Orthodoxy and modernity. Digital Library
Archpriest Vasily Izyumsky
WHY WE NEED A CHURCH
© Ladder - 1997
Content
Preface
The hammer of atheism
The Second Baptism of Rus
There is no salvation outside the Church
How to behave in the Temple
Why do we need prayer?
Where to pray
Everyone should know this
"If I don't read the morning prayers, I won't eat! If I don't read the evening prayers, I won't go to bed!"
True Spirituality
What is fasting?
The Seven Sacraments of the Orthodox Church
False teachers and crooks
We are saved only through Christ and His Church
The miracle of holy water
A rule prescribed for a woman
Abortion is a grave sin of infanticide
Holy Icons in Your Home
How to bury, commemorate and pray for the deceased
Living in Christ
Application
On Holy Baptism and the Duties of Foster Parents
A Brief Prayer Rule for the Laity
Preface
Archpriest
Vasily Izyumsky Today there is a lot of talk and discussion about spirituality, about spiritual life, often having in mind something else: morality, decency. Yes, of course, a spiritual person cannot be immoral or dishonest. Why? Because he lives according to Christ's Commandments. It is from them that our ideas about morality, morality, decency flow. They are the basis of our life. And often, especially from young people striving for a spiritual life, we hear that "you can believe in God at home," that "faith is an innermost part of life." And here I would like to note right away that Faith is not a part of life, but Life itself. And the church is not just a place where services are performed, the church is the Temple of God. During the Liturgy, the Sacraments, parishioners are communed with the faith. And a priest is the person who unites with God. Archpriest Vasily Izyumsky speaks about all these difficult questions of interest to many in his work. He served in the church for more than fifty years and has a wealth of experience in spiritual life. The Church of the Nativity of Christ in the village of Besedy, where the priest serves, is always full of people. People come here from different parts of Moscow, because Father Vasily is able to understand the person who turns to him with his painful questions, and to help him. "Faith has always helped me to withstand the most difficult circumstances," he says. And these are not just words. Father Vasily suffered the bitter fate of the son of an "enemy of the people". He himself was subjected to repression and persecution. His faith is hard-won.
We have published books by contemporary spiritual fathers more than once. The Church is not a "pre-revolutionary heritage", as they tried to instill in us, and even try to instill in us. It has always lived and is still living its innermost life. And people who have experience of genuine spiritual life have been and are. Listen to their words.
Alexander Zhukov
The hammer of atheism