What to do during a church service. Prayer Our Father. Is it possible for an unbaptized person to venerate the relics?

Many people today flock to churches. However, not everyone knows how to behave correctly in church, especially for those who have recently joined Orthodoxy. Those who cross the threshold of God’s house for the first time need to pay some attention not only to their internal state, but also to their appearance. These tips will help you avoid awkwardness and feel more confident.

You should start preparing to attend services early in the morning. Having woken up and washed, you need to light the lamp. Pray sincerely and thank the Lord for a good night and a quiet start to the day. Slowly read the Gospel (one of your favorite chapters).

The prepared clothing should be simple and modest, although festive. It is advisable that it is not flashy and too lush. For women - closed dresses and long skirts; there should be no exposed parts of the body. The head is also covered with a scarf, headscarf or headscarf. An abundance of cosmetics on the face is not welcome. The perfume should be light and not harsh.

Men wear trousers, no breeches or shorts, all kinds of T-shirts with large necklines and wrestling shorts. Upon entry, the headdress is removed. All visitors should wear comfortable shoes so that they can long time stand without fatigue.

Religious rules dictate visiting Orthodox Church on empty stomach. No need to get enough. However, if a person is sick or a woman is pregnant, then eating is not prohibited.

Sometimes you have to carry some things with you that you cannot leave at the entrance (bags, packages). You can take them with you, but it is advisable to do without them, as they will interfere with baptism and bowing.

How to enter the church?

Believers always enter with a bow, and they bow three times. Each bow has its own words.
You can read the special prayer shown in the photo below.

At the same time, one must see the image of the Savior. When entering, especially for the first time, it is worth looking around, paying attention to the behavior of other people.

Behavior during service

If you decide to go to the service, then you must defend it to the end. After all, it is considered a sacrifice to the Lord. Only the weak are allowed to sit during it. Young and healthy are standing.

Place the cross when there is a glorification of the Holy Trinity and Christ. When the priest censes the temple, you must give way to him.
There are moments during the service that oblige you to bow your head. This is done when opening and closing the royal doors.

You cannot walk around the church and talk while the Gospel is being read, venerate icons, or conduct telephone conversations, chew something, rummage in a bag or pocket, buy candles.

Rules for visitors to an Orthodox church with children

Parents should monitor the behavior of their children. Don't let them make noise, run, jump or laugh loudly.

• If the child bursts into tears or plays out, it is better to go out into the yard.
• During communion, an equally restless baby is brought in towards the end of the service.
• You cannot leave during service without reason.
• Notes about health or repose are served in the shop.

Important tips on how to behave correctly in the Orthodox Church

• Men are bareheaded, and women are wearing headscarves. Girls and young girls They may also not cover their heads.
• Listen to the words of the priest, participate in prayer with all your soul.
• Kissing the faces of icons is wrong. The relics of a saint are allowed in the forehead.
• The mobile phone turns off.
• Use photo and video equipment only with the blessing of the abbot.
• You cannot go to church in an inappropriate state (drunk, on drugs). Smoking is also a sin.
• The space between the altar and the solea should not be crossed. During the service you only need to stand facing the iconostasis.
• No quarrels or comments about others.
• Pets are not allowed in the church.
• When submitting church records, the names of the baptized are entered there and those of other faiths, suicides, and the unbaptized are not included. If the name is not Christian, then it is worth finding out what was given at baptism and entering it. There is no need to write anything extra besides. An exception is if this is a clergyman, then the rank is added in short.
• Usually women are located on the left side of the room.
• When blessing, the head should be bowed.
• It is better to give alms in food and clothing.

What to talk about during Repentance

By confessing, a person is responsible only for his own sins. He shouldn't talk about anyone else's. Not all are listed, but only those that are conscious and evoke a desire to change.

Old sins, which have already been told about and which have not been repeated, are no longer mentioned at the Sacrament of Confession. Do not linger long at the lectern; you must remember about others who want to confess.

How to take Communion

When approaching the Holy Chalice, the name given at baptism is called. Hands folded in a cross, mouth open. The Communion is swallowed, the edge of the Chalice is kissed. Then the Orthodox man leaves. Only after drinking the icons can you kiss them.

Giving Communion to Children

So that during the sacrament, the child, being frightened, does not push his hand or the cup, he must be held. When bringing it to the Bowl, you should try to ensure that the arms and legs do not dangle freely.

If the child is noisy, you should calm him down. You are allowed to step aside or leave.

In any case, when something is not clear, you can ask the question to the temple servants or more experienced people.

During the period of revival of Orthodox traditions, a wide range of people show a desire to visit church. Parishioners have established habits of behavior that should not interfere in a holy place. A beginner should familiarize himself with simple tips about how to go to church correctly. These traditions have been observed since ancient times. We need to respect this place. The soul should be bright and joyful, ready for prayer.

The Orthodox tradition has long created simple rules, explaining how to go to church. When visiting a temple, a beginner 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 attend church correctly; it is better to go with other people and observe them.

The first rule: do not offend the priests and laity present by your inappropriate behavior. Inside the temple there are often shrines whose value can be measured over centuries. Even if a lay person does not recognize the holiness of the icon or relics, their value should not be publicly questioned. If parishioners bow next to a valuable icon, then it will not be difficult to bow following the example of others.

Few people think about what precedes a visit to the temple. This also has great importance. During your 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 only allowed to sick parishioners.

Before God, one must maintain a meek spirit, fully understand one's sinfulness, and show respect to those saints who have decided to cleanse themselves of sin in their worldly lives.

The temple allows you to create a connection between the sinful earth and the pure heavens, when a person comes with faith in a powerful patron and intercessor. The church is created as a house of prayer, where they come to ask for the most secret things.

Rules for women

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

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

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

Where to start

As soon as the church appears in sight, it needs to bow and make the sign of itself sign of the cross, even if you don't plan to go inside.

When approaching the door, you need to stop, think about your goal, and cross yourself again. When visiting a temple, you need to imagine that from the space of earthly sin you are entering a small and clean house God's.

There is a simple ritual common to all parishioners on how to properly enter the church. You should start with a bow as a symbol of humility of your pride. Next 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 is said: “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 advisable to remember this sequence and repeat it during exit.

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

You can indicate your secret goal in a note to the priest. Usually a request is sent to pray for yourself or for your neighbor.

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

• Wishing health to your neighbors.
• For the difficulties in life that we managed to overcome. In this case, the candle is lit with gratitude to your Saint for the trials and help sent.
• The day before key event in life. Before important decision, turning to God, angels and saints for support and admonition.
• For the peace of those who have already passed on to eternal life.

To remember the dead, every church has a special memorial table. On the eve you can put bread, red wine and cookies.

In every temple, the central place is occupied by a “festive” icon. The first thing a visitor does is touch it. This icon can be different for each day. The priest, according to the calendar known to him, selects a “festive” icon, placing it in the center, on the lectern.

When approaching the holiday icon, you need to sign yourself with the sign of the cross and make a bow to the ground and from the waist. When the parishioners move away from the icon, they need to bow to it a third time.

In addition to the holiday icon, a particularly valuable one is displayed in the temple, ancient icon. 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 the servant of God,” saying the name of the relative for whose recovery they came to ask.

The main godly feature of behavior will be humility. There is no need to look around as if on an excursion. It is important to always remember the main purpose of your coming to the temple.

When a well-known friend appears in church, it is not customary inside the church to shake hands. Friends bow as a greeting. It is important to remain silent and allocate another time for 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 communication 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 disturb people and the priest himself, and therefore all prayers, placing candles and passing notes should be completed before the start of the church service.

Do not bother other people with your questions. The words of the priest should be listened to in silence and concentration, since at this moment the Word of God is transmitted.

Demonstration of uncivil behavior in the temple will result in big troubles , 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 cross yourself, you need to join them, performing the ritual together with everyone.

For those who would like to sit down during the service, it is worth remembering that Divine service is an act of spiritual labor and is therefore performed while standing. Standing for a long time strengthens a person’s spirit, and everyone can check themselves: if it’s hard to stand, there’s a reason for it. Those who are full of faith do not notice difficulties. It is difficult for one 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 funeral service or on special occasions. On a normal day, a candle is placed in a candlestick. You need to make sure 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, you cannot be late for it. The period of worship is a personal sacrifice that we offer to God. Devoting one's time to spirituality is a must for every believer. Leaving the service is permitted only for a very good reason. If a mother cannot calm her child down, she is advised to leave the church for a while and return when the child calms down.

Only those in whose body there is illness and whose need for relief is undeniable are allowed to sit.

During the liturgy and reading the Gospel, you need to ask God to enlighten you to understand all the Truths. When the priest opens the Royal Doors, it is customary to bow. If words are heard in an unknown language and you cannot pronounce them, then you can replace these words with a well-known prayer.

When the Priest finishes his sermon, he comes 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 arrive first.
• Minor children come second.
• Then it’s the men’s turn.
• Women complete the procession.

The priest has his own prayer prepared for each group. If someone breaks the line, they will tell him where to stand correctly.

Which day to choose

For Orthodox Christian It is godly to visit the temple once a week. Regular attendance is required so that the layperson can 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 Orthodox calendar. If the need arises to pray, you can go to church any day you wish.

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

What you want to know

There is an altar worker inside the church who can tell you how to properly enter the church and what not to do. Mobile phones do not have to be turned off, but they must be switched to silent mode. You cannot answer the phone during the service, as this is not the time for talking.

In the evening after the service, you can purchase candles again for your home. Even if you don’t have enough money, you can ask for a candle for free. It is not accepted in a Christian environment to refuse people in need.

If someone is sick at home, the candle lit in the temple is taken home and placed in the room where the sick person is lying. You can light a candle for an unbaptized person, but you cannot ask for a note or order a prayer. It is not customary to ask for 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 this. At this time, it is possible to order a prayer for another person who is sick, but cannot attend Church on his own.

Thus, A Christian believer should attend church at least once a week, observing in the temple simple rituals and rules of conduct. Regularly turning to eternal questions, to God, a person becomes purer and wiser. The holiness of the temple is determined not only by the age-old religion, but also miraculous icons saints to whom you can turn. Listening to the words of the priest during worship is useful for every person for the salvation of his eternal soul.

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

As the clergy themselves say, there is nothing wrong with this; you cannot condemn a person who is not entirely who knows order actions in the temple, because ideal people No. You can simply ask a clergyman about this or read special literature.

Orthodox church

Church is a special place. The norms of behavior in the temple went through a very long process of development. General standards Behaviors 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 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 behavior in it.

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

Women are prohibited from entering the altar. Men can enter the altar only with the permission of the priests, and then only through the northern or southern gates. Only clergy enter the altar through the Royal Doors.

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

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

Since ancient times, it has been established to perform 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 0 o'clock calendar day, and at 18 o'clock 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. When approaching the temple, you need to make the sign of the cross and bow from the waist. Rising to the porch, before entering the doors, you again need to make the sign of the cross and bow. You should not pray for a long time and for show while standing on the street.

Upon entering the temple, you 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. “O Lord, who created me, forgive me.” - Bow.

One should be baptized slowly, with the first three fingers joined together. right hand, and the remaining two - folded and bent towards the palm. With your right hand folded in this way, you should successively touch your forehead, stomach, 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 disturb the prayer of others. If it is not possible to freely approach the icons and light 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 a clear passage from the main doors to the Royal Doors. IN Orthodox church It is forbidden to sit, the only exception being the parishioner’s ill health or severe fatigue.

During worship, you should not look around, it is indecent to show curiosity and look at those praying, ask them about anything, chew gum, keep your hands in your pockets, shake hands with friends, or talk on the phone.

It’s better to turn off your phone altogether or at least put it on silent mode. Leave Cell phones included in the temple - this becomes an obstacle to attentive prayer, while worship, on the contrary, enriches and delights 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 the service. One should not condemn or reprimand a newcomer who does not know the church rules. It's better to help him politely and good advice. You need to buy candles exactly in the temple you came to. If possible, you should not leave the temple until the end of the service.

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

When visiting temples, you are supposed to dress so that most of your body is covered. It is not customary to go to church in shorts and sportswear. Whenever possible, men and women should also avoid T-shirts and short-sleeved shirts. A 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 do not have the right to do this. Priests and bishops, as well as abbess of monasteries in the rank of abbess, bless. When receiving a blessing, you should fold your palms crosswise ( right palm over the left) and kiss the right, blessing hand of the clergyman; there is no need to be baptized before this.

How to be baptized correctly?

On the right hand we fold large, medium and index fingers, so that they touch with pads (symbol of the Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit), we press the remaining two to the palm (symbol of the dual nature of Jesus Christ - God and Man). Next, we raise our hand to the forehead (in the Name of the Father), to 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 (the table near the Crucifixion) - candles with a prayer for the dead are placed there. Which saint? As your soul pleases, to whom your heart directs. Your prayer is to the Lord. And the saints are our intercessors and intercessors before Him. You can also put candles, for example, at icons that are especially revered by you and your family Mother of God or Holiday.

Types of notes:

— about health: proskomedia, litany, prayer service.
— about repose: proskomedia, litany, requiem.

You can also order Sorokoust, an annual commemoration, for both the living and the dead.

Proskomedia: performed before the Liturgy: particles are taken out of the prosphora and placed in the Chalice, the liturgical prosphora - the Lamb - is prepared. Names are read from the notes submitted to the 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 commemorated

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

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

Memorial service: a separate service for the deceased. Happens often. There are also Parental Saturdays, before which Parastas is served - a special funeral service. Notes submitted to Parents' Saturday, read the day before, on Friday, at Parastas, and on Saturday at the Liturgy at the litany, and after the Liturgy at the memorial service

Sorokoust: prayer while reading the psalter in the monastery for 40 days;
annual commemoration - accordingly, according to the same principle.
Notes should be submitted to the candle candle of the temple. There are samples everywhere. If the sample is not posted, you can ask the temple candle shop about the design - they will explain everything to you.

Only names are written on notes. baptized people. If a person is sick - the sick person’s “name”. If the note is about the dead, then you cannot write suicides or unbaptized babies (they pray for them at home).

What is confession?

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

How to prepare for confession?

There is no universal recipe here. And you don’t really ask anyone: how do you prepare for confession? Because this is a very personal question. Some even write everything on a piece of paper the day before. The main thing to do is to tune in to thinking about your actions and thoughts.

How is confession going?

Check with the church about confession hours. This can be in the evening (after or even during the service) and morning (before the Liturgy). If you know a priest (saw him at a service, talked and gained confidence) - find out in the candle room when he will confess. It’s better (especially for the first time) to go to confession with someone who likes you. Despite the fact that you are confessing to God and not to the priest, the personal factor influences here, and at first we cannot do anything about it. Although, perhaps, this does 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 (accessory liturgical vestments- a long ribbon that goes around the neck and both ends go down to the chest) and reads a prayer. First he will ask for your name (do not forget that if your name is Rose, and you were baptized Nadezhda, you must say “Nadezhda”). After the prayer, you cross yourself, kiss the Gospel lying in front of you, and the Cross (in the same place) and move away from the lectern.

The main thing: you cannot receive communion without confession, but you can go to confession without subsequent communion. Preparing for communion is much more complex and extensive than preparing for confession.

How to prepare for Communion?

Three days before Communion, one must fast (not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, and during fasting, fish). Fasting also includes giving up smoking, drinking and abstinence. During preparation, it is necessary 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), you are not supposed to eat or drink until the end of the Liturgy. Previously, people dressed in light clothes for communion - there was this Orthodox tradition. Confession is required before the service or the day before.

During the Liturgy, towards the end of the service, hearing the singing: “One is Holy, One is Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father. Amen.”, begin to slowly move to the right side of the temple. They approach the Chalice from there. After the priest’s words “Come with the fear of God and faith” (he brings out the Cup) and the singing “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, O God the Lord, and has appeared to us”, the prayer “I believe, O Lord, and I confess...” is read (you will already recognize it after homework preparation for Communion). The priest reads it himself, but the whole church repeats it to himself (sometimes out loud). After the prayer, while singing “Receive the Body of Christ...”, those receiving communion approach the Chalice. The arms are folded crosswise on the chest - right to left.

When approaching the Chalice, say your baptismal name, open your mouth and accept the Body and Blood of the Lord. After this, kiss the edge of the Chalice and move further into left side temple. There, take a piece of prosphora and wash it down. There is no need to cross yourself 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 leave the church immediately. Wait until the end of the service, kiss the Cross, which the priest will give after the sermon, and only after that, renewed, leave the church. Don't forget to read your prayers at home after Communion. Or listen to them in the church after the service.

Upon leaving the temple

Blessing
There must be a distinction between worship before a shrine and before people, even if they are sacred. When 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 doing this. This custom recalls that this hand held the Holy Cup of the Eucharist.

General
When leaving their temple, create three bowing from the waist with the sign of the cross.
The care of the Holy Church for us continues even after the service, so that we do not lose the grace-filled mood that, by the grace of God, we were awarded in church. The Church commands us to disperse after the service in reverent silence, with thanksgiving to God, with prayer that the Lord will grant us to always visit His holy monastery until the end of our lives.
Smokers are prohibited from smoking even on the street within the church fence.
But it is absolutely necessary to delve into everything that happens during church services in order to be nourished by it. Only then will everyone warm their heart, awaken their conscience, revive their withered soul and enlighten their mind.

Rules of conduct in the 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 heavy laden, 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, just as the humble publican of the Gospel came out.

3. When you enter a temple and see 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, make three bows to the ground on weekdays, and three bows from the waist on holidays, praying: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” - Bow. “God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me.” - Bow. “O Lord, who created me, forgive me.” - Bow.

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

Names are written neatly, legibly - full, in genitive case: about the health (or repose) of whom? - Tamara, John, Nicephorus, etc. The number of names does not matter, but the priest usually reads a not very long note more carefully and more prayerfully. But these are the kinds of notes that are given when a person often comes to church! Notes are given before the start of the service, usually at 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 only reflects the difference in the amount of your donation for temple needs. The same can be said about the price of candles.

6. Be reverent church candle: this is a symbol of our prayerful burning before the Lord, His Most Pure Mother, the holy saints of God. The candles are lit one from the other, which is burning, and, having melted the bottom, they are placed in the socket of the candlestick. The candle must stand strictly straight. If on the day of a great holiday a minister extinguishes your candle in order to light the candle of another, do not be disturbed in spirit: your sacrifice has already been accepted by the All-Seeing and All-Knowing Lord.

7. It’s good if there is a place in the temple where you are used to standing. Walk towards him quietly and modestly, and when 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 so that you can hear the singing and reading. If this is not possible, stand on free place and practice inner prayer carefully.

8. In St. Always come to church at the beginning of the service. If you are still late, be careful not to disturb the prayers of others. When entering the temple during the reading of the Six Psalms, the Gospel, or after the Cherubic Liturgy (when the transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts takes place), stand by entrance doors until the end of these essential 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 the start of the Divine service and after it, or at set time- for example, at the all-night vigil for the anointing of oil. Some moments of the service, as already mentioned, require special concentration: reading the Gospel; Song of the Mother of God and Great Doxology at the All-Night Vigil; the prayer “Only Begotten Son...” and the entire Liturgy, starting from “Like the Cherubim...”.

10. In the temple, greet your acquaintances with a silent bow; even with those who are especially close, do not shake hands and do not ask about anything - be truly modest. Do not be curious and do not peer into 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 ill health is one allowed to sit down and rest. However, Metropolitan of Moscow Philaret (Drozdov) said well about bodily weakness: “It is better to think about God while sitting than to think about your legs while standing.” But during the reading of the Gospel and in especially important places of the Liturgy, you need to stand.

12. When the clergyman censes the temple, you need to step aside so as not to disturb him, and while censing the people, bow your head slightly. You should not be baptized at this time. It is customary to bow your 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 (the prayer “We sing to You”), if the church is not very crowded, it is necessary to bow to the ground. On holidays and Sundays prostrations are not required, they are not performed after communion either. On these days, make bows from the waist, touching the floor with your hand.

13. In church, pray as one participating in the Divine service, and not just present, so that the prayers and chants that are read and sung come from your heart; follow the service carefully so that you can pray for exactly what the whole Church is praying for. Make the sign of the cross and bow at the same time as everyone else. For example, during the Divine service it is customary to be baptized during the praises of the Holy Trinity and Jesus Christ, during the litanies - to any exclamation “Lord, have mercy” and “Give, Lord,” as well as at the beginning and at the end of any prayer. You need to cross yourself and bow before approaching the icon or lighting a candle, and when leaving the temple. You cannot hastily and inattentively sign yourself with the sign of the cross, because at the same time we are calling on the Lord’s love and grace.

14. If you come with children, make sure that they behave modestly and do not make noise, teach them to pray. 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 the holy temple, except when the priests are distributing 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 for forgiveness of your sins. It happens that during a divine service someone, before your eyes, interferes with the parishioners’ concentration in prayer. Don't get irritated, don't bother anyone. Try not to pay attention, and if, due to weakness, you cannot cope with the temptation, it is better to go quietly to another place.

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

19. Until the end of the 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 receive Holy Communion and venerate sacred objects with painted lips.

22. The main thing is this 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 requests.

23. After the end of the service, when leaving the temple, you should cross yourself and bow three times and then head home, trying to preserve the grace acquired by the 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 payment for the sacraments. Decide according to your capabilities and conscience.

- Don’t let the fact that Communion is given with one spoon bother you either. No one has yet become infected from the Chalice.

- after the first confession (especially if you repented of serious sins) you may not be allowed to receive Communion. Rarely, but such cases do happen. Go home calmly, do what the priest said, and get ready for the next confession. You cannot approach the Chalice without a 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 standing behind you.

Rules of conduct in church

How to behave in church for children

Children's program from the series " Good word", TV channel "My Joy"

How to behave in church- this question is mainly asked by people who do not often visit sacred places of worship. However, there are customs and rules that need to be studied before going to the temple. We will tell you about them.

Rules of conduct in church: appearance

People come to church with humility, so the clothes for visiting it should be appropriate: neat, clean and modest. It is best to opt for a robe of calm tones, although sometimes its color should be specific - light clothing will be appropriate for the Easter service, and black clothing for mournful days. It is not allowed to attend church in home or beach clothes.

For women:

• You should not come to the temple in jeans or trousers; it is better to wear a skirt below the knees, without slits or frilly details. This is especially important if you are going to confession or communion. The blouse should be modest, with long sleeves, without deep necklines and bright accents. The head must be covered with a headscarf or light scarf. You should not excessively use cosmetics (especially lipstick), perfume, or wear jewelry.

For men:

• For representatives of the stronger sex, jeans are not forbidden, but it is better to give preference to trousers paired with a dull shirt or turtleneck; a suit would also be appropriate. Shorts and T-shirts are not allowed, even in hot weather. In contrast to women, men should bare their heads when entering the temple - and in the cold season too.

• If you take children to church with you, remember that there are rules for them too. Their clothing should not be too revealing or bright; shorts are only allowed for children under 7 years old. Do not dress your child for service in clothes with loud slogans or stickers. If a child is small and begins to act up in church, it is worth taking him out and calming him down so as not to disturb others. Before visiting a temple with an older child, explain to him that he is not allowed to run, laugh loudly or scream in it.

The general rules are: your appearance and behavior should express humility, not cause negative feelings in believers and not create inconvenience for them. During church celebrations you can dress more formally, and on fasting days - more modestly. As for the choice of clothes and shoes from the point of view of functionality, they should be as comfortable as possible, since during services you have to spend quite a lot of time on your feet. for a long time- 2-3 hours.

How to behave in church: sign of the cross

It would seem that even if we don’t know the rules of conduct in church, we definitely know how to be baptized. However, we often do this incorrectly. Please note that the sign of the cross itself, like the pectoral cross, is not salvation. They cannot be used simply as talismans and rituals that protect against evil. By Orthodox canons salvation is only true faith. And the sign of the cross and wearing a cross are its visible manifestations.

How to make the sign of the cross correctly?

1. Place the tips of the index, thumb and middle fingers of your right hand together (this is how faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is expressed). The ring and little fingers should be pressed to the palm (this symbolizes Christ who descended to earth when two essences were united in Him - both man and god).
2. Place the folded three fingers towards yourself in the following order: to the forehead - sanctifying the mind, to the stomach (but not to the chest) - sanctifying the inner feelings, to the right shoulder and, finally, to the left shoulder - sanctifying bodily strength.
3. Lower your hand and bow, paying tribute to the feat of Christ. It is unacceptable to make a bow and the sign of the cross at the same time.

The sign of the cross is performed: approaching shrines (entering the temple, kissing the cross, icons, etc.), at the beginning and end of prayer, as well as during it, at the main moments of the service, at the beginning of Matins and in many other cases, which must be clarified before visiting the church.

Rules of behavior in the temple during worship

If you are planning to attend a service in the temple, come to it in advance - 10-15 minutes before the start. At this time, you can light candles, give a note, venerate the icons, so as not to be distracted by this during the service itself and not disturb others.

Having entered the temple, they first kiss the main icon located opposite the Royal Doors ( double doors leading to the altar). Before this, you need to cross yourself three times, and then kiss the corner of the icon or the edge of the clothing of the person depicted on it, cross yourself again and calmly move away. Under no circumstances should you touch the icon with painted lips.

Candles are placed as follows: for the repose - on a square candlestick with a small crucifix. Candles for health are placed on other candlesticks.

During worship, try to choose a place that is comfortable for you. At the same time, try not to disturb those praying. Don't talk, turn off cellular telephone. During the service you must stand, but if it is difficult for you to stand, you can sit on a bench.

No one is allowed to sit with the Royal Doors open, even the sick and infirm. It is not allowed to have your back to the altar during the service. Women and girls are not allowed through the Royal Doors under any circumstances, and boys and men can only enter them during the sacrament of baptism.

You should not leave the service before it ends. But if for one reason or another you need to leave it, quietly, without disturbing anyone, leave the church, crossing yourself at the exit and in front of the church itself.

Are women always allowed to go to church?

The question often arises about whether women can go to church during their menstrual periods. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this. By Old Testament, if a person is not clean (and he relates menstruation to this concept), it is better for him to stay away from God.

And here New Testament states the situation differently, allowing a woman to attend church on these days. It is believed that monthly cleansing, like the woman herself, was created by God, and everything created by him cannot be unclean. The New Testament also allows for the sacrament and the application of holy items during menstruation, if a woman needs it.

Thus, today some clergy adhere to the previous rules, while others consider them outdated and do not see anything wrong with a woman visiting the temple during menstrual periods. It may be better to stick to the golden mean - if there is no strong need, postpone visiting the temple for a few days. Well, if you really need spiritual support, remember that during menstruation this is not forbidden.

Rules of conduct in the temple and the law

In Russia there are not only generally accepted church rules, but also legal norms that protect the feelings of believers and establish responsibility for offenses related to the church and religion. These include:

• Article 148 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which concerns insulting the feelings of believers, including in churches and temples.
• Article 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which establishes liability for hooliganism committed for religious reasons.
• Article 214 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which punishes vandalism, including for religious reasons.
• Article 244 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which applies to the desecration of the bodies of the dead and burial places.
• Article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which protects freedom of religion.

These articles provide for very serious fines - up to a million rubles, and for criminal offenses even loss of freedom for several years is possible.

An Orthodox church is a place of the special, mysterious and incomprehensible presence of God on earth, it is the house of God. Therefore, you need to behave reverently in church, so as not to offend the greatness of the shrine and not incur the wrath of God.

You should come to the temple before the start of the service in order to have time to submit notes of health and repose, buy candles, light them and slowly, reverently venerate the icons, place a donation for the eve.

Before entering the temple, and upon entering the temple, you need to cross yourself three times and bow, praying: “God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me,” “God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” “ Holy Mother of God, save me, a sinner,” “All saints, pray to God for me, a sinner.”

Then you need to put candles to the icon of the holiday lying on the lectern - the elevation in the center of the temple in front of the Royal Doors, to the revered image of the Mother of God, the icon of the Savior.

Venerating to icons, you should first make the sign of the cross and bow twice with prayer, then kiss the holy image, and then cross yourself and bow again. You should kiss the image of a hand, the edge of the robe of the Savior, the Mother of God or a saint. When we venerate the cross, we kiss the feet of the Savior. On the icon of the beheading of St. We kiss John the Baptist's hair.

You need to make the sign of the cross slowly and reverently. One should venerate the icons before the start of the service and after it, or at the appointed time - at the all-night vigil after the anointing of oil and after the first hour.

When passing by the Royal Doors, you must stop, turn your face to the Holy See and cross yourself.

According to ancient custom, in church men are supposed to stand on the right side and women on the left. No one occupies the passage from the main doors to the Royal Doors.

“Each brother, coming to the Church of God, must fence himself before its doors with the sign of the cross and make a bow from the waist, thereby giving honor to the dwelling of God, which is the church.

Upon entering the church, each brother is obliged to stand in the middle of it in front of the royal doors and make three bows from the waist, and Lent- three earthly; then, bowing to both sides of the people ahead, take their place.

The Church is the earthly heaven. Those standing in it should stand with reverence, ceremoniously, like holy angels, have their eyes lowered to the ground, not lean on the walls, keep their hands down, not putting them together, not put their feet behind, but stand on both legs equally.

The Church is the judgment seat of God. You can come out of it either justified or convicted, according to the testimony of the Holy Gospel (Luke 18:14). And therefore, one must conduct reading and singing with all possible attention and reverence, and in no way allow oneself idle talk, especially laughter and jokes. Otherwise, we will leave the church condemned, angering the King of Heaven by standing before Him without reverence [Ladder. Word 28, ch. 3].

The people present at the service should not look back. One must preserve vision in every possible way, as that opening into the soul through which the most infectious passions can enter it [Reverend Pimen the Great. Alphabetical patericon]" - writes St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

If you are late before the beginning of the service, you need to behave in such a way as not to interfere with the prayer of others. If you venerate icons during the service, walking around the entire church, then this will be disrespect for the shrine, will prevent others from praying and may cause them to sin in condemnation. Therefore, we must try not to disturb anyone, behave quietly and reverently, find a place for ourselves in the temple and, standing before God, join in the common prayer. If you see someone you know, greet them with a silent bow.

Be baptized during worship accepted during praises of the Holy Trinity and Jesus Christ, and during litanies - for any exclamation “Lord, have mercy” and “Give, Lord,” as well as at the beginning and end of any prayer. When the clergyman censes the temple, you need to step aside so as not to disturb him, and when censing the people, slightly bow your head. You should not be baptized during censing. It is customary to bow your head at those moments when the royal doors are opened or closed, when the priest proclaims “Peace to all” or blesses the people with the Gospel, and also after the words “Bow your heads to the Lord.”

During the consecration of the Holy Gifts (the prayer “We sing to You”), at the moment of taking them out of the altar (before communion), you need to bow to the ground. On holidays and Sundays, bowing to the ground is not required; they are not performed after communion (until the evening). These days we make bows from the waist.

You cannot walk or talk while reading the Gospel, singing the “Cherubim” and the Eucharistic canon at the liturgy (from the Creed to the “Our Father”).
You are supposed to pray standing in church, but due to weakness, illness, or extreme fatigue, you can sit. Saint Philaret (Drozdov) said about this: “It is better to think about God while sitting than to think about your feet while standing.” During the reading of the Gospel and in especially important places of the liturgy, you need to stand.

If you come to church with children, then you need to make sure that they behave modestly and quietly. Crying child you need to try to calm him down; if this fails, you should leave the temple with the child.

What clothes should I wear to church?

When we go on a visit, we think in advance about how and what to dress in, what hairstyle to do in order to look decent in front of people. Moreover, when we go to the temple of God, we need to take care of this.

Clothing should be modest, not flashy, not tight, so as not to distract the eyes of those praying. You are supposed to dress so that most of your body is covered.

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

Women cover their heads with a scarf or other headdress. A headscarf is a sign of modesty. The Apostle Paul said that a woman's covered head is a sign for the angels. An expensive and luxurious dress would be inappropriate in a temple, as would uncovered bare shoulders and arms, cosmetics, especially lipstick, and jewelry. Short skirts and trousers will also be inappropriate.

The aroma of fashionable perfumes and colognes is best left for other occasions in life. In general, you need to do everything so as not to attract attention to yourself.

You cannot come to church wearing clothes decorated with non-Christian symbols.

According to ancient tradition Christians to this day light wax candles in front of holy icons. Such candles are sold in the Church. A burning candle is a symbol of our prayerful burning before the Lord, His Most Pure Mother, and the holy saints of God. This is also our sacrifice for the temple. Therefore, you need to buy candles exactly in the temple you came to.

If you are financially constrained, then, without embarrassment, ask for a candle, prosphora, or order a prayer service, or perform the sacrament of baptism without payment. Believe me, in church both the candle seller and the clergyman will always meet you halfway with understanding. So you should not be afraid to go to church without money.

If possible, you should not leave the temple until the end of the service. You can leave ahead of time only due to infirmity or serious necessity.
When leaving the temple, you should cross yourself three times and bow.