Big tribute. When prostrations are made during worship in the temple

Man is a being of a dual nature: spiritual and bodily. Therefore, the Holy Church gives a person saving means, both for his soul and for his body.

The soul and body are bound together until death. Therefore, the grace-filled means of the Church are aimed at healing-correcting both the soul and the body. An example of this is the Sacraments. Many of them have a material substance that is sanctified by the Holy Spirit in the order of the Sacrament and has a beneficial effect on a person. In the Sacrament of Baptism, it is water. In the Sacrament of Chrismation - myrrh. In the Sacrament of Communion - the Body and Blood of Christ under the guise of water, wine and bread. And even in the Sacrament of Confession, we must materially (verbally) pronounce our sins before the priest.

Let us also recall the dogma of the Universal Resurrection. After all, each of us will resurrect bodily and appear in union with the soul at the Judgment of God.

Therefore, the Church has always shown special concern for human body considering it the temple of the Living God. And a person who does not pay attention to all the means that are supposed in Orthodoxy for healing-correction not only of the soul, but also of the body, is deeply mistaken. After all, it is in the body that the germs of passions often nest, and if you close your eyes to them and do not fight them, over time they will grow from snakes into dragons and begin to eat the soul.

Here it is useful to recall the verses of the psalms ...

31:9:
“Do not be like a horse, like a foolish hinny, whose jaws need to be curbed with a bridle and a bit, so that they submit to you.”
Indeed, often our body is just like a horse and a silly hinny, which needs to be curbed with a bridle of prayer, the Sacraments, bows, fasting, so that it does not fly into the abyss in its earthly passionate run.

“My knees were exhausted from fasting, and my body was deprived of fat.”

We see that the holy prophet and king David made prostrations to the ground to the point of exhaustion in order to be cleansed of sins and fast with fasting that is pleasant and pleasing to God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ also prayed on his knees: “And he himself departed from them as a stone was thrown, and knelt down and prayed…” (Luke 22:41).

And if God did it, then should we refuse to prostrate?

Moreover, quite often Holy Scripture the prophets and the Savior called people proud and turning away from God stiff-necked (translated from Church Slavonic- with stiff necks, unable to bow to God).

Quite often you notice this in the temple. A believing church person comes: he bought a candle, crossed himself, bowed before the holy icons, reverently took a blessing from the priest. A person of little faith enters the temple: he is ashamed not only to cross himself, but even to slightly bend his head towards the icon or the crucifix. Because I'm not used to bowing my "I" to anyone, even God. This is where cruelty lies.

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, let us hasten to make prostrations. They are a manifestation of our humility and contrition of heart before the Lord God. They are a sacrifice pleasing and pleasing to God.

The prodigal son, covered in ulcers, rags and scabs, returns home to his father and falls on his knees before him with the words: “Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” That's what an earthly bow is. Destruction of personal tower of babel, awareness of one's own sin and the fact that one cannot rise without the Lord. And, of course, our Heavenly Father will hasten to meet us in order to restore us and accept us into His love. Only for this you need to cast aside your "ego", self-conceit and vanity and understand that without God it is impossible to even take a step correctly. As long as you are filled with yourself and not with the Lord, you will be unhappy. But as soon as you realize that you are on the edge of an abyss filled with sins and passions, and that you yourself do not have enough strength to rise, that another minute - and death, then your feet will bow before the Almighty and you will beg Him not to leave you.

That's what an earthly bow is. Ideally, this is the publican's prayer, the prayer prodigal son. Pride prevents you from making a prostration. It can only be done by a humble person.

Saint Ignatius (Bryanchaninov) wrote about prostrations to the ground: “The Lord fell on his knees during His prayer - and you should not neglect kneeling if you have enough strength to perform them. By worship to the face of the earth, according to the explanation of the fathers, our fall is depicted, and by rising from the earth, our redemption ... "

You also need to understand that you cannot reduce the number of prostrations to the ground to some kind of mechanical gymnastic exercise and not strive to perform an immoderate feat of kneeling. Less is better, better quality. Let us remember that prostration is not an end in itself. He is a means for acquiring the lost communion with God and the grace-filled gifts of the Holy Spirit. Bowing to the ground is a penitential prayer that cannot be offered carelessly, inattentively and in a hurry. Get up, cross yourself correctly and slowly. Get on your knees, put your hands on the floor in front of you and touch your forehead to the floor, then get up from your knees and straighten up to your full height. This will be a real earthly bow. During its commission, you need to read to yourself some a short prayer, for example, Jesus or "Lord have mercy." You can also turn to the Most Holy Theotokos and to the saints.

AT great post according to the established tradition, three bows to the earth are made after entering the temple in front of Calvary: that is, they made two bows to the earth, kissed the Crucifix and made one more. The same is true when leaving the temple. During the evening service or the Liturgy, prostrations to the ground are also appropriate. In the morning, for example, when singing "The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious Seraphim without comparison ..." after the eighth ode of the canon. At the Liturgy - after singing "We sing to you, we bless you ...", since at this time the culmination of the service takes place in the altar - the transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts. You can also kneel and while the priest comes out with the Chalice with the words "With the fear of God" to commune the people. During Great Lent, kneeling is also done at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in certain places, indicated by the ringing of a bell, during the priest's versification of the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, and in some other places of services of the Holy Forty Day.

Bows to the earth are not made on Sundays, on Twelve Feasts, on Christmas time (from the Nativity of Christ to the Baptism of the Lord), from Easter to Pentecost. This is forbidden by the holy apostles, as well as by the I and VI Ecumenical Councils, since on these holy days there is a reconciliation of God with man, when a man is no longer a slave, but a son.

For the rest of the time, dear brothers and sisters, let us not be lazy to make prostrations to the ground, voluntarily plunging ourselves with a bow-fall into the abyss of repentance, in which the merciful God will surely stretch out His paternal right hand to us and resurrect and raise us sinners with unspeakable love for this and future life.

Priest Andrei Chizhenko
Orthodox Life

Viewed (2418) times

Search line: bows

Records found: 50

Hello, less than a year I sinned a while ago, which I deeply regret. I went to church and confessed, the priest accepted my confession and remitted my sins. After that, for 40 days I myself prayed to the earth in the morning and in the evening. But time runs and I never forgave myself. Can I be forgiven, forget my act? What do i do?

Natasha

Hello Natasha. Do not look for peace and oblivion, it is impossible. You can only get relief and strength for later life. Judge for yourself - sin damages our very nature, like a bodily wound that leaves a mark, a scar, and sometimes like the loss of an arm, leg, eye. It is naive to expect new hand will grow back. Christianity gives us crutches and prostheses instead of lost limbs, and the hope of returning them again, if not in this life, then at least in eternity. Keep a small rule of repentance, so that it is not visible to anyone, but always reminds you not of the sin itself, but of the severity of its consequences. This rule will teach you humility. While the desire to get rid of remorse at all costs is aimed at acquiring a completely different property, which is not useful to us. God help you.

Priest Alexander Beloslyudov

Hello. It so happened that I took Communion, and then after the service I wanted to stay and help in the Church of God. My help was in cleaning the candlesticks and mopping the floors. She did it with pleasure. But later I learned that on this day you can’t even make prostrations to the Lord, spit out saliva, and also wash in the shower, take a bath ... Not like washing the floors! I was somewhat upset and would like to know if in fact all this cannot be done after Communion? Or is it all prejudice? Thank you for your reply. Save you Lord.

r.b. Tatiana

Hello, Tatyana! The day of Communion is a special day for the Christian soul, when it unites with Christ in a special, mysterious way. As for the reception of the most honored guests, we clean and put the whole house in order, and leave all ordinary affairs, so the day of Communion should be celebrated as great holidays, devoting them, as much as possible, to solitude, prayer, concentration and spiritual reading. Do not be embarrassed that you helped in the temple on this day: it is still a good thing, but from now on try to spend the day of communion in silence and silence. As for the custom of not making prostrations after Communion and not kissing the priest's hands, its non-observance is not a sin. Schiegumen Parthenius points out: “We should also mention here the exaggerated caution of some after Communion. They try not only not to spit for the whole day after communion, which, of course, is commendable, but they also consider food waste, if it has been in the mouth, to be considered sacred, and therefore they even try to swallow inedible, and that cannot be swallowed (fish bones, etc.) trying to burn on fire. We do not find such extreme strictness anywhere in the Church Charter. It is only required to drink after communion and, after rinsing the mouth with the drink, swallow it so that any small grain does not remain in the mouth - and that's all! The “superstructures” invented on this issue have absolutely no echo in the Church Charter.”

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Christ is Risen! Please tell me, during the period from Easter to the Trinity, prostrations are not made, and when you read prayers, after reading the kathisma in the Psalter, there is a prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, how to read it during this period?

Love

Love, Truly Risen! Prayer of St. We read Ephrem the Syrian only during Great Lent, and now it is not necessary to read it. Earthly bows from Easter to the Holy Trinity do not. Usually we do not bow to the ground in church, but at home, so as not to embarrass anyone, if you wish, then you can bow to the ground after reading the kathismas as much as you want.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Do I need to bow to the ground when taking out the Chalice for Communion on Sundays and holidays during Easter week?

Svetlana

Svetlana, there are prostrations not only of repentance, but also of gratitude. Before the Chalice, we bow to the ground, even if we do not receive communion. On Easter, bows to the earth are not done, until the feast of the Holy Trinity, but before the Chalice, you can make a bow of gratitude to the earth. Although there is a tradition not to do prostrations at all on Easter days, even before the Holy Gifts. I think you do not need to highlight yourself, as you can mislead others. If you really want to - bow down mentally, the Lord will see you anyway.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Christ is Risen! Tell me, please, from what date can you make prostrations?

Vlad

Vlad, Truly Risen! On the feast of the Holy Trinity, three big prayers. From this moment the earthly prostrations begin. But I want to tell you that at home you can still bow to the ground, if the soul asks, there is nothing terrible in this.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Hello Father Victorin! Thank you very much for your reply. I also want to ask you about the Psalter. When is it necessary to make prostrations when reading the Psalter? Are they performed when reading prayers after "Glory"? Explain to me, please, everything in more detail. Thanks a lot. God bless you.

Valentine

Valentine, prostrations are not made while reading the Psalter. They can be done after reading all the kathismas of that day, that is, you, for example, read one or two kathismas today, and at the end of the whole reading, you can make prostrations to the ground as much as you want, as much as you can. It is best to determine a measure for yourself for each day, not too much, but not too little, so that every day to do the same number of bows. I think you can assign yourself 5-10 prostrations daily, but no more is needed.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Hello! 1. Say, in the morning and evening rule how many bows should be given, and after each prayer, or after certain ones? 2. Is it possible to read the Psalter and drink holy water with prosphora at home on the days of women's uncleanness, or is this not allowed?

Photinia

Photinia, bows can be done at home as much as you like, but practice shows that it is better to do no more than 10 per day to start with. It is better to do a little, but regularly. In the morning, do no more than 10, and in the evening, 3 bows are enough for the night. During female impurity, you can pray, read the Psalter, but you don’t need to drink Holy water and eat prosphora - this is a Shrine, and you need to be treated with reverence.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Good afternoon, fathers, tell me, please, during the Liturgy, when are prostrations made? Holy gifts are brought out twice, the first time they are shown and taken away, and the second time for communion. I watched the parishioners and did not understand anything. As I understand it, if I take communion myself, then I bow to the ground, and if not, then bow down?

Natalia

Natalia, it's good to make prostrations, but they must be timely. The first time the Cup is taken out at the Liturgy during the Great Entrance - the bow to the earth is not done, it can be made half-length. The second time the chalice is taken out, already consecrated, before communion, and Christ Himself is present in the chalice, and of course, it is necessary to bow to the ground before Christ Himself, even if we do not take communion.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

You are absolutely right, thank you very much, that's exactly what I needed to hear. I've got one more question. I heard that on Sunday and Saturday evenings, bowing is not allowed. Is it so? And why? Thank you in advance.

The word "beat" means 100-600 bows, we don't say that now, and it's rare for anyone to do that now. Imagine that you will do as many bows every day as Christians did before us - I think in this case, Saturday and Sunday will seem like a real weekend to you! A similar statute was precisely with this and connected. Weekdays are days of repentance, days of work, and Sunday and Saturday are the days of holidays, when indulgences are given both bodily and spiritually, therefore bows will be canceled on these days. But since we do not follow these rules, it is not a sin to make a dozen prostrations at home even on holidays and Sundays. In addition, there are bows of repentance, and there are bows of gratitude. If there is a desire, then no more than a dozen bows can be made as a thankful expression.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Hello. I have this question. I want to get married, is it necessary to get married by the priest to whom I confessed? And one more question. I have terrible sin, I went to confession for the first time, told in tears, excitedly, I am very receptive, and the priest really pressed me with my act. I understand that he is right. But after confession, he imposed a penance on me: for a month to read a prayer and make obeisances, for 3 months now I have not been able to do it, the work does not allow me to do prostrations every day, even at night, since the schedule is such. What to do? And yet, after confession, I could not come to my senses for a long time, I was depressed for a long time. I'm afraid to go again, although it is necessary after the completion of the penance. I'm afraid of this emotional decline. I'm waiting for answers to questions. Thanks in advance.

Anna

No, Anna, any priest can marry you. And as for penance, you need to meet again with that priest and ask for its mitigation, you really have difficult circumstances.

hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello! Tell me, please, at the Liturgy, when the priest says that the catechumens bow their heads and that they pray, what should the baptized do at this moment? Do I need to bow my head (of course, I want to do this, but it seems that it is proposed to make it catechumens)? And I don't understand when it is necessary to make prostrations? They say that they are not made on Sundays and are not made after Great Lent. In a word, I got confused, because in the temple who kneels during the Eucharistic canon, who stands straight, who bows to the ground at the words "Holy to the Saints", who does not ... Tell me how to do it right? With best regards!

Andrew

The baptized do not need to bow their heads at the litany for the catechumens. In the period from Easter to the Trinity and on Sundays, it is really not supposed to bow to the ground, they are replaced by waist ones.

Deacon Elijah Kokin

Hello, father. If you can, please clarify this question. Is Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ a reward or is it medicine and help for a Christian? For me, even morning and evening rule- this is an incredibly hard work, let alone the most difficult preparation for Communion, it is very difficult to pray with attention, and if this does not work out, irritation, indignation, murmuring comes and all prayer goes down the drain, so you have to leave it so that it is not defiled . I understand that prayer is important and that it is the root of everything, but prayer does not work, and this is a big frustration. But conscience does not allow to read the text coldly and detachedly, and it is clear that this will not be a prayer. As a result, it turns out that prayer is like drill or hard labor, and if this is nevertheless overcome, then Communion is like a reward. But, perhaps, after all, this is not a reward, but on the contrary, the Body and Blood of Christ are given to us to help us overcome difficulties, but then there is a contradiction here, in order to receive this saving help, a person needs to do hard work without any help, so that only then to receive it when the labor has already been overcome. What then comes first, labor for the sake of Communion or Communion for the sake of help in labor? Tell me how to think about this, what will come to your heart on this issue? Save me, God!

Alexei

Dear Alexei, you are lost in the three pines because you have the wrong concept of the sacrament, because it is not a medicine and not a reward. The root of this word is “part”, and we are all members of the church, separate parts of one whole, that is, the Body of Christ, and He is the head of the Church. Thus, through the communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, we are united with God and with the fullness of the Church. Most importantly, Communion is the basis of our future life and therefore cannot be considered as medicine or a reward. In ancient times, people were mostly illiterate and did not have books, but nevertheless they prepared for communion by performing simple prayers and prostrations. Tell your confessor about your problem and determine your own with him. prayer rule which is within your power.

Priest Alexander Babushkin

Good evening. God save you. 1. A year in the temple, I confess, I take communion. There is a desire and need for a spiritual father, how to find (select) him? 2. My son has been very ill since childhood, in a group. He is 21 years old, how to reason with him about faith? You won't drive with a stick, will you? 3. Why don't they pay 10 in churches? 4. The attitude of Orthodoxy towards biometric passports? 5. My father completely lost his memory after a stroke, how can I help as much as possible? 6. In addition to confession, what is it possible and how to properly pray for sin for those killed in the womb? Very grateful.

Nikolay.

Nikolay, about choice spiritual father repeatedly and even extensively written on our website, just be curious. The main meaning is that you need to feel a response and understanding from that priest, as well as his gift of consolation in relation to yourself.
In relation to the son - and you can drive with a stick. You are a father, use your authority, superiority, willpower and convictions. With a son, you can behave more firmly.
The third question is about tithing, I understand? Well, why, there are people even now, and there are many of them, who give a tenth of their income to the temple.
Biometric passports and other electronic means of accounting, according to the Church's understanding of the problem, do not in themselves carry any mystical content. But they bring us closer to total control, which is in the hands of any world dictator, and, of course, the dictator of dictators - the Antichrist.
On the fifth question, you need to contact the doctors, as far as I know, in modern medicine there is effective methods memory recovery, but they require constant practice and exercise.
And in sins, including those mentioned by you, it is necessary, first of all, to repent. However, nothing prevents you from taking on some small feat with the blessing of the priest - prayers or bows, or fasting - in memory of these sins, as a penance, so that they will never be forgotten.

hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

I live in the world. I pray for the rosary. And as I abstain, I overcome the immoral passion. What prayers to read against this demon?

Sergius

Hello Sergiy! To pray with a rosary, you need the blessing of a priest. If you have one, then bow to the ground during prayer. And also in the fight against this passion it is necessary to confess. Here is one of the prayers against fornication (the prayer of Macarius of Optina): “O Mother of the Lord, my Creator, You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity. O Mother of God! I have intercession of the Son and God, Amen."
Help you Lord!

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

At the weekend I went to Verkhoturye, to the St. Nicholas Monastery, where I took communion. And then we stopped at the Holy Intercession Monastery, where they bowed to the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" and the relics of Cosmas of Verkhoturye. And only then did she remember that after communion one should not bow to the ground. How to be?

Hope

Hello Hope! I advise you to bring repentance at confession.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Hello, I am 13 years old, already like 2, or maybe less, for a year I repent very strongly before the icon, the fact is that I have VERY VERY VERY bad thoughts come, you can’t even imagine, and all the time when these thoughts come, I run to the icon and kiss it, and touch it with my hand, and pray that the Lord will forgive me for everything because I talk about Him and about others like that (to myself, in my mind) and call everyone names, and so on for 5-10 minutes, I even do this at school, only not with an icon, but simply look at the ceiling or ahead, and some have already begun to suspect me of this. Please help, even when I go to a bus stop, I pray 3 times, I can’t anymore, I’m tired, I even wanted to give up Christianity so as not to harm anyone, but I’m afraid the Lord will get angry and take my parents and family away, help , what should I do? Thanks in advance.

Bows during prayer are an outward expression of the feelings of a penitent person. Bows help the worshiper to tune in to prayer, they awaken the spirit of repentance, humility, spiritual contrition, reproach of oneself and submission to the will of God, as good and perfect.

Bows are earthly - when the worshiper kneels and touches the ground with his head, and the waist bows, bend so that the head is at the level of the belt.

Archbishop Averky (Taushev) writes about the types of bows:

“The charter and primordial customs of our Eastern Orthodox Church generally do not know such “kneeling”, as they are now practiced in most cases with us, but only bows, great and small, or in other words, earthly and waist. Bowing to the ground is not kneeling with your head up, but “falling down” with your head touching the ground. Such prostrations to the earth are completely abolished by the canonical rules of our Holy Orthodox Church on Sundays, Lord's feasts, in the period between the Nativity of Christ and Theophany and from the feast of Easter to Pentecost, and when entering the temple and venerating holy things, they are also canceled on all other holidays, when it happens all-night vigil, polyeleos, or at least one great doxology at Matins, on the days of pre-feasts and are replaced by belt ones.

Bows to the earth at the Divine Liturgy, when they are allowed according to the charter, are laid: at the end of the singing “We sing to Thee” (at the moment of the transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts), at the end of the singing “It is worthy to eat”, at the very beginning of the singing of “Our Father”, during the appearance of St. Gifts at the exclamation "Come with the fear of God and faith" and during the secondary appearance of the Holy Gifts before taking them to the altar at the exclamation "Always, now and forever and forever and ever."

There is also a custom (which is not accepted by everyone) to bow to the ground at the beginning of the Eucharistic canon - immediately after the exclamation "We thank the Lord" and with the exclamation "Holy to the Holy."

Any other bows, and even more so unusual for the spirit of Holy Orthodoxy, kneeling during Divine Liturgy is an arbitrariness that has no basis for itself in the tradition and sacred institutions of our Holy. Churches".

The church service is performed with many great and small prostrations. Bows should be made with inner reverence and with outward pomp, slowly and slowly, and, if you are in the temple, at the same time as other worshipers. Before making a bow, you need to overshadow yourself with the sign of the cross, and then bow.

Bows in the temple should be performed when it is indicated by the Church Charter. Unauthorized and untimely prostrations in church denounce our spiritual inexperience, interfere with those praying near us, and serve our vanity. And on the contrary, bows, created by us according to the rules wisely established by the Church, inspire our prayer.

St. Philaret, Met. Moscow on this he says:

“If standing in church, you make bows when the Church Charter orders it, then you try to restrain yourself from bowing when it is not required by the charter, so as not to attract the attention of those who pray, or you hold back sighs that are ready to burst from your heart, or tears ready to pour out of your eyes - in such a disposition, and among a large congregation, you secretly stand before your Father in Heaven, Who in secret, fulfilling the commandment of the Savior (Matt. 6, 6).

The Charter of the Church does not require prostration on Sundays, on the days of the great twelve feasts, from the Nativity of Christ to Epiphany, from Pascha to Pentecost.

Archbishop Averky (Taushev) writes that Christians should observe the Rules of the Holy Church:

“Unfortunately, nowadays very few people really know about church rules relating to kneeling, as well as the fact that on Sundays (as well as on the days of the great Lord's feasts and throughout Pentecost - from the feast of St. Pascha to the day of the Holy Trinity) - kneeling is canceled. About this abolition of kneeling speaks whole line ecclesiastical canonical rules. So Canon 20 of the First Ecumenical Council reads:

“Because there are some who bow their knees on the day of the Lord (i.e., Sunday), and on the days of Pentecost, then so that in all the dioceses everything is the same, it is pleasing to the Holy Council, but it is worthwhile to offer prayers to God.”

The Sixth Ecumenical Council in its 90th Canon found it necessary to once again resolutely confirm this prohibition to kneel on Sundays, and justified this prohibition by the fact that this is required by the “honor of the resurrection of Christ”, that is, that bows, as an expression of a feeling of repentant sorrow, are incompatible with the festive celebration in honor of such a joyful event like the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Here is the rule:

“From the God-bearing Fathers, our Fathers are canonically devoted to us, do not bow your knees on Sundays, for the sake of the honor of the Resurrection of Christ. Therefore, let us not remain in ignorance of how to observe this, we will clearly show the faithful that on Saturday, at the evening entrance of the clergy to the altar, according to the accepted custom, no one kneels until the next evening on Sunday, in which, upon entering the luminary time, bowing our knees, in this way we send up prayers to the Lord. For on Saturday night, accepting the forerunner of the Resurrection of our Savior, from here we spiritually begin songs, and bring the feast from darkness into light, so that from now on we celebrate the Resurrection all night and day.

This rule is especially characteristic of the expression: "Let us not be ignorant." Obviously, our God-bearing Fathers did not consider the question of bowing or non-bending the knee on Sunday to be insignificant or unimportant, as many, unfortunately, now consider, ignoring this rule: they considered it necessary to indicate exactly from what moment of worship it is unacceptable kneeling and from what it is again allowed. According to this rule, kneeling is canceled from the so-called "evening entrance" at Vespers on Saturday until the evening entrance at Vespers on Sunday. That is why there is nothing surprising in the fact that at Vespers on the first day of the Holy Trinity, although it always happens on Sunday, the three prayers of St. Basil the Great are read with kneeling. These prayers are read just after the evening entry at Vespers, which is in full accordance with the requirement of the above 90th canon of the VI Ecumenical Council.

St. Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria and a martyr who suffered for Christ in 311 AD, whose rules are included in the church canon, which is obligatory for all believers, and is contained in the “Book of Rules”, along with other rules of St. Fathers, in his 15th canon, explaining why Christians fast on Wednesday and Friday, concludes by saying:

“We spend Sunday, like a day of joy, for the sake of the Risen One on it: on this day we have not even bowed to the knee.”

And the great universal teacher and Saint Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, who lived in the 4th century AD, whose rules in the amount of 92 are also included in the Book of Rules and always enjoyed special authority and respect, in the 91st rule, borrowed from the 27th chapter of his book on the Holy Spirit, “To Amphilechius” very deeply and, one might say, exhaustively explains the full significance of the abolition of kneeling on the days when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Here is his fully edifying explanation of this ancient church custom:

“Standing prayers we do in one from Saturdays (that is, on Sunday), but not everyone knows the reason for this. For not only, as if we had risen with Christ and should seek the things above, by standing during prayer, on the day of resurrection, we remind ourselves of the grace bestowed on us, but also because we do this, as if this day seems to be some kind of a longed-for age. Why is it like the beginning of days, and Moses called him not the first, but one. And there was, he says, evening, and there was morning, one day (Genesis 1:5): as if one and the same day turned around many times. And so the one, which is a cup and osmy, means that essentially one and true eighth day, which the Psalmist mentions in some writings of the psalms, will mark the coming state in this age, a day that does not stop, does not evening, without succession, never-ending, this and ageless age. . Thus, the Church thoroughly teaches her pupils to pray standing on that day, so that, with frequent reminders of the endless life, we do not neglect parting words to this repose. But the entire Pentecost is a reminder of the Resurrection, expected in the next century. For the one and the first day, being sevenfold sevenfold, is the seven weeks of Holy Pentecost. Pentecost, beginning on the first day of the week, ends with it. Turning fifty times through similar intermediate days, it imitates the century in this likeness, as if in a circular motion, starting from the same signs, and ending on the same ones. Church statutes teach us to prefer in these days the direct position of the body during prayer, as a clear reminder, as if moving our thoughts from the present to the future. With every kneeling and rising, we will show by action both that by sin we have fallen to the earth, and that, as if by the love of God who created us, we are again called to heaven. But I won’t have enough time to tell about the unwritten Sacraments of the Church.”

It is necessary to delve into the meaning of this ecclesiastical decree in order to understand how much of the deepest meaning and edification is in it, which in our time many do not want to use, preferring their own wisdom to the voice of the Holy Church. The general decline of religious and church consciousness in our days has led to the fact that modern Christians have somehow ceased, for the most part, to feel Sunday as a day of joy, like Easter, which we celebrate weekly, and therefore do not feel what incongruity, what a dissonance with the jubilant chants of this day is kneeling.”

To the question: “Are prostrations to the earth not established by the Charter permissible?” Archbishop Averky answers:

“Unacceptable. One cannot put one's own wisdom above the mind of the Church, above the authority of the Holy Fathers. …What right do we have to act contrary to the voice of the Universal Church? Or do we want to be more pious than the Church herself and her great Fathers?”

When applied to the Holy Gospel, the Cross, honest relics and icons one should approach in due order, slowly and without crowding, make two bows before kissing and one after kissing the shrine, bows must be made by day - earthly or deep waist, touching the earth with your hand. When kissing the icons of the Savior, we kiss the foot, and with a half-length image - the hand, or riza, to the icons Mother of God and saints - a hand or a robe; to the icon of the Not Made by Hands image of the Savior and to the icon of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist - we kiss the hair.

Several sacred persons can be depicted on the icon, but when there are congregations of worshipers, it is supposed to kiss the icon once, so as not to detain others and thereby violate the decorum in the temple.

Before the image of the Savior, you can say the Jesus Prayer to yourself: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner (sinner)”, or: “I have sinned without a number, Lord, have mercy on me.”

Before the icon Holy Mother of God you can say the following prayer: "Most Holy Mother of God, save us."

Before Honest Life-Giving Cross They read the prayer to Christ “We worship Your Cross, Vladyka, and Holy Sunday We praise yours, ” followed by a bow.

Bowing to the earth how to do it right in Orthodoxy?

Bowing to the earth how to do it right in Orthodoxy? When to bow at the liturgy? When is it forbidden to make prostrations? Is it possible to bow after communion?

Any person who at least once crossed the threshold of a church, temple or monastery, at the same moment had a feeling of some majesty and tranquility, the impression that a person goes to heaven, being at the bottom of the Earth. Any person who visits a temple with a certain frequency knows that it can carry a certain deep meaning, general rigor and harmony, as well as majestic spiritual beauty. No one can say that there are any attributes or objects in the temple that are located in chaos - this is absolutely not the case. After all, it is church paraphernalia that occupies a certain order in the temple and carries its own rank. The offering of a prayer or prayer before the altar of this or that Holy Face has been performed for many centuries, according to the same ancient order. That is why a person who enters the threshold of a church knows that there will not be any surprises waiting for him there, because everything happens in the same sequence.
Sometimes people who enter the temple for the first time wonder how to prostrate properly? A person cannot answer this question in monosyllables on his own, so you need to turn to church canons or clergymen who are always in the temple and tell believers about observing certain traditions.

Earth bow - how to do?

The bow is a kind of symbolic act that has been performed since ancient times and is displayed in biblical tales. From time immemorial, every Orthodox believer knows that a bow expresses a special and great reverence for the creator, that is, the Almighty. Therefore, the clergy of the temple recommend that the parishioners, making a bow, do not rush and at the same time offer thanksgiving prayers directed to God. In order to figure out how to bow correctly, you need to find out about the existence of various types of this action. The ministers of the church explain that there are great bows, earthly and small waist bows, and there is also a simple bowing of the head before the Almighty.

During the bow to the ground, it is necessary to prostrate on your knees in such a way as to touch the floor of the temple with your own brow. It was this kind of bow that Solomon offered throughout his life, who constantly prayed and lit up various temples, which to this day bear the names of the Almighty. It is worth noting that from historical information it is known that many righteous people made the same bows. Old Testament, as well as Daniel during that period of his life when he was in Babylonian captivity. Considered in Orthodox faith that it was the bow of the earth that was consecrated by Jesus Christ, and subsequently entered the history and practice of the Orthodox Christian Church.

kneeling

Almost every Orthodox believer knows that most of the kneeling is done during the Great Christian Lent. Since it is known that Saint Basil the Great claimed that kneeling is allegedly a kind of symbol of a person’s fall during sin, and at the moment when a person gets up from it, then the forgiveness of his sins comes according to the will of the Almighty.

From this follows the question that many Orthodox believers ask, how to properly perform 40 prostrations? The servants of the temple explain that such earthly prostrations are performed at any time of the day and day, with the exception of special days, which will be discussed next. Therefore, parishioners in no case need to be lazy. Therefore, it is necessary to voluntarily make 40 earthly prostrations, which for the Almighty will mean a fall into the abyss of repentance and hope, therefore, the Almighty will accept your atonement and bless such works.

Also, the ministers of the church claim that no matter how many days and how many bows an Orthodox believer will make, if there are bad thoughts or sinful desires in his soul and heart, and also if he dreams of offering some kind of punishment to another person. Thus, having such sinful thoughts, the number of bows will not matter. However, if a Christian sincerely and from a pure heart believes in the help of the Almighty, respects and loves him, then God will extend a helping hand to him and will certainly help him in any undertakings and forgive all sinful deeds.

Experience of Bishop Athanasius Sakharov

From time immemorial, such a question: how to properly bow to the ground? It arose in almost every century, especially in Orthodoxy. However, according to various beliefs, there is a well-known zealot of the church charter, which is the confessor Athanasius Sakharov, who almost always has an answer to the question posed.

Initially, you need to find out for yourself at what moments in life situations, you can make earthly bows, and when you should not do this. During the service in the temple, bows and bows are obligatory for every person who is in the temple, whether it be a parishioner or just a believer. Sometimes church laws may change depending on the territory of the believer or the location of the temple.

In the rules Ecumenical Council it is written that on Sundays, in no case should you kneel in order to preserve the honor of Jesus Christ, that is Christ Sunday. But at the same time, you can make small bows, but at the same time do not forget to offer prayers, which will carry a certain meaning, both for the person himself and for the Almighty.

Belt and earthly bows

It is supposed to make three small prostrations during reading and singing, such as come, let us bow, holy God and three times Hallelujah.




Also, during the service, psalm 118 is pronounced during its pronunciation, it is also necessary to make three small bows for each verse.




Also, the ministers of the church claim that while reading various litanies and while singing, Lord have mercy, and the Almighty fall, it is necessary to make small bows and the Sign of the Cross.




During the sounding of the Gospel, a small bow is also made before or after the reading.




At the moment when the servant of the temple pronounces the akathist, it is necessary to make a small bow during each kontakion and ikos. It is important to note that during the pronunciation of the 13th kontakion, it is necessary to make a waist bow.




A small bow is performed every time the blessing is given by the hand of the clergyman. However, during the period of Great Easter, it is necessary to be baptized and answer Truly Risen, but at the same time still make small bows.

Special rules for bowing

Since we are clarifying the various nuances associated with bowing to the ground, it should be noted that in a temple, church or monastery, often during the service, not only parishioners, but also nuns are present. In no case should an Orthodox believer who does not know the rules of conduct in the temple and church canons, imitate such women and make the same bows as they do.

Since the sisters of the nuns have their own special charter, which can sometimes differ from the general church canons. Therefore, Orthodox believers need to adhere to the well-known charter of the Fathers of All Saints, which is intended for churches and temples, so a person can eventually learn and reveal the semantic meaning of the service.

Incense

Temple servants know the tradition when, during the censing by the rector of the temple, Orthodox believers begin to be distracted from the performance of the liturgical prayer service. As a result, people move from one side to the other, at the same time, riveting all attention to themselves or to the priest, who at that moment is approaching them. Also, some parishioners of the temple can make noise, as well as stand with their backs to the nearest altar, but you should know that such behavior in the temple is simply unacceptable. Since at the moment of incense, Orthodox believers should part, making a kind of narrow path for the priest, letting him through, and after that, it is necessary to quietly stand in the previous place and resume the ascension of the prayer service.

In the event that the temple servant begins to incense each parishioner, therefore, the priest needs to bow, and then return to the service. It is important to note that at this moment, in no case should you look through the eyes of a temple servant throughout the whole act of incense. Having studied such simple and understandable rules, you can not only get closer to the Almighty, but also learn the basic nuances of the service.

Is it possible to make prostrations at the Liturgy

According to church canons in the Proskomedia and the Liturgy of the catechumens, prostrations are performed according to the usual divine services. And during the liturgy of the faithful, it is necessary to combine prostrations with bows.

At the moment when the Servant of the temple at the Great Entrance enters the pulpit, and at that moment he holds a cup and diskos in his hands. The church choir at this moment sings the cherubic song.

It is necessary to make a small bow before the end of the first half of the song, the priest at this moment is on the pulpit.




At the moment when the commemoration of the priests sounds, you need to bow your head.




At the time of the triple hallelujah, make three small bows.




At that moment, when the minister of the church says, we thank the Lord, the Great bow is performed.

Many Orthodox believers are interested in: Is it possible to perform prostrations after taking communion? The servants of the temple, in turn, answer the Orthodox believers that in no case should you kneel after communion, since such an act is performed for the sake of the shrine, which is located inside each person. Therefore, in order for an Orthodox believer not to vomit, one should not do such an act.

Conclusion

It is important to note that different kinds Bows are not the most important thing in the life of every Orthodox believing Christian, but they help to strengthen the common faith, enlighten the heart and the right spiritual mood. Almost every parishioner knows that in order to comprehend the meaning of the worship service, it is necessary to bow. If, while in the temple, you forgot what kind of bow you need to make, go in advance to the servant of the temple and ask him in more detail, since it is he who will be able to indicate what deeds must be performed at the time of this or that service.

Man is a spiritual and bodily being at the same time, therefore both the spirit and the body participate in prayer.

The prayer of the body is the postures and movements that accompany the reading of the text of the prayer:

• prayer posture
• kneeling
• raising hands
• bows
• sign of the cross

In Orthodoxy, there is a charter on how to do it correctly and at what moments.

The Importance of Participating the Body in Prayer

For correct prayer important posture in which to pray. Not because God will punish for inaccuracy, but because the position of the body affects the state of mind, determines the emotional mood.

A relaxed posture leads to mental relaxation, absent-mindedness. Prayer without the participation of the body is incomplete, not intense enough. The body, which is at rest, distracts from prayer, provokes the desire to stretch and move.

Labor in prayer

Prayer is not without work for the body. By forcing the body to make efforts (to stand, bow, kneel), the Christian curbs his flesh and does not give freedom to passions.

The Holy Fathers considered difficult prayer, which tires the body, as the first step towards true prayer.

Ascension to God is impossible without bodily fatigue!

Orthodox prayer accompanied by the sign of the cross and bows.

The prone position is practiced only once a year, during the recitation of prayers at Vespers.

How to read prayers at home - standing or sitting?

In the Russian Orthodox Church, prayers both in the temple and at home read standing up. If it is difficult to stand (for example, when you are very tired or sick), then sitting prayer is allowed. Even if you are lying at home and cannot get out of bed and sit down, this is not an obstacle to prayer.

The main condition for performing prayer is reverence and concentration.

standing prayer

When you pray, remember that you are standing before God. In this situation, frivolity is inappropriate. You need to stand in prayer

• directly,
• reverently,
• without shifting from foot to foot,
• without making fussy movements.

During worship in the temple, at some points it is allowed to sit. This is possible during the reading of kathisma (excerpts from the Psalter) and proverbs (excerpts from the Old Testament) at the evening service.

It is not customary to sit at the Liturgy, but an exception is made for people who are physically unable to stand for a long time.

However, in worship everyone needs to be on time

• gospel readings
• between the singing of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer
• during the exclamations of the priest "Blessed is the kingdom ..."

Prayer on your knees at home

Kneeling prayer is performed at home, according to the special zeal of the believer. She expresses special humility and reverence.

On your knees at home, you can pray at any time,

except Sunday and the period from Easter to Pentecost.

You can’t kneel on the day after Holy Communion

A person who has tasted is sanctified, he should not make signs of repentance and thereby humiliate the Holy Gifts he has received.

Kneeling at the liturgy in Orthodoxy

In an Orthodox church prolonged kneeling during worship are performed only

• on the feast of Pentecost,
• at the Great Vespers, which is served immediately after the Liturgy.

At this time, the priest reads several long prayers and himself, along with all the people, kneels.

The rest of the time for church services prostrations may be made.

No kneeling in the Liturgy AT Orthodox churches in Belarus, Ukraine and Lithuania under the influence catholic church a local tradition arose to pray on the knees. In fact, these are earthly prostrations, for the performance of which believers kneel.

Bows during prayer. What does the earthly and waist bow mean in Orthodoxy?

During prayers, it is customary to make earthly and waist bows. it a sign of reverence for God.

Usually a bow is made after the sign of the cross when pronouncing especially significant, important words of prayer.

The prayer book always indicates when to bow.

How to prostrate properly?

A prostration is a prostration during which the believer kneels, touches the floor with his forehead and immediately rises.

AT Orthodox Church bows to the earth must be performed, applied to the shrines (icons, relics, sacred relics):

• two bows to the earth before application and
• one prostration after application.

Some days the church cancels earthly prostrations because they do not correspond to the meaning of the honored event. In these cases, prostrations are replaced by waist.

These are Sundays and polyeleos, and prostrations to the earth are especially strictly prohibited from Easter to the Day of the Holy Spirit (the Monday after the feast of Pentecost).

During Sunday Liturgy in Orthodoxy, bows to the ground, according to the rule of Basil the Great, should not be done. Sometimes this rule is violated, and at the exclamation of the choir "One is Holy, One is the Lord Jesus Christ ..." one bow is made.

How to bow properly?

Bow bow is bow at the waist when a believer seeks reach the floor without bending your knees.

• Usually done immediately after the sign of the cross
• Belt bow must be performed before entering the temple.

Prayer gestures

The main prayer gesture in Orthodoxy, as in all Christianity, is sign of the cross.

In addition to him, in church worship priests use the gesture of blessing.

On the Sign of the Cross in Orthodoxy: Power, Meaning and Essence

Since apostolic times, it has been customary in the Church to overshadow oneself with the sign of the cross, or, as they say, be baptized.

The sign of the cross is reminder of the cross on which he was crucified. By laying on ourselves such a symbolic cross, we invoke the grace of the Holy Spirit.

The Church teaches that the sign of the cross protects the Christian, because the power of the Cross of Christ overcomes all evil.

How to make the sign of the cross?

The sign of the cross is being made slowly and always with the right hand.

First fingers folded:

• large, index and middle fingers put together,
• the ring and little fingers remain bent.

stacked like this fingers to touch

• first forehead, sanctifying your thoughts,
• then the belly - to the consecration of the heart and feelings,
• then right shoulder
• and, finally, the left shoulder - in consecration of bodily health and deeds.

Thereafter should be followed by a head tilt or bow.

You can't bow until you've completed the sign of the cross.

Composition: two-finger and three-finger in Orthodoxy

For the sign of the cross three fingers are used in modern Orthodoxy.

For this gesture

• thumb, index and middle fingers right hand put together,
• the little finger and ring finger are pressed to the palm.

Folded three fingers symbolize the Holy Trinity-, nameless and little fingers remind of the dual nature of our Lord Jesus Christ - divine and human.

In ancient times, two fingers were used: the sign of the cross was made with the extended index and middle fingers, while the thumb, ring and little fingers were folded together.

The index and middle fingers symbolized the two natures of Christ, the big, ring and little fingers - the three Persons of the Holy Trinity.

After the reforms of Patriarch Nikon, three fingers began to be used in Orthodoxy. Because of this, an Old Believer split occurred. Only in the 19th century did the Church again allow baptism with two fingers and use other elements of the old rite, and some Old Believers were able to reunite with the Church. Their communities are called common faith.

Nominal Composition

There is one more prayer gesture - nominative signet.

It used by a priest to bless the faithful during service and outside of it.

Nominal Composition means the initials of the Lord's name Our Jesus Christ ICXC:

• index finger extended
• the middle one is slightly bent, forming the letter C,
• thumb and ring fingers crossed with the letter X,
• the little finger is also bent in the shape of the letter C.