A surprisingly solemn and at the same time intimate scene - the priest holds the astonished chubby baby and dips it into the cool water of the font. How is the baptism of a child? It is important for parents and godparents to know the rules and traditions that accompany this ceremony
Christianity 2024, July
The article tells about the interpretation given by various theological schools to the Divine Light emanating from Jesus Christ at the moment of his transfiguration on Mount Tabor. A summary of this biblical episode is also offered
The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is also called the Moscow Patriarchate. It is the largest autocephalous local Orthodox church in the world. Are you familiar with the decoding of the term "patriarchate"? What is this, can you explain in simple terms?
One of the most beautiful purely Christian female names in Europe is the name Christina. In this article we will talk about what days and in whose honor its bearers celebrate their name day
The clergy of the modern Orthodox Church are, in addition to the clergy, some lay people who carry out various obediences - readers, singers, scribes, sexton. We will talk about the last category of clergy in this article
The gospel has given the world culture a lot of bright archetypal images that have been repeatedly comprehended in various musical compositions, works of art, not to mention religious reflection itself. Two such figures, the sisters Martha and Mary, are probably the most recognizable after Christ and the Virgin Mary. We will talk about these characters of the sacred New Testament history in this article
Hieromonk is a concept from the Orthodox lexicon. Therefore, in Russia it is quite recognizable. However, the subtleties of the meaning, as well as the history of this term, are little known outside of church orthodoxy. This article will be devoted to them
The term "abbot" belongs to Western culture, but thanks to literary translations, it is well known in Russia as well. Usually, it is understood as a certain clergyman who occupies a certain step in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. But exactly what place does the abbot occupy in it? This is a difficult question for most of our compatriots. Let's try to deal with it
The figure of Patriarch Tikhon (Bellavin) is in many ways a landmark, a key figure in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 20th century. In this sense, its role can hardly be overestimated. About what kind of person Tikhon, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, was, and how his life was marked, will be discussed in this article
The highest link in the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church is the episcopate. One of its most influential representatives in Russian Orthodoxy, Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomensky, will be the subject of this article
According to the Bible, Christ had 12 disciples close to him. They were called apostles. They were ordinary people, mostly all fishermen. He called them during his time on earth. God gave them great power so that they could heal all the sick with it, resurrect from the world of the dead, exorcise unclean forces, and also tell all people about it
Choosing a child's name, everyone decides how to do it. If desired, the church Orthodox calendar will do a good service, then Andrei will celebrate his angel's day knowing that he honors the saint who became his patron for life
There is hardly a person who does not know what happened to Adam and Eve after they bit off the ill-fated apple. Everyone also remembers the snake-tempter, the guardian of the tree of paradise, who for some reason needed to get rid of two unfortunate lovers. They forever left that fabulous place called the Garden of Eden, or Eden
The article tells about the holy Archangel Michael, revered in all monotheistic religions of the world. A brief overview of information about him, gleaned from canonical texts and apocrypha is given
According to the charter of the Orthodox Church, there are only four fasts lasting a long period of time. Of these, two are strict - Great Lent and Assumption. The other two are less strict (during their implementation it is allowed to eat fish), these are the Christmas and Petrov fasts. Today we will talk about the last of them
Among the four multi-day fasts established by the Orthodox Church, the second longest is the Christmas one, which precedes the holiday dedicated to the greatest event of Sacred history - the earthly incarnation of the Son of God Jesus Christ. Let's take a look at its most characteristic features
The meaning of the life of a believer is the acquisition of love, unity with God, the victory of our passions and over temptations. Fasting was given to us as an opportunity for purification, this is a period of special vigil, and the feast after it is a day of rejoicing and prayers of thanksgiving for the mercy of God
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is good news for the entire Christian world. Thanks to the Virgin Mary, the atonement of original sin became possible. History, customs, signs and much more can be found in the article
Everyone knows that our ancestors adhered to traditions and considered every Lenten day a joy. This time was special. Historically, fasting is a restriction of a religious person in something for the purpose of repentance. Some Christians use the metaphor "spring of the soul". It characterizes the inner state of a person who has set a goal to sacrifice himself to God
The Church of Simeon the Stylite on Povarskaya has an unusual history. It can be called a special blessing that this temple was not damaged during the laying of the New Arbat. Moreover, the architects decided to make an architectural accent on this building. The building succinctly stands out from the general ensemble
Many people, both men and women, do not know when Michael's name day is celebrated. But this question is of great interest to them. This article has the answer to it and much more
A well-deserved place in the history of the formation and development of the Church is occupied by Father Gregory, who was called Dvoeslov. He, being a Christian Pope, shared food with the poor, wrote many books, which were later re-read by scientists. His memory is very closely intertwined with Great Lent, his name is immediately associated with fasting services
The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Samara) was built to meet the spiritual needs of immigrants from the west of the Russian Empire. Today it is not only a functioning Catholic church, but also a unique place of worship, included in the UNESCO heritage list
Annunciation Monastery (Nizhny Novgorod) rose from the ashes several times. The monastery was destroyed under the influence of natural disasters and social cataclysms. Despite the troubles that have befallen him, today the monastery not only acts as a refuge for monks, but also serves as a cultural and educational center. It publishes its own online magazine, conducts excursions, operates a Sunday school, a theological seminary
John the Baptist Monastery is one of the sights and pride of the capital. This is one of the oldest buildings in modern Moscow. He went through turmoil, famine, fires and wars. And all this time he inspired and spiritualized Muscovites and pilgrims. This is not the only monument of John the Baptist, but it is this John the Baptist convent that has been preserved in almost all its grandeur
The article tells about the miraculous Donskaya Icon of the Mother of God and the temple, which was built in her honor on Donskaya Square in Moscow and is currently a memorial of the country's historical events
The Holy Ascension Cathedral in the city of military glory Velikiye Luki is a landmark with a rich and largely tragic history. In 2014, the city celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the restoration of the temple
In churches there are images of saints to whom golden jewelry has been donated: rings, earrings. Panteleimon the healer is capable of saving lives or helping seriously ill people. The icon depicts him as a beautiful young man. A brief history of his life, the ability to heal people and help modern citizens in prayer - all this will be discussed in the publication
There are holidays that happen on the same day every year. Some holidays are transitory. How to determine when such a holiday? How many holidays are there in a year?
The most powerful, influential and numerous of all the major world religions that currently exist, ahead of Buddhism and Islam, is Christianity. The essence of religion, which breaks up into the so-called churches (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and others), as well as many sects, lies in the veneration and worship of one divine being, in other words, the God-Man, whose name is Jesus Christ
Each of us has a creature that is closely connected with us all our lives. And created specifically for "your" person. Therefore, it takes care of you tirelessly and around the clock. We are talking about the Guardian Angel, who is responsible for us before God. The prayer of the Guardian Angel sounds around the clock. It is he who saves people who get into trouble and miraculously survive
Monks are subject to strict restrictions because they are constantly under the supervision of their confessors, and pride can be detected in the early stages. The rest is enough to be moderate and reasonable. Prayer before meals is what you need to start with initiation to Orthodox asceticism
In every church there are certain areas where candles are placed for the living, and areas where candles are placed for the dead. If this is your first time in a new church, you can turn this question to regular parishioners, but not during the service. Do not distract the worshipers. When praying for those who are still in our sinful world, special petitions are read, different from those for the departed. Prayer to help the living is an effective help to the supported, especially with the right attitude of the petitioner
In his youth, Panteleimon witnessed the miracle of the resurrection of the dead through his prayer. This miracle helped him gain faith and be baptized. When he healed a blind man in the name of God, his own father, who had previously been a pagan, was also baptized. In our time, prayer to St. Panteleimon is the first means to ask the Lord for help to a sick loved one
Church sacraments in Christianity are not always clear not only to beginners, but also to those who have long been baptized and even regularly attend the temple with their loved ones. However, the priests consider such an approach to serving Christ unacceptable, because having accepted the faith, we, along with eternal life and blessings, receive a number of rules that must be followed
Six of the well-known Orthodox church sacraments must be passed by every believer without fail. The seventh of them is not intended for everyone, but it is all the more considered responsible and important. Ordination is a church procedure carried out when a person is ordained to the priesthood
In addition to the natural we alth that Crimea is so generously endowed with, it is also famous for the huge number of temples and monasteries on its territory. The Crimean monasteries have a rich history of development. They attract like a magnet, beckon with their unexplored secrets and amaze with their indescribable beauty
The first pontiffs appeared in ancient Rome, but they still exist today. Who are they, what are their duties, who is given such a title and what is the history of this concept?
Catholicism in Russia has a thousand-year history. The preachers of this current of Christianity from the very beginning of the history of Russia were active in the country. At the moment, approximately 1,000,000 Catholics live in the Russian Federation
The Mother of God has been the most revered in Russia since ancient times. Her image is depicted on many icons, without which no temple can do. Even in the smallest and poorest village church there was an icon of the Mother of God. This attitude continues to this day, especially since among the Orthodox there is a belief in the special power of this image. Prayers are especially often offered before the image of the Virgin of a woman