Vow of celibacy, or celibacy, is given only for religious reasons. This is how Orthodox priests explain. Officially, it is possible only when a person takes the monastic rank. Actually, for each person, the church believes, there are only two big roads: monasticism, one of the obediences of which is the vow of celibacy, or family life.
The path of a layman who wishes to take a vow of celibacy is not considered celibate: it is a personal choice of each person, a small path between two big roads. However, the clergy remind, people, even without any vows, need to remember: any relationship (we are talking about sex) outside of marriage is nothing but fornication, that is, sin. Some people who are superficially familiar with religion argue that celibacy does not mean the absence of sexual relations. This is not true. Any intimate relationship (with women, men, especially children) outside of marriage is fornication and sin.
Celibacy of the clergy
The vow of celibacy is associated only with men, because a woman is notmay be a priest. The Church does not insist on taking this vow, but the Apostle Paul explained: a person who is not burdened by marriage bonds thinks more about spiritual things, while a person who has a wife and children thinks about carnal, earthly and worldly things. This does not prevent him from serving God, but an unmarried priest still does it better. Obligatory celibacy in Orthodoxy is only for bishops, and in Catholicism - for most priests and deacons, bishops.
However, history knows cases when widowers became bishops. They accepted celibacy only after receiving the rank. The vow of celibacy extends not only to marriage, but to all kinds of sex, including masturbation.
Reasons for celibacy
The main reason for taking a vow of celibacy is the desire to please and serve God in every possible way, to get rid of carnal sins, which are considered sexual relations, as well as a test of willpower. However, it is not only for religious reasons that people take vows. The well-known journalist, atheist and erudite Anatoly Wasserman took a vow of celibacy at the age of 17 so that his wife would not interfere with his studies.
However, this is not celibacy: Wasserman, by his own admission, refused only marriage. If we talk about women, then the vow of celibacy that they take is most often called the vow of chastity. It is given either by fanatical believers or feminists.
How to become celibate?
The vow can be made for life or for some limited period. Violation of it is a grave sin. Everyone who is going to take this step should know this. Tell your loved ones about your vow - they will be able to help when the time comes for temptations. You can contact the priest: his recommendations are not placed. However, you don't have to go to church to take a vow.
On the harm of vows
• Lack of the necessary sexual release for men leads to systematic masturbation (which is already a sin), and sometimes to sexual crimes.
• Some priests, relying on the fact that the Bible only forbids sex with women, become pedophiles or homosexuals.
• Lack of intimate life often leads to the development of diseases of the male genital area: prostatitis, bladder atrophy, cancer.
