Amount of records: 112

Hello, father! Happy Holidays! Can you please tell me if it is possible to do household chores on Easter week and lead an intimate life? I heard that on Easter and in the first three days it is forbidden to do this, and then it is possible, is it so? Tell me please. Thank you.

Natalia

Hello Natalia! During Bright Week, you can do your daily or urgent household chores. It is better to leave some global affairs for later. The question of intimate relationships is decided by the spouses jointly, according to the word of the Apostle Paul: "Do not deviate from each other, unless by agreement, for a while, for exercise in fasting and prayer, and then again be together, so that Satan does not tempt you with your intemperance" (1 Cor. 7.5). But in general, it is advisable to refrain from marital relations until the end of Bright Week.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Hello! Please help me in my situation. Tell me how to do the right thing in relation to people close to me and save yourself? I am a believer, I pray, I go to church, I try to observe fasting. There was a conflict in my family. My brother invited the whole family to his child's birthday, he is three years old in a cafe. He tried very hard, and wants everyone to be good. But the birthday falls on Holy Week, on Wednesday. My mom is upset and doesn't want to go. I understand that going to a cafe on Holy Week is a great sin, my soul hurts, I worry about my relatives who quarreled. I understand and support my mother, and I understand my brother (he plans to hold a very modest event, no frills): he is young and does not quite understand the meaning of Holy Week. What is the right thing to do?

Svetlana

Svetlana, try to do the following: prepare a small treat at home for the narrowest circle of relatives and tell your brother to arrange lunch in a cafe for friends and acquaintances, and when the whole official part is over, you and your mother will wait for him at the table at home.

Abbot Nikon (Golovko)

Hello! Tell me, when on Holy Week is it possible and when it is not allowed to do household chores (cleaning, washing, washing)? There are several opinions, all my friends agree on what can be done on Monday, Tuesday and definitely not on Friday, but about the rest of the days, the opinions are completely opposite: some say that Thursday is the day for cleaning, others that in no case you can't do business on Thursday, but you can do everything on Saturday (after service). Is it possible to clearly and specifically name the days when you can clean up (at the end of the service in the Temple), and when it is undesirable?

Tatyana

Tatyana, pay more attention to your soul. You need to prepare spiritually for Easter - to confess, to receive communion. There are no strict rules about when to clean and when not. You look at the time when it is most convenient for you. Usually we start cleaning temples, our dwellings, church grounds and houses from Maundy Thursday. But there is no need to attach global significance to this. When it is convenient for you, then do the cleaning of your house.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello, father, tell me, please. The husband offers his family from May 1 to May 5 to make a long trip to visit relatives in his car, 10 hours one way. We rarely travel with the whole family, the children study, we have work. I am worried that the trip falls on holidays, May 5 is the holiday of Holy Easter, and we have a way back. Can't reschedule the trip, cancel it altogether?

Nina

Hello Nina! If visiting relatives you manage to piously spend Passion Week and meet Easter, pray at the Easter Liturgy, then you can go. Otherwise, I would advise you to stay at home.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Hello! July 1 is my husband's grandmother's birthday, 90 years old, and 3 years since the death of her husband's family. Please tell me if it is possible to make a commemoration and celebrate a birthday on the same day?

Elena

Elena, there are no definite rules in this regard in the Church. You need to pray for the dead on this day. A birthday is a joyful event, a person was born and, as a rule, people are having fun. I think that, for ethical reasons, it is not good to have a commemoration and a birthday on the same day. It is necessary to separate these two events. Let's say, first celebrate the commemoration, and then, even the next day, celebrate your birthday.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello fathers! Thank you for your work, for your answers, it is not always possible to ask in confession, but it is not convenient to somehow distract the priest in the church, and you are helping us sinners very, very much! Last week on Wednesday, on the day of the Standing of Mary of Egypt, I could not be in the temple due to workload, I read the Canon of St. A. Cretan herself, but it turned out that I did not read everything in the evening, but read part of it in the morning (in transport) and in the evening (in transport and at home), I am confused by reading in transport, although I read with attention, is it not a sin and is it necessary to mention confessions about it? And another question, at work they ask to go to the demonstration with the team on May 1, just walk for the numbers, I myself don't want to (Holy Week), but in order not to let the leadership down, apparently, it will be necessary to go, will not it be a sin to participate in this procession without any slogans, etc.?

Svetlana

Svetlana, regarding the reading of the canon, I will say that if the soul is embarrassed, then it is better to tell about it in confession and get rid of the embarrassment. Of course, it is better to pray even in this way than not to pray at all, but for prayer, of course, there is a proper time and environment. And if I were you, I would try not to attend the demonstration, nothing, the authorities would tolerate. I am even sure that you will not be alone.

Abbot Nikon (Golovko)

My birthday coincided with Easter. May I celebrate my birthday?

Dasha

Dasha, you are very lucky this year. Celebrating your birthday on Easter is very good. You will have a double holiday.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Is it possible to make a commemoration, 9 days falls on Palm Sunday? Thank you.

Svetlana

Svetlana, first of all, you need to pray for the deceased. The 9th day is important for the soul of the deceased. Therefore, on the 9th day it is imperative to pray for him. In the church on this day, April 28, you need to pray at the Liturgy, and at the end of the service order a panikhida, and attend the memorial service yourself. The memorial meal can be celebrated on April 28, but you need to remember that the Great Fast is taking place now, and you cannot eat meat, dairy products and eggs at the meal. Since April 28 is Palm Sunday, fish is allowed at the memorial meal. For the rest, the commemoration should be strictly lenten and very modest.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello! Tell me please. I am observing a strict fast. My birthday falls on this post, April 24th. Tell me, are there any indulgences in food and drinks? I would not like to postpone the celebration, because fasting lasts until May.

Daria

Hello Daria! The charter does not provide for the easing of fasting for a birthday. I would advise you to celebrate your birthday on Palm Sunday when fish is allowed.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Hello, father. Please tell me, I have a birthday on April 7, and this day is a big holiday, the Annunciation. Can I celebrate my birthday on this day, invite friends, go to the forest for barbecue and, in general, celebrate on this day? Because they say that nothing can be done on this holiday, and you cannot go home. But this is my birthday, and I always wanted to celebrate on this particular day, and not postpone it to other days. Thank you.

Natalia

Natalia, let's start with the fact that the Great Fast is underway. What kebabs can be now? Now you can't eat meat. At the Annunciation you can fish, but no entertainment. If you want to celebrate your birthday on this day, then do it as modestly as possible, without music and with a lean table. If this does not suit you, then it is better that you do not sin before God, reschedule your birthday, celebrate it after Easter.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello! Can a child's birthday (1 year old) be celebrated in advance?

Elena

Elena, if you want to celebrate your birthday, then you need to remember that now there is a strict fast, and you can celebrate your birthday, but strictly according to the fast. You cannot eat meat, dairy, fish products and eggs, and, of course, all fun should be strictly limited. You can celebrate your birthday earlier.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello, father! My birthday is May 4, it falls on Holy Saturday, they say that it is impossible to celebrate! What do i do?

Ekaterina

Catherine, why do you need to celebrate your birthday on Holy Saturday, this is a strict fast, when you can not eat practically anything, only strictly modest food. On this day in the church they sing "Let all human flesh be silent", that is, you cannot celebrate your birthday on this day. This is the day of preparation for the Great Feast of Holy Easter. We bless Easter cakes and eggs. The best thing is to celebrate your birthday on Easter, May 5th. You will have a double holiday, and do not sin before God. On Easter, you can have any food, and have fun, and celebrate in a restaurant.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

My husband is 40 years old soon, can I congratulate him on his birthday?

Love

Lyudmila, we can congratulate our loved ones on the birthday, but it is not always possible to celebrate a birthday. And the point here is not at all in superstition, which, as I understand it, you mean. It's just that Great Lent is going on now, and there shouldn't be any amusements. You can celebrate a birthday, but it should be modest, and it should be celebrated on a Sunday. You also need to remember that during the fast you cannot eat meat, dairy, fish products and eggs.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Good afternoon, holy father! I have a question, Lent is coming soon, I am a military man, an officer, I serve in the mountains of Dagestan, March 20 is my birthday. I’m now in Kislovodsk and talked to my father, he said that you can celebrate your birthday, but I don’t understand, what is that possible? Eat, drink or just call friends? And yet, my wife and I have problems with conceiving a child, we try every month, but it doesn’t work. I am married for the second time, I have a daughter from my first marriage, and now my wife is very upset about this. I wanted to know if we can try to conceive a child during fasting? Thanks in advance!

Sergei

Sergey, you can celebrate the way you usually did - by calling your friends and having a meal. Since you talked with the priest, I think that you are a Christian, and you will not forget that while celebrating Great Lent, we remember moderation (in the sense of eating and drinking). Marital fasting depends on how you and your wife agree to fast. If you usually do not enter into this communication by fasting, then you do not need to make an exception for conceiving a child; and if you do not observe marital fast so strictly, then surrender to the will of God, asking for a child to be given to you. God help your family.

Priest Sergiy Osipov

Hello. I recently started to church, and I want to do less sins, and the question is this: is it a sin if a person for friends on holidays (for example, a birthday or New Year) puts on a funny show with humorous scenes, as well as dressing up in costumes of Baba Yaga, Santa Claus, a devil, etc. Moreover, my friends, as it were, are already expecting some kind of performance from me for the holiday, so that it would not be boring. I try to cheer up in this way, not because of some malicious intent, but from a pure heart. At the same time, I think that the holiday does not have to be held by eating at a table and drinking, but it can be quite soberly, but at the same time having fun, participating in competitions and laughing at the scenes together. Only one thing worries, is it pleasing to the Lord what I do, or is it considered a sin?

Andrey

Andrey, to amuse your friends in moderation is a good thing, but let's do better without "evil spirits". It is not for nothing that you have a question about this, you yourself already feel something. And if so, then there is no need in the house of demonic characters! In general, I agree with you one hundred percent: we have so many wonderful holiday and drinking games, traditions that help keep the mind in good shape, and learn something new, and just have fun without sin, that looking at stupid gluttony and drunkenness just sick. And bingo, and word games, and quizzes, and crosswords, and recitation of poetry, and songs, and the very tradition of "skits" - whatever you like! Plant, plant your good rules! Let your home be the home of educated, intelligent and humorous friends!

Abbot Nikon (Golovko)

– Well, how are you going to celebrate your daughter's birthday on Friday? I was extremely surprised to hear a colleague's question. After all, the second birthday of my girl fell on. A colleague was not the only one among the many Orthodox friends who, upon learning about the postponement of the family holiday, strictly scolded that we were depriving the child of his childhood, that he still did not understand anything about "church affairs."

In general, it turned out that the theme "Family Holidays on Holy Week" has a place to be. It is about her that the conversation with the rector of the Great Martyr Church is about. George the Victorious of the Patriarchal Compound in Georgians.

Archpriest Theodor Krechetov

- What if some important family holidays fall on Holy Week?

- If a spouse is a believer in the family, there is agreement and understanding between them, such a question simply does not arise. Since childhood, I myself have become accustomed to the fact that any family celebrations that fall on Lent were postponed to the next Sunday or to or even after Easter. It was natural and it simply could not have occurred to anyone that, say, a birthday could be celebrated on one of the Passionate days. And no one felt slighted if his personal celebration was postponed ...

The question becomes topical in those families where one of the spouses is an unbeliever or simply "liberally" looks at the issues of church life. Then it can be difficult to reach agreement, and sometimes you just need to make a reasonable compromise: at least not touch the second half of the week: Thursday, Friday, Saturday ... Because these are special days, and it is still desirable for an Orthodox Christian to spend them, if possible, in a church ...

- I have heard such objections: why deprive a small child of a holiday, if he is not yet able to understand what kind of Events we remember on ...

- In fact, the child absorbs, remembers the general mood of his loved ones. But as for the celebration of the birthday of a small child, it just makes no sense to insist on a specific date: when the adults arrange a holiday for him, then he will be happy. And in the future, when he becomes an adult, it would not even occur to him to expect fun for himself in the tense and mournful days for every Christian. If, of course, there is an example of the elders in front of him.

I remember postponing the celebration of my Angel Day, because it fell on the first week of Great Lent. This is an example to all of us that for the sake of church-wide events, you can move your own, even such significant ones as Angel Day.

- And how do you think, why in general today people have the idea that family celebrations and Holy Week are quite compatible?

- It's just that now more and more people are obsessed with their own "I", on its significance. And yet - this is the result of a lack of a sense of proportion, falling into some extremes. One extreme usually happens at the beginning of turning to God, the so-called spirit of neophyte, when people still do not know how to calculate their strength and usually try to act according to the letter, for example, to fast very strictly, although there is neither the strength nor the conditions for this.

The other extreme usually happens later, when people have already gained experience and, realizing that spiritual life is not built according to the letter, they decide that they will not “blindly obey the letter,” because the main thing is the spirit. And they begin too easily and imprudently to deny the rules, traditions, and often in the end - the church life itself, arbitrarily adjusting it to their personal desires and requirements.

If it seems easier and easier to us, why not do it? After all, the main thing is that "everything in the soul was real." It’s not worth talking about how “present in the soul” is, given the priorities set in this way.

If I consider myself a church person, then I must always subordinate my personal life to the life of the church. There should be no arbitrariness of people's own will.

- And in this case, there is no risk of going just in the formal implementation of certain rules and guidelines?

- A person should always seek his measure, proceeding from the realization of what he is ready to sacrifice for the sake of God. And this feeling makes it clear what is permissible and what is not. And just today we often observe a loss of a sense of proportion ... It occurs most often when a person outwardly has adopted Orthodoxy, he is captured by the novelty of sensations, he tries to live a church life, but it does not become deeply close to him, remaining something formal.

And church life should not be formal. Often it was like this, say, in the pre-revolutionary time, when many people perceived everything connected with faith as a custom. The loss of reverence, and in the end - of the very meaning led to the fact that then all the customs were easily lost. Or they have transformed, sometimes so meaninglessly that people do not know why they are performing certain actions.

Earlier, after Easter, in Radonitsa, people, having prayed in the church, went to the cemeteries, to their departed loved ones and laid cakes and eggs on the graves, so that later the beggars would go, pick up this offering as alms and commemorate the deceased, whose name is indicated on the cross. ... And now it has turned into some kind of obligatory load: why, why - they themselves do not know. But it is necessary - it is necessary: ​​everyone does it. The meaning has just been lost.

The same is with family holidays on Passionate. The person says to himself: “The main thing is that I - internally - believe. Why then should I observe the customs. And the memories that the Church speaks of I don't need. I already remember everything. " A person insists on some kind of personal faith. The balance between personal faith and church consciousness turns out to be not only violated, but completely lost.

- What is the cost of the loss?

- As a result, the living sensation, the living presence of Christ in life is lost. Passion Week is a time when a person visibly and convexly feels the convergence of time, of world history at one point. And he feels his involvement in this. Through prayers, through the whole mood of the services of Holy Week, we are transported, outside of time and space, to what happened more than 2000 years ago and at the same time - it is happening now, we empathize and participate in those Events, because every day of Holy Week corresponds to the day of the Savior's earthly life. Through this we come into contact with Eternity.

And if a person is not close, he does not want to be transferred anywhere, services for him turn simply into being inside the temple, where they stand for a long time and read something. Of course, this is painful and the person reassures himself: “God does not need this boring standing. God needs me to love Him. And for the sake of what, then, to postpone the birthday of a person dear to me in order to spend several hours on his feet in a stuffy church? " There is a loss of feeling, but at the same time the person continues to call himself Orthodox.

The division of consciousness takes place. It would never occur to a normal person to arrange a holiday, to have fun when someone close to him has just died. But due to the loss of sensitivity, a vivid sense of presence, the Gospel Events begin to be perceived as something abstract. Which leads to questions like the one we just discussed.

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Easter is considered by the Orthodox to be the main religious holiday. It is on this day that the resurrection of Christ and his reunification in heaven with God are celebrated. On this day, it is customary to visit and give each other treats, put traditional Easter cakes and colored eggs on the table. But it so happens that for some this holiday coincides with family celebrations - a birthday or anniversary of the wedding ceremony. Therefore, the question naturally arises, is it possible to mark birthday on Easter: signs on this issue give different answers.

Birthday coincided with Easter: signs

Is it possible, in accordance with church canons, to celebrate your birthday on Bright Sunday? In Orthodoxy, there are no restrictions on this issue. And yet Easter is the main event of the year for all Orthodox Christians, because it is not without reason that it is called the Feast over the holidays and the Triumph of all celebrations.

But what if the date of birth falls on the Bright Sunday of Christ?

6 out of 10 people don't celebrate their birthday on Easter

There is no consensus among the Orthodox on this issue - some priests advise to postpone the celebration of the name day to the next day, while others give the go-ahead for the celebration, but with the proviso that Easter is still the main holiday.

Is it possible to mark

Easter for the entire Orthodox world remains the main holiday, and if your own birthday falls on this date, then its celebration should be rescheduled.

The thing is that a birthday is more of a secular celebration, while Easter is a bright spiritual holiday. On this day, it is better to devote yourself to God, even if you do not consider yourself a particularly religious person.

Of course, no one will forbid you to celebrate, but do not forget that there are a lot of prohibitions and restrictions on Easter: do not swear and do not indulge in sadness, do not be greedy and do not drink large amounts of alcohol. Also, you cannot work to the detriment of the Orthodox holiday, and even clean up the house. All this should be done before Easter.

What if your own name day and the Bright Sunday of Christ coincide? Be sure to visit the service in the church, and after that start organizing a feast at home.

Throughout the Easter week, special liturgies are held in the church to coincide with the celebration of Easter, which are also worth attending to believing Christians.

If you are in doubt whether it is possible to celebrate your birthday on Bright Sunday of Christ, and at the same time you are inclined to celebrate it, you can recommend organizing a modest celebration, inviting only relatives and friends.

When sitting at the table, it is worth praying with all the guests, and you can also organize a small Easter performance on your own.

When celebrating Easter and your own name day on the same day, both of these holidays are worth mentioning. It is advisable for one of the guests at the table to say something like this: “From the bottom of my heart I congratulate you on this joyful, bright holiday of Easter and your birthday - may God's blessing always come over you and your family, may there always be peace and tranquility in the house, happiness and love fills your life, and cherished dreams come true ”.

Watch the video. Can a birthday be celebrated if it coincides with Easter?

Church opinion

According to the position of some clergy, it is better to postpone a home holiday, for example, a wedding anniversary or name day, to the day after Easter.

Indeed, it is on the bright day of Christ's Sunday that all deeds and thoughts should be dedicated to God, the suffering and resurrection of Christ. Christ did all this for the sake of people, and therefore it is worth respecting his sacrifice and rejoicing in the resurrection, without being distracted by other celebrations.

The Orthodox Church believes that a birthday or other holiday is a secular event that has nothing to do with Orthodox Easter and, therefore, should not be celebrated on the same day.

With all this, many church ministers note that the day of the angel is considered an important day in a person's life, but not the birthday, the date of arrival in the world of the living.

Therefore, if both of these holidays fall on one day of the calendar, in the first place is Bright Sunday, but not your own celebration.

Folk omens

Many Christians believe that being born on this or that Orthodox holiday is a special success and grace.

8 out of 10 people listen to beliefs

It is believed that this will help a person find good luck in business and protection from evil and disease. But to believe in this omen or not is already a personal matter for everyone.

Good

The people have their own opinion, which was formed on the basis of the wise observations of our ancestors. It says that if a person was born exactly on the day of Christ's Bright Sunday, he is incredibly lucky, since this is how the baby receives the protection of higher powers from the first minutes.

And the subsequent coincidences of the date of the celebration of Easter and the birthday are also considered a good sign - the birthday man is given the grace of God and his mercy, protection for a whole year.

Bad

But there is another, directly opposite opinion among Orthodox Christians. It is this that is consistent with the canons of the Orthodox Church and the opinion of many church ministers.

Many Orthodox Christians believe that celebrating their own identity on Easter is not worth it, and the whole day should be dedicated to God and communion with him.

Most Orthodox Christians are likely to agree that birthday is not as significant a holiday as Easter. On this day, it is worth thanking Christ for his sacrifice and Sunday, because this happens only once a year.

In contrast to the views described above, more practical Orthodox believe that each date has its own time, and therefore one should not mix what is, in principle, undesirable to combine.

Even if the family decided to celebrate Easter and the birthday of one of the family members, the main celebration should still be attributed to Christ, therefore, the birthday person himself will remain as if on the sidelines, not receiving enough attention and positive emotions, congratulations.

Is it possible to celebrate on Holy Week

For the Orthodox, Holy Week is considered the time of the strictest fasting, repentance and meditation - the atmosphere of the holiday is absolutely inappropriate for these days.

Therefore, it is important to postpone the celebration of the birthday for a while, and celebrate it after the end of the Holy Week.

During the pre-holiday week, it is advisable to live according to special rules. If you want to celebrate your own name day, organize a modest feast, without alcohol and noisy fun, try not to serve meat dishes on the table, limiting yourself to modest and lean food.

Watch the video. Great church holidays and birthday.

The birth of a child at Easter

Our ancestors believed that the days before Easter and Bright Sunday itself are prophetic, and therefore children born on this bright holiday were considered special.

In this case, the people have many signs and superstitions, although to this day people are ambiguous about childbirth precisely on Easter. Some believe that the baby will have a bright future, while others do not attach much importance to this event.

So, six days before Easter, Orthodox Christians celebrate Holy Week - a special period for all Christian believers. Therefore, many naturally wonder how Easter or Holy Week will affect the fate of the baby.

When a baby is born on Monday, he will have many friends, sincere and devoted.

If a child was born on Tuesday, the Lord gave him good health and good physical development. In the future, he will most likely choose a profession related to sports.

Well, how are you going to celebrate your daughter's birthday on Friday? I was extremely surprised to hear a colleague's question. After all, my girl's second birthday fell on Good Friday. A colleague was not the only one among the many Orthodox friends who, upon learning about the postponement of the family holiday, strictly scolded that we were depriving the child of his childhood, that he still did not understand anything about "church affairs."

In general, it turned out that the theme "Family Holidays on Holy Week" has a place to be. It was about her that I had a conversation with Archpriest Fyodor Krechetov, rector of the Great Martyr Church. George the Victorious of the Patriarchal Compound in Georgians.

- What if some important family holidays fall on Holy Week?

If the spouses are believers in the family, there is agreement and understanding between them, such a question simply does not arise. Since childhood, I myself have become accustomed to the fact that any family celebrations that fall on Lent were postponed to the next Sunday or Easter, or even to the time after Easter. It was natural and it simply could not have occurred to anyone that, say, a birthday could be celebrated on one of the Passionate days. And no one felt slighted if his personal celebration was postponed ...

The question becomes relevant in those families where one of the spouses is an unbeliever or simply "liberally" looks at the issues of church life. Then it can be difficult to reach agreement, and sometimes you just need to make a reasonable compromise: at least not touch the second half of the week: Thursday, Friday, Saturday ... Because these are special days, and it is still desirable for an Orthodox Christian to spend them, if possible, in a church ...

I have heard such objections: why deprive a small child of a holiday, if he is not yet able to understand what kind of Events we remember on Holy Week ...

In fact, the child absorbs, remembers the general mood of his loved ones. But as for the celebration of the birthday of a small child, it just makes no sense to insist on a specific date: when the adults arrange a holiday for him, then he will be happy. And in the future, when he becomes an adult, it would not even occur to him to expect fun for himself in the tense and mournful days for every Christian. If, of course, there is an example of the elders in front of him.

Patriarch Alexy II, I remember, postponed the celebration of his Angel Day, because it fell on the first week of Great Lent. This is an example to all of us that for the sake of church-wide events, you can move your own, even such significant ones as Angel Day.

In your opinion, why do people today have the idea that family celebrations and Holy Week are quite compatible?

It's just that now more and more people are obsessed with their own "I", on its significance. And yet - this is the result of a lack of a sense of proportion, falling into some extremes. One extreme usually happens at the beginning of turning to God, the so-called spirit of neophyte, when people still do not know how to calculate their strength and usually try to act according to the letter, for example, to fast very strictly, although there is neither the strength nor the conditions for this.

The other extreme usually happens later, when people have already gained experience and, realizing that spiritual life is not built according to the letter, they decide that they will not “blindly obey the letter,” because the main thing is the spirit. And they begin too easily and imprudently to deny the rules, traditions, and often in the end - the church life itself, arbitrarily adjusting it to their personal desires and requirements.

If it seems easier and easier to us, why not do it? After all, the main thing is that "everything in the soul was real." It’s not worth talking about how “present in the soul” is, given the priorities set in this way.

If I consider myself a church person, then I must always subordinate my personal life to the life of the church. There should be no arbitrariness of people's own will.

- And in this case, there is no risk of going just into the formal implementation of certain rules and guidelines?

A person should always seek his own measure, proceeding from the realization of what he is ready to sacrifice for the sake of God. And this feeling makes it clear what is permissible and what is not. And we just today often observe a loss of a sense of proportion ... It occurs most often when a person outwardly has adopted Orthodoxy, he is captured by the novelty of sensations, he tries to live a church life, but it does not become deeply close to him, remaining something formal.

And church life should not be formal. Often it was like this, say, in the pre-revolutionary time, when many people perceived everything connected with faith as a custom. The loss of reverence, and in the end - of the very meaning led to the fact that then all the customs were easily lost. Or they have transformed, sometimes so meaninglessly that people do not know why they are performing certain actions.

Earlier, after Easter, in Radunitsa, people, having prayed in the church, went to the cemeteries, to their departed loved ones and laid Easter cakes and eggs on the graves, so that later the beggars would go, pick up this offering as alms and commemorate the deceased, whose name is indicated on the cross. ... And now it has turned into some kind of obligatory burden: citizens go to the cemetery en masse on Easter, why, why - they themselves do not know. But it is necessary - it is necessary: ​​everyone does it. The meaning has just been lost.

The same is with family holidays on Passionate. The person says to himself: “The main thing is that I - internally - believe. Why then should I observe the customs. And the memories that the Church speaks of I don't need. I already remember everything. " A person insists on some kind of personal faith. The balance between personal faith and church consciousness turns out to be not only violated, but completely lost.

- What is the cost of the loss?

As a result, the living sensation, the living presence of Christ in life is lost. Passion Week is a time when a person visibly and convexly feels the convergence of time, of world history at one point. And he feels his involvement in this. Through prayers, through the whole mood of the services of Holy Week, we are transported, outside of time and space, to what happened more than 2000 years ago and at the same time - it is happening now, we empathize and participate in those Events, because every day of Holy Week corresponds to the day of the Savior's earthly life. Through this we come into contact with Eternity.

And if a person is not close, he does not want to be transferred anywhere, services for him turn simply into being inside the temple, where they stand for a long time and read something. Of course, this is painful and the person reassures himself: “God does not need this boring standing. God needs me to love Him. And for the sake of what, then, to postpone the birthday of a person dear to me in order to spend several hours on his feet in a stuffy church? " There is a loss of feeling, but at the same time the person continues to call himself Orthodox.

The division of consciousness takes place. It would never occur to a normal person to arrange a holiday, to have fun when someone close to him has just died. But due to the loss of sensitivity, a vivid sense of presence, the Gospel Events begin to be perceived as something abstract. Which leads to questions like the one we just discussed.

There are many signs associated with Holy Week among the people, even more rituals and predictions. An Orthodox person, according to the legend of his ancestors, must certainly listen to them and honor the sacraments that reach them!

It turns out that the Holy Week, which passes before Easter, you need to "live" in a certain way, listening to the laws and recommendations of the church. During this period, it is not enough to remember and comply with traditions. In many ways, you need to limit yourself, and above all with regard to the human body and soul!

Birthday in Holy Week

For many people, birthdays sometimes fall out, to put it mildly, at the wrong time, that is, on dates that are not at all suitable for such light and bright festivities. So the dropped out birthday on one of the days of Holy Week involuntarily makes you wonder whether it is possible to celebrate it at all?

Honestly, if you have lived unpretentious all your life and have always been far from the church, although it is difficult to call you an atheist, then celebrate your holiday whenever you like. Nevertheless, if you are a believer, even if you do not always keep the laws of God, then in no case should you celebrate the holiday of your soul on Holy Week - the date of its birth!

Holy Week has never been famous for good and good, judging by its name. During this period, people never had fun and did not attract undue attention of otherworldly forces of evil to their person! During this period, according to the legends of the Slavic people, evil spirits wander around the world, looking for a soul subject to it, which can be enticed and destroyed.

It is during the period of birth that a person and, accordingly, his soul become maximally vulnerable to everything that is unclean, carrying evil. Instead of swaggering and attracting negative emotions to yourself, spend this day quietly and humbly. You will celebrate the name day after, when the great dates have passed, or, in general, this year you will be left “without a birthday,” but all year you will feel calm and at ease.

Child's birthday

Many people, having learned that the date of birth of their child falls just on one of the days of Holy Week, begin to think about whether to celebrate it or whether it would be more correct to postpone the holiday, despite the persuasion of a child who does not understand anything about Orthodox holidays and customs. Transfer the celebration without hesitation! While he is small, his parents decide everything for him, so do not allow sins on his young soul, do not allow unclean forces to destroy your child!

It turns out that when a birthday falls on Holy Week, it is up to you to celebrate it or not. When Orthodox laws are constantly observed in the family, there will be no questions about how to postpone the day of the celebration and no one, with the correct interpretation of the issue, will not feel slighted.

If the family is not sweet in this matter, then things will be more difficult. It is clear that a compromise cannot be found, and the birthday will have to be celebrated. In this case, try to organize the celebration so that it is not too bright and cheerful, although this is unlikely to happen ...