It is very difficult for a person who rarely visits Orthodox churches or even does it for the first time in his life to orient himself in a new environment. Everything seems incomprehensible to such a person and raises a lot of questions. In addition, most people in this situation may have questions about how to behave correctly in God's temple in order to feel confident and not be distracted from prayer.

In contact with

Classmates

How to dress for a temple visit

It's no secret that you need to dress properly to visit the temple. There are many beliefs about dress code rules, but not all of them are true.

How to dress for church as a woman

According to the rules, a woman must enter the temple with her head covered. However, this only applies to married women. This rule does not apply to girls and children. On the other hand, modern life makes its own adjustments to the usual way, and in order not to irritate the church "staff", it is better to cover your head. This will not be difficult, but it will help to avoid conflict situations.

In addition to the headdress, there are other rules for women, following which you can feel confident and comfortable in the temple:

1. It is not customary to wear trousers to church. However, if you entered the temple just "along the way" to light a candle, it will be enough to cover your head. And yet it is not recommended to enter the temple in models of trousers with a low waist and a bare stomach. In this case, you may even be asked to leave the temple. If you are going to the temple consciously for the service, the best clothes will be a long skirt to the floor. Remember that the temple of God is not a place to show off the virtues of your figure and fashionable clothes.
2. You should also not chew blouses and blouses with a deep neckline and bare shoulders to church.. In general, women who consider themselves Orthodox Christians are not recommended to dress in this way and expose their photos in a semi-nude form to the public. Firstly, it is considered a manifestation of yours, and secondly, it provokes others to sinful thoughts.
3. Gathering to the temple for worship, it is not recommended to apply too much makeup. Moreover, you should not paint your lips, because you will be applied to the cross and holy images. Then church employees will have to wipe off the remnants of your lipstick from the icons. And for other parishioners, traces of lipstick on the shrine will not cause pleasant associations.
4. Also, don't use too much perfume.. You will be in a confined space with a large number of people for a long time. Not everyone may like to inhale this fragrance. In addition, small children and people with poor health go to church. People may develop an allergic reaction.

When going to the temple, it is important to clearly define the purpose of the visit. Church is a place for prayer, not for dating or demonstrating your external data. If you keep this in mind, issues of proper appearance will be resolved automatically.

Rules for men

For men, there are also a number of certain rules when visiting the temple.

1. Upon entering the church, you must remove your hat.
2. Appearance when visiting the temple should be neat and tidy. Too many believers put on the best costume for the service.
3. It is not acceptable to enter the temple wearing transparent sleeveless shirts and sweatpants or shorts.
4. It is advisable not to smoke and shave cleanly before visiting the temple.
5. It is unacceptable to appear in the temple in a state of intoxication.

Church officials and other parishioners should be treated with respect and be quiet in their presence. Otherwise, you should not go to the church at all.

Rules of conduct during worship

To the uninitiated, the Divine Service may seem long and incomprehensible. If you want to understand all the subtleties and approach what is happening consciously, you can read special literature or go to special courses that are held at many temples.

In general, the rules of conduct during the Divine Service are not as complicated as they might seem at first glance:

sign of the cross

Most people who consider themselves Orthodox Christians may not know thoroughly the rules of conduct in the temple, but they seem to know how to make the sign of the cross. However, there are some nuances here that are very important to know. The sign of the cross itself is not a saving ritual, but only an outward manifestation of our faith.

How to make the sign of the cross correctly?

When is it necessary to make the sign of the cross?

Baptism is necessary in the following cases:

1. At the entrance to the doors of the Orthodox Church.
2. Attached to the cross or icons.
3. At the beginning and end of the prayer, sometimes during its reading.
4. Early morning.
5. During worship.

Novice parishioners can clarify all the necessary points before the start of the Divine Service in order to behave correctly and feel comfortable.

Interaction with clergy

Coming to church, accepted take a blessing from a priest. Besides, blessing can be received before leaving the church. If there are several priests in the Orthodox Church, it is not necessary to ask for blessings from everyone. If there is a bishop in the temple, the blessing should be received from him, and the rest of the priests should only bow. You can take a personal blessing from the bishop after he leaves the altar.

If you have a specific question for the bishop, you can make an appointment at the diocesan administration. You can address an Orthodox bishop as "Vladyka".

You can greet the bishop with the words "Bless." In this case, hands should be folded one on top of the other. The right palm should be on top. After the blessing, it is customary to venerate the priest's hand as a sign of reverence for the Lord.

Some priests, instead of kissing their hands, put it on the head of a parishioner. This is also a sign of the blessing received.

In the church, you can talk with the priest about parish affairs. For spiritual matters there is a sacrament. When addressing an Orthodox priest, it is customary to say "father" before his name.

It is unacceptable to show coquetry in front of a clergyman. For such liberty, a priest may be subject to punishment up to and including deprivation of dignity. It is also indecent to be interested in the details of the personal life of a priest - his marital status and the number of children, etc.

Usually the temple has attendants on duty who monitor the order and observance of the rules of conduct. If a church employee comes up to you and asks for something, you should not be offended. No one will be disturbed in vain in the temple. Over time, you will become familiar with the rules of conduct and begin to feel confident when entering the temple, but until that time, you should be patient and carefully follow the advice.

Immediately after the completion of the Divine Liturgy in the morning is held. If you heard that in the church they began to sing prayers in chorus, then it's time to prepare the children, since communion will begin soon.

Mothers with babies are the first to approach the Chalice. Then the older children are brought in, and then everyone else comes up. If you are allowed to go ahead, try to go through and not delay people out of a desire to seem more kind and well-mannered. Silently bow to those who let you through and approach the Chalice.

During the service, you can greet your acquaintances at the entrance with a silent bow. You should not start conversations and heated discussions of the news.

Before Christian holidays during the evening service is often held lithium. This is a special rite of Vespers. At this time of this service, it is customary to consecrate all those praying with special oil. First of all, at the lithium, you need to go up and venerate the icons, then go up to the priest so that he anoints his forehead with a cross. Next, you need to bow slightly to the priest and kiss the hand and step aside, taking a piece of consecrated bread from the attendant. This piece can be eaten right in the temple or taken home with you.

Confession is usually held on the eve of the sacrament. It usually takes place on a first come, first serve basis. Before approaching the priest for confession, it is customary to bow to all the parishioners standing nearby with the words "forgive me." After that, people will bow to you in return.

Saying goodbye to a person in the church, it is customary to say to him not Goodbye, but “Guardian Angel”.

Before leaving the temple, it is necessary to approach the festive icon and make a bow. Bows can be waist and earth. Earthly prostrations should be performed during Great Lent.

When can women come to the temple

Many people are interested in the question of whether it is permissible for women to visit the temple during critical days. To date, there is no definitive answer to this question.. According to the Old Testament, a person in an unclean state (including women on critical days) should not enter the temple of God.

The New Testament says that a woman these days may well attend church. It is believed that this cycle was created by God and therefore, in principle, cannot be considered unclean. If necessary, the New Testament even allows a woman on critical days to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ and venerate holy icons.

Thus, the opinions of the clergy on this matter today differ. Perhaps, in this matter, one should follow the rule of the golden mean and refrain from visiting the temple on critical days unless absolutely necessary. If you are in dire need of spiritual support, you can visit the temple.

During the revival of Orthodox traditions, a wide range of people show a desire to attend church. Parishioners have well-established habits of behavior that should not interfere in a holy place. A beginner should read simple tips on how to go to church the right way. These traditions have been observed since ancient times. This place needs to be treated with respect. The soul should be bright and joyful, ready for prayer.

Visiting church for the first time

Orthodox tradition long ago created simple rules explaining how to go to church. A beginner, while visiting the temple, needs to be aware of the presence of God and angels in this sacred place. Parishioners go to church with faith in their hearts and prayer on their lips. It is not difficult to go to church correctly, it is better to go with other people, watching them.

The first rule is not to offend the priests and laity present with your inappropriate behavior. Inside the temple there are often shrines, the value of which is measured for centuries. Even if a layman is not aware of the sanctity of an icon or relics, one should not publicly question their value. If the parishioners bow next to a valuable icon, then it will not be difficult to bow, following the example of others.

Few think about what precedes going to the temple. This is also of great importance. During the morning visit, it is better to refrain from eating. According to the religious canon, it is better to come to church hungry. A hearty breakfast is allowed only to a sick parishioner.

Before God, you need to keep a meek spirit, fully understand your sinfulness and show respect to those saints who decided to be cleansed from sin in their worldly life.

The temple allows you to create a connection between the sinful earth and pure heaven, when a person enters with faith in a powerful patron and intercessor. The church is being built as a prayer house where they go to ask for the most secret.

Rules for women

The requirements for women refer only to the details of appearance and the place where one should stand during worship. Someone from the older generation in the family knows how to go to church for a woman. You can learn about this from your grandmother or mother. The main requirement of appearance is emphasized modesty. The beauty of the female body is a symbol of temptation, and therefore a woman should not wear clothes that expose any part of the body. You can not wear a short skirt, neckline and even a dress that exposes the shoulders.

Before visiting, it is advisable for a girl to wash off her makeup, as well as cover her head with a scarf. In a holy place, every parishioner should think about the eternal. Rejoice for the salvation of your soul, pray. On a good path, he should not be distracted by beauty and lust. Therefore, bright outfits are considered inappropriate. The church is not a place to draw attention to yourself.

During the service, women should stand on the left side. During communion, women stand at the end of the line.

Where to start

As soon as the church came into view, she needs to bow and make the sign of the cross, even if it is not planned to go inside.

Approaching the door, you need to stop, think about your goal, cross yourself again. When visiting a temple, one must imagine that one enters from the space of earthly sin into a small and clean house of God.

There is a single ritual for all parishioners, how to enter the church correctly. You should start with a bow as a symbol of the humility of your pride. Then you need to cross yourself and read the lines, addressing the face of Christ the Savior in the following order:

• Before the first bow, it says: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."
• The second bow is accompanied by the words: "God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me."
• The words “I have sinned without number, Lord, forgive me” complete the ritual.

It is desirable to remember this sequence and repeat during the exit.

When visiting, it is advisable not to take large bags, and if there is one, it must be left at the entrance. During the communion ritual, both hands must be free.

You can indicate your innermost goal in a note for the priest. Usually a request is transmitted to pray for oneself or for a neighbor.

At the entrance, you can go to the attendant to buy candles, while donating to the needs of the temple in a symbolic form. The burning candle is an important symbol in Christianity. The small light of God's spark burns in every eternal soul, so a candle is lit:

• Wishing good health to your neighbors.
• For the difficulties in fate that we managed to overcome. In this case, the candle is placed with gratitude to his Saint for the tests and help sent.
• On the eve of a key event in life. Before an important decision, turning to God, angels and saints for support and admonition.
• For the repose of those who have already passed into eternal life.

To commemorate the dead, each church has an eve - a special memorial table. On the eve, you can put bread, red wine and cookies.

In each temple, a “festive” icon occupies a central place. The visitor first of all is attached to it. This icon may be different for each day. The priest, according to the calendar known to him, selects the “festive” icon, placing it in the center, on the lectern.

Approaching the festive icon, you need to overshadow yourself with the sign of the cross, make bows to the ground and waist. When the parishioners move away from the icon, you need to bow to it for the third time.

In addition to the festive icon, a particularly valuable, ancient icon is exhibited in the temple. As a rule, there are several wonderful icons that travel from one temple to another. The arrival of a particularly revered icon is announced in advance.

When they approach the icon of a revered saint, their intercessor, they pronounce his name and ask: “Pray to God for a servant of God,” saying the name of a relative for whose recovery they came to ask.

The main charitable trait of behavior will be humility. No need to look around all around, as if on a tour. It is important to always remember the main purpose of your coming to the temple.

When a well-known friend appears in the temple, it is not customary to shake hands inside the church. As a greeting, friends bow. It is important to remain silent, and to allocate another time for a friendly conversation.

Particular attention should be paid to the behavior of children. The child may want to have fun. It is necessary to explain to him in advance the importance of the temple as a special place of communion with God. The child should be taught to behave as modestly and quietly as possible.

Special time of worship

After the start of the service, it is advisable not to interfere with people and the priest himself, and therefore all prayers, the installation of candles and the transfer of notes should be completed before the start of the church service.

It is forbidden to disturb other people with your questions. The words of the priest should be listened to in silence and concentration, because at this moment the Word of God is being transmitted.

Demonstration of uncivilized behavior in the temple will turn into big trouble than in ordinary life. If parishioners look at a person with condemnation, he provokes them to sin.

When those around you begin to bow and be baptized, then you need to join them, performing the ritual along with everyone.

For those who would like to sit down during the service, it is worth remembering that worship is an act of spiritual labor and therefore is performed while standing. Standing for a long time strengthens the spirit of a person, and everyone can test himself: if it is hard to stand, there is a reason for this. Those who are full of faith do not notice difficulties. It is hard for him who cannot be filled with reverence. Attention to the words of the priest leads each listener to his moment of spiritual enlightenment and self-improvement. For the sake of these good goals, you need to forget about minor inconveniences.

A candle is held in hands only during a memorial service or on special occasions. On a typical day, a candle is placed in a candlestick. It is necessary to ensure that the wax does not drip onto the person in front.

Since a layman comes to visit God, it is advisable not to leave before the service ends. For the same reason, it should not be late. The period of worship is a personal sacrifice that we offer to God. Dedicating one's time to spirituality is a must for every believer. Leaving the service is allowed only for a very good reason. If a mother cannot calm her child, she is advised to leave the church for a while and return when the child is quiet.

Sitting is allowed only to those in whose body there is a disease, whose need for relief is undeniable.

During the liturgy and the reading of the Gospel, one must ask God to enlighten to the understanding of all the Truths. When the priest opens the Royal Doors, it is customary to let go of the bow. If words sound in an unknown language and it is impossible to speak, then you can replace these words with a well-known prayer.

When the Priest finishes the sermon, he goes out to the people with a cross in his hands. Parishioners traditionally kiss his hand and cross. During the procession, there is a traditional order:

• Parents with small children should come first.
• Second are minors.
• Then comes the turn of the men.
• Women complete the procession.

For each group, the priest has prepared his own prayer. If someone breaks the line, he will be prompted where to stand correctly.

Which day to choose

For an Orthodox Christian, it is charitable to visit the temple once a week. A regular visit is required in order for the layman to rest his soul from the sinful world, get out of the everyday bustle and turn to eternal questions.

The priest expects parishioners on Saturday and Sunday, as well as during church holidays. The exact day can be found from the Orthodox calendar. If there is a need to pray, you can go to church any day you wish.

Small churches due to the lack of priests may not work on weekdays. Monday is considered a time of rest after two consecutive days of worship. On Monday, the church devotes prayers to angels, therefore, it does not welcome the well-known superstition among the people about the severity of this day. Small name days are celebrated on Monday, because guardian angels are honored on this day.

What would you like to know

An acolyte works inside the church, who can tell you how to enter the church correctly and what not to do. Mobile phones can not be turned off, but be sure to switch to the "silent" mode. During the service, you cannot answer the phone, as this is not the time for talking.

In the evening, after the service, candles can be purchased again for the home. Even if there is not enough money, it is possible to ask for a candle for free. Refusing people in need is not accepted in a Christian environment.

If someone is sick at home, a candle lit in the temple is taken home and placed in the room where the sick person lies. You can put a candle for an unbaptized person, but you can’t ask for a note and order a prayer. It is not customary to ask for a suicide.

At the end of the service, you can return to individual prayer or ask the priest for a conversation, if there is a good reason for that. At this time, it is possible to order a prayer for another person who is sick, but cannot attend the Church on his own.

Thus, A believing Christian should attend church at least once a week observing simple rituals and rules of conduct in the temple. By regularly turning to eternal questions, to God, a person becomes purer and wiser. The sanctity of the temple is determined not only by age-old religion, but also by miraculous icons of saints, which can be addressed. Listening to the words of the priest during the divine service is useful for every person for the salvation of his eternal soul.

Often in a person's life there is a need to visit the church. The reasons for this can be completely different: for example, you can visit a famous temple that is a landmark, attend church on holidays such as Christmas or Easter, or maybe you have a desire to become a church member - a full member of the Orthodox Church. In any of these cases, you will have to follow a number of specific rules so as not to offend the behavior of other parishioners. Today we propose to talk about how to behave in church so that the need for communication with higher powers and the sincere impulse of the soul are not severely interrupted due to the lack of a headscarf or non-compliance with church etiquette.

The device of the Orthodox Church

Before we move on to the rules of conduct, we propose to talk about how the Orthodox Church works. It is worth noting that any temple located even in a small village is striking in its grandeur and beauty. Golden domes shining in the sun, bell ringing, and, of course, the church choir - all this inspires awe in this place.

The temple can be divided into three main parts - this is the altar, the vestibule and the temple. In the porch there are usually shelves with religious literature, various icons and candles that are for sale. There are also hangers for parishioners' clothes. Having passed the narthex, a person enters the temple, where worshipers stand during worship. However, the most sacred place in the church is the altar. Usually it is fenced with an iconostasis, reaching to the very ceiling. It should be said that women are not allowed to enter there, and male parishioners can enter the altar only in special cases and, of course, with the consent of the priest. A small elevated platform adjoins the church iconostasis, it is also impossible to step on it. Actually, this is the first rule that speaks of how to behave correctly in church: parishioners can only be in the porch and in the temple.

Appearance

Believers say that an Orthodox church is a place of special presence of God's grace, which means that one should stay in this place with special reverence and love. When a person is going to visit, he tries to look decent, in the same way one should come to church. People who monitor the state of their soul note that behavior, thoughts and desires often depend on clothing. For example, strict clothing requires a lot. So what clothes to choose for visiting the temple?

Women should be in church with their heads covered - a handkerchief, scarf or any headdress will do. The skirt should not be above the knee, and the hands should also be covered. Cosmetics in the temple is inappropriate, especially lipstick or lip gloss. Men are not allowed to enter the temple in T-shirts and shorts, sportswear or work clothes. You should not go to the service and in an untidy form. Headgear should be removed.

However, the clergy say: if a man or woman came to the temple in defiant clothes, the woman’s head is not covered, you should not leave the temple for this reason. The fact is that the Orthodox Church is a unique place where God and man can meet, and therefore clothing cannot prevent this. But for the future, it should be taken into account that in the society of believers it is customary to appear at services in strict closed clothes. And, of course, a Christian must always wear a pectoral cross.

How to Prepare for a Temple Visit

Speaking about how to behave in the Orthodox Church, special attention should be paid to preparing for visiting this place. On the way to the temple, you need to prepare yourself for prayer. It is important to put aside all your worries for a while, to internally reconcile with loved ones. It is recommended to read the following prayer:

I will enter Your house, I will bow to Your holy temple in Your fear.

Or the Jesus Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Before entering the temple, it is necessary to make three waist bows, without fail with the sign of the cross. Please note that the sign of the cross and bow towards the altar are obligatory both when entering the church and when leaving it.

It is best to come to the temple twenty minutes before the start of the service. During this time, will you have time to submit memorial notes, purchase candles, leave a donation, behave in the Orthodox Church if you meet your acquaintances? Greet them with a silent bow, do not start discussing any issues, and even more so do not move from place to place during worship.

It should not be forgotten that people often come to the temple who were wounded by rudeness or cynicism, saddened or rejoiced, who are in jubilation or grief. Try to refrain from remarks, this is only appropriate if there are signs of obvious hooliganism or blasphemous behavior. A person who violates the rules can be reprimanded. However, it should be as delicate as possible without arrogance and irritability.

Before the start of worship

How to behave in church before the service begins? Of course, you must turn off your mobile phone. You should not switch it to vibrate mode - this way it will only distract you. Loud conversations, fuss and quarrels are absolutely unacceptable. Believers go to the temple and stay in it in silence, with reverence, attention and readiness for prayer. What else to pay attention to when talking about how people behave in church? You should not show curiosity, ask parishioners about something, look at them. It is much more useful to focus on worship, to participate in common prayer.

During worship

There is an ancient tradition according to which men in the temple stand on the right side, and women, respectively, on the left. Of course, during worship, one should stand facing the altar. Often, in thinking about how to behave in church, people ask themselves the question - is it possible to sit during worship? The clergy say: you can sit only during the reading of kathismas and proverbs. However, an exception is made for people who have health problems and are especially tired.

Speaking about how to behave correctly in the church, order and traditions, it is worth noting that during censing you do not need to turn around after the priest, turn your back to the altar. It is recommended that you simply step aside to let the church minister who is burning incense pass. If one of the parishioners has not moved away, you should not push him away or pull him to the side, just prompting is enough. How to behave in a church service? In no case do not walk and do not talk! You need to come to the Liturgy on an empty stomach, even if you do not receive communion on that day.

Being late for the beginning of the service is a disrespect for the Sacrament. As, however, and leaving the temple before its end. In extreme cases, you can leave, but not during the celebration of communion or during the reading of the Gospel.

Church attendance with children

How to behave in church, having decided to go there with children? First, it is important to set a personal example of prayer and conduct. Children should be supervised to prevent them from distracting other parishioners, laughing out loud, or being naughty. If the child bursts into tears, you need to try to calm him down or leave the church with him.

Candles

What does a person usually do when he crosses the threshold of a church? It's safe to say that nine times out of ten, he goes to the candle box. It is with a small wax candle that practical Christianity begins. According to the interpreter of the Liturgy, Blessed Simeon of Thessalonica, wax is a symbol of repentance, faith. The clergy say: it is formally impossible to light a candle, the heart of a person performing this action should not be cold. It is very important to put a candle with a prayer, even the simplest one.

In general, there are no strict rules on how to behave in the Orthodox Church with candles, how much to put them and where. People who visit the temple constantly usually put several candles - to the festive icon, which lies on the lectern, to the images of the Virgin or the Savior - about the health of loved ones, to the Crucifix, located on a rectangular table, also called eve - about the repose of the dead.

Church notes

How to behave in church if you want to submit a memorial note to the altar? There are a number of specific rules:

1. It is best to write such a note in block letters, mentioning no more than 10 names in one.
2. The note should be titled - "On health" or "On repose."
3. All names must be written in the genitive case, using the full form of the name (we recommend that you learn the church spelling of secular names).
4. In the notes, children under 7 years old are usually called a baby, and from 7 to 15 - a lad or a damsel.

Worship of the shrines in the temple

Special attention deserves the worship of the Shrines. How do they behave in church when they venerate the Holy Gospel, icons and relics? You should not rush and crowd, before kissing you need to make two bows, after - one more. Kissing the faces of the saints (that is, their faces) is not accepted. When kissing the icons of the saints and the Mother of God, you should kiss the handle, to the icons of the Savior - the leg (or the handle with a half-length image).

Signs: believe or not?

Speaking about how to behave in the church, one cannot help but pay attention to the signs that you can often hear about. For example, there is an opinion that a candle can only be placed with the right hand, if it goes out, misfortune awaits you. Someone even believes that by asking someone in the temple what time it is, a person shortens his life! The ministers of the church say: all signs and superstitions around the church are meaningless, one should not believe in them.

Even non-believers know that the church is a place where certain norms of behavior are observed. How to behave in church? There are many rules, but there are also general principles that will help you understand an unfamiliar situation: do not disturb other parishioners, do not attract attention, listen carefully to the reader and the choir during chants. What are the rules of conduct in

holiday color

A believing woman needs to dress as closed as possible, that is, the skirt (and not trousers) should be long, sleeves are also desirable to the wrists. Of course, you need a scarf. Permanent parishioners wear headscarves of a certain color: green for the Trinity, blue for the Mother of God holidays, black for Great Lent. The same black ones are replaced by red ones at Easter night. You should come to church in beautiful clothes, this is a holiday, and not a "fair of humility", mostly ostentatious. How to behave in church to the stronger sex? Men also need to dress modestly, hats must be removed before entering. The cross is obligatory, without it it is impossible to participate in the rites.

On a way

On the way to the temple, it is good to read to yourself the penitential psalm of David (50th) and the Jesus Prayer. There is also a special prayer of a person who is heading to church. But this is not for beginner parishioners, so limit yourself to a psalm and Both of these texts can be found in any prayer book, in particular, among At the entrance to the church, it is customary to cross yourself three times with a bow from the waist.

do it all

You need to arrive at the temple 15 minutes before the start of the service. You will calmly submit notes for proskomedia or order mass, pray before the faces of the saints. Which icon to approach in the church? There are no special rules here. It is advisable to bypass everything hanging available. First, you cross yourself twice with a bow from the waist, then make a sign a third time, kiss the icon and bow a third time. How to behave in the church if you have already received the Body and Blood? Those who have received Communion are not allowed to make bows from the waist, but before the Liturgy, they can.

special time

There are moments when especially attentive prayer is required from the parishioners (they say in the church - “extraordinary”). This applies to the time of reading the Gospel, the Six Psalms, the so-called Cherubic Hymn and the Eucharistic Canon. How to behave in church correctly? At these moments, you can not move, you need to be silent and listen. If you are late, do not enter the temple from the porch at the time of reading such prayers. Wait until they run out. Traditionally, unbaptized people cannot be at the “liturgy of the faithful”, therefore, after the priest’s phrase “Announcements, come out!” they must leave the temple, the service is over for them.

Difficulties of the rites

And bows during the liturgy is a complicated issue. There are rules for every prayer read. If you are inexperienced, just do everything as others do. It is not customary in church to kneel when you feel like it. But if everyone is on their knees, then you can join. At this point, the Orthodox bow their heads.

When the service is over, the priest gives a cross for kissing, come up, overshadow yourself with a sign and touch the shrine with your lips. Usually the priest's hand is kissed afterwards. At the exit from the temple, you should cross yourself three times, each time with a bow from the waist.

Don't put off what needs to be done...

Any church, even in a small village, is always striking in its beauty and grandeur. The ringing of bells, the domes, the golden robes of the clergy - all this already inspires awe in front of the place where we are going to enter. And in the life of each of us there are such moments when we need to get into the church. Therefore, before visiting an Orthodox church, be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules of conduct in it. The main thing to remember is that we enter the church for prayer, but this will not bring us truth and benefit if we enter the temple without humility.

Before going to church, the Orthodox should learn a few rules. People go to church on an empty stomach, i.e. eating is forbidden, even drinking water is undesirable. A woman, before going to the temple, should try not to forget to take a headscarf with her, which must be covered in church. Also, before visiting the temple, it is worth remembering that the church is an official institution, and not a masquerade ball and not a dating house. Therefore, the body should be as closed as possible: this statement applies to both women and men. No necklines, bare arms, t-shirts, short skirts or shorts. Since it is customary in the temple to kiss the hand of the priest or touch the lips, forehead to healing icons, it is best for women not to put on makeup at all, at least lipstick should definitely be absent. Coming to church in a state of intoxication or with a strong smell of tobacco is strictly prohibited: this is the house of God - have respect for God and other parishioners.

Before going to church, it is advisable to read the prayer “Going to the temple” in order to safely go to worship and return from it.

Prayer going to the temple

Rejoice over those who said to me: let us go to the house of the Lord. But with the multitude of Thy mercy, O Lord, I will enter Thy house, I will bow down to Thy holy temple in Thy fear. Lord, guide me in Thy righteousness, for the sake of my enemy, correct my path before Thee; Yes, without stumbling, I will glorify the One Godhead, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

In general, if we talk specifically about the strict observance of Christian rules, the Orthodox must read prayers every morning and every evening, the list and content of which can be found in any prayer book. Such morning and evening prayers energize a person, save them from rash actions and decisions in difficult life situations.

The morning service in the church usually starts at 8 o'clock and lasts, depending on whether it is a thanksgiving service or a Sunday service with communion, until 9-12 o'clock in the afternoon. Evening service starts at 15:00 and also lasts differently - until 17:00-19:00. On Saturday evenings at the service, the priest puts crosses with oil (oil) on the foreheads of the parishioners so that they are cleansed and healed. Churches are usually closed on Mondays.

Beggars often sit at the gates of temples begging for alms. If you have a dear person who has died, give them alms and ask them to remember the deceased servant of God such and such. The Lord God will forgive the sins of the deceased and grant the Kingdom of Heaven. Women are accepted on the territory of the church, i.e. immediately outside its gates, to be with a covered head. Therefore, when entering the gate, put a headscarf on your head if you are a woman. A man, on the contrary, must take off his cap or hat. Entering the territory of the temple, look at the church crosses and cross yourself.

It's okay if you don't know how to be baptized: it's easy to learn. Fold the thumb, second and index finger together, slide, and press the ring finger and little finger to the hand. Bring your hand to your forehead and touch it, then touch your hand to your stomach, after the right and left shoulder. All of you already know how to be baptized. Before entering the temple, especially if the service has already begun, look into the gatehouse where they sell candles, buy a few. In a separate room or in the temple itself, you can also order using notes or a commemoration book (a booklet with notes about ancestors) “On Health” and “For the Repose” of our relatives, dear people. In special cases, you can order a magpie for the health of relatives who are sick or in a difficult situation and for the repose of deceased ancestors and loved ones. When ordering a prayer service "On health" and "For the repose" you need to attach one candle to the lists.

Before entering the temple and immediately after you entered it, you must cross yourself. Entering the temple, without fuss, find a place for yourself and make three prostrations. If there is a service, men stand on the right side, women on the left. It is advisable not to talk in church. If talking is unbearable, then you can talk, but only in case of emergency. There is a belief that people who talk in the temple suffer from various illnesses and ailments. If there is no service, you can go to the icon in the center of the temple, cross yourself twice and kiss the lower part of the icon with your lips. After that, you need to cross yourself a third time.

If the grandmother-cashier, who usually takes orders for prayers “For health” and “For peace”, wrote down the names of those who need to be mentioned in her notebook, then you just have to attach a candle to the order and pay for the service. But you yourself can write out on a piece of paper who needs to be remembered for health, and on a separate piece of paper - who for the rest. Such leaflets, or memorials, must be given to church employees, who are usually located at some distance in front of the altar. They will give lists of people and memorials to priests for mention during the service.

Having bought candles, they must be placed in front of the holy images of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, St. Nicholas and other saints. Please note that if not a single candle burns on the candlestick in front of the icon, then it is strictly forbidden to light a candle from an icon lamp!

How to light a candle correctly? Bring the candle wick to the flame of an already burning candle so that the fire is lit on your candle as well. Immediately after that, bring the bottom of your candle to the fire of a burning candle so that it warms up and melts. After that, quickly place the candle in a free candlestick and fix it there so that it stands level. After you put a candle, cross yourself and pray to the saint to whom you put it.
If you bought a large thick candle, then most likely you will not be able to install it in a candlestick so easily: its end must be cut off with a knife, which is usually kept by grandmothers who watch candlesticks. You can simply put a thick candle on a candlestick so that the servants then cut it off and put it themselves, or you can just ask your grandmother to prepare a candle and put it on your own.

During the service, one must be baptized at any mention of the words “Lord God”, “Mother of God”, “Holy Father”, “Son” and “Holy Spirit”, “Jesus Christ”, as well as at the mention of the names of saints. It can be hard to get your bearings at first, so look at what the priests and other members of the congregation are doing and copy after them. During the service, it is desirable to understand what is at stake. If the essence of the service is completely incomprehensible to you, read aloud, but in a whisper, "Our Father" and other prayers that you know.

During some prayers, it is necessary to bow from the waist. Whether to fall on your knees to the floor, as many believers do, is up to you. In general, for a true believer there is no bust with expressions of love to God - he can calmly kneel down and kiss the priest’s hand, kiss the icons. Everyone sets the boundaries of acceptable and possible behavior for himself. What seems like silly nonsense to you today may become an integral part of life tomorrow. Don't hesitate.

If during the Burden of service you suddenly feel ill or sick, try to silently go outside to catch your breath. Sit on the bench until you come to your senses. And then return to the temple to listen to the service to the end or say the most important prayers, ask God for help and christen yourself with the sign of the cross, leaving the temple.

After the service, you can eat prosphora - a symbol of the body of Jesus Christ, which is sold right in the church. Also, you can usually buy holy water in bottles from the grandmother cashier, or you can bring your own empty bottle so that holy water is poured into it.

So, in order for the trip to the temple to be beneficial, you need to bring your appearance in line with the church charter, do not eat, take a handkerchief and commemoration with you, be baptized correctly, light candles and pray, do not talk in church for no reason, do not run around and do not disturb order and peace at all. Knowing these common truths will help you avoid unpleasant situations in the church and save you from some problems in life.

Only the clergyman and the male person whom he blesses can enter the altar.It is necessary to put candles about the health of relatives and friends in front of the icons of saints. In order to put candles for the repose of the souls of the dead, there is a funeral canon in the temple. On it is a small crucifix.

• You need to be baptized and bow your head when it dawns:

cross;
- holy gospel;
- way;
- holy cup.

• It is only necessary to bow your head without being baptized when:

Overshadowed by candles;
- bless with a hand;
- swear.

You can light a candle with either hand. But you need to be baptized only with the right.A blessing is received from a priest or bishop (but not from a deacon). To do this, you need to approach the shepherd, fold your palms crosswise (right on top), and after blessing, kiss the right hand (right hand) of the blessing.If you have anything you want to ask, ask the priest.

What can not be done in the church?

To talk loudly.

Keep hands in pockets.

Chewing gum.

To go from one side of the church to the other in front of the reading readers or priests.

Shake hands with friends.

Pay membership fees to the cashier and manage other financial matters (with the exception of buying candles) during the service.

What and where is located?

Altar. Here are the icons of the most revered Orthodox saints and apostles. For example, Sergius of Radonezh, Seraphim of Sarov, Andrew the First-Called, the apostles Peter and Paul. There are necessarily icons of the saints whose name the temple bears, as well as the Holy Trinity.

The lectern is a high stand on which icons and church books are placed (the Gospel at the evening service). The icon on the lectern changes depending on the holiday.

Where to put candles?

In health. Candles for health are placed in special candlesticks, of which there may be several in the temple. Candlesticks are located in front of the icons of saints - Mykola Ugodnik (Nicholas the Wonderworker), Saints Cyril and Methodius, Xenia of Petersburg, Mary of Egypt, and others. In almost all seaside churches there is an icon of the Port Arthur Mother of God (lists). You need to put candles depending on the needs of the person praying in front of the icon of the desired saint.

For peace (right). There is only one mortuary canon in the church. You can recognize it by its square shape and the small crucifix mounted on it. However, candles for the repose are not placed on Easter Sunday.

How to confess correctly?

Remember all the sins that you have done voluntarily or involuntarily. Especially those who have not yet confessed.Confess your sins frankly, because God already knows them and is just waiting for your confession. Don't be ashamed to talk about sins to the priest. Tell him about your sins, as you would tell about bodily diseases to a doctor in a hospital, and you will receive spiritual healing.

Confess each sin separately and in detail.Do not complain about anyone during confession. Judging others is also a sin.It is not good to talk about your sins in cold blood. Thus, you are not cleansed of sins, but increase them.Do not confess if you do not believe in Christ and do not hope for his mercy.