1.1. Why go to church (temple)? One of the purposes of man on earth is to praise and glorify God, his Heavenly Father. This glorification is most expressed in the majestic services of the Church. In the Church people also find the fullness of mutual prayerful fellowship and mutual prayerful support. The Lord said: “If two of you agree on earth to ask for any matter, then whatever they ask, it will be from my Father in heaven, for where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them”(Matthew 18:19,20). The Apostle Paul calls the Church "The Body of Christ, Who fills all in all with the fullness"(Eph. 1:23) and also "the house of God", "the pillar and ground of the truth"(1 Tim. 3:15). The Church is the support for Christians, and she has the criterion for the truth and is its guardian. Without the Church and participation in Church Sacraments man cannot be saved. Those who do not attend the temple are in fact outside the Church.

1.2. What should you do before entering the temple?

- Before entering the temple, you need to cross yourself three times, after each overshadowing yourself with a cross, make a waist bow, mentally saying prayers: after the first bow: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner”, after the second bow: “God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me” , after the third bow: "I have sinned without number, Lord, forgive me." You can simply cross yourself with the words "Lord, have mercy." The main thing is to try to leave worldly, vain thoughts and have a prayerful attitude in your soul for communion with God.

1.3. How to behave in the temple?

—People going to church need to know that the Church has its own rules and regulations. Women should not come to the temple in trousers, short skirts, sweaters and sleeveless blouses (with open hands), with cosmetics on the face. A woman's head should be covered with a scarf or scarf. Men should not come to the temple in shorts and T-shirts. Men must remove their hats before entering the temple.

You should arrive at the temple 10-15 minutes before the start of the service. During this time, you need to buy and venerate the icons. After that take comfortable spot. Following an ancient rule, women stand during worship on the left side of the temple, men on the right. If there is enough free space, it is not necessary to occupy the main passage from entrance doors to the Royal Gates. During the anointing with oil, the Communion, the veneration of the cross, men are skipped first.

You should not walk around the temple during worship, carry on conversations. Those who come to the temple during the service should refrain from placing candles or passing them, distracting people from prayer.

You can’t sit cross-legged in the temple, keep your hands in your pockets or behind your back. One must conduct oneself in the house of God decently and reverently.

1.4. Arriving at the temple, who should put a candle in the first place and what should one pray for?

- First of all, it’s good to put a candle in the center of the temple, where on a lectern (a special table with an inclined surface) lies an icon of a holiday or a temple icon, as well as to the image of the Savior, Mother of God. For the repose of the dead, they put a candle to the cross on a rectangular candlestick (this is the eve). You can put a candle to any saint or saints. It is necessary to pray for the forgiveness of sins, to thank the Lord for His good deeds, to ask for help in existing needs.

1.5. Why is it necessary to stand in the temple during services?

- Divine services and sacred actions are performed in the temple, during which a person stands before God with his soul, mind and heart, and since the soul and body are closely related to each other, he expresses his inner mood by the very bodily position. Man was created by God in such a way that the very vertical position of the body indicates his sublime destiny.

A Christian during worship is not a curious spectator, but a reverent accomplice in a sacred act. And who sincerely, attentively, with all his soul prays, he does not feel tired. Of course, people suffering from bodily ailments or in need of additional rest (for example, pregnant women, the elderly) can sit on the benches available in all temples. But during and especially important places Liturgy should rise.

“It is better to think about God while sitting than standing about your feet,” said the 19th-century Moscow hierarch Filaret (Drozdov).

1.6. How often should you visit the temple?

- The fourth commandment says that a person must work for six days, and devote the seventh day to the Lord God. Therefore, every Christian should attend the temple on Sundays, including the all-night vigil the day before (on Saturday evening), and, if possible, on the days church holidays. You can come to the church at any other time - to pray, put candles in front of the icons, submit notes for the Liturgy in advance, talk with the priest.

1.7. Can I eat in the morning before visiting the temple?

- According to the Charter of the Church, this is not supposed to be done. Those who have not received communion eat an antidoron after the service, which can only be taken on an empty stomach. Indulgence is possible for children and people suffering from physical ailments, who are allowed to eat before visiting the temple. The Charter of the Church is designed for physically healthy people.

1.8. Is it possible to put candles and venerate icons during Communion?

- Communion is the most important part of the service, so during this period you should not put candles and venerate icons. Whoever does not receive communion on this day should stand in one place and pray, maintaining reverence for the greatest Sacrament.

Spiritual life, participation in worship is not limited to a candle. Candle has symbolic meaning, but it is not the symbol that saves, but the true essence - divine grace, which is served in the Sacraments. Therefore, during the service, all attention should be paid to what is sung and read in the temple. It is necessary to put candles before the start of the service, and if they did not have time, after it ends.

1.9. If it is necessary to leave before the end of the Liturgy, when can this be done?

- Leaving the church before the end of the Liturgy is allowed only due to weakness or in case of emergency, but not during the reading of the Gospel and the celebration of the Eucharist.

It is advisable not to leave the temple until the exclamation of the priest, "Let's leave in peace."

1.10. Is it possible to approach the anointing during the all-night service to the unbaptized?

- There will be no harm to the unbaptized from the fact that he is anointed with consecrated oil. But you just need to think about whether it will be useful to him. If this is a certain approach of a person to the church fence, if he, having not yet decided to be baptized, shows interest in these actions of the Church, then this is good. And if such actions are perceived by him as a kind of magic, as a kind of "church medicine", but at the same time a person does not at all strive to become a church member in order to become Orthodox Christian, believes that the anointing will serve him as some kind of amulet, then in this case it is better not to approach.

1.11. Is it possible for an unbaptized person to venerate the relics?

- It is possible to venerate unbaptized holy relics and icons if they have faith and reverence for the shrine.

1.12. Are they venerated at the cross on Radonitsa?

– People venerate the cross every day at the end of the service, because it is the main Christian shrine, it is a symbol of faith and an instrument of our salvation.

1.13. What to do if the child in the temple burst into tears?

- A crying child must be calmed, and if this fails, then go out of the temple with him so as not to interfere with those praying.

1.14. Is photography and video shooting allowed in the temple?

– There is no general church ban on photography and video filming in churches (example: regular TV broadcasts of the Patriarchal and Metropolitan Christmas and Easter services). However, in order to comply with church deanery, one should seek the blessing of the priest for these actions.

1.15. How to relate to the fact that during the service one sees a beautiful glow of icons, gates, and the like?

- With great care. All kinds of visions are not useful to a person, since through them the deception of the evil spirit most often occurs, which leads to a state called delusion in Orthodoxy. Such visions should not be given any significance, try not to pay attention to them at all. You also need to be careful about hearing voices and any physical sensations during prayer.

1.16. Why do women have to cover their heads in church?

- IN Holy Scripture says: “And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered shames her head.”(1 Cor. 11:5). “So the husband should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God; and the wife is the glory of the husband. For the husband is not from the wife, but the wife is from the husband; and the husband was not made for the wife, but the wife for the husband. Therefore, a woman must have on her head a sign of power over her, for the Angels.(1 Cor. 11:7-10).

1.17. Why are women not allowed to enter the temple in trousers?

– Because trousers are men's clothing, and God forbade people to wear clothes that do not correspond to their gender. "A woman should not wear men's clothes, and a man should not put on women's clothes, for everyone who does this is abominable before the Lord your God."(Deut. 22:5).

1.18. Is it obligatory to kneel in the temple during worship?

- If the priest and all the worshipers kneel, then you must also get up. In exceptional cases, when a person is sick or when the temple is very crowded, you can not get on your knees.

1.19. Why do they go around the temple with trays and collect money?

– “Don’t you know that the priests are fed from the sanctuary?”(1 Cor. 9:13). It is established by the Lord Himself that the Church exists on the donations of believers (Lev.27:32; Deut.12:6; 14:28; 18:1-5). No funds are allocated from the state budget for the maintenance of churches, for the salaries of priests, deacons, psalm-readers, choristers, candle-makers, watchmen, cleaners, Sunday school teachers and other church workers, since the Church in our country is separated from the state, but it obliges the Church to pay taxes for the lease of land and buildings, for water, electricity, heating, etc. In addition, funds are needed for repairs and restoration, for maintaining the splendor of the interior decoration of churches, for the purchase of vestments, liturgical accessories and books. Temples are forced to cover all these costs on their own, and their income consists only of donations from believers.

1.20. How should one behave when censing a temple?

– When a clergyman burns the temple, one must step aside so as not to interfere with him, and when burning the people, slightly tilt your head. You don't have to turn your back on the altar. You just need to turn around a little. You should not be baptized at this time.

1.21. What do bows mean?

– Bows are a symbolic action that serves as an expression of a sense of reverence for God. Kneeling and rebellion symbolizes the fall of man through sin and his resurrection in the love of God.

Realizing their sinfulness and unworthiness before God, as a sign of humility, prayer is accompanied by bows.

1.22. What are the offerings?

- Bows are half-length, when they bend to the waist, and earthly, when, bowing, they kneel and touch the ground (floor) with their heads.

1.23. Are there any restrictions on church life for women who are in natural uncleanness?

– In the Old Testament Church, there were strict restrictions on the participation of women who were in natural impurity in church life: “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Tell the children of Israel, If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean for seven days; as in the days of suffering by her cleansing, she will be unclean; ... and thirty-three days she must sit, cleansed from her blood; she must not touch anything sacred and must not come to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.(Lev.12:1-4). “If a woman bleeds for many days not during her cleansing, or if she has an outflow longer than her usual cleansing, then during the entire time of the outflow of her uncleanness, as in the continuation of her cleansing, she is unclean”(Lev.15:25). “And when she is freed from her expiration, then she must count seven days for herself, and then she will be clean”(Lev.15:28).

And in the New Testament Church there is a rule according to which women during uncleanness should not take communion and enter the temple for up to 7 days (Nomocanon, 64). Women in childbirth are prohibited from entering the temple for 40 days from the time they give birth to a baby.

“Approaching in uncleanness to a holy thing is impudence and an insult to a holy thing. Therefore, it is quite natural on the part of the Church to desire to keep a woman from church communion for a while in a state of natural impurity, which is, as it were, a seal of the original curse on a woman (Church Herald, 1896, 39). Refraining from entering the temple for 40 days, women who have given birth thereby prove their obedience to the holy Church regarding purity, imitating the Virgin Mary, who, although she did not require any purification, like an immaculate Ever-Virgin, but fulfilled the law of purification ”(Luke 2:22) . (Handbook for the sacred-church-ministers).

However, at present, even among experienced clergy, there is no consensus on all the nuances of this issue.

Participation in the Church Sacraments during this period should be refrained from if there is no mortal danger.

1.24. From which side should you go around the icons in the temple - from right to left or from left to right?

- With anyone. The main thing is that this is done reverently, with prayer and does not interfere with other people.

1.25. How many flowers can be brought to the temple - an even or an odd number?

– What matters is not the number of flowers brought to the temple, but the heartfelt dispensation of those who bring it.

A practical guide to parish counseling. St. Petersburg 2009.

People come to the temple with gratitude to the higher powers or with repentance for committed sinful deeds. The clergy do not condemn those who do not know the rules of conduct in the temple. To behave appropriately, it is enough to ask the church workers or get acquainted with the rules in church literature.

For believers, there are no questions about how to behave correctly in church. Basically, tourists or people of other faiths who are in church for the first time are interested in such issues.

Preparing for your visit

Church Attendance Should Start with Preparing at Home. In addition to spiritual purity, one should take care of the cleanliness of the body and clothes.

1. If you have a morning visit to the temple, after washing, you need to say words of gratitude in prayer for the fact that the night passed peacefully and calmly. It is necessary to read a chapter from the Gospel or an abbreviated prayer book.
2. Prepare clothes. To visit the temple, women should give up trousers, short skirts and neckline. Clothing should not be bright or too revealing. Either a complete absence of makeup is welcome, or it should be discreet and not defiant.
3. It is worth abstaining from the morning meal, with the exception of the sick, children and pregnant women.

The interior of the temple

The area of ​​the church is divided into the altar, temple and vestibule. The altar and temple are separated by an iconostasis. The royal gates lead to the altar, as well as the northern and southern ones. Women are not allowed to be on the altar. The priest can allow men to enter the altar, for this they use the northern and southern gates, and the clergy can enter through the Royal Doors.

The platform located on a hill, in close proximity to the altar, is called the salt. Only a clergyman can give permission to climb the solea or pulpit ( central part salts).

How to enter the church

Before joining the service, you need to know when it starts. You can usually see the schedule on the church door or in the church shop.

When entering a church, men must remove their hats, while women, on the contrary, cannot enter an Orthodox church without covering their heads with a headscarf or scarf. Moreover, the head should be covered for both married and unmarried women, little girls are also recommended to follow the example of mothers and grandmothers.

For those who forgot about it a handkerchief will be offered in a church shop. It is important not to forget to return it after the visit. If a woman came in trousers, of course, they would not kick her out, but they would offer a special skirt.

It is necessary to turn off the mobile phone, or turn off the sound on it so that it does not interfere with other parishioners.

At the entrance doors, you need to make three bows and cross yourself three times, while saying the words of the prayer: "God, cleanse me a sinner and have mercy."

After entering, the parishioners find themselves in the porch. This is the space leading from the entrance to the temple itself, a kind of corridor. The vestibule is the place where the earthly and the divine meet. The vestibule also has a practical function. If the church does not have a separate shop, then it is here that they sell candles, accept notes for health and repose, orders for prayers and memorial services.

Unbaptized and women during critical days it is forbidden to pass beyond the porch.

Behavior while on duty

In Orthodox churches and temples, believers stand during services. Only elderly or sick people can sit. To do this, special benches and chairs are installed along the walls. However, it is also recommended that sick and infirm people, if possible, stand up during the reading of the Gospel.

The ringing of bells heralds the imminent start of the service. By church custom, men are prescribed to take right side and women on the left. Note, What rules should be followed:

During the service, there are several moments, when believers must bow their heads. Please note that this must be done in the following cases:

• the priest passes with a censer;
• at the opening and closing of the Royal Gates;
• during the pronouncement of the proclamation "peace to all";
• during the blessing of the gospel;
• after saying "Bow your heads to the Lord."

How to put candles

There are no strict instructions on how to put candles. Candles can be purchased at the church shop, and the money for the sale of candles is considered voluntary donations.

As a rule, first of all, they put a candle in front of the icon located on the lectern. This means that on this day her holiday is celebrated.

Candles can be placed with different parties candlestick, with both hands. A candle is not lit from a lamp, it is more correct to light it from a neighboring candle. The bottom of the candle should be melted a little, then set it in the cell. If the candle does not light, put it in the candlestick unlit. Church ministers will light it themselves.

Please note that candles for health, with a prayer for help in business, you can put it at any icon. You can check in the shop which saint should be contacted with this or that request.

For the repose of the candles are placed separately. There is a special table for this, called the eve. There is a crucifix on it and there are cells for candles. Sometimes instead of cells there is a large box of sand, where candles are placed. In modern churches, next to the eve, for example, on the wall, the text of a prayer for the departed is attached.

If suddenly you put a candle on the health of a person, and then it turned out that he had already died, do not worry. For God we are all alive.

How to apply to the icon

Before the icon you need to bow twice, at the same time to be baptized. Then kiss the icon and again cross yourself with a bow.

It is forbidden to touch the face of the saints with lips, but you can kiss the image of the hands, or it can be the edge of the clothes of the Savior or the saints. When applied to the cross, the kiss should be at the feet of the Savior. Girls should take into account that they need to wipe lipstick off their lips.

You can hear the opinion that applying to the icon is unhygienic. But the ministers of the church claim that scientists have proven the absence of microbes on the icons in the church.

Attached to the icons or not- This is a personal matter for everyone. Kissing the icon, the believer expresses tremulous love, no one forces him to do this.

Communication with a priest

The greeting of the clergyman should begin with the words "Bless." The use of the usual "Hello" in the temple is inappropriate. The priest will answer "God bless" and baptize, after which he puts his hand in his palms, she needs to be kissed. It is believed that during the kiss of the blessing hand, the person comes into contact with Christ.

They say goodbye to the clergyman with the same "Bless".

Before leaving the church, it is necessary to cross yourself three times, saying a prayer and bowing.

The Orthodox faith is being strengthened and more and more people are coming to church. But when attending church, many do not know how to behave properly in church. Certain requirements must be observed in the church world. Although the rules of conduct in an Orthodox church, at first glance, will seem difficult to remember, with repeated visits to the church and when paying attention to the behavior of other parishioners, their implementation will not require effort.

A man comes to the temple to give thanks higher power, repent of their sins, be morally reborn, and sincere prayers will certainly be heard by the Lord. However, today a common hindrance to attending church is simply ignorance of the rules of conduct in the temple of God.

As the clergy themselves say, there is nothing wrong with this, one cannot condemn a person who does not quite know the order of actions in the temple, because ideal people no. You can simply ask a clergyman about this or read special literature.

Orthodox church

The church is a special place. The norms of behavior in the temple went through a very long way of becoming. general rules behavior in all temples are only the following: do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, do not make noise and behave with respect for the place of the presence of God. All other rules are very different.

Believers know exactly how to behave in the temple, but many churches are open to visits by a huge number of tourists, and simply people who, out of the need of the soul or out of curiosity, decided to go to the temple. In order not to make a mistake, not to hurt the feelings of believers and not to disturb the peace of the temple, before visiting the church, you should familiarize yourself with the rules of conduct in it.

The whole church building is divided into the altar, the temple itself and the vestibule. The altar is fenced off from the temple itself by an iconostasis, which in most cases reaches the ceiling. In the altar are the throne and the altar. The Royal Doors (central), as well as the northern and southern gates lead to the altar.

Women are forbidden to enter the altar. Men can enter the altar only with the permission of the priests, and then only through the north or south gates. Only the clergy enter the altar through the Royal Doors.

Directly adjacent to the iconostasis is the salt - an elevated platform along the entire altar.

Opposite the royal doors is the pulpit - the central part of the salt. Without the permission of the clergy, it is also not allowed to ascend the pulpit and salt.

Since ancient times, it has been established to celebrate divine services three times a day: in the evening, in the morning and in the afternoon - the liturgy. You should know that the church day does not begin at 0000 hours of the calendar day, but at 1800 hours of the previous day.

The entrance to the temple from the street is usually arranged in the form of a porch - a platform in front of the entrance doors, to which several steps lead. Approaching the temple, you need to make the sign of the cross and bow from the waist. Climbing up to the porch, before entering the door, you again need to overshadow yourself sign of the cross and bow down. One should not, standing on the street, pray for a long time and for show.

Entering the temple, one should stop near the door and make three bows with prayers: - "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." - Bow. "God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me." - Bow. “Creating me, Lord, forgive me.” - Bow.

It is supposed to be baptized slowly, connecting together the first three fingers of the right hand, and the other two - folding and bending to the palm of your hand. With the right hand folded in this way, one should successively touch the forehead, abdomen, right and left shoulders.

You should arrive at the temple 10-15 minutes before the start of the service. During this time, you can submit notes, put a donation on the eve, buy candles, put them on and venerate the icons. If you are late, you must behave in such a way as not to interfere with the prayer of others. If it is not possible to freely approach the icons and put candles, ask them to pass the candles through other people.

During the service, men should stand on the right side of the temple, women on the left, leaving free passage from the main doors to the Royal Doors. It is forbidden to sit in an Orthodox church, the only exception can be ill health or severe fatigue of the parishioner.

During worship, one should not look around, it is indecent to show curiosity and examine the worshipers, ask them about something, chew chewing gum, keep their hands in their pockets, shake hands with friends, talk on the phone.

It is better to turn off the phone altogether or at least put it on silent mode. Leaving mobile phones on in the temple becomes an obstacle to attentive prayer, while worship, on the contrary, enriches and pleases the human soul.

It is unacceptable to condemn and ridicule the involuntary mistakes of employees or those present in the temple. It is forbidden to talk during worship. You should not condemn and rebuke a newcomer who does not know the rules of the church. It is better to help him with polite and kind advice. Candles need to be bought exactly in the temple to which you came. If possible, you should not leave the church before the end of the service.

Photo and video filming is prohibited in temples. They are allowed only after the blessing of the clergy in special cases related to church sacraments.

When visiting temples, it is customary to dress in such a way that most of the body is covered. It is not customary to go to the temple in shorts and sportswear. T-shirts and shirts with short sleeves should also be avoided by men and women whenever possible. The woman's head must be covered.

Men are required to remove their hats before entering the temple.

You should not ask for blessings from deacons and ordinary monks, since they have no right to do this. Bless priests and bishops, as well as abbesses of monasteries in the rank of abbess. When accepting a blessing, you should fold your palms crosswise ( right palm over the left) and kissing the right, blessing hand of the clergyman, it is not necessary to be baptized before this.

How to be baptized?

On the right hand, we fold the thumb, middle and index fingers so that they touch with pads (the symbol of the Trinity is God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit), we press the remaining two to the palm (the symbol of the dual nature of Jesus Christ - God and Man). Next, we bring our hand to the forehead (in the Name of the Father), on the stomach (and the Son), to the right shoulder (and the Holy Spirit), to the left shoulder (Amen) and bow.

Where to put candles for health?

Candles for health are placed on any candlestick, except for the eve (table at the Crucifixion) - candles are placed there with a prayer for the dead. Which saint? As your heart desires, to whom the heart will indicate. Your prayer is to the Lord. And the saints are our intercessors before Him and intercessors. You can also put candles, for example, for the icons of the Mother of God or the Feast, which are especially revered by you and your family.

Types of notes:

- about health: proskomedia, litany, prayer service.
- about repose: proskomidia, litany, requiem.

For both the living and the dead, you can also order a magpie, an annual commemoration

Proskomedia: performed before the Liturgy: particles are removed from the prosphora and placed in the Chalice, the liturgical prosphora is being prepared - the Lamb. Names are read from notes submitted for proskomedia. And the particles are taken out for these people. Already during the Liturgy, after the Transubstantiation of the Gifts, the removed particles are immersed in the Holy Chalice with a prayer to Christ to wash away the sins of those who are commemorated.

Litany: names are read during the Augmented Litany after the reading of the Gospel at the Liturgy

Moleben: a separate service is ordered (more precisely, this is called a treba). In a note for a prayer service, you can indicate to whom: for example, a prayer service to any icon of the Mother of God, a saint ..

Requiem: a separate service for the dead. Done often. There are also Parental Saturdays, before which Parastas is served - a special memorial service. Notes filed on Parents' Saturday, are read the day before, on Friday, at the Parastasos, and on Saturday at the Liturgy at the litany, and after the Liturgy at the memorial service

Sorokoust: prayer during the reading of the Psalter in the monastery for 40 days;
annual commemoration - respectively, according to the same principle.
Notes should be served in the candlestick of the temple. There are samples everywhere. If the sample is not posted, you can ask the temple candlestick about the design - they will explain everything to you.

Only the names of baptized people are written in the notes. If a person is sick - sick (go) "name". If the note is about the dead, then you can’t write suicides, unbaptized babies (they are prayed for at home).

What is confession?

Confession implies an open heart to God, a sincere desire to become better and part with bad thoughts and actions, get rid of the desire to do bad deeds (both in relation to others and to oneself). And repentance for the bad things that have already been done. What is sinful? There is enough sensible literature on this subject, which you can buy in a church shop, for example, “To Help the Penitent” by Ignaty Brianchaninov.

How to prepare for confession?

There is no universal recipe here. And you won’t ask anyone in particular: how do you prepare for confession? Because it's a very personal matter. Some generally write everything on a piece of paper the day before. The main thing to do is to tune in to reflect on your actions and thoughts.

How is the confession going?

Find out in the temple about the hours of confession. It can be evening (after or even during the service) and morning (before the Liturgy). If you know any priest (you saw him at the service, talked and were filled with confidence), find out in the candle-room when he will confess. It is better (especially for the first time) to go to confession to someone who disposes you to himself. Despite the fact that you confess to God, and not to the priest, the personal factor influences here, and at first we cannot do anything about it. Although it may not matter to some.

You must come to confession on a first-come, first-served basis. As you approach, bow your head. Start with "sinned" and list the sins. After you have said everything, finish the confession "Forgive me, Merciful Lord." After you have finished confession, the priest covers your head with an epitrachelion (an accessory of liturgical vestments is a long ribbon that wraps around your neck and descends to your chest with both ends) and reads a prayer. He will first ask for your name (do not forget that if your name is Rosa, and you are baptized with Hope, you must say “Hope”). After the prayer, you are baptized, kiss the Gospel lying in front of you, and the Cross (ibid.), and move away from the lectern.

The main thing is that you cannot take communion without confession, but you can confess without subsequent communion. Preparation for communion is much more difficult and longer than for confession.

How to prepare for Communion?

Three days before Communion it is necessary to fast (do not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, and fasting - and fish). Fasting also includes quitting smoking, drinking and abstinence. It is necessary during the preparation to read the rule for Communion (it is in any Orthodox prayer book). On the day of Communion itself, after 12 o'clock at night (that is, from the beginning of a new day), it is not supposed to eat and drink until the end of the Liturgy. Previously, people dressed in bright clothes for communion - there was such Orthodox tradition. Before the service or the day before, confession is prescribed.

During the Liturgy, towards the end of the service, having heard the singing: “One is Holy, One is the Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father. Amen. ”, start slowly moving to the right side of the temple. It is from there that they approach the Chalice. After the priest’s words “Come with the fear of God and faith” (he takes out the Cup) and singing “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, God the Lord and appear to us” - the prayer “I believe, Lord, and I confess ...” is read (you will already recognize it after home preparation for Communion). Her father reads himself, but the whole church silently (sometimes, out loud) repeats. After the prayer to the singing of “Take the body of Christ…” those who take communion approach the Chalice. Hands are folded crosswise on the chest - right to left.

Approaching the Cup, say your name in baptism, open your mouth and receive the Body and Blood of the Lord. After that, kiss the edge of the Chalice and move further to the left side of the temple. Take a piece of prosphora there and drink it down. It is not necessary to be baptized and bow at the Chalice itself, so as not to hurt it. Also, before you drink, you should not say anything. After communion, you should not immediately leave the temple. Wait until the end of the service, kiss the Cross, which the priest will give after the sermon, and only after that leave the church refreshed. Do not forget to read the prayers after Communion at home. Or listen to them in the temple at the end of the service.

Upon leaving the temple

Blessing
One must distinguish between worship before a shrine and before people, even if they are sacred. Accepting the blessing of a priest or bishop, Christians fold their palms crosswise, placing the right on the left, and kiss the right hand of the blessing, but do not cross themselves before that. This custom recalls that this hand held the Holy Chalice of the Eucharist.

General
Leaving their temple, make three waist bows with the sign of the cross.
The care of the Holy Church for us continues after the service, so that we do not lose the grace-filled mood, which, by the grace of God, we were honored in the temple. The Church commands us to disperse after the service in reverent silence, with thanksgiving to God, with a prayer that the Lord grant us to always visit His holy monastery until the end of our lives.
Smokers are forbidden to smoke even on the street within the church fence.
But it is absolutely necessary to delve into everything that happens for church service to feed on them. Only then will each one warm his heart, excite his conscience, revive his withered soul, and enlighten his mind.

Rules of conduct in Orthodox Church

1. Enter the holy temple with spiritual joy. Remember that the Savior Himself promised to comfort you in sorrow: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11, verse 28).

2. Always enter here with humility and meekness, so that you can leave the temple justified, as the humble gospel publican came out.

3. When you enter the temple and see the holy icons, think that the Lord Himself and all the saints are looking at you; be especially reverent at this time and have the fear of God.

4. Entering St. temple, create - on weekdays three earthly, and on holidays three bows from the waist, praying: - "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." - Bow. "God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me." - Bow. “Creating me, Lord, forgive me.” - Bow.

5. Orthodox Christians serve on time Divine Liturgy- the main Christian service - notes on the health of their living relatives (baptized, Orthodox) and, separately, on the repose of the dead. They are formatted as follows:

Names are written neatly, legibly - complete, in the genitive case: about the health (or repose) of whom? - Tamara, John, Nikifor, etc. The number of names does not matter, but the priest usually reads a not very long note more carefully and more prayerfully. But it is precisely such notes that are served when a person often comes to the temple! Notes are served before the start of the service, usually in the same place where candles are bought. In order not to be embarrassed, you should remember that the difference in the price of the notes reflects only the difference in the amount of your donation to the temple needs. The same can be said about the price of candles.

6. Be reverent church candle: this is a symbol of our prayer burning before the Lord, His Most Pure Mother, the saints of God. Candles are lit one from the other, burning, and, having melted the bottom of it, they put it in the nest of the candlestick. The candle should stand strictly straight. If, on the day of a great feast, a servant extinguishes your candle in order to light the candle of another, do not be indignant in spirit: your sacrifice has already been accepted by the All-Seeing and All-Knowing Lord.

7. It is good if there is a place in the temple where you are used to standing. Pass to him quietly and modestly, and passing by the Royal Doors, stop and reverently cross yourself and bow. If there is no such place yet, do not be embarrassed. Without disturbing others, try to stand up so that singing and reading can be heard. If this is not possible, stand in a free place and carefully perform the inner prayer.

8. In St. temple always come to the beginning of worship. If you are still late, be careful not to interfere with the prayer of others. Entering the temple during the reading of the Six Psalms, the Gospel, or after the Cherubic Liturgy (when the transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts is performed), stay at the entrance doors until the end of these important parts of the Service.

9. During the service, try not to walk around the temple even to light candles. One should also venerate icons before and after the Divine Service, or at set time- for example, at the vigil for the anointing with oil. Some moments of the service, as already mentioned, require special concentration: reading the Gospel; Song of the Theotokos and Great Doxology at Vespers; the prayer “Only Begotten Son…” and the entire Liturgy, beginning with “Who are the Cherubim…”.

10. In the temple, with a silent bow, greet your acquaintances, even with especially close ones, do not shake hands and do not ask about anything - be truly modest. Do not be curious and do not peer at those around you, but pray with sincere feeling, delving into the order and content of the services.

11. One must stand in the temple, and only in cases of illness is it allowed to sit down and rest. However, the Metropolitan of Moscow Filaret (Drozdov) said well about the infirmity of the body: “It is better to think about God while sitting than standing about your feet.” But during the reading of the Gospel and in especially important places of the Liturgy, one must stand.

12. When a clergyman burns the temple, one should step aside so as not to interfere with him, and bow the head slightly when burning the people. You should not be baptized at this time. It is also customary to bow the head when the Royal Doors are opened or closed, when the priest proclaims "Peace to all" or blesses the people with the Gospel. During the consecration of the Holy Gifts (prayer “We sing to you”), if the temple is not very crowded, you need to bow to the ground. On holidays and Sundays, prostrations are not required, and they are not performed even after Communion. On these days, make bows from the waist, touching the floor with your hand.

13. In the temple, pray as a participant in Divine services, and not only present, so that the prayers and hymns that are read and sung come from your heart; follow the service carefully so that you pray for exactly what the whole Church prays for. Place the sign of the cross on yourself and make obeisances at the same time as everyone else. For example, during Divine services, it is customary to be baptized during the doxology of the Holy Trinity and Jesus Christ, during litanies - to any exclamation of “Lord, have mercy” and “Give, Lord”, as well as at the beginning and end of any prayer. You need to cross and bow before approaching the icon or putting a candle, and leaving the temple. It is impossible to hastily, inattentively make the sign of the cross over ourselves, because in doing so we appeal to the Lord's love and grace.

14. If you come with children, make sure that they behave modestly and do not make noise, accustom them to prayer. If the children need to leave, tell them to cross themselves and leave quietly, or take them out yourself.

15. Never allow a child to eat in a holy temple, except when the priests distribute the blessed bread.

16. If a small child bursts into tears in the temple, immediately take him out or carry him out.

17. Do not condemn the involuntary mistakes of employees or those present in the temple - it is more useful to delve into your own shortcomings and ask the Lord to forgive your sins. It happens that during the Divine service, in front of your eyes, someone prevents the parishioners from praying with concentration. Don't get angry, don't bully anyone. Try not to pay attention, and if, due to weakness, you cannot cope with the temptation, it is better to move quietly to another place.

18. When you go to the temple of God, still at home prepare money for candles, prosphora and church fees: it is inconvenient to change them when buying candles, because this interferes both with Divine services and those who pray.

19. Until the end of the Divine Service, never, unless absolutely necessary, leave the temple, for this is a sin before God. If this happens, tell the priest in confession.

20. According to our old customs, men should stand on the right side of the temple, and women on the left. No one should occupy the passage from the main doors to the Royal Doors.

21. Women should enter the temple modestly dressed and with their heads covered. It is unacceptable to partake of the Holy Mysteries and venerate shrines with painted lips.

22. The main thing is mutual love parishioners and understanding of the content of the Service. If we enter the temple of God with reverence, if, standing in the Church, we think that we are in heaven, then the Lord will fulfill all our petitions.

23. After the end of the service, when leaving the temple, one should cross and bow three times and then head home, trying to preserve the grace acquired by temple prayer

Now we answer frequently asked questions:

- a box with money (near the lectern or somewhere else in the temple) is a voluntary sacrifice, and not a payment for the sacraments. Decide according to your ability and conscience.

- the fact that Communion is given with one spoon, don't bother you either. No one has yet been infected by the Chalice.

- after the first confession (especially if you repented in grave sins) You may not be allowed to take Communion. Rarely, but such cases do happen. Go quietly home, do what the priest said, and get ready for the next confession. It is impossible to approach the Chalice without blessing.

— if you have a need to tell a priest about something, arrange an individual appointment with him. During confession, long conversations are inappropriate - most likely, there are many more people behind you.

Rules of conduct in the church

How to behave in the temple for children

Children's program from the cycle " kind word”, TV channel “My Joy”

In the life of every person there are such moments when he needs to get into the church. There may be various reasons for this: you can go to a large, well-known church for the sake of curiosity, or you go to church only on big holidays (Easter, Christmas), or maybe you sincerely wanted to be churched, that is, to become a full and equal member of the church. There can be many options, but in any case, certain rules must be observed in the church so as not to offend other worshipers with their behavior. I often see such people in the temple: from their confused look, you can immediately understand that they are here for the first time, they will put a candle at the wrong time, they will forget about the handkerchief - and omniscient grandmothers (undoubtedly, they are in any temple) with condemnation. You watch how they, the poor, embarrassed, leave the temple, and sadly you understand that they will not return here anymore. The impulse of the soul or even the need to communicate with God is severely interrupted due to some trousers instead of a skirt or lack of it. So before visiting Orthodox church be sure to read the rules of conduct in it.

How is the Orthodox Church

The Orthodox Church, any, even in a small village, always amazes with its beauty and grandeur. bell ringing, domes, golden robes of clergy - all this already inspires awe in front of the place where we are going to enter.
The temple, as a rule, is divided into 3 main parts: the altar, the vestibule and the temple itself. In the porch there can be shelving with church literature, candles, icons and other church utensils for sale. There may also be hangers for parishioners' clothes. Passing the porch, we find ourselves in the temple itself, where the worshipers stand during the service. The altar is the most sacred place in the temple; it is fenced off by an iconostasis, which often reaches the ceiling. Women are not allowed to enter there, and male parishioners can go there only on special occasions and with the permission of the priest (for example, during baptism). Three doors emerge from the altar: the Royal Doors (the most important), as well as the northern and southern doors. No one is allowed to walk through the Royal Doors, except for the priest. Adjacent to the iconostasis is an elevated platform, salt, it is also impossible to step on it except for special occasions (for example, Communion).
Thus, we can sum up that we, ordinary parishioners, can only be in the vestibule and the church itself, and as soon as the elevated platform (soleia) begins, we cannot go any further.

Rules of conduct in the Orthodox Church

If you are going to visit the temple, then prepare for this in advance. First of all, it concerns clothing. It is customary for women to be in the temple with a ready-made cover (this can be a scarf, a scarf or just an upper headdress), in a skirt below the knees and in a long-sleeved sweater. Do not use cosmetics. At the entrance to the temple, men must remove their headgear, shorts, T-shirts are also unacceptable - only clothing that hides the body as much as possible.
Approaching the temple, cross yourself three times and bow; upon entering the temple, stop near the door and cross yourself 3 times and bow. I want to draw the attention of MirSovetov readers to the fact that it is necessary to be baptized with three fingers gathered in a handful, the ring and little fingers must be pressed to the palm of your hand. Touch your forehead first, then your belly, your right shoulder, then your left, and bow.
It is customary to perform worship in the temple 3 times. If you got to the church at a time when there is no worship, then you can stand quietly and pray, put candles (they will be discussed below). If you decide to go to the liturgy (daytime worship), then remember that you need to come in advance, about 10-15 minutes before the start. In different churches, worship begins at different time so ask in advance. During the service, there are many worshipers in the church, and they do not need to be disturbed. Try to find a place convenient for you where you can see and hear everything clearly. As a child, I always stood in the very front rows so that I could see well what was happening. And it's not without common sense: a simple person will not immediately understand what is happening at all, he will not even understand what they say and sing (because the service takes place in Old Church Slavonic), so it makes sense to at least see what is happening.
During the service, you can not talk, look at others, shift from foot to foot. Cellular telephone must be turned off. After all, we come to the temple to pray, it is better to leave worldly affairs at home. On average, the service lasts 2-3 hours, out of habit it is difficult to spend so much time on your feet, so if you are tired, you can sit on a bench that stands in the porch or in the temple itself. You can’t sit with the Royal Doors open, even if the infirm, sick old women get up, then what can we say about the young and strong people like us. Also, you can’t turn your back to the altar, of course, this does not oblige you to back away like a cancer when you exit, but you should not defiantly turn your back to the altar during worship. If for some reason you cannot be in the temple until the end of the service, then you need to quietly exit, crossing yourself at the exit and in front of the temple itself.
Arriving in advance before the service, believers also perform several actions: they put candles, submit notes, and venerate icons. All this must be done in advance so as not to interfere with the prayers during the service.
Arriving at the temple, you need to venerate the main icon, which is located opposite the Royal Doors in front of the salt. To do this, you need to cross yourself three times, and then kiss the corner of the icon or the edge of the clothes depicted, cross yourself again and quietly move away without disturbing the others. It is unacceptable for women to kiss icons with painted lips. Personally, I even wash hygienic lipstick before this. During the service, many people will venerate the icon, so what will it look like at the end of the service if women smack it with painted lips? It should also be remembered that when kissing an icon, we do not kiss a board with paint on it, but through a kiss we address our love and respect to the one who is depicted on it.
Before the start of the service, you can also put a few candles for health or for peace. Candles for the dead are placed on a certain candlestick, which is easily recognizable by its square shape and a small crucifix. Candles for health can be placed on other candlesticks. It doesn't matter which hand you do it with, you just need to do it with sincere prayer for the one for whom you put this candle. A candle is a sacrifice to God, and it burns without a trace only for Him.
If you come to the temple with children, then carefully watch them so that they do not make noise and do not run around the temple. If the child bursts into tears, then you need to quickly take him out and calm him down so that he does not interfere with the others.
And finally, perhaps the most main advice: during the service, do what others do. If believers are baptized - baptize with them, bow - bow too. Each bow or sign of the cross is made in response to some words or actions of the clergy. And believe me, most of those present in the temple do not know why they are baptized and bow at this particular moment, and not at another. But behind every action there is a deep tradition that has evolved over the centuries. And you should not break them, trying to show your liberality or independence from the rules. After all, we enter the church for prayer, but this will not bring us truth and benefit if we enter the temple without humility.

Russia is an Orthodox country, and the people in it are mostly the same. Nominally. Many were once baptized, many believe in God, but ... unfortunately, not all reach the church. Someone is hindered by a lack of faith, someone is a completely natural fear of doing something wrong in the temple and being condemned by all-seeing and all-knowing grandmothers. Meanwhile, it is in the church that a person can get in touch with the true understanding of the heavenly and earthly world order, communicate with God, cleanse his soul of sins, get help for himself and his loved ones, try to get at least one step closer to Paradise.

How to dress for church?
The doors of Orthodox churches are open to everyone. Any person can come to them, including those who do not know how to behave properly in church. The main thing is just to come. Everything else can be learned along the way. Unless you have to dress properly in advance. Men must be in the temple in trousers and without headgear, women - in dresses or skirts and headscarves.

The basic principle of choosing clothes for visiting the temple is to look unprovocative. Women should prefer loose clothing that covers their legs and arms. As a headdress, it is desirable to use scarves (light - in holidays, dark - on fasting days) and only as a last resort - hats. Men should pay attention to the fact that their trousers and shirts are not too tight and revealing. Shorts, even in the summer heat, are not welcome in the temple. In winter, women can afford to come to the temple in trousers, provided that their outer clothing reaches at least knee level. The latter is an exception and is not allowed in all temples.

How to behave during worship?
You can learn how to behave in the Orthodox Church by the parishioners around you. Usually, each church has its own permanent flock, which comes there regularly and knows all the nuances of ongoing services. The schedule of services, as a rule, is posted in the porch - a place located between street and interior doors temple. In large churches, services are held every day in the morning and in the evening. On public holidays there are two morning services- one early, one regular. There may also be early morning services during the week. Any Sunday service, including the days of fasting, is considered festive and is held especially solemnly. During worship services, you can not talk to each other, use mobile phone and perform any loud and distracting other people from prayer actions. Remember: during church service not only the priest communicates with God, but also every parishioner, one of whom is you. It is also necessary to observe silence in the temple during the hours when services are not held, since people come to communicate with God at any time.

How and when to be baptized and bow?
In order to overshadow oneself with the sign of the cross, it is necessary to put together the thumb, index and middle fingers of the right hand so that they touch each other with pads. Three fingers are a symbol of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit. The remaining two fingers are pressed against the palm. They symbolize the dual nature of Jesus Christ - Divine and Human. right hand with folded fingers, at the beginning you need to bring it to the forehead, then to the stomach, then to the right and finally to the left shoulder.

After the fall, a bow is made with the sign of the cross. Its depth largely depends on the physical capabilities of a person, but it is assumed that the bow should be waist. The bow to the ground differs from the waist bow in that it is performed while kneeling with the obligatory touch of the forehead on the floor. Earthly prostrations are made on especially important occasions. You can find out when they need to be done by looking around. If the main part of the parishioners prostrates themselves during the service, then you better do the same. Old and sick people are allowed not to bow to the ground.

The sign of the cross is performed once before entering the temple, three times at the entrance, once when approaching any icon, three times when leaving the temple, and once on the street in front of the temple. During the service, you can be baptized after the priest and the rest of the parishioners. If for some reason you feel awkward, you can’t follow what is happening, or you are deeply immersed in prayer, then you don’t need to worry about the fact that everyone has made the sign of the cross, but you haven’t. Many people in the temple are baptized purely intuitively, feeling that right now they need the help of the Lord.

What can you do in a temple?
Learning how to behave in the church on the outside is not difficult, but it is much more important to master the inner background of a spiritual matter. The first thing to do when entering the temple is to approach and bow to the central icon. Approaching the icon, at the beginning you need to cross yourself, then bow, then kiss it with your lips and forehead. Through a kiss, the Orthodox express their love and reverence for the one depicted on the icon; forehead touch is done in the hope of gaining higher wisdom and grace. Thus, you can apply to all the icons in the temple.

Candles that are placed in front of the icons are best bought in a candle box. Everything that is sold inside the temple is consecrated and pleasing to God. Candles bought from the hands on the street are not welcome in Orthodox churches. In order for the candle to stand evenly, you must first light it from another candle, then melt the lower tip and quickly put the candle in the chosen place. It is possible to touch other people's candles, correct them if they are bent under the influence of the flame, or light them if they have gone out. It is impossible to extinguish other people's candles and throw them into a special dish. For this, the temple has special people. You can do anything with your candle - even put it out in the middle of a prayer and take it home. Most effective force have candles burning during worship.

It is possible to submit notes “on health” and “on repose” for reading by a priest only in relation to baptized people. Usually a note is written personally, sometimes it can be written for you in a candle box. When compiling a note, it is imperative to write its purpose and put an image of an Orthodox cross.

During the service, it is advisable not to wander around the temple back and forth. Leave the temple on the street to “breathe fresh air" is also not desirable. You can only do this if you feel bad. When crossing the center line of the temple, you need to cross yourself once. Walking behind the central icons (the main and central icons of the limits) is not allowed. They need to be bypassed in front. Turning your back to the altar is only a last resort. When censing (when the priest walks around the temple with a smoking censer), you must stand in the inner circle - otherwise you will find yourself outside the most effective prayers for each Orthodox.