Does the seller of church utensils have to be a believer? Why is there a trade in churches

Archpriest Mikhail Pitnitsky

Neither Christ nor the apostles traded, did not perform their ministry for money, and the entire early one did not know trade and prices in churches, and yet the church existed and developed. The Apostle Paul says: “ We have nothing, but we have everything". And in the Apostle Peter we read the following: “ We have no money, but what we have is what we give () ”. This fully characterizes the early church, its complete non-covetousness.

Christ's commandment: “ Take with you neither gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belt, nor two clothes, nor a bag ...() ", Said for the apostles and for all archpastors and pastors, has not been canceled. If this ideal is too high, then you need to strive for it, and not reject it.

The late Patriarch Alexy II raised this topic very intelligibly, but, unfortunately, not persistently enough at his diocesan meetings with the clergy. He did not just advocate, but, one might say, fought for the end of the "spiritual trade" in the churches, which we inherited as an "evil habit" from the Soviet past. Addressing the clergy, he said: “In many churches there is a certain“ price list ”, and you can order any demand only by paying the amount indicated in it. Thus, there is open trade in the church, only instead of the usual one sells "spiritual goods", that is, I am not afraid to say directly, - the grace of God ... Nothing alienates people from the faith more than the greed of the priests and the ministers of the temples. " (Diocesan Assembly 2004)

The Holy Fathers on Trade in the Temple

Now let's see what the holy fathers say about trade in churches and about the prices for services.

To begin with, let us recall once again the quotation from the Gospel with which this book begins: “ And Jesus entered the temple of God and drove out all those who sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those who sold doves, and said to them: it is written: "My house will be called a house of prayer"; and you with made it a den of robbers ”.(). These verses are the great saint and the father of the church, blessed. (347-420) interprets as follows: “Indeed, a robber is a person who makes a profit from faith in God, and he turns the temple of God into a cave of robbers, when his ministry turns out to be not so much a service to God as money transactions. This is the direct meaning. And in a mysterious sense The Lord daily enters the temple of His Father and expels everyone, both bishops, elders and deacons, and the laity, and the whole crowd, and considers both those who sell and those who buy to be equally criminal, for it is written: Received for free, give for free. He also overturned the tables of the coin changers. Pay attention to the fact that because of the priests' love of money, the altars of God are called the tables of the coin changers. And knocked over the benches sellers of doves, [that is] selling the grace of the Holy Spirit". Pay attention to the underlined words, which say that priests who trade in temples are like robbers, their altars are tables of money changers, and performing demands for money is like selling pigeons. (For a more complete quote, see http://bible.optina.ru/new:mf:21:12)

True clergymen, on the other hand, should be non-possessive and modest, in their financial situation to be at the level of your flock, and not above it.

The saints, for example, the saint, also condemned the luxury of the clergy: “What is the use of this for him (the priest), tell me? Wears silk clothes? Accompanied by the crowd, proudly pacing the market? Riding on a horse? Or builds houses, having a place to live? If he does this, then and I condemn and do not spare him I even recognize him as unworthy of the priesthood. How can he really convince others not to engage in these excesses when he cannot convince himself? " (Commentary on Philippians 10: 4).

The late Patriarch Alexy II also spoke on this topic: “The formal or even“ commercial ”approach of a priest to people who come to the Church for a long time, if not forever, pushes away from the church, inspires contempt for the greedy clergy. The church is not a store of spiritual goods; “trade in grace” is unacceptable here. “Priyaste to the tune - give it to the tuna,” Christ commanded us. He who turns his pastoral service into a means of bad gain deserves the fate of Simon the sorcerer. It is better for such people to leave the Church and do business in the markets.

Unfortunately, some part of our clergy falls under the influence of the "spirit of the times", striving for a "beautiful" lifestyle. Hence the desire to outdo each other in fashionable clothes, competition in pomp and abundance festive tables... Hence the boasting of foreign cars, cell phones and so on.

First, such a lifestyle is essentially sinful, non-Christian, since God is forgotten, service to mammon comes, insensibility to the tragedy and temporality of earthly life. This is perhaps one of the most striking manifestations of neo-paganism. Secondly, such a life of the clergy for ordinary, ordinary parishioners, in the overwhelming majority of poor people, is a temptation and is associated in their minds with the betrayal of Christ's poverty, with the secularization of the Church. Is this why some parishioners leave churches and look for a place in various sects, new religious movements where they are greeted with understanding, care and love? It is another matter, sincere or insincere, but with love ”(Diocesan Assembly 1998).

15th rule.From now on, let the cleric not be assigned to the two churches: for this is characteristic of trade and low self-interest, and is alien to church custom. For what happens to low self-interest in church affairs, it becomes alien to God. For the needs of this life, there are various occupations: and with them, if anyone wishes, let him acquire what is needed for the body. For the apostle said: "To my demand, and to those who are with me, these hands have served them." ( ). And this is to be held in this God-saved city: and in other places, due to the lack of people, to allow withdrawal.

This rule repeats in essential 10 and 20 of rule IV Of the Ecumenical Council that every sacred person can serve only in one church. It happened that individual bishops did not strictly adhere to these rules and gave one or another priest two churches (in a narrow sense, current parishes) to serve. As can be seen from the meaning of this rule, the priests did this, referring to their poor economic situation and the small income they received from one church (parish). They were justified by the need to increase their means of maintenance by serving under another church. This rule says that this is characteristic of trade and low self-interest and is anti-canonical, and therefore determines that this should be stopped altogether, and every priest is obliged to observe only one church. And if the parish cannot satisfy the material needs of the rector, then there are other activities that it can engage in, and let it acquire in this way how much is needed for its existence, looking at the example of ap. Paul (). Currently, this rule is violated, there are even cases when two large temple cities with a significant state are governed by one abbot: a bishop or priest.

4th rule.It forbids the bishop to demand money or this or that material from the clergy, priests, monks or laity subordinate to him.

Currently, this rule is violated by the so-called diocesan contribution. Each parish is subject to a tax from the bishop according to the strength and capabilities of the parish. The richer the parish, the greater the tax. Of course, a doubt arises that the diocese really needs such a lot of money, because the bishop is always the abbot of the main and most big temple in a diocese that brings a generous income. But a luxurious life requires more and more money ...

Who should financially help the poor rich or the rich to the poor? The rural parish does not know what to do with the pennies that it has, whether to repair the roof, or pay for heating. And the dioceses abound in luxury and demand the latter from a poor rural priest.

Arguments from those supporting the temple trade

Many priests say: “The fact of prices in the temple has already existed for many, many years, and did not interfere with the salvation of people. It so happens that they baptize a child and regret donating, but they spend more than one thousand on festivities, and they spend on vodka burials, so that they don't mind remembering. " Such priests simply justify themselves, accusing others, saying “that you judge us, you look at others,” but this sin does not cease to be a sin, we cannot justify ourselves at the Last Judgment with the words: “Lord, we are not the worst, there are worse than us "

Others say: "After all, the Church needs to live on something, pay wages, utilities, etc." To this, let's say in the words of Christ: « That you are so fearful of little faith?», After all, the church has existed for centuries without prices for services and trade, and the Lord took care of it, will he really leave it now? God is always and everywhere the same, only our faith is different. And if you honestly look at the income of the temple and its expenses on salaries, utilities, etc. - then they will differ significantly. And even if not, then the Lord will not leave. Here it is appropriate to recall the words of Patriarch Alexy II "Despite the church need, it is necessary to find such forms of accepting donations that will not give the impression that there is a store of spiritual goods here and everything is sold for money." (Diocesan Assembly 1997).

Let me give you one example. My acquaintance priest had prices in the temple, and the income of the temple was 1000 gr. a month, when he removed the prices, although in such a situation it seemed crazy, the income increased 4 times, you only need to trust God and not be ashamed. Moreover, soon the Lord sent a sponsor, and the temple was painted in 40 days.

Others try to justify the prices for services with the words of the ap. Paul: " Worthy presbyters who are in command should be given a special honor, especially those who labor in word and doctrine. For the Scripture says: do not block the mouth of the threshing ox; and: the worker is worthy of his reward"(). But, first, it says that the reward for elders is honor, not money. Secondly, in order to better understand this verse, let us turn to the ancient church monument of the beginning of the 2nd century - Didache: “ Let the apostle take nothing but bread, as much is needed to the place of lodging, but if he demands silver, he is a false prophet”(Didache 11: 6). And further: “ A false prophet is any prophet who teaches the truth, if he does not do what he teaches ... If someone in the Spirit says: give me silver or something else, you must not listen to him. "(Didache 11:10, 12). Yes, it's worth saying that the Didach says that you need to take care of the teachers and prophets, give them from the firstfruits of fields, flocks, clothes and silver, but this donation should be voluntary, and not established or compulsory. If teachers or prophets demand or assign an amount of donation, then they are false teachers and false prophets.

And some say this: “It is almost impossible to relate the episode with the expulsion of the merchants from the church to the modern church shops, because v gospel story we are talking about a completely different situation, because in modern temples currency exchange operations and sale of livestock are not carried out. " Note that in church canons and as interpreted by the holy fathers, any trade and any purchase and sale in the temple is prohibited.

There are those who assert the following: "Acquisition of candles behind a candle box is a form of donation for the needs of the temple." These words are lies and deceit, because the donation cannot be fixed, but must only be voluntary. And it turns out that if a person does not have enough money for a candle, then he will not be able to put it down.

Others say: "As for the Church Sacraments and Requisites, only the recommended amount of donation can be indicated on them, and for the indigent, the priest is obliged to perform the sacraments for free." But, firstly, how many cases there were, I was personally told that the priests refused to perform services for free. Secondly, because of shame, few people will be able to admit that they are poor, and therefore will infringe on themselves in everything just to pay the specified amount. And thirdly, the canons forbid to indicate even the approximate amount of the donation.

The tithing question

Now it is often said, especially by priests, about collecting tithes (one tenth of the total income) from parishioners. But on what basis? After all, this is a prescription of a ritual Old Testament was canceled in the New Testament at the Apostolic Council of 51 (), and also see (), (), (), because no one now observes all 613 ritual commandments of Moses, on the contrary, ap. Paul wrote more than once in his epistles that he did not burden anyone with anything: “ We were looking for you, not yours “, But now, on the contrary, the main thing is to pay for the baptism, funeral service, notes, etc., and what then with these people, why they no longer come to church after baptism is secondary. One can only guess who benefits from promoting the doctrine of tithing in the church.

In no canons, ancient manuscripts of the first Christians, the creations of the holy fathers, do we find the doctrine of tithe; on the contrary, it speaks many times about voluntary donation. Let me remind you of the words about donations to the church: “Every month, or whenever he wants, he contributes a certain moderate amount, as much as he can and how much he wants, because no one is forced, but donates voluntarily.” So, the first Christians did not have any tithes, and each donated as much as he wanted without compulsion.

In the 39th word of St. John Chrysostom there is an approval to give tithes to the poor, widows and orphans. And there is not a word about paying tithing on the church. Moreover, Christians have not even heard of the tithe for the temple. In this conversation, Chrysostom says: "And someone said to me with surprise:" So-and-so gives tithes! " Note that the interlocutor of the saint surprised when I learned that someone was paying tithing. If Christians paid tithes for the temple, he would not be surprised! So, tithes did not exist at the time of Chrysostom.

Another argument for the fact that Christians have never been forced to pay tithing. If the tithe was established by the apostles in the Church, then it would have been preserved at least in one of the local Churches, and since we do not find this, it means that it never existed.

There is an opinion that the proof of the existence of tithes in Russia was the tithe church in Kiev, they say, because it is called tithe, because it was kept on tithes from income. And that the example of paying tithes for the temple was shown by the holy Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, Equal to the Apostles. But the tithe church is not a proof, since the annals do not say about the reason for its name, and the tithe of Prince Vladimir is a hypothesis of historians. You can think of other hypotheses as well. But even if everything was exactly like that, then it was the voluntary will of the prince, which cannot be the rule for everyone. After all, if some saint was a monk, this does not mean that all Christians should be monks.

Some say, “Tithing, if done correctly, is a good practice. All requirements for those who pay it are free. This is ideal - and people learn to separate from themselves a small part for God, and there are no questions about the Church. " But there is a deceit in these words, because all requirements should be free of charge. The Church for two thousand years did not know tithes and did not force anyone to donate. And it is necessary to teach people to separate from themselves a part for God by preaching and by their own example.

How everything should be

What does the New Testament say about church donation: “ Give each according to the disposition of your heart, not with grief or compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.() ". This means that donations should be voluntary, not statutory. Christ did not forbid the apostles to have the donation box carried by Judas Iscariot. Elsewhere we read how Jesus sat near a Jewish temple and watched people throwing their money into the temple carnival. He did not condemn this donation, but on the contrary, praised the poor widow, who gave everything she had, all her food. In every church there is a donation box there and people should throw as much as they want and do it in secret, so that only God knows who put how much, so that the commandment is not broken: "Let your alms be in secret, and God, seeing in secret, will reward you openly." There is no need to give money into the hands of the priests, for then this commandment is violated, and alms are no longer secret. True, there are situations when the priest did not perform the requiem in the church, but people want to thank him here and now, then the priest can take alms into their hands. But this is more the exception than the rule. Ideally, the donation should be taken to the temple where the priest you wish to thank is serving.

Patriarch Alexy II also spoke about the fact that there should be no trade in sacraments in the temple, but only a voluntary donation: “In some Moscow churches, the“ tax ”for performing services has been canceled. The person sitting behind the box explains to those who come that there is a sacrifice for the temple, which everyone makes according to his ability, and this sacrifice is gladly accepted. This experience, based on pre-revolutionary practice, is quite worthy of imitation ”(Diocesan Assembly 2003).

We now turn to the subject of priesthood sustenance. The authority of the apostles is equal to that of the high priest, and the Lord said to Aaron: all the first fruits of their land, which they bring to the Lord, may it be yours (). Ap. Paul says : “If we sowed the spiritual in you, is it great if we reap the physical from you? If others have power over you, aren't we more? However, we did not use this power, but we endure everything, so as not to put any obstacle to the gospel of Christ. "(). In the other place: " We did not eat bread for free from anyone, but we did work. and by working night and day, so as not to burden any of you - not because we have no power, but to give ourselves to you as a model for us to follow» (). Do you not know that those who minister are fed from the sanctuary? That those who serve the altar take a portion of the altar? So the Lord also commanded those who preached the gospel to live from the gospel (). Guided by the word, share all good with the instructor (). Or ... do we not have the power not to work? What kind of warrior ever serves on his own? Who, having planted grapes, does not eat of the fruit? Who, while herding the flock, does not eat the milk of the flock? (6-7) ". In the Gospel, the Lord gave a command to his disciples: "Stay in that house, eat and drink what they have, for the laborer is worthy of the reward for his labors ... and if you come to what city and they will welcome you, eat what they offer you, for he who labors is worthy of food."(, ). « Wives served Christ with their possessions ”(). " I caused costs to other churches, receiving from them support for serving you ... my shortage was made up by the brothers who came from Macedonia ”(). From the above quotes, we see that priests are entitled to a certain share of church donations, but to which one? This already determines the higher hierarchy and the conscience of the priests themselves. But knowing our authority and right, we should not carelessly forget the words of the holy Apostle Paul, who warns us not to be tempted by others: “ Beware lest we be subjected to reproach from anyone in the presence of such an abundance of offerings entrusted to our ministry; for we strive for good not only before the Lord, but also before people». ()

Unfortunately, rich priests justify their luxury with their "right", and do not even want to think about how this interferes with the preaching work, and how many people, because of their greed, bypass the church and go to destruction. Here, a clear example, in the city of Boguslav, Kiev region, there are two churches, one of the Moscow Patriarchate, and the other - schismatic, "Kiev". And so, in the church of the Moscow Patriarchate, prices for services are set and trade is being conducted, and in the church of the "Kiev Patriarchate" there are no prices for services and candles. Many, as they told me themselves, only for this reason moved from canonical church of the Moscow Patriarchate to the "Kiev". And who will answer for these souls?

A priest should be an example, not a temptation

The Holy Apostle Peter writes: “ I implore your shepherds, co-shepherd and witness to the sufferings of Christ and partaker in the glory that must be revealed: feed the flock of God, which you have, overseeing it not by constraint, but willingly and God-pleasing, not for vile self-interest, but out of zeal, and not dominating over the inheritance of God, but setting an example for the flock ... "(). From these words it is clear that the main task of the shepherd is to be a leader and example for his flock. There is no need to seek any material benefit from your parishioners, but to care more about their salvation, look at people through the eyes of Christ, and make every effort to save those for whom you will have to answer at the Last Judgment. How the apostles did it: “ We do not put any stumbling on anyone, so that service is not condemned, but in everything we show ourselves as servants of God, in great patience, in adversity, in need, in close circumstances, under blows, in dungeons, in exile, in labors. , in vigils, in fasts, in purity, in prudence, in generosity, in goodness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapon of righteousness in the right and left hand, in honor and dishonor, with censure and praise: we are considered deceivers, but we are faithful; we are unknown, but we are recognized; we are considered dead, but behold, we are alive; we are punished, but we do not die; we are saddened, but we are always happy; we are poor, but we enrich many; we have nothing, but we have everything. " ().

Unfortunately, there are priests who are far from such an ideal and instead of an example they became a temptation for many, but one should not forget that “ woe to him through whom temptations come"(). Ap. Paul wrote: “ If I eat meat and this tempts my brother, then I will not eat meat forever, for the Lord will ask me for the soul of a weak brother”(), So eating meat is not a sin, but the apostle is ready to refuse it if it tempts at least one, and how many souls are tempted by the prices in the temple? How many people have left Orthodoxy, and how many do not even want to cross the threshold of the church because of the trade in the church, and aren’t we priests going to give an answer to God for these infirm souls by brethren?

In a letter to Titus, the same apostle Paul writes: "In everything, show yourself an example of good deeds ... so that the enemy would be put to shame, having nothing to say bad about us"(). And elsewhere: " Give no temptation to Jews, Greeks, or church of God… ”() And how many sectarians and atheists now accuse our church of love of money and luxury of the priesthood?

Patriarch Alexy II also spoke about this more than once: “With a feeling of special grief and sorrow, ordinary believers turn to Us about the price tags posted in a number of churches for the performance of the Holy Sacraments and Requirements, as well as about refusals to perform them for a minimal fee ( for the poor). I would like to remind you that even at a time when the Church was under the control of specially created state structures, the administration of the temples did not allow themselves to set prices for the performance of the Sacraments and Requirements. It is unnecessary to talk about the non-canonical nature of these acts and about how many people through this lost and is losing our Church.

The most common complaints are about extortions in churches. In addition to the payment for the church box, priests, deacons, singers, readers, bell ringers require additional payment. And it is not surprising that the people who are robbed in the temple, in the future, bypass any Orthodox church"(Diocesan Assembly 2002).

Christ said: “ Can't Serve God and Mammon”, That is why now there is such a low spiritual level of the priesthood, there is no that grace of the early Christian period. And the words of the ap. Paul: " The root of all evil is the love of money».

I will cite more the words of the Lord from the prophet Ezek. 34: 1-15 “And the word of the Lord came to me: Son of man! prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, the shepherds: thus says the Lord God: woe to the shepherds of Israel, who fed themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock? You ate the fat and clothed yourself in waves, you killed the fatted sheep, but you did not feed the flock. The weak were not strengthened, and the sick sheep were not healed, and the wounded was not bandaged, and the stolen was not returned, and the lost was not sought, but ruled with violence and cruelty. And they were scattered without a shepherd, and when they were scattered, they became food for every beast of the field. My sheep wander in all the mountains and on every high hill, and my sheep are scattered over all the face of the earth, and no one is looking for them, and no one is looking for them. Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. I live! says the Lord God; behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will seek my sheep out of their hand, and I will no longer give them to feed the sheep, and the shepherds will no longer feed themselves, and I will pluck my sheep out of their jaws, and they will not be their food. For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I myself will seek out my sheep and examine them. As a shepherd checks his flock on the day when he is among his scattered flock, so I will look over my sheep and release them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. I will feed my sheep, and I will rest them, says the Lord God. "

Isn't that what we see now, in our days? As some priests got rich on their sheep, they only shear the poor, but they do not want to feed and take care of them. Many came to them with their problems, troubles, mental trauma, but alas, the priests did not bother, they did not warm those who came to them with love and care, did not even devote time to them. With their sinful life, cruelty and imperiousness, many were seduced and expelled from the church. How many people went to sects or even lost their faith. If the sheep leaves the flock, they do not look for it, but say: "God Himself will lead whoever is needed." Yes, the Lord will, but woe to those shepherds who themselves did not look for the lost. When some kind of grief happens to them, they do everything to solve it and do not say: “God himself will decide everything,” as for the salvation of others - here they wash their hands.

The Good Shepherd leaves 99 not lost sheep and goes to look for one lost. A priest should not only give guidance to those in the church, but go to seek the lost, to go missionary. Unfortunately, this is almost not the case. The priesthood separated from the people and hid behind the high wall of the iconostasis. All they care about is the income of the temple. The abbots of the temples submit only the financial report to the deanery, as if this is the most important activity in the parishes. People are less interested in money than money. What does the Lord say: "You cannot serve God and mammon." And the words of Christ come true: "When I come, will I find faith on earth."

What else does the Bible say about the reckless priesthood: “ For the lips of the priest must keep knowledge, and they seek the law from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But you deviated from this way, for many you served as a temptation in the law, broke the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts. For this, I also will make you despicable and humiliated before all the people, because you do not follow My ways, you are a host in the works of the law. (Malachi 2: 7-9) " Indeed, the words of the prophet have come true, many of today's shepherds have become a temptation for people with their luxury, love of money and many other misdeeds, therefore they are in "contempt and humiliation before all the people."

In work " Modern practice Orthodox piety "is the saying" The ridicule and violence of the atheists cannot shake the faith. It will only be shaken by the unworthy deeds of the believers "(from myself I will add -" and their shepherds ").

Examples of parcels who refused prices

In Europe, there is no trade in churches, but in our country this reverent veneration of the house of God can be found much less often, but, thank God, there are such examples. Here is some of them.

In Ukraine, in the Khmelnytsky region, Archpriest Mikhail Varakhoba decided that not only candles, but also sacraments would be free for parishioners.

Here is what he himself says: “Not everyone supported me at the beginning. After my blessing to remove the prices, my mother and the cashier stood in front of me, folded their hands crosswise, and said: “What are you, father, invented this?”.

On the same day, the first christening. Two families from the same house decided to baptize their children at the same time. People are not poor. After the baptism, a representative of the family comes up to me and asks, they say, what's wrong with them. “If you want to donate something, it's up to you,” I tell them. "But we decided not to charge the sacraments."

They go to the cashier, she said the same thing, so they donated 20 hryvnia, they didn't even pay for the crosses.

I say to my mother: “It's nothing. The Lord is merciful, He will give everything that we need ”. We leave the church, a girl runs to meet her, her father (a local businessman) was taken to the intensive care unit, asks to pray.

We went with her back to the church, knelt down, pray. Meanwhile, mother and the cashier are waiting in the vestibule. Having changed my clothes, I go out of the altar to them, and they bowed their heads. I ask, what kind of grief happened to them during this time? And they answer in a puzzled way: "For a seriously ill father, the daughter donated ten thousand." Well, how many christenings did she "pay" for?

Over time, we realized that this is how it should be. We need to remove the price tags. God will never allow His House to be unsettled. Indeed, it happens that nine people donate nothing, and the tenth will come and cover everything with his sacrifice.

They say in vain that nothing can be done without money. Yes, it really won't work if you put them first. And if we are guided by the words "Not for us, not for us, Lord, but for Your name ...", then everything will work out. "

And now an example of Archpriest Mikhail Pitnitsky, rector of the church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in Severodonetsk.

Father Michael says: “After we removed the prices from the temple, the income of the temple has tripled. In our church there are candles, small books, icons - everything is free, take whatever you want, the donation is voluntary. Also notes, magpies, memorial services, etc. all requirements are also for a voluntary donation.

And the church maintains both the choir and the workers, and the painting was done, and the well was drilled, and slowly we buy everything for the church, I choose not expensive things, cheaper, without luxury. And so can others, only you need to choose either "the commandments of Christ Jesus or the bread of taste."

A week after removing the price tags, one person comes in and was very surprised at the lack of prices and asked what we need, what we dream about. I replied that I would like to paint the temple, but there are no funds. He replied: "Schedule, I will pay." And if we "traded", we would never allow ourselves such a luxury. With faith, everything is possible. "

Here's another examplepriestValeria Logacheva... Father Valery says: “More than once I had to give explanations for criticism about my attitude to the prices for demand. More than once I have had to listen to such accusations of hypocrisy, "lack of mercy" (this has become a curse in our Church, as I understand it?), Etc. Therefore, I had to conduct some research to confirm my position.

I have been serving since 1998. Until 2010, I was rector of the Intercession parish with. Kardailovo. During all the years of my reign, there were no prices for religious services in the parish; when performing services in the villages, I never asked for a certain amount, I always relied on the will of God. When I was asked how much to pay, I always answered - how much you think is necessary. Often in poor families, after performing the service, he simply tried to leave before they tried to give anything.

Once, at a meeting of the Tashlinsky Deanery, the Dean demanded that I introduce prices, but I refused even under the threat of reprimand, and at the request of the Deanery I drew up a letter in which I substantiated my understanding. I understand this: I must serve God conscientiously, and the Lord through the parishioners will reward me with what I need for life. "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all the rest will be added to you." They say that if you do not set prices in the city, they will take everything away. There is an example: the Transfiguration parish in the city of Orsk, Orenburg region. Starting from scratch to restore the destroyed temple, Fr. Oleg Toporov did not set prices on principle - and this was in a city that was considered a gangster in our region. And as a result - the temple was rebuilt in record time, the parishioners - full temple, and the relationship in the parish is not like in the service of everyday life - i.e. “Pay-I will serve”, namely the church ones - I serve God with all my heart, and the Lord rewards me as He sees fit. Now Fr. Oleg serves in the village of Zaporozhskaya, Krasnodar Territory. I was visiting him. There is the same picture: in a village with a population of one thousand and a little, in record time, a large and beautiful temple, which can accommodate almost half of the village. It was about. Oleg supported me in a difficult period, when the neighboring priests wrote complaints to the bishop and dean that I was “taking away their CLIENTS by not setting prices” (that's exactly what they wrote in the complaints!). There are no CLIENTS in the Church. They are only in the service of everyday life. "

Active Orthodox Christian Svyatoslav Milyutin, the head of several Orthodox sites, said: “When we held Orthodox exhibitions-fairs in Khanty-Mansiysk in 2008, a decree was issued by the ever-memorable Patriarch Alexy II that there were no price tags at Orthodox exhibitions-fairs, but there were inscriptions“ for voluntary donation ". And, for example, when I visited the Orthodox exhibition-fair in Perm in August 2008, the administrators there strictly demanded that all participants replace the price tags of services, candles, and books with “voluntary donation” signs on the basis of this decree. " So, if the replacement of price tags in churches with plates "for voluntary donation" is a good practice and blessed by the decree of the patriarch, then why not extend it more widely, to all churches?

The modern elder schema-abbot Joseph (Belitsky) (1960 - 2012), who throughout his priestly life did "proofreading" of the possessed, stood for the fact that there would be no price tags in the church, and everyone donated as much as he could. The elder was persecuted many times, went from one monastery to another, wore chains of 12 kg.

What we can do

What can we do? If you are a priest or bishop, then remove the prices from the church, just remove the price tags. And to all questions, how much it costs, have only one answer: "There are no prices, only a voluntary donation according to your capabilities and desire." If you are a layman, ask the rector of the church where you go to gather the parish assembly, that is, all the parishioners. Such a meeting, according to the charter of our church, should meet at least once a year, as often as possible. So, having asked the meeting of parishioners according to the charter, not to tell the abbot the reason, but already at the meeting, to voice the canons and teachings of the holy fathers about prices in the church to everyone. And let the decision be made by all parishioners. The abbot will be obliged to comply with the majority decision. If the abbot will resist and prove that the parish cannot exist without trade, then require the abbot to fulfill church charter according to the church budget, namely, full control over the finances of p the evision commission, and not the abbot (see the charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, chapter 16, p. 55-59). Make an experiment, drop price tags and introduce a voluntary donation. The boxes for donation (carnival) should be sealed and the keys to them should be kept by one of the members of p the evision commission not having the keys to the temple. Carnivals can be opened once a month, or you can open them more often in the presence of the rector and the entire parish council. Record the amount in a special notebook - "the income of the temple." Keep the money in a church safe or, in extreme cases, with the rector. But, what would be full control of the income and expenses of the temple p the evision commission... It is important that the abbot cannot conceal the true amount of income. Having lived like this for a month or more, it will be seen whether the parish can exist without trade.

If you do not succeed, then your very attempt will be reckoned by God and the sin of an accomplice and indifferent to you will not be.

Let me remind you of the words Blazh. , which we quoted above about trade in the temple: "The Lord considers both those who sell and those who buy to be equally criminal." So, do not think to justify yourself that this does not concern you or that it is not your sin, if you buy, then you become guilty of sinful trading. Therefore, if you are afraid to make every effort to clear the temple of trade, then at least do not participate in it. As a rule, prices are not set for "simple" notes, so submit them by making a voluntary donation to the carnival. If you want to buy something, then this can be done via the Internet or on the market, if you want to light a candle, then buy a pack of candles on the market and come to the temple with them, the packing will last for a long time. And, about candles, do not forget the words of Patriarch Alexy II: “Pleasing God is not at all in burning candles in a church. There is no concept in the Church of "candle for health" and "candle for peace", no matter how terrible it is to lose part of the income from the sale of candles. " (Diocesan Assembly 2001)

From the reports of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II at the Diocesan assemblies of the city of Moscow (excerpts)

Beloved brothers in the Lord, archpastors, honorable fathers, monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!

The life of the Church, like the life of every person, is a book sealed with seven seals. They write in this "book of life" or simply leave their autograph in it and the person himself - with his thoughts and deeds, and many other people with whom he meets on his life path, and the Lord God, and the holy Angels. These Scriptures are often mysterious and obscure, but due to His philanthropic Providence, the Lord never leaves a person in ignorance to the end. At a time pleasing to the Lord, when a person is ripe for understanding, God, through the events and phenomena taking place, “unseals”, reveals the secret and, as it were, says: Go, see and understand everything that has happened and everything that is happening (). And then it becomes obvious and clear that the right hand of God always rests on all events and manifestations of our life.

The Lord made us witnesses and participants in many events in the life of our Church, especially in recent decades. We try to remember good and constructive, creative events, glorify God for them and thank kind people by whose labors they were accomplished.

We also should not keep silent about the negative phenomena that sadden us, but speak about them frankly in order to get rid of, overcome the existing shortcomings and vices. It is more useful for us Christians to talk about our shortcomings than to trumpet in the squares about our perfections and virtues - God knows about them. Therefore, today, with anxiety and sadness, again, as in previous years, I will talk more about our problems.

The pernicious influence of secularism is also noticeable among the clergy, and modern pastors are not always strong in spirit to resist its onslaught. In part, this is the sad legacy of the God-fighting time that our Church experienced in the 20th century.

Modern pastors are the heirs of clergymen, whose formation took place in the period 1960-1970. The experience of church life at that time is very complex and ambiguous, and, unfortunately, borrowing external manners and traditions of ministry from the experienced clergy, young clergy do not always perceive the spiritual fervor and prayer that accompanied the ministry of that time.

An alarming sign of the secularization of Orthodox consciousness, the belittling of churchliness, and spiritual blinding is the ever-increasing commercialization of many aspects of parish life. Material interest is increasingly coming to the fore, overshadowing and killing all living and spiritual. Often, temples, like commercial firms, sell "church services."

Here are some negative examples. In some churches there is an unspoken tax for drinking after Communion, for the consecration of a car. This also applies to the consecration of shops, banks, cottages, apartments. The number of names in memorial notes is limited (from 5 to 10 names in one note). To commemorate all relatives, parishioners have to write two or three or more notes and pay for each separately. What is this, if not hidden extortion.

During not only the Great, but all other fasts, weekly general unction is held. This is most often dictated not by the spiritual needs of the parishioners, but by the thirst for additional income. In order to have more people, they gather not only the sick, which is provided for by the ordinance of the Sacrament of the Blessing of the Holy One, but everyone in a row, including small children.

Selfishness, avarice - terrible sin which inevitably leads to godlessness. The selfish person always turns his back to God, and his face to money. For someone infected with this passion, money becomes a real god, an idol, to which all thoughts, feelings and actions are subject.

In many churches there is a certain "price list", and you can order any demand only by paying the amount indicated in it. Thus, there is open trade in the church, only instead of the usual one sells "spiritual goods", that is, I am not afraid to say bluntly, the grace of God. At the same time, they refer to the texts of Holy Scripture that the laborer is worthy of food, that the priests eat from the altar, etc. Holy Scripture it speaks of the food that is made up of the voluntary donations of the believing people, and never and nowhere does it speak of "spiritual trade." On the contrary, our Lord Jesus Christ clearly says: Priyaste to Tuna, give to Tuna (). And the Apostle Paul worked and did not even take donations, so as not to put obstacles to the gospel preaching.

Nothing alienates people from the faith more than the greed of priests and ministers of temples. It is not in vain that the love of money is called a vile, murderous passion, Judas betrayal in relation to God, a hellish sin. The Savior drove the merchants out of the Jerusalem temple with a scourge, and we will have to do the same with the holiness merchants.

Reading the memoirs of our Russian émigré priests who found themselves abroad after the revolution, one is amazed at their faith and patience. Being in a beggarly state, they considered it morally unacceptable for themselves to take payment for the performance of divine services or services from people like them, poor people. They entered civilian work and thus earned their living. They considered it a great honor to perform the services.

Today, our clergy are by no means in a beggarly state, although, perhaps, rather modest. Orthodox people they will never leave him without reward - sometimes they will give the last.

Abuse, extortion of donations, unfortunately, took place in the life of the clergy even before the revolution. It was this that created the image of a greedy, money-loving priest despised by the working people, the people who at the same time touchingly loved their disinterested pastors and were ready to share with them all the sorrows and persecutions.

The current practice of "church trade" arose after 1961, when control over the material condition of the temple was completely transferred to the jurisdiction of the "executive body", whose composition was formed by the authorities. These times, fortunately, have passed, but the evil habit of "trading" in demands remained.

The clergy involved in social service know the poverty of a significant portion of our people today. And when a person is asked why he does not go to church, he often answers: “If you go to church, you have to light a candle, hand in notes, serve a prayer service, but you have to pay for all this. And I have no money - I barely have enough for bread. It’s my conscience that doesn’t allow me to go to church. ” This is the sad reality of our day. Thus, we lose for the Church many people who could be full members of it.

V last years with Our blessing, dozens of missionary trips were made to different dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church, including very remote ones. Almost everywhere they stated the existence of significant mistrust and even prejudice in relation to Orthodox clergy... Very often, in response to the call to be baptized, people initially did not respond. It turns out that they were convinced that the visiting clergy wanted to “earn extra money,” and they came to collect money. When the error was found out, and they were convinced that the missionaries were baptizing and serving free of charge, crowds of people appeared, wishing to be Baptized, confess, receive communion, receive partaking or get married. There are many cases when people are baptized in hundreds, right in the river, just like it was during the Baptism of Rus.

Interestingly, in response to the question: "Why don't you go to the priests who serve nearby?", The answer is often given: "We do not trust them!" And this is not surprising. If in the villages of Karelia, Orthodox priests demand from the common people 500 rubles for each person to be baptized, and there are many Protestant missionaries nearby, who always and everywhere not only baptize for free, but also give the people abundant gifts, then is it possible to be surprised that the people go to Protestants?

We are aware of numerous cases when local priests and even ruling bishops do not agree to accept missionaries to their areas because they will baptize for free and spoil, so to speak, the market, and undermine the economic well-being of the diocese. Is it possible in our time, when the Lord through the prayers of the new martyrs gave us freedom, to forget our missionary duty? When will we become missionaries, if not now, after many decades of persecution from militant atheism, which has given birth to entire generations of people who know nothing about God? When will we begin to preach the word of God, if not now, at the moment when our people are dying from immorality, alcoholism, drugs, fornication, corruption and greed?

In response to the unselfish, selfless feat of the priest-shepherd, the grateful people themselves will bring them everything they need and in quantities much larger than the mercenary "bargains" in his church, turned into a trading shop. The people will help the reverent priest, whom he recognizes loving father repairing a temple. The Lord will send him good donors and helpers and through him will convert to faith and save thousands of people.

More than once we had to speak at the Diocesan meetings of the clergy of the city of Moscow about the undesirability of collecting any payment for the execution of the requirements. First of all, this concerns the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism or Communion at home. This does not mean that the priest's work will remain unremunerated, but the reward should be a voluntary donation by the participants of the Sacrament, but not a strictly defined payment of bribes, according to the tariff established behind the candle box.

Therefore, we believe that it is unacceptable to charge any fee for the performance of the Sacraments, and especially for Holy Baptism, so as not to answer us to The last judgment for hindering the salvation of many people. At the same time, we can and must explain to people that churches are the property of all the people of God, and therefore Christians must make feasible sacrifices for their repair and maintenance. But these explanations should not be annoying extortion of money, but only a kind fatherly explanation and reminder.

Currently, the world has changed dramatically, new opportunities have opened up for the preaching of faith and prosperity. church life, but not all the clergy were ready for this. Under the new conditions, the “non-professionalism” of the pastors brought up in the Soviet era is clearly visible. This often exacerbates existing deficiencies arising from inadequate educational attainment.

Some priests show a lukewarmness, an indifferent attitude to their duties, unwillingness to follow the call of the Apostle Paul, inscribed on the priest's cross: Wake the image faithful, in word, life, faith, love and purity (). (Diocesan Assembly 2004).

Report to the Dean of the Priest Valery Logachev

Your Reverend! At the deanery meeting, I presented my point of view on the setting of prices in the parish. In accordance with your instructions, I am setting out it in writing. The first reason for not setting prices for the services in the parish is the Gospel of Matthew, ch. 10, 7-10.

Other grounds - not canceled yet (or am I wrong?) Charter of Spiritual Consistories Art. 184, “On the offices of parish presbyters”, paragraph 89, as well as the IV-th Ecumenical Council rule 23, the Highest approved rules on March 24, 1878, the Decree of the Holy Synod on December 11, 1886, Instruction to the deans, p. 28, which threaten the presbyters with a ban, extorting payment for services. In addition, this issue is well enough covered in the courses on pastoral theology of Met. and Protopresbyter George Shavelsky, "Words about the Priesthood" and John Chrysostom, as well as in most holy patriarch Alexy's brochures "On Shepherd and False Shepherd" and "Where Does the Church Get Money" by Deacon A. Kuraev.

The saint removed from the parish and defrocked the priests who set the prices for the services.

As far as I know, the setting of prices for consumer goods was demanded by the Soviet government during the years of persecution, knowing full well that such price setting is contrary to the spirit and letter of the Church, as the Body of Christ, and therefore contributes to the collapse of the Church. Soviet power and persecution today is not observed, which means that everything that was introduced in those years by the godless authorities to humiliate the Church, it is desirable to eradicate.

When I was ordained, my confessor explained to me the verse () as follows: I received the grace of the priesthood for free, therefore, I have no right to trade in it. In my understanding, this means that I have no right to demand beforehand (and even after) any payment when I perform actions related to the grace of the priesthood, i.e. on duty. All that I can receive is voluntary donations, the amount of which depends entirely on the will of the parishioners. This forces me to treat my official duties and the whole life of the priest with the greatest responsibility, tk. at the slightest discrepancy between my actions and my preaching, the parishioners will instantly feel a lie, and I simply will not be able to feed my family, which, by the way, happened to my predecessor at the parish. How can I talk about non-covetousness and love for my neighbor, demanding from him (the neighbor) the last ten for the baptism of a child, a funeral service or the blessing of a house? If a person comes to the church, he first of all looks at the price of the demand, and if the price does not correspond to his capabilities, he will leave, condemning the priest (and not the council of the parish or the dean who set the price). I was taught that if, through the negligence or greed of a priest in a parish, a Christian dies as a non-communion, mortal sin falls on the priest. Often, it is the price that is an obstacle for the family to call a clergyman to a sick person.

During the years of my service in the parish, the correctness of this position was fully confirmed: the parish was absolutely ruined, the attitude towards the priest was sharply negative, there were no funds. Years have passed - you saw the result yourself. People go to the temple, the library has started working, young people and children are at the services, we are restoring the temple practically without any outside funds, and we are also developing the beginning parishes in four neighboring villages, we hold wonderful holidays in our own villages and in the villages. People do not regard the priest as a mercenary from the service of everyday life, but really as a servant of God and a father, knowing that the priest at any time of the day or night will go to fulfill any requirement and will not ask for anything for it, but in poor family he will also give what he can. Seeing such an attitude, people are ready to give up the last. And in the end - I do not take a salary from the parish, but the parishioners provide my family with everything they need - from food to clothing - absolutely voluntarily and without the slightest reminder, and of course, without price lists. My family and I treat any donor not as a debtor, but as a benefactor, considering ourselves unworthy of such sacrifices. When it was necessary to collect potatoes to pay for the frames for the church, the whole village responded, we collected almost 4 tons of potatoes in a week and settled with the craftsmen. If money is needed for a church, some give not only their pension, but also their savings. And further. The shepherd is the father of the parish. Can a father demand money from his children for raising them, and can children leave their father a sire and a barefoot and without a roof over their heads? Probably they can, but this happens with bad parents who do not think about children and do not love them. Well, if the father is bad - a drunkard, a curmudgeon, a wicked, then the children will be no better (what a priest ...). But in this case, the father will answer not only for his sins, but also for the children he has seduced.

Forgive me, Father Dean, I would like to say a lot on this topic, as I have thought about it a lot. But, as I was convinced, the priests brothers take some statements to heart and take offense, although I personally did not invent or reinterpret anything of the above, all this is in Scripture, St. Fathers, the canons of the Church in textbooks of psychology and pastoral theology. Unfortunately, our Church is becoming more and more secularized, and the former paternal-brotherly relations are increasingly passing into the category of commodity-money. Instead of the church “I serve - the Lord will reward” - the principle “pay - I will serve”, i.e. household services, or funeral services.

Based on the above, I think you understand that in my actions there is no thought of infringing on the interests of neighboring parishes. I do not accept the principle of competition (mercenary), but I try to act only for the good of the Kingdom of Heaven, to which I am called. So, for example, if a person comes and does not have the opportunity to donate something, and it is very embarrassing for him, I always say: when there is money, put as much as you like in a mug in any church, and you and I will count ...

If, for example, my parishioners, for my negligence or for other reasons, go to another parish for redemption, on the one hand, I will be glad for the parishioners that they are even a step closer to the Kingdom, I am glad for a fellow priest that he has found an approach to people different from mine, and on the other hand, I will start looking for mistakes in my ministry and think about how to improve it.

I think it follows from this that people who come to me from other parishes are not attracted by the lack of price as such, since according to our observations, they put money in the mug for the services, often many times higher than the prices for the corresponding services in neighboring parishes, and they also pay for transport. Rather, they are attracted by a slightly warmer attitude. For example, during baptism, we almost always have a choir (2-4 people), I will definitely conduct small public talks, in the course of the sacrament, I explain almost all my actions, their meaning, at the end I necessarily admonish the converts and godparents, often, if available, we give literature, we write the day of the angel in the baptism certificates, explain how to celebrate it, etc. If elderly, infirm people come, for example, for a funeral service or confession, we will definitely take them to the bus stop by car, put them on a bus, but if there is no transport, we will take them to the regional center or another village, without requiring any payment. After lengthy holiday services, I drive elderly parishioners living far away from home in my car. We have already seen more than once that the Lord in such cases rewards a hundredfold.

I'm not just sure, but I know that practically none of this is being done at the parish, whose rector complains about my allegedly unauthorized actions. Unfortunately, visitors often motivate their visit to us by rudeness and some other peculiarities of the abbot's character, with which you seem to have already had the opportunity to get acquainted.

In addition, the division of villages you have carried out on a territorial basis leads to negative consequences, first of all, for parishioners. For example, before the parishioners of “mine” sat down, if I could not come to the funeral service, they sang in absentia and ordered magpies and commemorations in the regional center, because it is much more convenient for them to get to the regional center than to our village - collective farm buses run regularly to the regional center. I had (and do not have) anything against this situation. But now, according to your decision, Father A. will be obliged to send them to me, which will lead to unnecessary expenses of money for already poor people and an increase in their dissatisfaction with church orders and, again, Fr. A.

I presented my opinion on the issues raised at the meeting. I hope that my point of view will find understanding with you. If in these matters I sin in some way against Holy Scripture, Tradition, the canons of the Church, please correct me. Maybe I'm just not in the know, and the Patriarch issued other circulars or documents requiring the establishment of prices for the parishes. In this case, please let me know where I can find and read them, so that I can correct my point of view and not deviate from the fullness of the Church.

Peace to you, Tatyana Vasilievna!

No, goods that cause significant harm to human health or contribute to the spread of sinful habits, a Christian cannot be traded.

Here is what the Lord Jesus said about this:

"He also said [Jesus] to his disciples: it is impossible not to come to temptations, but woe to him through whom they come; it would have been better for him if they had hung a millstone around his neck and thrown him into the sea, rather than to seduce one of these little ones. " (From)

Of course, the word "trade" is a loose concept. If we are talking about a cashier in a supermarket, who sometimes has to sell cigarettes at the checkout, then this is a controversial issue and requires an individual approach.
However, if we are talking about a Christian salesman in a liquor department or working in a tobacco factory or winery, then everything is pretty clear here. There is no place for the children of God.

Although many of our readers really do not like our criticism of pork and God's prohibition on its use, I would nevertheless note that modern medicine classifies pork meat and its products as hazardous to health.
Therefore, a Christian should not be directly involved in the trade or production of this product either.

As for curses, we cannot decide for the Almighty what to do with a person who multiplies sickness and sorrow in this world, crippling the health of other people and their psyche. However, there is one principle in the Bible that directly addresses this issue. This principle is popularly known as "what you sow, you reap", and in the Bible it can be found in various forms. For example:

"Therefore, in all that you want people to do to you, so do you to them, for in this is the law and the prophets." (From)

"... with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you also." (From)

"Do not oppress either the widow or the orphan; if you oppress them, then when they cry out to Me, I will hear their cry, and My anger will kindle, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children as orphans." ()

Therefore, anyone who realizes the perniciousness of the spread of sin, temptations, evil and suffering, but takes part in this, can suddenly become a victim of the consequences of his activity.

Sincerely,
Alexander

Read more on the topic "Morality of choice, ethics":

I have a question. Is it possible to trade in jewelry from the point of view of Biblical principles? I'd like to get a reasoned answer.

Some Christians read the Bible and do not find in it any prohibition on the use of jewelry. Accordingly, for them the issue of jewelry trade will not be raised. On the contrary, other Christians, reading the Bible, see in it that all adornments are nothing more than idolatry, and therefore a Christian cannot under any circumstances, because every Christian wearing adornments becomes an idolater, and therefore he will not be saved. For Christians with this understanding, jewelry trade would be the same sin. But there is a third group of Christians who believe that everything is permissible if it is in moderation. For such Christians, jewelry trade will not be considered a sin either. There is another group of Christians who also consider all jewelry to be a sin, but they console themselves with the fact that they themselves do not wear them, and that they are sold to people only because they want it. These Christians are asking this question about the jewelry trade.

And now it remains only for everyone who asks this question to determine which group of Christians he belongs to personally.

Continuing the theme ... formally in the SDA Church there is a ban on the production and sale of alcohol, tobacco, drugs and pork. But people have many questions about the same production and trade. Does production and trade only apply to the business owner, or does it apply to all workers? This is a very serious question for many. Here are some examples:

I grew up in the countryside in Moldova. in Soviet times, the tobacco industry and winemaking were very developed there. Entire villages were almost entirely involved in this. At that time, for every resident of the village, with the exception of machine operators or workers of various kinds of offices, “norms” were distributed - compulsory work in the fields. And often it was tobacco fields and wine varieties of vineyards. It was possible to avoid working on tobacco only by changing the place of residence or, if you were lucky enough to “break out into the people,” - to find an office or other professional job.

What about the grocery store seller? There are large stores where meat, alcohol and tobacco are sold in specialized departments. What if it's a small store with one or two sellers and all the products are on a common shelf? It turns out that it is a sin to be the seller of a grocery store just because another buyer will have to serve vodka, cigarettes or cut a piece of pork sausage? This is a serious question for some people trying to find a job.

But I will go even further: what about the production and trade of other goods? Now I am not even trying to separate the business owner from the hired worker, because we do not have the "letter of the law" in this regard. I will list some of the foods on the dubious list:

weapon; chemical drugs, especially potent and including narcotic substances; entertainment industry - cinema, theater, circus, choreography; coffee Tea; ice cream, sweets - products that are completely opposite to the principles of health reform (but which are almost never talked about in the Moscow School of Music))); hard cheeses; goods for professional sports, especially for violent sports - boxing and martial arts; goods for sex and sex shops ...

The list could be continued. However, it is clear that there are many areas in which the conscience of a Christian, if it does not explicitly protest, then at least will not be calm. But there is absolutely no direct answer to these questions! It is a matter of personal relationship with God. Sometimes I am surprised to learn that among my co-religionists there are career military personnel or personnel of special services, there are professional athletes, including in those sports that are condemned in the Spirit of Prophecy, and medical workers use completely occult healing techniques. I was shocked at one time that a whole team of Adventist clowns were conducting evangelism in the form of circus performances. And choreography has already become a normal phenomenon in some institutions of my church.

Can an Adventist be the president of a country? Not that it can - there are several Adventist presidents and heads of government in a number of countries. Not to mention the fact that Ben Carson quite confidently went to the presidency of the country “the beast from Revelation 13 chapter”. For many, it is completely unclear how one can combine faith with a number of actions that the ruler simply needs to perform. Can an Adventist doctor perform abortion? And it is. Can a Christian be a ballet dancer? A movie actor and participate in intimate scenes?

For completeness, I will give two episodes from real life... One from Christians of other denominations, and the other from the experience of Adventists. One day I was invited to join a group of evangelical boxers. When I asked about the methods of evangelism, I was told that since boxers always have problems with their heads, there is only one way to reach them: they call them into the ring, knock them out, and only after that the “patient” is ready to listen to the sermon. It sounded crazy to me, but they told me this in all seriousness. And I realized: they are boxers ... But another real case shocking: after the evangelical campaign, the community secretary is questioning the baptized. A young woman is coming up. When asked about work, he simply answers - a prostitute (currency prostitute). To the bewildered look of the community secretary, he calmly replies that everything is fine - she has a half price discount for church members, and she serves the pastor for free ... I just don't know one thing - she already served the pastor or was just planning.

I have not tried to compile an absolutely complete list of professions that are forbidden or even questionable for a true Christian. But I want to draw only one conclusion: in most cases, you will not find a clear prescription of what is allowed and what is not. And the recommendations of different ministers of the church may even be exactly the opposite. That's why:

- only your personal relationship with the Lord can be the most reliable criterion;
- but remember that you have responsibility for your neighbors. so as not to tempt them.

In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, there was interesting case when a large church store that actually sells the same product as in church shops, the local churchmen cursed, because this store poses a colossal danger to the vendors of candles and icons.

The point, apparently, is that some enterprising citizens decided to organize a business selling religious goods, and, of course, they sell all this for a lower price than in the church, and also pay taxes. Many people buy there, so as not to overpay the church. This is a profitable business, given the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church earns more than 4 billion rubles a year just by selling candles, icons, and so on.

It is clear that the church strongly opposes such a business, because they want to be monopolists. But how to discourage people from buying, and how to prohibit such activities? Officials, of course, are for the ROC, but only on what basis can the sale of candles or icons be prohibited?

Since the repressive laws did not work this time, personally the Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate Panteleimon of Krasnoyarsk and Achinsk simply "cursed" the store. It happens that priests bless cars, but it turns out that they can curse! I wonder if officials and businessmen will order the rituals of the curse? For example, competitors. Profitable business.

It is noteworthy that the store is located in the city center, i.e. It is easier and more profitable for potential buyers to shop there, and not to go to church, where they will receive a more expensive and lower quality product. Moreover, they speculate in the church, i.e. declare that nothing is supposedly for sale there, but then everything is fair, and consumer rights are protected.

Moreover, the store has literally everything, even what is not in church shops. There you can buy not only icons, candles, prosphora, etc., but also the vestments of the priest and any tsatski, which are so fond of the priests church hierarchy... Those. competitors are serious and dangerous. And, most importantly, the clergy do not get anything from this trade, although, apparently, they would like to.

Pop Panteleimon, who cursed the store, stated:

“There is no Orthodox church goods store in Krasnoyarsk. There are enterprising people who brazenly exploit people's faith, arrange commerce and make money. There are no such shops, beware of them. The danger lies in the salvation of the soul. You can bring a demon into the house with this product "

That's how it is! The people who sell the goods pay taxes are scoundrels, and the scammers who defend the outlets all over the country, sell all kinds of cheap things at exorbitant prices, and also declare that they are not really engaged in trade, and all goods are handed out for free - these are honest and spiritual faces.

But the worst thing, of course, is that you can "bring a demon into the house." You buy any product in the store, but there is no demon, but if you dare to buy something from the competitors of the Russian Orthodox Church, then there is a demon. The logic, as always, is at the highest level.

In a store that sells church junk, they explained:

“In the store, anything prohibited under the laws of the Russian Federation is not implemented. Yes, we have vestments for clergymen, but only a clergyman has the right to purchase them. If there are any complaints from the church, we are ready to eliminate them, we are ready for dialogue "

But the demands from the church are always simple: the store must stop working.

One of the priests, being an expert in supernatural matters, stated:

“The danger is that a person can acquire church utensils, which are only for worship. In addition to church trends, there are sectarian ramifications, a certificate with a cross does not mean that a person is a cleric of the metropolis. "

Terrible danger. Although, in fact, church vestments can be bought on the Internet or made to order. There is no problem here. I wonder what will happen if a “sectarian” will wear a robe and tsatski, and what does he need it for?

Archpriest Igor Pchelintsev, Press Secretary of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, answers readers' questions

My believing friends think that trading is a sin. Those. - you have to earn money by your own labor, and trade uses the fruits of other people's labor. Is trade as a kind of activity (I'm not talking about cheating the buyer, etc.) not Christian? What are generally considered "fruits of labor"?

Svetlana

Trading itself is not a sin. This is the same tool as much else in human activity... A manufacturer of a product needs a merchant, and sometimes a certain talent is required to realize a good product - material or informational (like, for example, the Foma magazine). And, like any tool, you can spiritually evaluate trade by how you use it in a human community. Sinful or virtuous trade will depend on the attitude of the merchant towards it. We will not even consider cheating in trading - both qualitative and quantitative.

I would look at trade relations from the other side - trade brings a certain income, but a trader should not be a predator and must certainly help those in need from his profit. Then his trading activities will be sanctified and have the blessing of God through charity and mercy. Also, from their labors, merchants (the Russian people called them merchants) should do good to the temples of the Lord, as was the custom among the pious merchants.

What is considered “the fruits of labor”? Not every fruit of human labor can be touched with your hands. Intellectual labor is often intangible and immeasurable - in tons, running meters, etc. How can the work of a priest be measured? It seems to me that it would be possible to highlight this topic in more detail on the pages of Foma, especially since it is conceptually suitable for the magazine, in my opinion. And second - probably, not always the fruits of labor (even material) can be felt by the working people themselves. But they can be assessed by the measure of public good and peace, resulting from the labor of people who are in different obediences in life, but working for the sake of God.

I have been married to a loved one for 14 years. My husband is a very good person, sympathetic to others and always ready to help. People feel this and take advantage of the fact that he never refuses this help, even to the detriment of his health. Sometimes it seems to me that he will fall somewhere halfway exhausted or fall asleep while driving a car. At the same time, he himself does not like to ask anyone for anything. Should a person be able to say "NO"? Or maybe I need to get rid of selfishness?

Save you Lord!

Olga

A person, of course, should be able to say “no” to sin, there is nothing to discuss here. But even in ordinary everyday circumstances it is very important to be able to say “no” - personally I do not know how. A prep. Seraphim Sarovsky said this: “But I am not tempted either by the fact that some people use me, nor by the fact that it tempts others.”

How does the church relate to such a phenomenon as body modification (tattoos, piercings, branding, scarring, etc.)? In fact, the body is something that belongs entirely to a person. Can he do with him according to his own understanding? After all, makeup and hair coloring is also a kind of modification ...

Darya

The body, spirit, and soul of a person belong to God. We are all God's children. And you are right - both make-up and hair coloring are modifications, albeit perhaps more peaceful and safe than piercings, tattoos and other things that you are talking about. It is not in vain that the Apostle Peter calls the main adornment of man “the imperishable beauty of a meek and silent spirit, which is precious before God” (1 Peter 3: 4). And people try their best to adorn themselves externally (in order to attract immodest ‘attention, to stand out, to show themselves outwardly - by the property of a proud and arrogant spirit), forgetting or not even thinking about inner beauty. One old priest very aptly said about experiments on his body, when a certain girl approached him to ask for blessings to “make holes in the ears”, he said “my child, all the holes that you need have already been made by the Lord, go in peace” ...

Hello. I would like to clarify all the same - why godparents cannot become spouses. Viewing opinions on the Internet showed that in most cases they talk about a ban, although there is an opinion that this ban is, in fact, not conditioned by anything. In particular, such an opinion is expressed by Orthodox priests... If both (possible) spouses are believers, they have the opportunity to regularly meet with the godson and can help him spiritual development why can't they be godparents? Moreover, there are no prohibitions on this issue in the Gospel and the Epistles of the Apostles. And it turns out that this is an oral tradition that is not supported by any documents ... Thanks in advance.

Alexey

The fact is that according to the canons, one recipient is required, of the same sex as the baptized one. Therefore, in the handbook for church and clergymen there is an explanation that it is not forbidden to marry those present at baptism. I cannot say with certainty when the tradition of inviting two recipients for the baptized person arose and whether this tradition is actually Russian, but we can say that, according to the canons, one of the recipients will be considered godfather, which, of course, does not prevent everyone else from participating in the spiritual education of a new member of the Church of Christ.

Ill .: Malevich Kazimir “Flower seller. Option "1904 Oil on canvas 72x94 Collection of the Chudnovsky family