«...Иисус Наставник, помилуй нас!»
What is repentance?
Repentance is a cure, a destroyer of sin; it is a heavenly gift and a miraculous power, which, by the mercy of God, is the power of retribution for
226 ARCHPRIEST VALENTIN MORDASOV, WHAT DO YOU ADVISE, FATHER? 227
The transgression of the law prevails. Here's why
it does not reject the fornicator, it does not drive away the adulterer, it does not abhor the drunkard, it does not abhor
the idolater, despises neither the reproacher nor the
a blasphemer, nor a proud one, but betrays everyone, for repentance is a furnace that completely cleanses sin.
Our present life is a time of repentance.
A great danger awaits us, burdened with sins, if we do not prevent repentance
eternal punishment, let us not precede His face in confession, and let us not extinguish the fire of sin with tears of repentance and tenderness. Great is the fire of sin, but
is extinguished with tears.
What should compel a Christian to fulfill his civic duties?
In a well-ordered society, different estates exist so that the members of society bear each other's burdens, i.e., help each other
each other in achieving external and internal well-being, so that the higher ones would take care of the
peace and security of the lower, and they, in turn, served the higher, to the best of their ability and
their occupation. Therefore, obviously, it is not self-love, not self-interest that should guide
Christian in the fulfillment of civic duties, but the desire for the good of one's neighbor, sincere love for him. The Holy Apostle Paul taught
Christians to obey the civil authorities and
laws (see Romans 13:1-8) and, in accordance with the importance of the leaders of civil society, to render to each of them their due: For there is a lesson, a lesson: (a) there is tribute, tribute: (a) there is fear, fear:
(i) Honor, honor; All these and others like them
The Apostle unites civic duties