1. Orthodoxy
Prot. Mikhail Pomazansky:
Orthodoxy is faith and worship ... the true teaching of Christ, preserved in the Church of Christ.
The word Orthodoxy (from the Greek “orthodox”) literally means “correct judgment,” “correct doctrine,” or “correct praise” to God.
Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) writes:
The term "Orthodoxy" (Greek orthodox) consists of two words: right, true (orthos) and glory (doxa). The word "doxa" means, on the one hand, belief, teaching, faith, and on the other - praise. These values are closely related. The correct teaching about God includes the correct praise of God, for if God is abstract, then prayer to this God will also be abstract. If God is personal, then prayer takes on a personal character. God revealed true faith, true teaching. And we say that the teaching about God and about everything that is connected with the salvation of the person is the Revelation of God, and not the discovery of man.
Orthodoxy is not only a doctrine, but also a special way of life for a person in the Orthodox Church, transforming, as a result of communion with God, his whole life and his soul.
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) this is the answer to the question:
“What is Orthodoxy?
Orthodoxy is true knowledge of God and worship of God; Orthodoxy is worship of God in spirit and in truth; Orthodoxy is the glorification of God by true knowledge of Him and worship of Him; Orthodoxy is the glorification by God of man, a true servant of God, by the granting of the grace of the All-Holy Spirit to Him. The Spirit is the glory of Christians (John 7:39). Where there is no Spirit, there is no Orthodoxy. ... Orthodoxy is the teaching of the Holy Spirit, given by God to men for salvation. "
Professor SPDA Glubokovsky N.N .:
Orthodoxy ... is a "right confession" - orthodoxy - because it reproduces in itself the entire perceived object, sees it itself and shows it to others in a "correct opinion" in all its subject matter and with all its peculiarities. ... It considers itself to be right, or the true teaching of Christ in all originality and intactness ... Orthodoxy preserves and continues the original apostolic Christianity through direct and continuous succession. In the historical course of Christianity throughout the universe, this is the central stream, coming from the very "source of living water" (Rev. 21: 6) and not deviating throughout its entire length until the end of the world.
Prot. Mikhail Pomazansky writes about "the strength and spiritual wealth of Orthodoxy":
"High in prayer, deep in thought of God, joyful in exploit, pure in joy, perfect in moral teaching, full in the ways of praising God - Orthodoxy ..."
Priest Sergiy Mansurov. Essays from Church History
Orthodoxy means - Prav Glory... Christians are NOT Orthodox, they were originally "Orthodox Church of the Greek Rite"... In A.D. 1054 the Christian church was divided into two - Western and Eastern; the western one declared itself universal (that is to say, Catholic), and the eastern one declared itself orthodox, i.e. orthodox (standing on the foundations of the primordial Christianity). It was Nikon who in the 17th century ordered to rewrite the liturgical books and change the words in them “ Christian orthodox faith"To" Orthodox faith "in order to attribute all the victories of Orthodoxy to Christianity. But they did not want this, because they said - we should not become like, i.e. Gentiles, those who kept their fathers.
And mind you, even in the Spiritual Regulations of Peter I of 1718 (1721) it is called "Christian Sovereign, orthodoxy and everyone in the Church of the Holy Deanery is an overseer "... This was reprinted in 1898 under Nicholas II, and no one sent it to "Orthodoxy".
The Russian Orthodox Church began to be called Orthodox only under Nicholas II and then with the postscript "Orthodox Christianity", because there was a decree of Nicholas II "On those who are forcibly baptized into the Orthodox, give the go-ahead to return to the Faith of the Ancestors" exit from Christianity and return to ancestral roots.
Therefore, the Christian church was not Orthodox.
The fact that the Moscow Patriarchate is now in Moscow is generally not related to Christianity and Orthodoxy, it is a state structure created by decree of Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, and the first patriarch was a colonel-general of state security. Therefore it is a political organization. That Christian church that was in the Russian Empire, all its ascetics went overseas, and what do they call the Moscow Patriarchate? They call it a cooperative for beating money out of the poor.
But these are their inter-Christian affairs.
I explain - Russia was Orthodox before the birth of Christ, because all the people praised, and they say - “praise rightly” ... but what is it that Catholics praise Jesus incorrectly? Or are the Protestants praising them incorrectly? Or are the Arians wrong, and others? They have the same Bibles, the same prayers, what does it mean - these praise correctly, and these are wrong?
Substitution of concepts
You see, there have been substitutions, a distortion of the language. Let's say everyone has probably heard the saying: "Every family has its black sheep"- what is this saying? They say there is a geek in the family. Nothing of the kind, or do you think that there were geeks in every family? This is an insult to our peoples. The first child in the family is called the firstborn, he is under the protection of Rod (y), that's why they said: "The family has its black sheep", i.e. every family has a firstborn child. Therefore, in Polish, Czech: uroda- this is beauty, i.e. the most beautiful child. And what fell out of the Rod (Rod rejected) was always "". What did the Christian church do - it changed the concepts of "freak" and "fool", the fools became good, and the freaks became bad, that is, white became black and black became white. But this is our language, why should we use a distorted interpretation? Also with Orthodoxy.
Another example: Christians call Old Believers seditious (sedition for them is a prohibition, something illegal, reprehensible). And in Slavic " sedition”Means - to raise the word to RA (to the pure light). Kramolnik is a sun-worshiper, a sun-reader. What's wrong with the sun? The sun gives life, warms. Is it bad that a person gets up in the morning and meets the Sun with outstretched hands, singing a hymn to him. According to Christian concepts, this is bad, but right - this is the all-night liturgy to kneel and bang your head on the floor.
"Choosing Gods - we choose destiny"
Virgil
(ancient Roman poet)
All over the world, the Russian Christian Church is called the Orthodox Church. And, what is most interesting, no one objects to this, and even the “holy” fathers themselves, in conversations in other languages, translate the name of the Russian Christian Church in this way.
At first, concept "Orthodoxy" has nothing to do with the Christian church.
Secondly, neither in the Old Testament nor in the New Testament there are no concepts "Orthodoxy"... And there is this concept only in the Slavic.
Complete understanding of the concept "Orthodoxy" given in:
“We are Orthodox, for we glorify Rule and Glory. We truly know that Rule is the World of our Light Gods, and Slav is the Light World, where our Great and Wise Ancestors live.
We are Slavs, for we glorify from our pure hearts all the Light ancient Gods and our Light-wise Ancestors ... "
So, the concept "Orthodoxy" existed and exists only in the Slavic Vedic Tradition and has nothing to do with Christianity. And this Vedic Tradition arose many thousands of years before the advent of Christianity.
The previously single Christian church split into western and eastern churches. Western Christian Church centered in Rome, became known as "Catholic", or "Universal"(?!), and the eastern Greco-Byzantine church centered in Constantinople (Constantinople) - "Orthodox", or "Pravovernaya"... And in Russia, the orthodox appropriated the name "Orthodox".
Slavic peoples, adhered only to the Slavic Vedic Tradition, therefore Christianity is among them.
(he is Vladimir - "bloody") abandoned the Vedic Faith, single-handedly decided which religion all Slavs should profess, and in 988 AD. with the army he baptized Russia with "sword and fire". At that time, the Eastern Greek religion (the cult of Dionysius) was imposed on the Slavic people. Before the birth of Jesus Christ, the cult of Dionysius (Greek religion) completely discredited itself! The fathers of the Greek religion and those behind them fussed in advance and at the beginning of the 12th century A.D. the Greek religion turned into Christianity - without changing the essence of the cult of Dionysius, they used the bright name of Jesus Christ, grossly distorted and proclaimed Christianity (supposedly a new cult, only the name of Dionysius was changed to the name of Christ). The most successful version of the cult of Osiris was created - the cult of Christ (Christianity). Modern scientists, historians and theologians argue that Russia "became Orthodox only thanks to the baptism of Russia and the spread of Byzantine Christianity among the dark, savage Slavs mired in paganism." This formulation is very convenient for distorting history and belittling the importance of the oldest culture of all Slavic peoples.
In the modern sense, the "learned intelligentsia" identifies Orthodoxy with Christianity and the ROC (Russian Orthodox Christian Church). During the forcible baptism of the Slavic peoples of Russia, Prince Vladimir with an army massacred the recalcitrant 9 million people from the total (12 million) population of Kievan Rus alone!
Before the religious reform (1653-1656 A.D.) carried out by Patriarch Nikon, Christianity was Orthodox, but the Slavs continued to live according to the norms of Orthodoxy, the norms of Slavic Vedism, celebrating Vedic Holidays, which did not fit into the dogmas of Christianity. Therefore, Christianity began to be called Orthodox, in order to "please" the ears of the Slavs, introducing a number of ancient Orthodox rituals into Christianity, while preserving slavish essence Christianity itself. Christianity was invented to justify slavery.
The modern Christian church has no reason to be called Orthodox Christian (you have to think of something to just confuse people!).
Its correct name is Christian Orthodox (Orthodox) Church or Russian (Ukrainian) Christian Orthodox Church.
And yet, it is wrong to call fanatics of Christianity “believers”, since the word faith has nothing to do with religion. Word faith means a person's achievement of Enlightenment by Knowledge, and there are none in the Old Testament and cannot be.
The Old Testament is the Talmud adapted for non-Jews, which in turn is the history of the Jewish people, which it directly says! The events described in these books have nothing to do with the past of other peoples, with the exception of those events that were "borrowed" from other peoples to write these books.
If we consider it differently, then it turns out that all people living on Earth are Jews, because Adam and Eve were Jews.
Thus, the defenders of the biblical version of the origin of man, too, will not get anything from this - they simply have nothing to argue with.
Why in no case should the Vedic Tradition of the Slavic peoples and the Christian Orthodox religion be mixed, what are their main differences.
Russian Vedic Tradition
1.
Our Ancestors never had a religion, they had a perception of the world, they had their own ideas and a system of Knowledge. We do not need to restore the Spiritual connection between people and Gods, since this connection has not been interrupted with us, for "Our gods are our Fathers, and we are their children"
... (Slavic-Aryan Vedas).
2.
Gives a complete understanding of the concept of "Orthodoxy".
3. Source
Slavic-Aryan Vedas. They describe the events of 600 thousand years of the past, sent to us by our Ancestors.
The Slavic-Aryan Vedas describe the events of 600 thousand years of the past. Many Orthodox Traditions are hundreds of thousands of years old.
5. Freedom of choice
The Slavs treated the faiths of other peoples with respect, for they observed the Commandment: "Do not force the Holy Faith on people and remember that the choice of Faith is a personal matter for every free person."
.
6. Concept of God
Our Ancestors always said: "We are children and grandchildren"
.
Not slaves, a children and grandchildren... our Ancestors considered people who reached the level of the Creator in their development, who could influence space and matter.
7. Spirituality
There has never been slavery, either spiritual or physical, in the Slavic expanses.
8. Attitude towards Judaism
Nothing connects the Slavic Vedic Tradition with Judaism.
Our Ancestors believed that the choice of Faith is a personal matter of every free person.
9. Attitude towards Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ with his mission to "... the sheep of Israel" was sent by our Slavic Gods. It is worth remembering only who first came to greet him with gifts - the Magi. The concept exists only in the Slavic Vedic Culture. Church priests know this and hide it from the people, for which there are many reasons.
He (Jesus Christ) was the "bearer" of the Vedic Traditions.
The real teaching of Christ after his death existed in the south of France. 176th Pope Innocent III sent an army on a crusade against the true teachings of Jesus Christ - within 20 years the crusaders (they were called "the devil's army") destroyed 1 million people.
10. Essence of paradise
As such, paradise does not exist. A person must improve himself, strive to achieve the highest level of evolutionary development, and then his soul (true "I" - zhivatma) will go to the highest planetary levels.
11. Attitude towards sins
You can only forgive what is truly worthy of forgiveness. A person must understand that he will have to answer for any evil committed, and not before some mysterious God, but before himself, forcing himself to suffer cruelly.
Therefore, you need to learn from your mistakes, draw the right conclusions and not make mistakes in the future.
12. What cult is it based on?
On the cult of the Sun - the cult of Life! All calculations are made for the Yarila-Sun phases.
13. Holidays
Before the reforms of Patriarch Nikon, there were truly Orthodox Vedic holidays - the holidays of the cult of the Sun, during which the Slavic Gods were glorified! (holiday, etc.).
14. Attitude towards death
Our Ancestors were calm about, they knew about the reincarnation of souls (reincarnation), that life does not stop, that after a while the soul will incarnate in a new body and will live a new life. It doesn't matter where exactly - on Midgard-Earth again or on higher planetary levels.
15. What gives a person
Meaning of life. A person must self-actualize. Life is not given for nothing, you have to fight for beauty. The earth will not become better for a person until a person “merges” with it into one, until he fills it with his goodness and decorates it with his labor: “Holy honor your Gods and Ancestors. Live according to your Conscience and in harmony with nature. " Every life, no matter how insignificant it may seem, comes to Earth with a specific purpose.
"Orthodox" - Christian church
1.
This is religion. The word "religion" means - the artificial restoration of the Spiritual connection between people and Gods on the basis of any Teaching (Slavic-Aryan Vedas).
2.
In general, there is no concept of "Orthodoxy", and it cannot be, if we proceed from the essence of Christianity.
3. Source
80% of the Bible is the Old Testament (it consists entirely of fragments of the texts of the modern Hebrew, the so-called Masoretic Bible). "Orthodox" Christianity is based on the same Gospels as the Catholic Church and its many sects.
4. Duration ("age") of the source
The books of the Old Testament were written over a thousand years before the birth of Christ (R.H.) in the Hebrew language, the books of the New Testament were written in Greek in the 1st century BC. according to R.Kh. The Bible was translated into Russian in the middle of the 19th century, the "Old Testament" (80% of the Bible) was written before the birth of Jesus Christ.
5. Freedom of choice
Christianity was imposed on the Slavic people, as they say, "by sword and fire." Prince Vladimir from AD 988 2/3 of the population of Kievan Rus was destroyed - those who did not abandon the Vedic Faith of the Ancestors. Only the elders (who soon died themselves) and babies were left alive, who, after the death (murder) of their parents, were given to be raised in christian monasteries.
6. Concept of God
Christianity is a variation of Judaism! Both Jews and Christians have the same God - Jehovah (Yahweh). The basis of these two religions is the same "holy" book of the Torah only for Christians, it is abbreviated (removed explicit texts showing the real essence of the religion of the Jews) and is called the "Old Testament". And the God of these religions is the same - "The Devil", as Jesus Christ himself spoke of him!
(New Testament, Gospel of John, chapter 8, verses 43-44.)
The principal difference between these religions is only one thing - the recognition or non-recognition of Jesus Christ as the Messiah God Yahweh (Jehovah). Notice God Yahweh (Jehovah), not some other God.
7. Spirituality
Christianity justifies and justifies slavery! From birth, a Christian is hammered into his head with the thought that he is a slave, "Servant of god", the slave of his master, that a person should humbly accept all the hardships of his life, humbly watch how he is robbed, raped and killed by his daughters, his wife - "…all the will of God!.." The Greek religion brought spiritual and physical enslavement to the Slavic peoples. A man is living his life senselessly, killing a man in himself, he spends his life in prayer! (from the word "beg").
8. Attitude towards Judaism
Christianity is a variant of Judaism: the common God Jehovah (Yahweh), the common "holy" book - the Old Testament. But since Christians use the version of the Old Testament specially "worked" for them, then the double standard laid down in it is hidden from them: God Yahweh (Jehovah) promises the Jews (the "chosen" people) heaven on earth and all peoples as slaves, and the wealth of these peoples - as a reward for faithful service. The nations, whom he promises to the Jews as slaves, promises eternal paradise life after death, if they humbly accept the slave portion prepared for them!
Well, who doesn't like such a share - promises total annihilation.
9. Attitude towards Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ was crucified by the decision of the court of the Jewish high priests, they sacrificed him to their common with Christians (today) God Yahweh (Jehovah), as a "false prophet", during the Jewish holiday of Passover. Christianity today, being a variant of Judaism, celebrates its resurrection during the Easter holiday, "not noticing" that he was sacrificed to their common God Yahweh (Jehovah) with the Jews! And at the same time, on the chest crosses they remind of this image of the crucified Christ. But Jesus Christ called God Yahweh (Jehovah) "the devil"! (“New Testament”, “Gospel of John.” Chapter 8 verses 43-44).
10. Essence of paradise
It clearly follows from the analysis of the Old Testament that Paradise is on Eden. Earth Eden, and not on any other level, where the righteous will go after the Day of Loan. Eden-Earth (like the Land of Nod) is located in the galactic east of Midgard-Earth.
So there are no saints and righteous people in Christian Eden, at least in the one mentioned in the Old Testament!
11. Attitude towards sins
For naive believers, the deceitful idea of "forgiveness" is invented to allow them to do any evil, knowing that whatever they do, they will ultimately be forgiven. The main thing is not whether you commit a sin or not, but to repent of your sin! In the Christian understanding, a person is already born (!!!) sinful (the so-called “original sin”), and in general, the main thing for a believer is to repent, even if a person has not done anything - he is already sinful in his thoughts. And if a person is not sinful, then it was his pride that seized him, for he does not want to repent of his sins!
Sin and hurry to repent, but do not forget to donate to the “holy” church - and ... the more, the better! The main thing is not sin, a repentance! For repentance writes off all sins!
(And what is it, I wonder, Gods forget for all sins for gold ?!)
12. What cult is it based on?
Christianity is based on the lunar cult - the cult of Death! All calculations here are done by moon phases. Even the fact that Christianity promises "eternal life in paradise" for a person after death, suggests that this is a lunar cult - the cult of Death!
13. Holidays
Although Russia was forcibly baptized, she continued to adhere to the Vedic system, to celebrate Vedic Holidays. In 1653-1656. from R.Kh. Patriarch Nikon, in order to "lull" the genetic memory of the Slavs, carried out a religious reform - he replaced the Vedic Holidays with the holidays of the lunar cult. At the same time, the essence of national holidays has not changed, but the essence of what is celebrated and what is “drummed into” the masses has changed.
14. Attitude towards death
The main doctrine of Christianity is based on the notion that a person must resignedly accept everything God has prepared for him, as a punishment for sins or as a test of the firmness of faith! If a person humbly accepts all this, then “eternal paradise life” awaits him after death.
The concept of reincarnation is dangerous for Christianity, because then this bait "will not work." Therefore, the ministers of the Greek religion at the next Ecumenical Council in 1082 excluded reincarnation from their doctrine (they took and excluded the law of life!), I.e. took and "changed" physics (the same Law of Conservation of Energy), changed (!!!) Horses of the Universe!
The most interesting thing: those who promise others a paradise life after death, for some reason themselves "prefer" this paradise life, on a sinful Earth!
15. What gives a person
Renunciation of real life. Social and individual passivity. People were inspired, and they accepted the position that they themselves did not have to do anything, but only wait for the grace from above. A person must resignedly accept the slave's share and then ... after death The Lord God will reward you with heavenly life! But the dead cannot tell whether or not they received that very heavenly life ...
To comply with ethical and moral norms in society, as well as to regulate relations between an individual and a state or the highest form of spirituality (Cosmic mind, God), world religions were created. Over time, there have been schisms within every major religion. As a result of this split, Orthodoxy was formed.
Orthodoxy and Christianity
Many make the mistake of thinking that all Christians are Orthodox. Christianity and Orthodoxy are not the same thing. How do you differentiate between the two? What is their essence? Now let's try to figure it out.
Christianity is one that originated in the 1st century. BC NS. waiting for the coming of the Savior. Its formation was influenced by the philosophical teachings of that time, Judaism (one God replaced polytheism) and endless military-political clashes.
Orthodoxy is just one of the branches of Christianity that originated in the 1st millennium AD. in the eastern Roman Empire and received its official status after the split of the common Christian church in 1054.
History of Christianity and Orthodoxy
The history of Orthodoxy (orthodoxy) began as early as the 1st century A.D. This was the so-called apostolic doctrine. After the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the faithful apostles began to preach the teachings to the masses, attracting new believers into their ranks.
In the II-III centuries, orthodoxy was engaged in an active confrontation between Gnosticism and Arianism. The former rejected the Old Testament scriptures and interpreted the New Testament in their own way. The latter, under the leadership of the presbyter Arius, did not recognize the consubstantiality of the Son of God (Jesus), considering him to be the mediator between God and people.
Seven Ecumenical Councils, convened with the support of the Byzantine emperors from 325 to 879, helped to remove the contradictions between the rapidly developing heretical teachings and Christianity. The axioms established by the Councils regarding the nature of Christ and the Mother of God, as well as the approval of the Symbol of Faith, helped to form a new trend in the most powerful Christian religion.
Not only heretical concepts contributed to the development of Orthodoxy. on the West and East influenced the formation of new directions in Christianity. The different political and social views of the two empires gave rise to a crack in a single common Christian church. Gradually, it began to disintegrate into Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic (later Orthodox). The final split between Orthodoxy and Catholicism occurred in 1054, when the Pope also excommunicated each other (anathema). The division of the common Christian church was completed in 1204, together with the fall of Constantinople.
The Russian land adopted Christianity in 988. Officially, there was still no division into the Roman one, but due to the political and economic interests of Prince Vladimir, the Byzantine direction, Orthodoxy, was spread on the territory of Russia.
The essence and foundations of Orthodoxy
The foundation of any religion is faith. Without it, the existence and development of divine teachings is impossible.
The essence of Orthodoxy is contained in the Symbol of Faith, adopted at the second Ecumenical Council. On the fourth, the Nicene Creed (12 dogmas) was approved as an axiom, not subject to any change.
The Orthodox believe in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Holy Trinity). is the creator of everything earthly and heavenly. The Son of God, incarnate from the Virgin Mary, is consubstantial and only begotten in relation to the Father. The Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father through the Son and is revered no less than the Father and the Son. The Creed tells of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, indicating eternal life after death.
All Orthodox Christians belong to one church. Baptism is an obligatory ritual. When you commit it, you are freed from original sin.
It is obligatory to observe the moral standards (commandments), which were transmitted by God through Moses and voiced by Jesus Christ. All "rules of conduct" are based on help, compassion, love and patience. Orthodoxy teaches to endure any hardships of life without complaint, to accept them as the love of God and tests for sins, in order to then go to heaven.
Orthodoxy and Catholicism (main differences)
Catholicism and Orthodoxy have a number of differences. Catholicism is a branch of Christian doctrine that arose, like Orthodoxy, in the 1st century. AD in the western Roman Empire. And Orthodoxy is in Christianity, which originated in the Eastern Roman Empire. Below is a comparison table:
Orthodoxy | Catholicism |
|
Relations with the authorities | For two millennia, it was in cooperation with the secular authorities, then in its submission, then in exile. | Endowing the Pope with authority, both secular and religious. |
the Virgin Mary | The Mother of God is considered the bearer of original sin, because her nature is human. | The dogma of the integrity of the Virgin Mary (there is no original sin). |
Holy Spirit | The Holy Spirit goes from the Father through the Son | The Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Son and the Father |
Treatment of a sinful soul after death | The soul makes "ordeals". Earthly life defines eternal life. | The existence of the Last Judgment and Purgatory, where the soul is purified. |
Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition | Holy Scripture is part of Holy Tradition | Equivalent. |
Baptism | Triple immersion (or pouring) into water with communion and chrismation. | Sprinkling and pouring. All ordinances after 7 years. |
6-8 end cross with the image of God the conqueror, legs nailed with two nails. | 4-point cross with God-martyr, legs nailed with one nail. |
|
United believers | All brothers. | Each person is unique. |
Relation to rituals and sacraments | The Lord does it through the priests. | Performed by a priest endowed with divine power. |
Nowadays, the question of reconciliation between the churches very often arises. But due to significant and minor differences (for example, Catholics and Orthodox Christians cannot agree on the use of yeast or yeast-free bread in the sacraments), reconciliation is constantly being postponed. Reunification in the near future is out of the question.
The attitude of Orthodoxy to other religions
Orthodoxy is a trend that, having stood out from general Christianity as an independent religion, does not recognize other teachings, considering them false (heretical). There can be only one truly faithful religion.
Orthodoxy is a trend in religion that does not lose popularity, but, on the contrary, is gaining. And nevertheless, in the modern world it quietly coexists in the neighborhood with other religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Shinto and others.
Orthodoxy and modernity
Our time has given freedom and support to the church. Over the past 20 years, the number of believers, as well as those who consider themselves to be Orthodox, has increased. At the same time, the moral spirituality that this religion implies, on the contrary, has fallen. A huge number of people perform rituals and attend church mechanically, that is, without faith.
The number of churches and parish schools attended by believers has increased. An increase in external factors only partially affects the internal state of a person.
The Metropolitan and other clergymen hope that, nevertheless, those who have consciously adopted Orthodox Christianity will be able to spiritually succeed.
There are many differences between Slavic and Christianity. The most important of them should be highlighted. They were designated by the Christian Church in the 17th century, becoming one of the main reasons for the persecution of the followers of the Old Slavic Orthodox faith - those who are usually called Old Believers. Baptism with two fingers had a sacred meaning. The fact is that the sacrament of baptism also appeared long before Christianity, it was taught by the Magi. In double-fingered baptism, the middle finger symbolizes God, and the index finger symbolizes man. Thus, two-fingered denoted the oneness of man with God.
The custom to be baptized from right to left also came from Slavic Orthodoxy and survived in Orthodox Christianity. For the ancient Slavs, baptism from right to left meant the victory of light over darkness and truth over falsehood.
The symbol of faith for Christians is Jesus Christ himself, and for the Orthodox Slavs and Old Believers - the ancient equilateral cross, which was originally enclosed in a solar circle. Such a cross symbolized the path of Pravda (in other words - Pravda), the starting point for which was the moment of sunrise.
True, the light of life and fate in Slavic Orthodoxy
The truth and light of life in the tradition of Slavic Orthodoxy were symbolized by odd numbers. Hence, to this day, the existing tradition has arisen to give an odd number of flowers for the holidays, and an even one - to bring, for which the light of life has already gone out.
In Slavic Orthodoxy, there was an idea of fate, embodied in faith in women in labor - the heavenly mistresses of the world and the most ancient goddesses of fate. It also contained the concept of God's judgment, mentioned even in the "Lay of Igor's Campaign."
Christianity that came to Russia for centuries existed side by side with Orthodoxy and became Orthodox Christianity. Realizing how strongly Christianity mixed with Slavic Orthodoxy, Patriarch Nikon decided to correct it according to the Greek canons. As a result, Nikon's reform led not only to the persecution of the Old Believers, but also to the destruction of the preserved heritage of Slavic Orthodoxy.
In Christianity, the Orthodox are not even mentioned. However, the bright appearance of Jesus Christ took root on Russian soil, turned into one of the most important components of Russian culture. In fact, Christianity and are just different ways to comprehend one God, and therefore they are equally worthy of respect. The difference between Slavic Orthodoxy lies in the fact that it stands closer to the spiritual sources of ancient Russian culture.