2. The entire New Testament Holy Scripture is imbued with the idea of the world as a state of grace. When the Savior was born, the angels sang: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!" (Luke 2:14). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ promises beatitudes to those who fulfill the Gospel commandments. The greatest reward awaits the peacemakers: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). Sending the Apostles to preach, the Lord commanded them: "When you enter into a house, greet it, saying, Peace be unto this house" (Matt. 10:12). The world, built on the principles of love, constitutes the true nature of Christianity, its spiritual nerve. Where this is not the case, Christianity remains external, without fruit. Christ's disciples also call for peace: "Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and strive for it" (1 Peter 3:11); "Be at peace with all men" (Romans 12:18); "As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good tidings of peace, those who preach good tidings!" (Romans 10:15).

How should we understand the words of Jesus Christ quoted in the letter? We find the answer in the Gospel of John: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth I give unto you" (John 14:27). There can be no true peace in the family or in any other community if people have not been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ: "God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself, not imputing to men their transgressions, and gave us the word of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:19). The peace that the world gives (there were two words in the Slavonic language) does not lead to salvation, because it does not eliminate sin, it reconciles with it. The coming of the Savior into the world and the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven made the boundary between good and evil very clear. In this sense, the Lord speaks of the division that He brought. The history of Christianity from ancient times gives us many such examples.

The verse in the question talks about the sword. This is a spiritual sword: "For the word of God is alive and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword: it pierces to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12).

Is it a sin to seek a "better life"?

Priest Afanasy Gumerov, a monk of Sretensky Monastery The voice of conscience correctly tells you that you must be content with what you have. The desire to improve one's living conditions is not sinful when a person is in need. Chronic insecurity distracts energy and time, affects mood. But if basic needs are satisfied, then it is better not to look for more. One must cherish inner freedom and not harness oneself to the wagon of worldly cares. "It is a great gain to be godly and contented. For we have brought nothing into the world; it is evident that we cannot take anything out [of it]. Having food and clothing, we will be content with this" (1 Tim. 6:6-8).

Is it possible to live in intimacy immediately after the Sacrament of Marriage or do I have to wait 8 days before reading the prayer for the release of crowns?

Priest Athanasius Gumerov, a monk of Sretensky Monastery  

In ancient times, after the sacrament, the young couple left the church in crowns, which were not metal, but were woven, as a rule, from myrtle or olive leaves. They sat in them during the wedding feast. Then two ritual actions were performed: the removal of the crowns and the blessing of the chambers of the young spouses. The removal of the crowns was accompanied by a special prayer. There is such a prayer in modern Trebniks. The priest asks the Lord: "Bless their entrances and exits: multiply their lives in goodness: receive their crowns in Thy Kingdom, undefiled, and blameless, and without slander, unto the ages of ages." The crowns taken from the spouses were hung in the marriage chambers and remained there for several days (the period of 8 days was not universal). Then they were filmed. This action was accompanied by the "Prayer for the Release of the Crown". It ends with thanksgiving to God: "May they give thanks to Thy all-holy name, the Father, and the Sons, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen." Statements that spouses should spend 8 days in abstinence have no grounds. The marriage bed of the young spouses was blessed on the day of the sacrament.

Is it a sin to "play" on the stock exchange, to make money with the help of speculative transactions in the foreign exchange and other markets?

Priest Athanasius Gumerov, a monk of the Sretensky Monastery, the Holy Scriptures forbid these activities: "Lord! who can dwell in Thy tabernacle? who can dwell on Thy holy mountain? He that walketh blamelessly, and doeth righteousness... > who does not give his money on interest, and does not accept gifts against the innocent. He that doeth such things shall never be shaken" (Psalm 14:1-2,5).

Is there a ban on meditation and magic in the Bible?

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov)  

The Holy Scriptures are any forms of divination, witchcraft, magic, etc. He calls it an abomination and strictly forbids: "Do not turn to those who summon the dead, and do not go to sorcerers, and do not bring yourselves to defilement from them. I am the Lord your God" (Lev 19:31). In Deuteronomy this prohibition is repeated: "When you enter into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, then you shall not learn to do the abominations that these nations have done: there shall not be among you anyone who puts his son or his daughter through the fire, a soothsayer, a diviner, a soothsayer, a sorcerer, a charmer, a conjurer of spirits, a sorcerer, and a questioner of the dead; For everyone who does these things is an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. thou shalt be blameless before the Lord thy God" (Deut. 18:9-13). Whoever practiced sorcery according to the Law was subject to the death penalty (Lev. 20:6, 27). The Bible praises Josiah (2 Kings 23:24) that they cleansed the earth of all diviners. The New Testament Church adopted from the Holy Scriptures the prohibition of all forms of sorcery as a satanic occupation, and adopted at the Sixth Ecumenical and other Councils special rules: "Those who give themselves over to sorcerers, or so-called hundreds, or the like, in order to learn from them what they wish to reveal to them, in accordance with the previous patristic decrees concerning them, let them be subject to the rule of a six-year penance. The same penance should be subjected to those who lead bears, or other animals, to the ridicule and harm of the simplest, and, combining deception with madness, pronounce fortune-telling about happiness, fate, genealogy, and many other similar interpretations; as well as the so-called cloud-chasers, charmers, makers of protective talismans, and sorcerers. As for those who become fossilized in this, and do not turn and do not flee from such pernicious and pagan inventions, we determine to be completely expelled from the Church, as the sacred canons command. For what fellowship is there between light and darkness, as the Apostle says: or what is the foundation of the Church of God from an idol; or some part of the faithful with the unbeliever; what is Christ's agreement with Belial (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)?" (Canon 61 of the Sixth Ecumenical Council).

And in our time, the devil tempts people with this pernicious occupation. Such people become prisoners of demonic forces. Gradually, their spiritual nature fades away. They become impervious to divine truth. These people have neither the will nor the ability to free themselves from the power of the devil. Often such people begin to have mental disorders. A state arises, which in spiritual literature is called possession. Deliverance from demonic fetters requires a person to resolutely renounce Satan and sincerely repent. Pastors must show them sensitivity and attention in order to help them return to a saving life in the Church. Experience shows that treatment is not easy, but with goodwill and determination, with God's help, it is possible to become a spiritually complete person.