nasty snakes, and get rid of them with a feeling of disgust. (Compare this list of sins with those lists that evil spirits will keep during ordeals, and note: the more thoroughly you expose yourself, the fewer pages will be found in those demonic writings.) At the same time, of course, each extraction of such abomination and bringing it to light the light will be accompanied by some feeling of shame, but you know firmly: the Lord Himself and His servant - the priest who confesses you, no matter how disgusting your inner sinful world is, only rejoice when you decisively renounce it; There is only joy in the priest’s soul for the one who has repented. Any priest, after a sincere confession, becomes even more disposed towards the person confessing, and begins to treat him much closer and more caringly.

27. Does repentance erase the memory of previously committed sins?

The answer to this question is given in the essay on the Gospel theme - “The Prodigal Son”.
“...He got up and went to his father. And while he was still far away, his father saw him and took pity; and, running, fell on his neck and kissed him.
The son said to him: “Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” And the father said to his servants: “Bring the best robe and dress him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and slaughter it: let us eat and be merry!” (Luke 15:20-23.)
The feast ends in the house of a good, merciful father. The sounds of rejoicing fade away and the invited guests disperse. Yesterday's prodigal son leaves the hall of the banquet, still full of the sweet feeling of his father's love and forgiveness.
Behind the doors he meets his older brother standing outside. In his gaze there is condemnation, almost indignation.
The younger brother's heart sank; the joy disappeared, the sounds of the feast died down, the recent, difficult past arose before our eyes...
What can he say to his brother in justification?
Isn't his indignation justified? Did he deserve this feast, these new clothes, this golden ring, these kisses and his father’s forgiveness? After all, just recently, quite recently...
And the head of the younger brother bows low before the stern, condemning gaze of the elder: the still very fresh wounds of the soul ached and ached...
With eyes begging for mercy, the prodigal son throws himself on his knees in front of his elder brother.
“Brother... Forgive me... I didn’t organize this feast... And I didn’t ask my father for these new clothes, and shoes, and this ring... I didn’t even call myself a son anymore, I only asked to accept me to become a mercenary... Your condemnation of me is fair, and there is no excuse for me. But listen to me and maybe you will understand the mercy of our father...
What does this new clothing cover now?
Look, here are the traces of these terrible (mental) wounds. You see: there was no healthy place on my body; there were continuous ulcers, spots, festering wounds (Is. 1:6).
They are now closed and “softened by the oil” of the father’s mercy, but they still painfully hurt when touched and, it seems to me, will always hurt...
They will constantly remind me of that fateful day when, with a callous soul, full of conceit and proud self-confidence, I broke with my father, demanding my share of the estate, and went to that terrible country of unbelief and sin...
How happy you are, brother, that you have no memories of her, that you do not know the stench and decay, the evil and sin that reign there. You have not experienced spiritual hunger and have not known the taste of those horns that in that country must be stolen from pigs.
Here you have retained your strength and health. But I no longer have them... I only brought the remains of them back to my father’s house. And this is breaking my heart now.
Who did I work for? Who did I serve? But all my strength could be devoted to serving my father...
You see this precious ring on my sinful, already weak hand. But what I wouldn’t give for these hands to have no traces of the dirty work they did in the land of sin, for the knowledge that they always worked only for their father...
Ah, brother! You always live in the light and will never know the bitterness of darkness. You don't know the things that are happening there. You have not met closely with those with whom you have to deal there; you have not touched the dirt that those living there cannot avoid.
You don’t know, brother, the bitterness of regrets: what was the strength of my youth spent on? What are the days of my youth dedicated to? Who will return them to me? Oh, if life could start over again!
Don’t envy, brother, this new garment of your father’s mercy; without it, the torment of memories and fruitless regrets would be unbearable...
And should you envy me? After all, you are rich in wealth, which you may not notice, and happy with happiness, which you may not feel. You don’t know what irretrievable loss is, the consciousness of wasted wealth and ruined talents. Oh, if only it were possible to return all this and bring it back to my father!
But property and talents are given only once in a lifetime, and you can’t get your strength back, and time has gone irrevocably...
Do not be surprised, brother, at the father’s mercy, his condescension towards the prodigal son, his desire to cover the pitiful rags of a sinful soul with new clothes, his hugs and kisses that revive a soul devastated by sin.
Now the feast is over. Tomorrow I will start work again and will work in my father’s house next to you. You, as the eldest and blameless, will dominate and guide me. Subordinate work befits me. That's what I need. These disgraced hands deserve no other.
These new clothes, these shoes and this ring will also be removed before the time: it will be indecent for me to do menial work in them.
During the day we will work together, then you can relax and have fun with your friends with a calm heart and a clear conscience. And I?..
Where can I go from my memories, from regrets about wasted wealth, ruined youth, lost strength, scattered talents, soiled clothes, about yesterday’s insult and rejection of my father, from thoughts about opportunities that have gone into eternity and forever lost?..”

28. What does Communion of the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ mean?

If you do not eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have life in you (John 6:53).
He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in him(John 6:56).
With these words, the Lord pointed out the absolute necessity for all Christians to participate in the sacrament of the Eucharist. The sacrament itself was established by the Lord at the Last Supper.
“...Jesus took the bread and blessed it, broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying:
Take, eat, this is My Body. And he took the cup and, giving thanks, gave it to them and said: Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."(Matthew 26:26-28).
As the Holy Church teaches, a Christian, receiving St. Communion is mysteriously united with Christ, for in every particle of the fragmented Lamb the Whole Christ is contained.
The significance of the sacrament of the Eucharist is immeasurable, the comprehension of which surpasses our minds.
It ignites Christ's love in us, lifts the heart to God, gives rise to virtues in it, restrains the attack of dark forces on us, gives strength against temptations, revives the soul and body, heals them, gives them strength, returns virtues - restores that purity of the soul in us , which the first-born Adam had before the Fall.
In his reflections on the Divine Liturgy, Bishop. Seraphim Zvezdinsky there is a description of the vision of one ascetic elder, which clearly characterizes the meaning for a Christian of the Communion of the Holy Mysteries. The ascetic saw “...a fiery sea, the waves of which rose and seethed, presenting a terrible sight. On the opposite bank there was a beautiful garden. From there the singing of birds could be heard, the fragrance of flowers spread.
The ascetic hears a voice: “ Cross this sea" But there was no way to go. He stood for a long time wondering how to cross, and heard the voice again: “ Take the two wings that the Divine Eucharist gave: one wing is the Divine Flesh of Christ, the second wing is His Life-giving Blood. Without them, no matter how great the feat, it is impossible to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven».
As Fr. writes. Valentin Sventsitsky: “The Eucharist is the basis of that real unity that is expected in the general Resurrection, for both in the transubstantiation of the Gifts and in our Communion is the guarantee of our salvation and Resurrection, not only spiritual, but also physical.”
Elder Parthenius of Kiev once, in a reverent feeling of fiery love for the Lord, repeated the prayer for a long time: “Lord Jesus, live in me and let me live in You,” and heard a quiet, sweet voice: He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in him.
So, if repentance cleanses us from the defilement of our soul, then the Communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord will fill us with grace and block the return into our soul of the evil spirit expelled by repentance.
But we should firmly remember that, no matter how necessary the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ is for us, we should not approach it without first purifying ourselves through confession.
The Apostle Paul writes: “Whoever eats this Bread or drinks this Cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
Let man test himself and thus let him eat from the Bread this and drinks from the Chalice this.
For whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation for himself, without considering the Body of the Lord. That is why many of you are weak and sick, and many are dying” (1 Cor. 11:27-30).

29. How many times a year should you take communion?

The Monk Seraphim of Sarov commanded the Diveyevo sisters:
“It is unacceptable to confess and take communion on all fasts and, in addition, twelve and major holidays: the more often, the better - without tormenting yourself with the thought that you are unworthy, and you should not miss the opportunity to use the grace bestowed by communion of the Holy Mysteries as often as possible.
The grace bestowed by communion is so great that no matter how unworthy and no matter how sinful a person may be, but only in the humble consciousness of his great sinfulness will he approach the Lord, who redeems us all, even if covered from head to toe with the sores of sins, then he will be cleansed by the grace of Christ, become more and more bright, will be completely enlightened and saved.”
It is very good to take communion both on your name day and on your birthdays, and for spouses on their wedding day.

30. What is unction?

No matter how carefully we try to remember and write down our sins, it may happen that a significant part of them will not be told in confession, some will be forgotten, and some will simply not be realized and not noticed due to our spiritual blindness.
In this case, the Church comes to the aid of the penitent with the sacrament of the Blessing of Unction, or, as it is often called, “unction.” This sacrament is based on the instructions of the Apostle James, the head of the first Jerusalem Church:
“Is any of you sick, let him call the elders of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him” (James 5:14-15).
Thus, in the sacrament of the Blessing of Anointing we are forgiven of sins that were not said in confession due to ignorance or forgetfulness. And since illness is a consequence of our sinful state, liberation from sin often leads to healing of the body.
Currently, during Great Lent, all Christians who are zealous for salvation take part in three sacraments at once: confession, Blessing of Anointing and Communion of the Holy Mysteries.
To those Christians who, for whatever reason, were unable to take part in the Sacrament of Anointing, the Optina elders Barsanuphius and John give the following advice:
“What kind of lender can you find more faithful than God, who knows even what did not happen?
So, lay the account of the sins you have forgotten on Him and tell Him:
“Master, since it is a sin to forget one’s sins, I have sinned in everything against You, the One Knower of the Heart. You forgive me for everything according to Your love for mankind, for it is there that the splendor of Your glory is manifested, when You do not repay sinners for their sins, for You are glorified forever. Amen".

31. How often should you visit the temple?

The duties of a Christian include visiting church on Saturdays and Sundays and always on holidays.
The establishment and observance of holidays is necessary for our salvation; they teach us the true Christian faith, arouse and nourish in us, in our hearts, love, reverence and obedience to God. But they also go to church to perform religious services, rituals, and simply to pray, when time and opportunity permit.

32. What does visiting a temple mean for a believer?

Every visit to church is a holiday for a Christian, if the person is truly a believer. According to the teachings of the Church, when visiting the temple of God, a special blessing and success occurs in all the good endeavors of a Christian. Therefore, you should make sure that at this moment there is peace in your soul and order in your clothes. After all, we don't just go to church. Having humbled ourselves, our soul and heart, we come to Christ. It is to Christ, who gives us the benefit that we must earn by our behavior and inner disposition.

33. What services are performed daily in the Church?

In the name of the Most Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit - the Holy Orthodox Christian Church daily performs evening, morning and afternoon services in the churches of God, following the example of the holy Psalmist, who testifies of himself: “Evening and morning and at noon I will beg and cry, and He (the Lord) will hear my voice” (Ps. 54: 17-18). Each of these three services is composed, in turn, of three parts: evening service - it consists of the Ninth Hour, Vespers and Compline; morning - from the Midnight Office, Matins and the First Hour; daytime - from the Third Hour, the Sixth Hour and the Divine Liturgy. Thus, from the evening, morning and daytime services of the Church, nine services are formed: the Ninth Hour, Vespers, Compline, Midnight Office, Matins, the First Hour, the Third Hour, the Sixth Hour and the Divine Liturgy, just as, according to the teachings of St. Dionysius the Areopagite, from three ranks of Angels form nine faces, praising the Lord day and night.

34. What is fasting?

Fasting is not only some changes in the composition of food, that is, refusal of fast food, but, mainly, repentance, bodily and spiritual abstinence, purification of the heart through intense prayer.
Venerable Barsanuphius the Great says:
“Physical fasting means nothing without the spiritual fasting of the inner man, which consists of protecting oneself from passions. This fast is pleasing to God and will compensate for your lack of physical fasting (if you are weak in body).”
St. says the same thing. John Chrysostom:
“Whoever limits fasting to abstaining from food alone greatly dishonors him. It’s not just the mouth that should fast - no, let the eye, and hearing, and hands, and feet, and our whole body fast.”
As Fr. writes. Alexander Elchaninov: “In the dormitories there is a fundamental misunderstanding of fasting. What is important is not fasting in itself as not eating this and that or as depriving oneself of something in the form of punishment - fasting is only a proven way to achieve the desired results - through exhaustion of the body to reach the refinement of spiritual mystical abilities, darkened by the flesh, and thus facilitate your approach to God.
Fasting is not hunger. A diabetic, a fakir, a yogi, a prisoner, and just a beggar are starving. Nowhere in the services of Great Lent is there any talk about fasting in isolation in our usual sense, that is, as not eating meat, etc. Everywhere there is one call: “We fast, brothers, physically, we fast and spiritually.” Consequently, fasting only has a religious meaning when it is combined with spiritual exercises. Fasting is equal to refinement. A normal zoologically prosperous person is inaccessible to the influence of external forces. Fasting undermines a person’s physical well-being, and then he becomes more accessible to the influences of another world, and his spiritual filling begins.”
According to Bishop Herman, “fasting is pure abstinence in order to restore the lost balance between body and spirit, in order to return to our spirit its supremacy over the body and its passions.”

35. What prayers are performed before and after eating food?

Prayers before eating food:
Our Father, Who is in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for She gave birth to the Savior of our souls.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Bless.

Prayers after eating food:
We thank You, Christ our God, for filling us with Your earthly blessings; do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as in the midst of Your disciples you came, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us.
It is worthy to eat as truly to bless Thee, Theotokos, Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

36. Why is the death of the body necessary?

As Metropolitan Anthony Blum writes: “In a world that human sin has made monstrous, death is the only way out.
If our world of sin were fixed as unchanging and eternal, it would be hell. Death is the only thing that allows the earth, along with suffering, to escape from this hell.”
Bishop Arkady Lubyansky says: “For many, death is a means of salvation from spiritual death. For example, children who die at an early age do not know sin.
Death reduces the amount of total evil on earth. What would life be like if there were always murderers - Cains, traitors to the Lord - Judas, human beasts - Nero and others?
Therefore, the death of the body is not “ridiculous,” as people of the world say about it, but is necessary and expedient. - Collection of some Orthodox literature.

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From one generation to another, the opinion is passed on that women should not go to church during menstrual periods. Some people blindly believe in this and adhere to the rules. For some, this causes indignation and bewilderment. And another third of women simply go to church at the request of their souls, and do not pay attention to anything. So is it possible or not? Where do the prohibitions come from, what is this connected with?

The step-by-step creation of the Universe can be studied in the Bible in the Old Testament. God created man in his own image on the 6th day - the man Adam and the woman Eve. This means that woman was created pure from the beginning, without menstruation. Conceiving a child and childbirth were supposed to take place without pain. In a perfect world there was nothing bad. Absolutely everything was clean: body, thoughts, thoughts, actions. However, such perfection did not last long.

The devil in the form of a serpent seduced Eve into eating the apple. After which she was supposed to become powerful, like God. The woman tasted the apple herself and gave it to her husband. As a result, both committed sin. And this fell on the shoulders of all humanity. Adam and Eve were expelled from the holy land. God was angry and predicted the woman would suffer. “From now on you will conceive in pain, give birth in pain!” - he said. From this point on, the woman is theoretically considered unclean.

Prohibition in the Old Testament

The life history of people of that time was based on rules and laws. Everything was written down in the Old Testament. The Holy Temple was created for communication with God and offering sacrifices. A woman, in fact, was considered a complement to a man, and was not at all considered a full member of society. Eve's sin was well remembered, after which she began to menstruate. As an eternal reminder of what a woman has created.

The Old Testament clearly stated who should not visit the Holy Temple and in what condition:

with leprosy;
ejaculation;
touching the corpse;
with purulent discharge;
during menstruation;
after childbirth - for women who gave birth to a boy - 40 days, a girl - 80 days.

During the Old Testament period, everything was viewed from a physical point of view. If the body is dirty, then the person is unclean. Moreover, during critical days, a woman was not only forbidden to visit the Holy Temple, but also public places. She remained away from the meeting, the crowd of people. Blood should not be shed in a holy place. But then came the era of change. Jesus Christ came to earth with his New Testament.

Abolition of uncleanness by the New Testament

Jesus Christ tried to reach the human soul, all attention is focused on the spiritual. He is sent to atone for the sins of humanity, including Eve. Works without faith were considered dead. That is, a person who is pure outwardly, was considered unclean spiritually because of his black thoughts. The Holy Temple ceased to be a specific place on the territory of the earth. He was transported into the human soul. “Your soul is the Temple of God and His Church!” - he said. Men and women became equal.

The situation that happened at one moment aroused the indignation of all the clergy. A woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for many years pushed her way through the crowd and touched Jesus’ garments. Christ felt the energy leave him, turned to her, and said: “Your faith saved you, woman!” From that moment on, everything was mixed up in people's minds. Those who have remained faithful to the physical and Old Testament adhere to the old opinion - a woman should not go to church during her period. And those who followed Jesus Christ, follow the spiritual and New Testament, this rule was abolished. The death of Jesus Christ became the starting point, after which the New Testament came into force. And the blood that was shed gave rise to a new life.

The opinion of priests regarding the ban

The Catholic Church has long resolved the issue of critical days. The priests assessed that menstruation is a natural phenomenon and do not see anything bad in it. Blood has not been spilled on the church floor for a long time thanks to hygiene products. Orthodox clergy still cannot agree on this. Some defend the opinion that women are absolutely forbidden to visit the temple during menstruation. Others are neutral about this - you can visit if such a need arises, without limiting yourself in any way. Still others shared the opinion that a woman can enter church during her period, but some sacraments cannot be performed:

baptism;
confession.

Whatever one may say, the prohibitions are more related to physical aspects. It is forbidden to go into water during menstrual periods for hygienic reasons. Blood in the water is not a very pleasant sight. The wedding lasts a very long time; a woman’s weakened body during menstruation may not be able to withstand it. Moreover, the blood can flow strongly. Dizziness, fainting, and weakness occur. Confession affects more the psycho-emotional state of a woman. During her period, she is vulnerable, vulnerable, and not herself. He may say something he will later regret. In other words, during menstruation a woman is insane.

So can you go to church or not while on your period?

In the modern world, both the sinful and the righteous are mixed. Nobody really knows how it all started. Priests are far from being the spiritual ministers who were in the times of the Old or New Testament. Everyone hears and perceives what they want. Or rather, whatever is more convenient for him. And this is how things stand. The church, as a building, has remained since the times of the Old Testament. This means that those who visit the holy temple should adhere to the rules that are associated with it. You can't go to church while you're on your period.

However, the modern world of democracy makes another amendment. Since shedding blood in the temple was considered desecration, the problem has now been completely resolved. Hygienic products - tampons, pads prevent blood from leaking onto the floor. Practically, the woman ceased to be unclean. But there is another side to the coin. During menstruation, the female body cleanses itself. New replenishment of blood makes it possible to function with new strength. This means that the woman is still unclean. You cannot go to church during your period.

But here there is the New Testament, when the physical does not play a role. That is, if there is a need to touch shrines for health, to feel the support of God, you can visit the temple. Moreover, at such moments it is necessary. After all, Jesus helps only those who really need something. And he asks for it with a pure soul. And what his body looks like at this moment does not matter. That is, for those who value spirituality and the New Testament more, it is possible to go to church during menstruation.

Useful video:

There are amendments again. Because the Church and the Holy Temple are the soul of man. He does not need to go to a specific room to ask for help. It is enough for a woman to turn to God anywhere. A request coming from a pure heart will be heard faster than when visiting church, by the way.

Summing up

No one can give an exact answer to the question of whether it is possible to go to church during menstruation. Everyone has their own informed opinion on this. The decision must be made by the woman herself. There is a ban and there is not. It is also worth paying attention to the purpose for which you need to visit the church. After all, it’s no secret that women go to the holy temple to get rid of something, to attract something. In other words, they make strong spells, love spells, drying spells, drying spells, and even wish death on other people. So, during menstruation, a woman’s energy weakens. Sensitivity may increase, and prophetic dreams may begin to occur. But there is no power in words until she becomes stronger in spirit.

If the purpose of visiting church is to ask for forgiveness, to repent of sins, you can go in any form, menstruation is not a hindrance. The main thing is not an unclean body, but a pure soul after that. Critical days are the best time for reflection. Another interesting fact is that during menstruation you don’t want to go anywhere at all, not to church, not to visit, not to go shopping. Everything is purely individual, depending on your well-being, state of mind, and needs. You can go to church during critical days, if you really need it!