1. What is Christian love?
Real Christian love is the most noble, strong and bright
form of all human feelings. It manifests itself as a special
spiritual and moral closeness, a strong inner pull of one
person towards the other. The heart of a loving person is
open to the person whom he loves. It is ready to receive it,
and bring it closer to itself. The loving heart, accepts the
other person and also gives itself in return.
2. Christian love brings a man closer to God. What does this
mean?
Since God is the source of love and everything good, then He
is in effect the Love. When a person loves in a Christian
way, his love begins to resemble God's love. This means that
some of his qualities are close to God's qualities or in
other words he approaches God.
3. What is selfish love?
Selfish love looks for a benefit for itself. This kind of
love is not Christian, but pagan. In selfish love, the most
important is "you" and satisfying your own self. In
Christian love, the most important is the object of your
love.
4. What is the highest and most noble of man's feelings?
The highest and most noble of man's feelings is motherly
love. A loving mother completely gives herself to her child
and does not expect anything from him in return. This kind
of love is full of self-sacrifice and excludes personal
benefit.
5. About love for everybody, including for those who do not love us, the Gospel says the following:
"FOR IF YE LOVE THEM WHICH LOVE YOU,
WHAT THANK HAVE YE?
FOR SINNERS ALSO LOVE THOSE THAT LOVE THEM.
AND IF YE DO GOOD TO THEM
WHICH DO GOOD TO YOU,
WHAT THANK HAVE YE?
FOR SINNERS ALSO DO EVEN THE SAME."
(Luke 6:32-33 KJV).
What does this mean?
It says here that everybody loves those who are good to
them. Christian love, since it is the most virtuous love,
embraces not only those who love us, but also those who do
not love us; those who are our enemies.
6. A Christian has to pray for his enemies. What would be an
example of such a prayer?
An example of such a Christian, noble and moving love, is
the "Prayer for Salvation of Russia", which is read during
the Divine Liturgy. In this prayer are the following
words:
"Remember all our enemies,
those who hate us and those who offended us."
7. Where can we find out about Christian love?
Actually, all of God's Law, is the teaching about Christian
love. From this follows, that the teaching about Christian
love can be found in the 10 Commandments, the Beatitudes,
the Holy Scripture and in our prayers.
8. What is the "Hymn of Christian Love"?
The "Hymn of Christian Love" is the place in the Holy
Scriptures (1st Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the
Corinthians) where the nature of Christian love is being
revealed:
(Translator's Note: The Revised Standard Version (RVS)
below, is clearer than the King James Version (KJV) given
after RVS).
13:4 "LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND;
LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS OR BOASTFUL;
13:5 IT IS NOT ARROGANT OR RUDE.
LOVE DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN WAY;
IT IS NOT IRRITABLE OR RESENTFUL;
13:6 IT DOES NOT REJOICE AT WRONG,
BUT REJOICES IN THE RIGHT.
13:7 LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS,
HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS.
13:8 LOVE NEVER ENDS;
AS FOR PROPHECIES, THEY WILL PASS AWAY;
AS FOR TONGUES, THEY WILL CEASE;
AS FOR KNOWLEDGE, IT WILL PASS AWAY."
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8 RSV).
In this case, the KJV is not as clear as RSV. The KJV is
given below:
13:4 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself,
is not puffed up;
13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own,
is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth;
13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things.
13:8 Charity never faileth:
but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8 New KJV).
1. The basic task of Christianity is to teach people to live
according to God's Will, in order to bring them to the
eternal bliss. What does this mean?
Our Lord God created our world and the whole universe.
Everything is beautiful, everywhere there is an order,
everything moves, everything turns, everywhere there are
laws. The same thing is true in a human's life; there should
be an order and then his life will be beautiful. This order
is the Will of Lord God, these are His Commandments. When we
live according to God's Law, then not only our life on earth
becomes beautiful, but also our life after death, and after
the end of the world then we will receive the eternal
blessedness.
2. Christianity is a way of life. Christianity is a new stamp
on all relations between men. What does this mean?
This means that the real Christian does not only believe and
pray, but he also has to live like a Christian. Whatever he
is doing, saying and even thinking has to be coordinated
with the Christian teaching. In other words, Christianity
stamps all our behavior and especially our relationship with
other people.
3. How did Christianity effect the whole world?
With the coming of Christianity, there appeared a way for
measuring good and evil. What was not well known before
(what is good, and what is evil), now became known and
clear. Good and evil was defined by the Christian teaching.
In this way, the appearance of Christianity in the world,
totally changed it. The relationships among people became
more humane. The status of the woman changed. The slavery
became negative.
4. What is a Christian marriage?
In a Christian marriage every member of the family has his
own place. As a father and husband, the man first takes care
of his family, his children, and wife and only then, takes
care of himself. The same goes for the mother, as she first
takes care of her children and husband and only then she
takes care of herself. The head of the family is the father,
and the wife is his helper. But the father, under no
condition can be a dictator or impose his will onto others,
but just the opposite. He has to lead his family according
to God's Law and sacrifice himself in everything for his
family.
5. What can be said about the upbringing of children?
The upbringing of children is one of the biggest and most
complicated tasks of todays parents. Here, the parents not
only have to love each other and in everything give a good
example to the children, but they also have to agree with
each other. The father and mother have to teach the same
thing, and under no circumstance contradict each other. Only
this way will the children develop the correct attitude and
outlook on life. To achieve this, naturally, the husband and
wife should have as much in common as possible. First of
all, they have to have the same faith, but the faith has to
be a living guide for everyday life, and not some ritual or
something abstract.
6. What is the first thing that we have to give to our
children?
In the first place we have to give to our children the holy
Orthodox-Christian faith. Our faith teaches us and guides us
how to live righteously, and gives us an answer for every
problem in our life. A properly raised child receives in his
faith, not only the faith, but also the outlook on life, and
the guidance for every step in his life.
7. How does the present society effect the upbringing of our
children?
The present society effects the upbringing of children in a
very negative way. This is why raising children, these days,
is such a large problem. It is nearly impossible to handle
all these problems without the help of a healthy and loving
family, as well as the help of the Church, priest, parish
school, children's organization and summer camps.
8. What is the children's duty towards their parents?
The children's duty towards their parents should be love and
obedience. This duty to parents applies not only to the
parents, but also to teachers, spiritual teachers and all
those who are helping raise the children.
When parents get old, it is the duty of the children to take
care of their elderly parents.
1. What can be said about the relationship between the family
and country?
The family is the smallest cell of a country. In order to
have a healthy and strong country, its base - the family,
also has to be healthy. When a family is disintegrating,
then even the strongest country is also disintegrating. In
our time, we can see the disintegration of the family. First
there is the lack of belief in God, then the race everywhere
after material things, disrespect of children for parents,
quarrels and divorces between parents, laziness and
irresponsibility of children, sexual promiscuity, alcoholism
and drug addiction. All of these things are being encouraged
by the mass media and leads towards greater and greater
family disintegration.
2. What is Family Selfishness?
Family Selfishness is when the family closes up on itself
and does not recognize anybody else. On one side, there is
love towards one's family and relatives, and on the other,
hostility and lack of love to everybody else. True Christian
love includes, not only family members, but also everybody
else.
3. Should a Christian live alone or with other people?
In our times it is necessary to clearly understand the
Christian commandment of love towards everybody.
The Lord God created us to live in society among other
people and not alone. If a person lives outside of society,
then he begins to loose contact with the living people and
this leads to very negative results.
On the other hand, it is necessary to understand that in our
multi-faced society, it is simply dangerous to have close
contact with everybody. A man has to live among people and
associate with them. Among them, in the first place is the
family, then the church parish which unites people of the
same religion and of the same outlook on life, then the
school where we study or the company where we work and then
the whole country.
4. What should the attitude be of the Christian towards Non-
Christians?
The Lord God created every man according to His image. This
means that in every person there is an image of his Creator
and that every person is capable of being better and is
attracted to God. This is why every person is our brother,
and why we are told to love him, respect him and under no
circumstance laugh at him or make fun of him. Every person
and his faith should be treated with love and respect. All
of this applies to Non-Orthodox Christians and to Non-
Christians alike. Non-Orthodox Christians strayed away from
the apostolic Orthodox faith many years ago.
5. What is cosmopolitism and what should our attitude be
towards it?
Cosmopolitism announces the brotherhood among all people,
where all nations loose their individual characteristics.
This is the corruption of the Christian outlook on life. The
smallest cell in the country is the family, then the members
of our faith and only then all other nations. This is the
natural building structure of the nations by the Lord God.
Every person has a history, culture, his own language and
heritage. All this feeds us, gives us strength, and a
direction in which we should move. This is why cosmopolitism
does not correspond with but rather is the opposite of the
Christian outlook on life.
6. What is patriotism, and is it a positive or a negative
phenomenon?
Patriotism is the love for one's country, the country of
one's forefathers. This is obviously a positive and a
necessary feeling. It forces us to be interested in the
history and culture of our ancestry and from this to get
strength and wisdom for life.
Patriotism can also be negative. When a person starts to
praise everything that is his own and criticize everything
that is foreign. The true Christian's patriotism combines
love for his country, with being aware of the shortcomings.
He feels bad about them, and tries to do something about
them.
Unfortunately, one has to say that there is a reverse kind
of sick patriotism or maybe anti-patriotism, the national
inferiority complex, full of masochism. This is when people,
on one hand, love their country and people, and on the other
hand constantly criticize, laugh at and make fun of it.
1. What kind of attitude should a Christian have with respect
to his country?
The natural love that a Christian feels towards his family,
propagates for the whole country. One has to take care not
only of oneself and his family, but also to take part in the
life of the whole country. The minimum that we can do is to
work honestly and faithfully and do your citizen's duty.
2. What is the Christian view about war?
Obviously, war is evil and deeply against all Christian
principles, but unfortunately, this often unavoidable. One
of the largest self-sacrificing heroic deeds, of serving
ones country, is to give your life for your country; mostly
during war. The Christian soldier, the defender of his
country clearly fulfills Christ's commandment: "there is no
bigger love, than to give your life for your friends".
1. What is the difference between Christianity and communism?
Communism is atheistic and very hostile to all religions.
All religions recognize above us God and this contradicts
with the purpose of communism. For this reason they teach
that there is no God and that the source of all truth is the
party.
Christianity preaches love towards everybody, including
enemies. Communism preaches class hatred and struggle.
Christianity preaches love for God and communists insist on
recognizing that the party is the source of all wisdom.
Christian morality is the highest form of morality, because
this is the morality of God's love. Communist morality is
the morality of the advantage. What is advantageous for the
party, is moral.
From this short comparison, one can see that communism is
the a complete opposite of Christianity.
1. What is the most important duty of a Christian with respect
to the Lord God?
The most important duty of a Christian with respect to the
Lord God is love for Him.
2. What is said in the Holy Scriptures about love for the Lord
God?
In the Old Testament, about love for the Lord, is said the
following:
"AND THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD
THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART,
AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIGHT".
(Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV).
In the New Testament, about love for the Lord, is said the
following:
"THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT."
(Matthew 22:38 KJV).
3. What does it mean to love God?
As the child, feels love, care and wisdom of his father, in
the same way we feel love, care and wisdom of our Father, the
Lord God.
As the child loves his father, obeys him and trusts him in
everything, in the same way we must love our Father, the
Lord God, obey Him and trust Him in everything; in other
words we have to follow His Holy Will.
4. Which is the second commandment that Jesus Christ added to
the first one?
The second commandment is about love for your neighbor.
5. On which commandments is all Christianity based?
All Christianity is based on two commandments: love for our
Father, the Lord God, and love for our neighbor.
6. Can one like God and not like his neighbors?
No, this is impossible. Real love for the Lord God leads
also to the love of your neighbor.
Abba Dorotheos explained the connection between love for God
and love for your neighbor in this way. In the center of the
circle is God, and people are on the periphery. People who
love God approach Him (along the radius) and at the same
time approach each other.
1. What is our first and most essential duty to the Lord God,
and what follows from it?
The first and most essential duty to the Lord God is to love
Him. But, since man cannot love what he does not know, this
duty leads to the obligation to learn about God.
The obligation to learn about God requires us to study the
Christian teachings about life, prayers, and faith. It is
necessary to observe everything in the church and try to
understand the symbolic meaning of the service. It is
necessary to read spiritual literature. It is necessary to
think through the church service and prayers, and to apply
the commandments of God's Law in one's personal life. It is
necessary to observe everything that is happening around us
and to think through from the point of view of God's Law.
3. Why is learning about God the most basic need in the life of
a Christian?
Learning about God is the most basic need in the life of a
Christian, because it is giving us answers to the most
important questions in life. Learning about God teaches us
what is good and what is evil, and how to act under
different situations, it teaches us what is important in
life and what is less important, how we should live, and
what we should live for.
4. What will happen if we do not learn about God?
If we do not learn about God, then we will slowly start
living like everybody else around us. If they live in sin,
then we will also live in sin, and we will not even realize
it.
5. Why does learning about God now has a very special
importance?
Because now, in the whole society there is more and more
movement away from the Christian's norm of behavior. The
Christian who does not know his teaching, can very easily
stray onto a sinful path.
1. In which way is prayer the expression of love for God?
Christian love leads to the love for God, and love for God
leads to the wish to have personal contact with Him, through
prayer. In this way, prayer is the expression of love for
God.
2. Is prayer obligatory for the Orthodox-Christian?
Prayer is obligatory, and is the first and the most basic
element in the spiritual life of an Orthodox-Christian. The
spiritual life of a person depends on prayer, and the person
who does not pray is, in the spiritual sense, a dead person.
We can see that without prayer, the Orthodox-Christian is
not a Christian. Prayer is the conversation with God.
3. How many types of prayer are there?
There are three types of prayer: petitioning, glorifying,
and thanksgiving. In petitioning, we are asking the Lord
God, in glorifying, we are glorifying Him and in thanksgiving
we are thanking Him for the gifts.
4. Does God hear every prayer?
The Lord God hears all our sincere prayers. He knows what we
need and He grants our prayers, but in such a way that we
benefit from them.
The Lord God knows things that we are not aware of. This is
why He allows some difficulties, because they are necessary
for our growth. Even a man often realizes this all by
himself.
1. Which prayer is the model of Christian prayer?
The model of Christian prayer is the Lord's Prayer (Our
Father) which was given to us by the Lord God Jesus Christ
Himself (Matthew 6:9-13)(Luke 11:2-4).
6:9 OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN,
HALLOWED BE THY NAME,
6:10 THY KINGDOM COME.
THY WILL BE DONE
IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
6:11 GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
6:12 AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS,
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.
6:13 AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL ONE:
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM,
AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY,
FOR EVER, AMEN.
(Matthew 6:9-13 KJV Modified). *
* (Translator's Note: In KJV Bible instead "evil one" is used
"evil". This has a different meaning. This is why the KJV
version above was modified, to agree with the Russian
Orthodox Bible).
2. In how many parts can the Lord's Prayer be subdivided?
The Lord`s Prayer can be subdivided into three parts:
invocation, petition and glorification.
Invocation: OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN,
1st Petition: HALLOWED BE THY NAME,
2nd Petition: THY KINGDOM COME.
3rd Petition: THY WILL BE DONE
IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
4th Petition: GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
5th Petition: AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS,
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.
6th Petition: AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
7th Petition: BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL ONE:
Glorification: FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM,
AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY,
FOR EVER, AMEN.
3. What does the invocation in the Lord's Prayer mean?
The first part of the Lord's Prayer is the invocation:
OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN.
In every letter first there is an appeal, an address to the
person to whom we are writing. In the same way, in the
beginning of the Lord's Prayer, there is an appeal to the
Lord God, an invocation of Him.
4. What do the first three petitions in the Lord's Prayer mean?
The first three petitions in the Lord's Prayer are as
follows:
HALLOWED BE THY NAME,
THY KINGDOM COME.
THY WILL BE DONE
IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
We are asking the Lord God to have His name glorified, to
have His Kingdom of truth, justice and goodness arrive and
to have His Law - God's Law everywhere.
5. What does the fourth petition in the Lord's Prayer mean?
The fourth petition in the Lord's Prayer is as follows:
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
Here we are asking the Lord God to satisfy all our physical
and spiritual needs.
6. What does the fifth petition in the Lord's Prayer mean?
The fifth petition in the Lord's Prayer is as follows:
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS,
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.
Here we are asking the Lord God to forgive our sins and we
are promising that we will forgive those who offend us. This
is one of the most basic Christian commandments.
7. What does the sixth and seventh petition in the Lord's
Prayer mean?
The sixth and seventh petition in the Lord's Prayer is as
follows:
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL ONE:
Here we are asking the Lord God to free us from all causes of
sin and from all temptations; which sometimes gradually lead
us to sin. Also to free us from the sources of the evil
itself, from the devil.
8. What does the glorification in the Lord's Prayer mean?
The glorification in the Lord's Prayer is as follows:
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM,
AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY,
FOR EVER, AMEN.
This glorification is added to the Lord's Prayer, because it
shows our confidence in the Lord God, in His love for us and
that He will hear our prayer.
1. How many types of prayer are there and what is the most
essential?
There are two type of prayer: home or personal and church or
public prayer. The most basic prayer is home or private
prayer. The examples of public prayer are: All Night Vigil
and Divine Liturgy.
2. How are we supposed to pray at home (personal prayer)?
At home it is necessary to read the prayers from the Prayer
Book and add your own petitions. Also, it is necessary to
confess your sins daily before God.
3. What did St.John Crysostom (Goldenmouth) say about public
prayer?
St.John Crysostom thought that the church prayer would be
heard faster, because everybody is praying together; there
is a unity in thought, a unity of love and the prayers of
the whole congregation and clergy.
4. How should one spend Christian holidays?
A holiday is God's day. It has to be dedicated not only to
the relaxation from work, but first of all, to prayers and
good deeds; the works of Christian mercy. It is necessary to
attend church services, but if for some reason we are at
home, then it is necessary to spend that time at home in
prayer, or by reading spiritual literature, or simply in
peace and tranquillity.
5. Can one have dances on the eve of a holiday?
No, it should not be done. On the eve of holidays, there is
an All Night Vigil (evening service) in the church. To have
a dance during the church service is inappropriate.
6. What did St.Seraphim of Sarov say about fasting?
St.Seraphim of Sarov said the following about the fasting:
"He who does not observe the fasts is not a Christian, no
matter what he considers himself."
7. Where does lie the great value of fasting?
The great value of fasting lies in the struggle ("podvig")
for restraint and self-limitation. Fasting strengthens a
man's will and builds personality firm in its religious
beliefs and actions.
8. What is spiritual fasting?
Spiritual fasting is self-restraint and withdrawing from
everything sinful, or from everything that can lead to sin.