Extracts from the holy fathers against lust, lust, drunkenness and gluttony, and about asceticism. I want to love and be loved, not just used. A prodigal demon will not be driven away by any, even the most skillful doctor

Fornication (or prodigal passion) is particularly cunning. She is able to take over the mind of a person and the process of indulging her often becomes the only stimulus to life. To shield their passion for fornication, many give it the name "love", although in reality they mean not a pure and bright feeling, but only a physical desire to satisfy their sexual needs. You will learn more about fornication and methods of dealing with it from this material. Speaking about prodigal passion with its psychological aspects, it is necessary to mandatory touch on the Christian understanding of the meaning of the relationship between a man and a woman. That is, the main life task that the Creator sets for people. To consider this topic most objectively, one should study patristic anthropology (the doctrine of man). The Church considers the emergence of any kind of passions as a distortion of the human essence after a person has committed the act of sin. Christian teaching states that there is one main reason for committing sins - human selfishness, that is, the feeling of a person's wrong love for oneself. It is from here that all human passions and vices begin to grow. Prodigal passion is no exception. Please note that the words "fornication" and "get lost", "wander" have one root. And this means that when a person falls into fornication, he begins to wander far from the Truth. Having admitted into himself a vicious fornication passion, a person inevitably commits not only physical, but also spiritual fornication, as a result of which he moves away, alienates himself from the Creator. The Almighty in His parables reveals to people the sacred secrets of spiritual life and the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who have read the Bible know the parable of the prodigal son. It examines bodily, spiritual fornication and subsequent repentance. The parable, literally and figuratively, demonstrates to us the main meaning of fornication (that is, wandering away from oneself, from the Creator and true love). The Lord created man in his own image and likeness and endowed him with various gifts. So, people have the power of words, and the power of reason and high feelings. Man possesses truly colossal capabilities and power. But the problem is, does he really always spend his energy on what is needed? Patristic anthropology says that a person has only two paths. One of them is to be adopted by God. And the second is to indulge yourself, give in to your passions and whims, and this is the path leading to the death of the human soul. How fornication is related to pride We have already written about the fact that the process of the appearance of any passions is the result of the Fall. To put it another way, at the moment when a person decides to do without the Lord, he begins to put himself in his place, he is overwhelmed with pride, vanity and self-deception - all these are signs of a distortion of our nature. It turns out that each of human passions is a consequence of pride - the arrogant intention of a person to arrange his life on his own, without divine intervention. All passions have a close connection with each other and have a mutual effect on each other. For example, the passion for fornication is the result of pride. How does this mechanism work? The priests are convinced that if the Almighty allowed the Devil to have complete power over a person, then the demons would simply tear people to pieces. But the merciful Lord allows the devilish force to act on a person only to the extent that he is able to resist it, resist temptation. When a person is subject to the passion of pride (which is blinding), he ceases to see pride in himself and the Lord, in order to pacify him, allows the demon of fornication to attack him. And only by enduring this pernicious passion, which is always felt by a person and always torments him, a person realizes that he is proud. According to the holy fathers, the demon of fornication has power over a person solely for the purpose of pacifying pride, because it is such a disgusting vice that everyone tries to hide it, are ashamed of it and do not push it out. Although today fornication is becoming more and more popular in its various forms and they are even beginning to be proud and exalted. It turns out that we can observe a close connection between the demon of fornication and the demon of pride. But the Almighty does not always quickly free a person from the passion of fornication in order to prevent the development of pride - the most dangerous of all passions. Suffering from the passion of fornication, a person begins to understand that this vice often indicates his pride or desire to condemn other people. We can observe a wonderful example from the revelation of the priest Paisius the Holy Mountain. He talks about the fact that one day he faced a strong temptation to the passion of fornication. He set himself the goal of eliminating this temptation at all costs: he began reading prayers. However, the abuse not only did not stop, but began to intensify even more. At some point, Paisius suddenly remembered that quite recently he had condemned a woman who also suffered from prodigal passion. And his condemnation was harsh enough. Then he could not even think how powerful this passion is and, probably, inside himself began to exalt over it. As soon as this episode appeared in his memory, he sincerely repented that he had condemned the woman unjustly and the passion immediately left him. This is a great example of how God sends us passion to keep us from pride. It is called to call upon humility and repentance and to deliver a person from the sin of condemning his neighbors. What psychologists say about the passion of fornication Having dealt with the opinion of the clergy regarding the passion of fornication, let's move on to what psychologists think about this sin. Psychologists say that often one problem actually has completely different roots. For example, parents come to a psychologist and complain that their child is misbehaving, but in reality they themselves do not give him any free will. Or a person complains that everyone treats him unfairly, although in reality he himself does not pay due attention to other people. It is the same with the passion of fornication. When a specialist begins practical work with a patient, he often finds a number of completely different grounds and violations, problems. Considering sexual addiction, it should be noted that it has existential spiritual components - a deep unconscious fear of death, supplanted by a feeling of inner emptiness, inner loneliness. It happens that there are completely different violations: different types of psychological childhood trauma; sexual abuse (if it happened in a young age); bad, pathological relationships in the child's family. All the factors described above begin to "throw" a person into dependence on sex, because in this way he is trying to seek for himself a kind of "anesthesia", an illusory consolation. In reality, of course, he does not receive any consolation, but only begins to sink into the depths and depths of this dependence, losing healthy and correct life guidelines. Fornication is actually a much more fundamental problem than just sex addiction. She has a significant connection with the spiritual sphere of the person. Fornication is a kind of escape, the escape of a person from something, in some cases - the search for a false goal. The person begins to wander, trying to find something, her soul is in a rush, but he is looking in the wrong place, therefore he does not find anything. This applies not only to fornication, but also to other passions. The main goal of each passion is to take possession of a person at all levels: bodily, mental and spiritual. It is by the spiritual level that one can determine the relationship of a person with the Creator. Therefore, to fight with passion - it means not just to eliminate prodigal thoughts from your head, as many may mistakenly think. It means to fight for the personality of a person, for his perfection, in the religion of Christians - for the salvation of the soul of the righteous. If a person turns to a psychologist for help, then his task will be not just to indicate the means of confronting this passion, but in the direction of the person so that he begins to reveal his best qualities of the soul, learns to fully accept himself. Then, in the end of such self-disclosure, all prodigal thoughts will disappear from thoughts. The fight against fornication in the church The clergy say that the first stage in the fight against fornication should be abstinence in food (as stated in the Holy Scriptures: “It is necessary to punish your thoughts with scarcity of food so that your thoughts are occupied with hunger and not fornication”). And, therefore, fasting is required, since the testimonies of the holy fathers indicate that the passion of fornication arises precisely as a result of gluttony. “The pillar stands firmly on its foundation, and in the same way the lust of lust rests on satiety” (the saying of Nile of Sinai). The abuse of alcoholic beverages will also pose a particular danger. Indeed, under the influence of alcohol, a person, firstly, is not able to give a sober assessment of his actions and control his desires. Secondly, it is alcoholic beverages that can kindle the passion of lust. You don't need to look for examples of this too long. It is not for nothing that many sexual adventures are far from being sober. And here we are talking not only about the lost control, because it often happens that in a state of alcoholic intoxication, a person is able to do something that does not even come to his mind when sober. Although it still depends on the amount drunk. It is no secret that at a certain stage of alcoholic intoxication, sexual desire, in principle, disappears and the act of copulation becomes completely unattractive or even impossible. In this case, the demon of fornication is replaced by the demon of despondency. Prodigal passion provokes the development of many other sins and bad deeds, namely: prodigal irritation; prodigal sensations and the situation in which the heart and soul of a person find themselves; accepting impure thoughts, talking with them, delighting in them, indulging them and slowing down in them; prodigal dreams and captivity; non-storage of feelings, especially touch, which is the most important insolence that can destroy all virtues; swearing and reading voluptuous literature. To achieve success in the fight against the passion of fornication, you will need, first of all, a clearly formed intention. The first thing is to clarify and strengthen motivation. And for this you need to answer a few questions. Moreover, this must be done in writing: Think about how wonderful you will feel with overcoming prodigal passion (relationships with girls will be established, in the future it will be possible to create a strong happy family, get rid of anxiety and tension, become more joyful and more free inside). For what reasons you do not want to eliminate this passion (for example, you do not believe that everything will work out, you will need to spend too much time on the struggle, which you do not have enough, you will have to do your inner life, and you do not know how to do it). Describe the consequences that this passion is fraught with (for example, the fear of being alone, that you will not be able to create a stable relationship, a family, more and more isolate yourself from others, you are used to getting rid of stress and anxiety using this method and have no idea how it is can be done in another way). How firm is your decision to eliminate fornication. Mobilize all your will and be sure to ask the Almighty for help. It is imperative that you establish yourself in your motivation, because it is she who will give you a boost of strength and energy that will help you cope with failures and mistakes. We need energy in order not to give up in any way, but to continue working on ourselves. You must have enough patience, and also always remember that only God's help will support you in this difficult task. And then you will certainly succeed. In conclusion In conclusion, it is necessary to say more about the fact that passion in absolutely any form (meaning not only fornication) ends in bondage and internal slavery. If we open the New Testament, then in it we find the words of the Apostle Paul: "You are brothers, called to freedom!" A person often does not know how to adequately dispose of his freedom and does not understand true value this feeling. Then he begins to substitute self-will for freedom, finding himself imprisoned in the slavery of sins. The Christian religion is a given opportunity for a person to gain freedom with the help of Jesus Christ. "The truth will be revealed to you and thanks to the truth you will find freedom." Therefore, if a person wants to achieve a sustainable result in eliminating his passion, then he should work hard and actively develop his Christian worldview. If a person does not have a rooted Christian consciousness, he will not be able to solve this problem. Since society is mostly sinful, sin is a powerful factor that generates all kinds of temptation. The process of becoming a true Christian is never quick, and often it becomes very difficult and painful - like any birth. In this case, a new person is born in Christ. Thanks to Orthodox Church a person can repent of their sins. And this is a wonderful opportunity to revise your actions, thoughts and feelings, which allows you to avoid the temptation to find yourself in a similar situation again, but at the same time does not allow the development of despondency and melancholy from the realization of your sinfulness. Each person always has the right to choose - either die hungry in a foreign land, grazing pigs, similarly prodigal son or return to your Father's house.
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Extracts from the holy fathers against lust, lust, drunkenness and gluttony, and on asceticism

Against lust:

"The temple of God is holy: and this temple is you." (1 Cor. 3:17)

Let us strive for purity even to death and be kept from all impurity that is not inherent in nature, according to the words of the firstborn among the prophets - Moses. In particular, let us beware of debauchery. The angels fell and were cast out of their state of glory and honor, allowing their eyes to look unacceptable. There is nothing worse than looking lustfully at a woman. Many perished because of women ... Do not be slaves to nasty passions below natural passions, nor shameful lusts that are so vile before God. Write the name of God on your hearts; let the voice in you ceaselessly ring out: "you are the temple of God" (1 Cor. 3:16) and the place of the Holy Spirit. A person deceived by impure lust is like dumb beasts before God, devoid of all consciousness. Venerable Anthony the Great.

Fornication is intensified from five reasons: from idle talk, vanity, a lot of sleep, from a tendency to beautiful clothes, from satiety. He who wants to remove from himself the abuse of fornication, let him be kept from the above-mentioned reasons for it ... for passions hold on to one another, like links in a chain. Rev. Abba Isaiah.

The Apostle said: "Fornication and all uncleanness and covetousness should not even be called among you, as is fitting for the saints" (Eph. 5: 3). Fornication is a sin committed by the body. Uncleanness is a passionate touch of one's own and another's body, laughter and free treatment of others. A monk must maintain continuous sobriety, so as not to faint in attention, so that the passions do not harm him in any way. Sayings of nameless elders.

Fornication is ignited first in the soul of a voluptuary, and then produces bodily corruption. Saint Gregory of Nyssa.

The spirit of fornication is not limited to subjecting one person to dishonor; his comrades immediately join him; feasts, drunkenness, shameful stories and an obscene woman who drinks together, smiles at one, seduces the other and inflames everyone to the same sin, is this infection really small, is such a spread of evil unimportant? Saint Gregory of Nyssa.

A woman who dresses up to arouse the lust of the intemperate is already committing adultery in her heart. Saint Basil the Great.

The fornicator harms himself, he pierces himself with the arrow of dishonor. The thief decides to steal in order to feed the body, and the fornicator takes care of robbing his own flesh. The covetous man is encouraged to steal by the thought of self-interest, while fornication is detrimental to the purity of the body. The glory of another causes suffering to the envious, but the fornicator himself commits his own dishonor. For what is more dishonorable than the burden of the fornication of a garment? Saint Gregory of Nyssa.

"If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will punish him" (1 Cor. 3:17), - says the Holy Scripture ... Strongly resist the demon of fornication; do not agree to be carried away by thought, because the spark ignites coals and bad wishes multiply from a bad thought. Try to destroy the memories of them too. Monk Ephraim the Syrian.

Adultery is rooted out in himself by one who turns his eyes downward and his soul toward the Lord. Monk Ephraim the Syrian.

Those who commit adultery feel ashamed if even one person sees them; in what shame should they appear there when heaven and earth gaze at them? Monk Ephraim the Syrian.

Completely remove from you adultery, for they will cast those who remain guilty of them into the pit of destruction. Monk Ephraim the Syrian.

If prodigal passion is struggling with you, depress your body with deeds, with humility falling before God, and you will find peace. Rev. Abba Isaiah.

If you feel a prodigal battle in yourself, then incessantly depress yourself with vigilance, hunger and thirst, humbling yourself before everyone. Rev. Abba Isaiah.

Woe to the fornicator who defiles the wedding garment! With shame he is expelled from the royal bridal chamber. Venerable Nilus of Sinai.

It is in your power to either feed [the demon of fornication] with indecent deeds, or with anger put him to flight with prayers, psalmics, fasting, vigils. Venerable Nilus of Sinai.

The pillar rests on the foundation, and the lust rests on satiety. Venerable Nilus of Sinai.

Adultery ... violates the condition of marriage, humiliates the nobility of children, breaks family ties and upsets the entire human life.

We move away from God not by place, but by deeds. For the first is impossible, as the prophet says: "Where will I go from Thy Spirit, and where will I flee from Thy presence?" (Psalm 139: 7). But sins separate us from God. Saint John Chrysostom.

He who gazes at a woman lustfully, whether he is a layman or a monk, will be equally punished for adultery. Saint John Chrysostom.

When a husband turns his heart to another, then, being divided in soul and already ruled by the devil himself, he fills his house with all sorrow. And if the wife is carried away by a similar passion, then everything turns upside down to the very bottom. Saint John Chrysostom.

The temptations of this sin are strong, and nothing excites (adolescence) more than this passion. Therefore, we will shield them (young) from everywhere with advice, exhortations, fear and threats. Saint John Chrysostom.

Why are you staring at someone else's face? Why are you striving into the abyss? Why are you plunging yourself into the net? Protect your eyes, cover your sight, lay the law in your eyes, listen to Christ, Who, threatening, equates a shameless look with adultery. Saint John Chrysostom.

What is the use of pleasure if it ... exposes incessant fear, eternal torment? Isn't it much better, having a little restrained the power of your thoughts, to be rewarded with eternal joy, than to suffer endlessly for a little pleasure from vicious wishes? Saint John Chrysostom.

He who loves to look at beautiful faces, most of all, kindles the flame of passion in himself and, making the soul a prisoner of passion, soon begins to fulfill the wish. Saint John Chrysostom.

If you want to look and enjoy your gaze, then look constantly at your wife and love her; no law forbids it. If you look at someone else's beauty, you will offend both your wife, turning your gaze away from her, and the one you are looking at, because you touch her contrary to the law. Saint John Chrysostom.

Don't say: what if I gazed at a beautiful woman? If you commit adultery in your heart, you will soon dare to commit it in the flesh. Saint John Chrysostom.

Fornication finds a helper in the property of the body .... Where fornication, the devil dwells there. Saint John Chrysostom.

Do not offend yourself, man, do not reject the whole armor of the Holy Spirit, so that your enemies do not easily defeat you; take the shield of repentance, and repel the arrows of lust. Saint John Chrysostom.

Avoid fornication that defiles our soul and body; fornication, which removes us from God and from the saints; fornication, which has prepared for us an eternal and unquenchable fire. Saint John Chrysostom.

[Adultery is] a consequence of vanity, sensual inflamedness, and excessive voluptuousness. Saint John Chrysostom.

Fornication makes people dishonest, pitiful, ridiculous and despicable among people, does what the enemy could do. And often fornication plunged into disease and danger. Many even died at the hands of harlots. Saint John Chrysostom.

Avoid adultery, remembering that, falling into it, you simultaneously become a breaker of the law, and kill your body, and dishonor yourself, and torment your soul, and dishonor your race, and anger God. Saint John Chrysostom.

If your brother has seduced, do not vilify him offensive words don't make fun of him. You will not do him any good, but you will only harm him. Saint John Chrysostom.

Think, how can a fornicator enter the church after fellowship with a harlot? How will he stretch out his arms to the sky, with which he hugged her? How dare he pray with the lips with which he kissed the harlot? Saint John Chrysostom.

If it were only bodily impurity, you could, as you should, purify yourself by washing. But since the fornicator has defiled and made the whole soul unclean, let him seek such a cleansing agent that could wash away its defilement. And if he does not do this, then at least he proceeded from all the river sources, he will not be able to remove even the smallest part of this sin. Saint John Chrysostom.

Better, of course, not to be familiar with this vile sin at all. But if anyone has slipped, let him continue to use such means that can eliminate the very essence of sin, promising never to fall into this sin again. If we, in sinning, although we condemn the committed sin, but again take it for the same, then there will be no benefit to us from cleansing. Saint John Chrysostom.

We are faced with a feat against the spirit of fornication, this fight is more prolonged than others, constant and cruel. In it, very few achieve complete victory. Starting to disturb from a young age, it does not stop until other passions are defeated. Since the attack is twofold, on the body and on the soul, then we must resist with two weapons, otherwise it is impossible to win only if both the body and the soul fight together. Bodily fasting alone is not enough to acquire or maintain the purity of chastity, unless a broken spirit and constant prayer against this unclean spirit precede. Then you need a prolonged meditation on the Holy Scriptures with spiritual understanding, work and handicrafts, curbing the fickle wanderings of the heart. And first of all, true humility must be put into the foundation, without which no vice cannot be overcome.

If we want to legally pursue spiritual exploits and defeat the unclean spirit of fornication ... we need to rely not on our own strength (for this cannot be done by human effort), but on the help of God. For the soul inevitably suffers attacks from this passion until it realizes that it is waging a war that exceeds its strength, and cannot win through its own diligence and labor, unless it is backed up by the help and protection of the Lord.

Correction of this vice-fornication mainly depends on the perfection of the heart, from which, according to the word of the Lord, sickness emanates ... (Matt. 15, 19). Therefore, first it is necessary to cleanse the heart, which contains the source of life and death, as Solomon says: "Most of all that is preserved, keep your heart, because from it are the sources of life" (Proverbs 4:23). For the flesh is subject to his will and power, and therefore with special zeal it is necessary to observe strict fasting so that the flesh, resisting the suggestions of the soul, by outraging, does not expel its ruler-spirit. However, if we attach all importance only to taming the body, and the soul does not also abstain from other vices and is not occupied with divine reflection, then we will in no way be able to ascend to the very top of true integrity when the main thing in us is to violate the purity of the body. So, according to the Lord, we must first cleanse "the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside of them may also be clean" (Matt. 23, 26). Venerable John Cassian the Roman (Abba Kheremon).

There should be no doubt that the passion of fornication and uncleanness can be destroyed in us, because the apostle commanded to cut them off in the same way as covetousness, idle talk, ridicule, theft, the cutting off of which is convenient. Venerable John Cassian the Roman (Abba Kheremon).

But for each of us who fights with all our might against the spirit of fornication, victory is not to expect the means (to victory) from our efforts [but from God]. Venerable John Cassian the Roman (Abba Kheremon).

He who, through bodily labor and sweat, wages war with this rival (the prodigal demon), he is like one who has bound his enemy with a weak rope ... He who fights against him with abstinence and vigilance is like one who has surrounded his enemy with iron chains ... Who is armed with humility, anger and thirst , he is like one who killed his opponent and buried him in the sand.

Do not think to overthrow the demon of fornication with objections and proofs, for he has many convincing excuses, for he fights against us with the help of our nature. Venerable John Climacus.

He who attempts to satisfy prodigal abuse by abstinence alone is like a man who thinks to swim out of the abyss by moving one hand. Combine humility with abstinence, for the former is useless without the latter. Venerable John Climacus.

This demon (prodigal) more carefully than all others watches for an opportunity to catch us, and when he sees that we cannot pray against him bodily, then he especially attacks us. Venerable John Climacus.

Our inhuman enemy and teacher of fornication instills that God is loving for mankind and that He will soon forgive this passion as natural. Venerable John Climacus.

The devil, out of jealousy, raised a fight against you. Take care of your eyes and do not eat until you are full. Drink a little wine, and then because of the weakness of the body, if necessary. Acquire the humility that breaks all enemy networks. The Monk Abba Dorotheos.

“But I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for the guilt of fornication, gives her an excuse to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 5:32). Moses commanded that he who hated his wife should divorce her, so that something worse would not happen, because the hated one could be killed. But such a husband was obliged to give his wife a divorce, which was called a vacation, so that the ex-wife would not return to him and there would be no trouble if he began to live with another ... The Lord does not violate the Mosaic Law, but corrects it and forbids the husband to hate his wife without guilt. If he leaves her for a valid reason, that is, for adultery, he is not subject to condemnation, and if not for adultery, then he is subject to court, because by this he forces her to commit adultery. But he also becomes an adulterer who takes her, because if no one took her, she, perhaps, would return to her former husband and submit to him ... And a Christian should be a peacemaker for strangers, especially for her own the wife that God united to him. Blessed Theophylact.

But maybe someone will say: what an offense to Christ God from the fact that someone defiles his body with a prodigal sin? Truly, this is a great offense to Him, for the body of every Christian is not his, but Christ's, according to the words of Scripture: "You are the body of Christ, and individually you are members" (1 Cor. 12:27). And it is not fitting for you to defile and defile the body of Christ with carnal, voluptuous deeds, except for legal marriage. For you are the house of Christ, according to the apostle: "The temple of God is holy; and this temple is you" (1 Cor. 3:17); and would not he who wanted to drive the owner out of his own house inflict the greatest offense on him? Yes, I would. And the master driven out of his house would take a sword or something else and raise a rebuke against the one who drove him out. Likewise, Christ the Lord, driven out by us from ourselves, from His own house, by our wicked carnal deeds, suffers an offense from us and takes the sword in hand to repay us for His offense.
Let us see how displeasing to the Lord is anyone who does not struggle with the passions of his body, does not win, but loves them, who does not quench the fire of lust in himself, but kindles it even more, attracted by voluptuousness, as the Scriptures say: “everyone is tempted, being carried away and being deceived by his own lust "(James 1:14).
But whoever wants to stubbornly resist his passions for the love of Christ, how can he overcome them? By killing yourself. "Put to death," says St. Paul, "your earthly members" (Col. 3: 5). Such was this holy ascetic, who said to himself: "I subdue and enslave my body" (1 Cor. 9:27). And no one can otherwise conquer his flesh, overwhelmed by passions, but by mortifying it ... Everyone himself can see enough in the lives of the saints how many exhausted themselves with various mortifications, extinguishing the flame of carnal lust in themselves. Suffice it to say that he who has killed his passions is a good ascetic and a bloodless martyr. Saint Demetrius of Rostov.

Fornication is poison that mortifies the soul Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

Whoever fornicates denies Christ. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

The sin of fornication has the property that it unites two bodies, although not legally, into one body. For this reason, although he is forgiven immediately after repentance and confession, under the indispensable condition that the repentant leave him, but the cleansing and sobering of the body and soul from prodigal sin requires a long time, so that the connection and unity established between the bodies ... and those who infected the soul, became dilapidated and destroyed.

In the New Testament (the sin of fornication) received a new weight, because human bodies received a new dignity. They have become members of the Body of Christ, and the violator of purity is already inflicting dishonor on Christ, dissolving union with Him ... The love-lover is executed by spiritual death, [from him] the Holy Spirit retreats, the sinner is recognized as having fallen into mortal sin ... the pledge of imminent death ... if this sin is not cured in due time by repentance.

It is very important to preserve the body from falling into fornication, but this alone is not enough for God-loving purity that sees God. We have an indispensable duty to cleanse the very soul from voluptuous thoughts, dreams and sensations. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

Bodily lust fades away from confession more than from fasting and vigilance. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

The Mosaic Law forbade adultery. The Lord forbade carnal lust. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

Vanity in relation to true glory is fornication.

Those who have not yet acquired true heartfelt prayer are helped (in the struggle with the prodigal demon) by suffering in bodily prayer ... Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

The gratification of carnal desires makes a particularly heavy impression on us. The Fathers call them defilers of the spiritual temple of God. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

It was never so timely as in that period to instill in Gentile Christians abstinence from fornication, because the corruption of pagan morals never reached such a degree as in that period. The Jews, it is impossible not to tell the truth, of all the tribes could be considered the people of the purest morality, but they also looked at this sin not as a crime against morality, because such a view was established only by Christianity. As for the pagans, even Socrates did not consider fornication to be reprehensible, and Cicero argued that not one of the moralists even thought of imposing a prohibition on this matter. The view of the sensuality of the ancient man has changed in the new due to the purity that breathes and which every page of the New Testament instills. The basis for such a change in outlook is the highest moral truths taught to the world in the teachings of the Lawgiver and the Lord. But the duty of justice requires giving thanks to the one whose teaching was a broad explanation of these great truths - the Apostle Paul. If the insane waste of the precious gifts of life should be considered a terrible disaster for individuals and nations, if debauchery is a curse and shame, eating at the root of human happiness much faster than all other vices, and if, on the contrary, the blush of modesty on young cheeks is considered one of the most precious accessories of youth, then a true benefactor, under the influence of the spiritual and moral teachings of which these truths were sown and grew in the hearts of young men of every Christian country, one should be recognized who, under the influx of the grace of the All-Holy Spirit, with greater clarity, with greater calmness, with great conviction, than anyone else, explained the vileness, humiliation, infectiousness of sin, through the body that betrays and spreads its poison to the soul, which also has that special property that destroys the soul of more than one person, but makes him responsible before God for blocking the path to salvation other personalities. Barsov M.V.

In Lower Egypt, there was a certain hermit who was famous because he was silent alone in a cell in a desolate place. According to the action of Satan, a certain woman of depraved behavior, having heard about the hermit, said to the young men who were her acquaintances: "What will you give me if I depose your hermit?" They agreed to reward her generously. She went out in the evening, as if she had lost her way, came to the hermit's cell, knocked on the door. He came out, seeing her, was embarrassed and asked: "How did you come here?" She feigned tears and replied: "I lost my way." Having compassion on her, he led her into the vestibule in front of the cell, and he himself entered the cell and locked the door behind him. But she began to shout: "Abba! Beasts will eat me here!" He was again embarrassed, but at the same time he was afraid of the Judgment of God for his cruel act and said to himself: "Where did this attack come from for me?" Opening the door, he led her into the cell. Then the devil began to kindle his heart with the arrows of lust. Realizing that the devil was at work here, the hermit said to himself: "The path of the enemy is darkness, and the Son of God is light." With these words, he lit the lamp. Feeling that lust is kindled more and more, he said: "Since those who satisfy lust will go to torment, try yourself, can you withstand the eternal fire?" With these words, he placed one of the fingers of his hand over the fire of the lamp. The finger began to burn, but he did not feel pain due to the extraordinary ignition of carnal passion, and until the daybreak he burned all his fingers on his hand. The woman, seeing what the hermit was doing, seemed to be petrified with horror. Early in the morning the aforementioned young men came to the hermit and asked him: "Did a woman come here late at night?" He replied: "She came. Here she is, sleeping there." The young men, coming up to her, found her dead and said: "Abba! She is dead." Then he, opening the little robe in which he was, showed them his hands: "This is what this daughter of the devil did to me. But the Scripture says that one cannot repay evil for evil." After praying, he raised the dead woman to life. She repented and spent the rest of her life piously. Puffiness.

A disciple of a holy elder was overcome by the spirit of fornication, but with the help of the grace of God he courageously resisted the foul and unclean thoughts of his heart, very diligent in fasting, prayer and handicraft. The blessed elder, seeing his intensified deed, said: "If you want, son, I will pray to the Lord that He will take away the abuse from you." The disciple replied: "Father! Although I work, I see and feel good fruit in myself: because of this battle, I fast more and more exercise in vigils and prayers. But I ask you: pray to the merciful Lord to give me strength to endure the abuse and to strive legally. " Then the holy elder said to him: "Now I have learned that you have correctly understood that by this invisible battle with the spirits, through patience, the eternal salvation of your soul is accomplished." Puffiness.

A certain brother had the abuse of fornication. He went to the elder and told him about his thoughts. The elder instructed him, comforted him, and let him go in peace. The brother, feeling the benefit, returned to his cell. But then the abuse came again. He again went to the elder and did this several times. The elder did not insult him, but instructed him not only not to go into relaxation, but, on the contrary, to come to him every time, denouncing the enemy when he begins to attack. Thus, the elder said, the enemy, being exposed, will retreat: nothing is so contrary to the spirit of fornication as when his business is opened, and nothing brings him such joy as when the thoughts he brings are hidden. Puffiness.

Once the devil erected such fleshly warfare in the arduous body of Saint Ignatius that he, being burned by this hellish flame, fell to the ground and lay for a long time like half-dead, then he came to his guardian Elder Akaki and, explaining his misfortune to him, asked him for consolation. The good old man, as befits, consoled and confirmed him with divine words and examples of holy men. After that blessed ascetic came to church, took the icon of the Mother of God in his hands and kissed it, with tears asking the Ever-Virgin to help him in trouble and deliver him from this intolerable battle and the devil's obsession. The Divine Bride did not leave her slave to be tempted more than he could: by the grace of the Mother of God, a certain ineffable and indescribable fragrance surrounded him, and from that time this deadly battle left him. Athos Patericon.

Against lust:

Many who are tempted by voluptuousness commit fornication with thought; preserving the virginity of the body, they corrupt the virginity of the soul. Beloved! It is necessary to renounce the delight in prodigal thoughts and dreams, from communication with them and attention to them, according to the instruction of Scripture: "Most of all that is kept guard your heart, because from it are the sources of life" (Proverbs 4:23). Avva Gerontius.

Keeping the heart from sinful thoughts is the primary reason and essence of salvation. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

"But I tell you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). Jesus Christ forbids here not every desire, but the desire that is born in us from the view of women. For the one who loves to look at beautiful faces mostly ignites the flame of passion within himself, makes the soul a captive, and after that he soon begins to fulfill the wish ... by lust ", that is, someone who produces desire in himself, who, without any compulsion, draws this beast into his calm heart; this no longer happens from nature, but from negligence ... That is why the Savior did not at all forbid looking at women, but only forbade looking at them with lust. Saint John Chrysostom.

“If your right eye tempts you, pluck it out and throw it away from you, for it is better for you that one of your members perish, and not your whole body was cast into Gehenna” (Matthew 5:29). The Savior did not speak these words about the members. He nowhere condemns the flesh, but everywhere he accuses a corrupted will. It is not your eye that looks, but your mind and heart look through it. If the soul is turned to other objects, the eye often does not see the objects in front of us. Therefore, not everything should be attributed to the action of the eye. If Christ spoke of the members, he would not speak of one eye, the right, but both. Because if someone is seduced with the right eye, he is undoubtedly seduced by the left. So why did the Savior only mention the right eye and the right hand? Because you know that we are not talking about members, but about people who have a close relationship with us. So, if you love someone so that you rely on him as on your right eye, and recognize him so useful that you consider him for your right hand, if he corrupts your soul, then cut off such a person from yourself. Saint John Chrysostom.

Prodigal lust must be suppressed by memory, which for this sin greatly torments and torments the conscience. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

"Everyone who looks at a woman ... has already committed adultery with her" (Matthew 5:28). What if, living in society, one cannot but look at women? But it is not just "who looks at a woman ... commits adultery", but "who looks with lust."
Look - look, and keep your heart on a leash. Look through the eyes of children who look at women purely, without any bad thoughts. Women should also be loved, for they are not excluded from the commandment of love for neighbors, but with pure love, which thinks about the soul and spiritual kinship, among other things ... In Christianity, as before God, "there is no male or female" ( Gal. 3:28), and in the mutual relations of Christians. In all respects, you will say, it is difficult. Yes, there is no struggle without struggle, but struggle presupposes the unwillingness of evil; unwillingness by the merciful Lord is imputed to purity. Bishop Theophan the Recluse.

The holy fathers praise certain persons who are glorious in their Christian life, which consists in the fact that they were resurrected before the General Resurrection. What is the secret of such a life? In that they have assimilated the characteristics of life after the Resurrection, as indicated in the word of God, and made them determinative in themselves. The future life seems to be detached from everything fleshly: there they neither marry nor encroach, they will not eat dead food there, and the body itself will receive the spiritual.

So, whoever lives detached from everything fleshly takes into himself or regains in himself the elements of the future life after the Resurrection. Get to the point where everything flesh is frozen in you, and you will rise before the Future Resurrection. The way to this is indicated by the apostle when he says: "walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16). And he certifies that this path can certainly achieve the desired: "he who sows to the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Gal. B, 8). Bishop Theophan the Recluse.

Against drunkenness:

If a lot of wine is drunk, it becomes like a tormentor who burst into the fortress, who from its height produces incessant rebellions in his soul, without denying himself any unlawful demand, but first of all, having enslaved reason, mixes and frustrates the entire conscious order of life: the voice makes it loud, arouses obscene laughter, rash anger, unbridled lust, a fierce and frenzied passion for all lawless pleasure. Saint Basil the Great.

Drunkenness is the beginning of atheism, for it darkens the mind, by which God is usually most cognized. Saint Basil the Great.

The Lord accepts the fasting person inside the sacred fences, but does not allow the drunkard there, as bad and alien to the shrine. Saint Basil the Great.

Avoid drinking so that it no longer separates you from God. Saint Basil the Great.

Drunkenness gives no place to the Lord, drunkenness drives away the Holy Spirit. Saint Basil the Great.

Fasting and prayer will not enter a soul defiled by drunkenness. Saint Basil the Great.

Drunkenness is enmity against God. Saint Basil the Great.

Drunkenness is the mother of vice, resistance to virtue; it makes the courageous timid, the chaste - lustful, does not know the truth, takes away prudence. Saint Basil the Great.

Drunkenness is a voluntarily invoked demon that invades the soul through voluptuousness. Saint Basil the Great.

Wine drowns reason and mind and stirs up passions and voluptuousness. Saint Basil the Great.

Do not drink wine to the point of ecstasy, so as not to be deprived of Divine joy. Rev. Abba Isaiah.

He who spends his time in drunkenness, revelry and gorging has fallen under the cruel power of the devil. Saint John Chrysostom.

Drunkenness is the root of all evil. Saint John Chrysostom.

A drunkard is a living dead. Saint John Chrysostom.

Drunkenness is a fall, deprivation of justification, a general shame of our kind. Saint John Chrysostom.

The main evil of drunkenness is that it makes Heaven inaccessible to the drunkard and does not allow the attainment of eternal blessings, so that along with the shame on earth, those suffering from this ailment and in Heaven await a grave punishment. Saint John Chrysostom.

Drunkenness does not come from wine - and wine is created by God ... but a vicious will produces drunkenness. Saint John Chrysostom.

A drunkard is worse than a possessed one: we all feel sorry for the possessed one, but we are indignant and angry with the drunkard. Why? Because that one has a disease from the devil's misfortune, and this one has an illness from infirmity; in that - from the intrigues of enemies, in this - from the intrigues of their own thoughts. Saint John Chrysostom.

Drunkenness is a misfortune that is laughed at, a disease that is bullied; arbitrary insanity, which is worse than insanity. Saint John Chrysostom.

A drunkard is unpleasant for friends, ridiculous for enemies, despised by subordinates, disgusting for a wife, unbearable for everyone ... Saint John Chrysostom.

It is especially difficult that drunkenness, full of so many evils and giving rise to so many misfortunes, is not even considered by many to be their fault. Saint John Chrysostom.

A drunken man does not know how to dispose of his speeches with reasoning, does not know how to arrange the wealth of thoughts ... he spends and overthrows everything. Saint John Chrysostom.

The drunk is more pathetic than the dead. The dead man is insensitive and cannot do either good or evil, but a drunk man is capable of doing evil and, having buried his soul, as in a grave, in the flesh, he mortifies his body. Saint John Chrysostom.

Even a drunkard cannot take advantage of pleasure, because pleasure is in moderation, and in immoderation - insensibility. Saint John Chrysostom.

Drunkenness is always evil, but especially on Holy Feasts. Here, along with sin, there is also the greatest insult and humiliation of Divine things; there may be double punishment for this. Saint John Chrysostom.

Drunkenness in itself can serve instead of any punishment, filling souls with confusion, filling the mind with darkness, making a drunken prisoner, exposing countless diseases, internal and external. Saint John Chrysostom.

Whether anyone has acquired chastity, modesty, decency, or meekness, or humility - all this drunkenness plunges into a sea of ​​wickedness. Saint John Chrysostom.

Drunkenness ... this is a diverse and many-headed beast ... here fornication grows in him, there - anger; here is the dullness of mind and heart, and there is shameful love. Saint John Chrysostom.

The drunkard cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven. And what am I saying: Kingdoms! The drunkard does not see real objects either. Drunkenness turns days into nights, light into darkness; drunk, looking with all his eyes, does not see what is under his feet. Saint John Chrysostom.

The temple of God is those in whom the Spirit of God dwells. The temple of idols (and the devil) are those who defile themselves with drunkenness and intemperance. Saint John Chrysostom.

Christ wants to dwell with you, and you trample on Him with gusto and drunkenness. Saint John Chrysostom.

Wine, like everything created by the Creator for our benefit, is good, "for every creation of God is good," says the apostle, "and" nothing is reprehensible if it is received with thanksgiving "(1 Tim. 4: 4). And in the book of Genesis it is written: "And God saw everything that He had created, and behold, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). "Wine is good for a person's life if you drink it in moderation ... A delight to the heart and consolation to the soul is wine, used in moderation at the right time," says Sirach (Sir. 31, 31, 33), infirm. That is why the apostle wrote to Saint Timothy: "Henceforth drink more than one water, but use a little wine, for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments" (1 Tim. 5, 23). That is why Saint Paul forbids not to drink wine, but to get drunk: "Do not get drunk with wine" (Eph. 5:18). For one thing is to drink wine, another is to get drunk with wine. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

The cause of drunkenness, as well as other sins, is an evil and unrestrained heart, idleness, frequent feasts, companies, increased meals, communication with the wicked and intemperate. Frequent repetitions give rise to passion and evil custom. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

Drunkenness is the fault of many and grave sins. It gives rise to quarrels, fights with subsequent bloodshed and murder, foul language, blasphemy, blasphemy, annoyance and resentment to others. It teaches to lie, flatter, rob and kidnap, so that there is something to satisfy the passion. It fuels anger and rage. It leads to the fact that people wallow in the mud, like pigs in a swamp - in a word, it makes a person a cattle, a verbal one - dumb, so that not only an internal state, but also an external human species often changes. Therefore, Saint Chrysostom says: "The devil loves nothing more than luxury and drunkenness, since no one fulfills his evil will as a drunkard." Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

A drunken person is capable of all evil, goes to all sorts of temptations. The one who so treated him becomes a participant in all his iniquities, since a sober person would not accept such temptations. If even a small spark of reason shines in a sober person, then in a drunken person it is completely extinguished. Although the sober one is attracted by the lust for lawlessness, the conscience arms itself and resists, and so it takes away from lawlessness, and in the drunken lust prevails, and the conscience weakens. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

From these caring and poisonous treats, a person falls into a passion of drunkenness, in which he becomes so stiff that he cannot free himself from it. And it often happens that in this disastrous insensibility, his life also ends without hope of salvation. For this death and his alleged benefactor, or rather; villain, will be condemned. Because whoever opens the way to death is guilty of this death. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

Drunkenness is the cause of not only mental, but also temporary bodily evil, relaxes the body and leads to weakness. Therefore, it is written: "Against wine do not show yourself brave, for wine has ruined many" (Sir 31, 29). Drunkenness leads to squalor and poverty. "A drunken worker will not get rich," says Sirach (Sir 19: 1). It takes away fame and a good name, on the contrary, leads to lack of glory, contempt and disgust, for people do not disdain anyone so much as a drunkard. A drunken man causes grief and sadness to his family, relatives, and friends, while he makes his enemies ridicule. Drunkenness makes its adherent incapable of any business, In whatever rank the drunkard may be, he will bring more troubles and misfortunes than good to society. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

Young people should not be allowed to drink anything intoxicating, because young people are more likely to get used to it, and what they learn in their youth, they will be addicted to this all their lives. They should not be allowed to hang out with drunkards and depraved ones. And those who have reached maturity do not need to drink wine unnecessarily. It is necessary to retire from bad companies and feasts. It must be reminded that it is very difficult to keep up with this passion. And many die from this very passion in soul and body. And those who are accustomed to this passion must firmly arm themselves against its torment, stand, not give in, pray and call upon God's all-powerful help. It is necessary to recall the troubles that happen from drunkenness and compare the state of sober life with the state of a drunk. It should be reminded that many die drunk in their sleep and pass from this world to another without any feeling, and therefore without repentance. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

The wife of an employee, a certain Maria Gordeeva, told Archimandrite Kronid at the Trinity courtyard the following story about herself. "My husband," she said, "after marriage did not stop leading drunk life... He spent all his free time in crazy drunken orgies. Once, being in indescribable grief, reaching despair, I sat alone in my room and decided to call for help Saint Sergius Radonezhsky. I prayed to him so fervently that tears flowed in a stream. Suddenly I saw: my whole room was illuminated by an unearthly light. In this light, a wondrous old man of indescribable spiritual beauty and kindness comes to me ... Approaching, he said to me in a fatherly manner: "Calm down, servant of God Mary! Your prayer has been heard, and your husband will not come to you drunk anymore." I bowed at his feet. He blessed me and became invisible. A few minutes after this vision, a sharp bell rang in our apartment. I opened the door and saw my husband. But he was not at all as violent as he was before. Entering the hall, he knelt down in front of me, sobbed and began to ask me for forgiveness for his crazy life and the torment caused to me. After that, he became unrecognizable, completely sober and worthy. And for 35 years of our further married life, I lived with him in peace and harmony. " Trinity flowers.

Against gluttony:

The image of this passion, to which even a Christian of spiritual and lofty life necessarily obeys, is quite rightly designated by the likeness of an eagle. Although he soars above the clouds and hides from the eyes of people and from the face of the whole earth, but, at the request of the womb, he is forced to descend on the lowlands again, descend to the ground and eat ... corpses. Likewise, gluttony can in no way be suppressed, like other vices, or completely destroyed, but only excessive excitements and desires can be limited and curbed by the strength of the soul. Abba Serapion.

If the defeated spirit of gluttony with his humility begins to flatter you, begging you to make him some indulgence, to reduce jealousy in abstinence and a measure of severity, do not give up in response to his obedience. Seeing that you have become a little calmer from bestial incitement, do not think that you are not in danger of attack, do not return to your former intemperance or the whims of gluttony. For the conquered spirit of gluttony says, as it were: "I will return to my house from whence I came out" (Matthew 12, 44). Then immediately the seven spirits - vices that come from him will be even angrier for you than the passion that you first conquered, and they will soon lead you to sins ... Therefore, we must try, having conquered the passion of gluttony by abstinence and fasting, not to leave our soul empty of the necessary virtues, but carefully fill all the curves of our heart with them, so that the spirit of gluttony, upon returning, does not find us empty, not occupied with virtues, and, not content with opening the door for himself alone, does not introduce seven passions into our souls, so that the latter will be worse than the former. For after this it will be more vile, dirtier, the soul that boasts that it has renounced this world, while all eight passions reign in it. She will be subjected to a more severe punishment than when she did not pledge herself either with dignity or with a Christian name. For these seven spirits are therefore called the most evil of the spirit that had previously gone out, because the desire of the womb in itself would not be harmful if it did not introduce behind it other, more important passions, that is, fornication, avarice, anger, sorrow, despondency, vanity and pride. which in themselves, no doubt, are harmful and disastrous for the soul. And therefore, one who hopes to acquire it by abstinence alone, that is, bodily fasting, can never attain perfect purity, unless he learns that abstinence is necessary so that, after pacifying the flesh by fasting, he can enter into war with other passions. Abba Serapion.

We must first suppress the passion of gluttony, and the mind must be refined not only by fasting, but also by vigilance, and reading, and frequent contrition of the heart about what it recognizes itself as deceived or defeated, now lamenting from fear of vices, now inflamed with the desire for perfection and integrity. until, busy with such concern and reflection, he realizes that eating is allowed not so much for pleasure as it has served him as a burden, and begins to consider it a more inevitable need of the body than of the desired soul. Engaged in this exercise of the mind and contrition, we suppress the lust of the flesh, which is intensified by the heat of food, and its harmful stings; thus, the furnace of our body, which is kindled by the Babylonian king-devil, constantly giving us reasons for sins and vices ... we can extinguish with an abundance of tears and hearty crying, until the fire of carnal lust is completely extinguished by the dew of God's grace that blows in our hearts ... Abba Anthony.

A sated womb gives rise to the seed of voluptuousness, and a spirit suppressed by the weight of satiety cannot have judgment. For it is not just the excessive consumption of wine that makes a person insane, but the immeasurable consumption of food also frustrates, darkens him, deprives him of purity and integrity. Abba Anthony.

The first battle, the first experience - in the striving for perfection to destroy gluttony and gluttony. Not only the excessive desire for food must be suppressed for the sake of virtue, but the food most necessary for our nature must be taken not without heartbreak, as an opponent of chastity. And the course of our life should be established in such a way that at no time should we be distracted from spiritual pursuits, unless only when the weakness of the body prompts us to condescend to the necessary care for it. And when we submit to this necessity, then, satisfying more the needs of life than the lust of the soul, we must hasten to leave it as a distraction from our salvific pursuits. For we can in no way despise the pleasures of real food, if the mind, surrendering to divine contemplation, will not even more enjoy the love of virtues and the beauty of heaven. And thus, everyone will despise everything present, as transient, when he continuously directs the gaze of the mind to the unshakable and eternal, and, while still in the body, he will contemplate the bliss of Eternal Life. Abba Theona.

Gluttony must be conquered not only for itself, so that it does not harm us with burdensome gluttony, and not only so that it does not kindle us with the fire of carnal lust, but so that it does not make us slaves to anger or rage, sadness and all other passions. Abba Theona.

Gluttony is divided into three kinds: one kind encourages you to eat earlier. a certain hour; the other loves only to be satiated with any food; the third wants tasty food. Against this, the Christian must have threefold caution: to wait for a certain time for eating; do not get fed up; be content with all the most humble food.

Who is stronger than a lion? But he too, because of his womb, falls into the net, and then all his strength does not serve anything. John Kolov.

If the water is divided into many channels, the whole land around them turns green; so, if the passion of gluttony is divided in your heart, it will give water to all feelings, plant a forest of vices in you and turn your soul into a dwelling of animals. Saint Basil the Great.

If you possess the womb, you will dwell in paradise, and if you do not possess it, you will become the prey of death. Saint Basil the Great.

Avoiding immoderation in pleasure, the goal of eating food should be set not pleasure, but its necessity for life, for to indulge in pleasures means nothing more than making the womb your god. Saint Basil the Great.

Learn to keep the womb in a strong bridle: it alone does not give thanks for the benefits rendered to it. Saint Basil the Great.

Gluttony drove Adam out of paradise; it was also the cause of the flood at the time of Noah; it also brought down fire on the Sodomites. Although voluptuousness was a crime, the root of both executions came from gluttony. Saint John Chrysostom.

There is nothing worse, nothing more shameful than gluttony. It makes the mind fat; it makes the soul flesh; it blinds you and prevents you from seeing. Saint John Chrysostom.

Are we preparing to sacrifice ourselves that we are so fattening ourselves? Why are you preparing a sumptuous meal for the worms? Why are you increasing the amount of fat? .. Why are you making yourself useless? .. Why are you burying your soul? Why are you making her fence thicker? Saint John Chrysostom.

Flee from gluttony, which generates all vices, removes us from God Himself and brings us down into the abyss of destruction. Saint John Chrysostom.

You are promised Heaven and the Kingdom of Heaven, and you, submitting to the violence of the womb, do not you endure everything and neglect the promised? This is true shamelessness. Saint John Chrysostom.

Whoever indulges in food eagerly undermines the strength of the body, as well as reduces and weakens the strength of the soul. Saint John Chrysostom.

There is, say, some pleasure in satiety. Not so much pleasure as trouble ... Satiety produces ... worse (than hunger). Hunger in a short time exhausts and brings the body to death ... and satiety, eating away at the body and producing putrefaction in it, exposes it to prolonged illness and then the most severe death. Meanwhile, we consider hunger intolerable, and we strive for satiety, which is more harmful than it. Where does such a disease come from in us? Where does this madness come from? Saint John Chrysostom.

Just as a ship, loaded with more than it can accommodate, sinks under the weight of the cargo, so the soul and the nature of our body: taking food in sizes exceeding its strength ... overflows and, unable to withstand the weight of the load, sinks in the sea of ​​death and at the same time destroys the swimmers, and the pilot, and the navigator, and the sailors, and the load itself. As happens with ships in this state, so it is with those who are jaded: no matter how quiet the sea, not the art of the helmsman, not the multitude of shipmen, not the proper equipment, not the favorable time of the year, nothing else benefits the ship overwhelmed in this way "so and here: no teaching, no admonition, [no reproof of those present], no instruction and advice, no fear of the future, no shame, nothing else can save the soul overwhelmed in this way. Saint John Chrysostom.

Gluttony destroys all that is good in a person. Venerable Nilus of Sinai.

If you hope to withdraw to God, then listen to my advice and quench the fury of gluttony, thereby weakening the incitement to voluptuousness in yourself - this sets us up to eternal fire. Rev. Isidore Pelusiot.

Neglect tasty foods, because they will soon turn into nothing, and when they are eaten, they have a great price. Eating them in excess of the need now gives rise to diseases, and in the future will subject them to responsibility at the Court. Rev. Isidore Pelusiot.

See that satiety and gluttony do not drive you to a passionate frenzy and you are not carried away by these two young unbridled horses. Rev. Isidore Pelusiot.

Those who consume food in excess and the need for food offend with satiety, dull the senses and, without noticing it, from the excess in pleasure lose even the very enjoyment of food. Rev. Isidore Pelusiot.

If you conquer [the womb], this lady, then every place will help you to acquire dispassion, but if she possesses you, then until the grave you will be in poverty everywhere. Venerable John Climacus.

He who desires many and different foods is a glutton, even if he eats only bread and drinks only water because of his poverty. Reverend Simeon the New Theologian.

It is impossible to fill the flesh to its fill with food, and spiritually enjoy intelligent and divine blessings. For to the extent that someone works the womb, to the extent that he deprives himself of the taste of spiritual blessings. And on the contrary, the extent to which someone begins to refine his body, in proportion to that, he can be saturated with food and spiritual comfort.

Let us be afraid lest we, having surrendered to gluttony, lose the promised blessing and inheritance from Heavenly Father. Saint Gregory Palamas.

He who nourishes the body without abstaining from food and drink will be tormented by the spirit of fornication. The Monk Abba Theodore.

Run your life with your mind from a young age and remember what you have been eating and drinking for a long time. More than once you ate and drank enough, but all this passed as if it had never happened, and now there is no memory of it and there is no benefit from it. For both then and now, although you will enjoy all the foods and drinks, you will receive nothing more than harm, and behind every instance of pleasure there is a heaviness in the soul and a renewal of passions. Therefore, do not wish here to reward yourself in this way, but place all your hope in heavenly. Saint Demetrius of Rostov.

Gluttony is nothing more than a bad habit, a reckless, unsatisfactory gratification of a natural desire damaged by abuse. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

Pleasing the womb is burdened, coarse, hardened heart; the mind is deprived of lightness and spirituality; man becomes carnal. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

Weakness and darkness, imparted to the body by abundance and indiscriminateness in food, are gradually communicated by the body to the heart and heart-to-mind. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

The root of all sins ... is the love of money, and after the love of money ... gluttony, the strongest and most abundant expression of which is drunkenness. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

If you please the womb and nourish yourself excessively, then you will be thrown into the abyss of prodigal filth, into the fire of anger and rage, you will burden and darken your mind, you will bring your blood to heat. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

About asceticism

A Christian Needs Unceasing Feat

Asceticism ... is imitation of all the commandments of the Lord and keeping them; it is not angry, not arrogant, not greedy, not reckless, not proud, obedient, it serves everyone, completely shuns the perishable, is in communion only with the spirit; he has a grateful tongue, a useful prayer, he does everything out of obedience ... Rev. Isidore Pelusiot.

The labor of implanting the Word of God in the heart requires such efforts that it is called a heroic deed. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

Love for deeds is hatred for passions; on the contrary, laziness and indolence easily induce passions into the soul. Puffiness.

If a person does not shed sweat in deed for the achievement of every virtue, he will not be able to enter into the rest of the Son of God. Puffiness.

Prudent dejection of oneself by exploits frees one from vices - the consequences of previous negligence. Puffiness.

A person, while in the body, should not and cannot trust himself. He is incapable of immutability. He needs to be in constant exploit. Rev. Abba Isaiah.

Enter the path leading to Heaven; enter the narrow and narrow path, walk along it, exhausting and enslaving your body to the spirit. Saint John Chrysostom.

He who serves the Lord only when he is safe does not show great love and does not purely love Christ. Saint John Chrysostom.

Although we must relate everything to God, yet we ourselves must be active, take upon ourselves labors and deeds. Saint John Chrysostom.

Seeing hope ahead of you, do not neglect work. Where feats are, there are rewards; where there are wars, there are honors; where there is struggle, there is a crown. Saint John Chrysostom.

Having decided to serve God, abide in the fear of God and prepare your soul not for peace, inaction and pleasure, but for temptations and grief. Venerable John Cassian the Roman.

Although Christ, who is always with people, does everything in them, but they, with all their weakness, do a lot of work in order only to keep Christ in themselves, because all the cunning and all the wiles of the devil are turned to tempt them to be rejected from hands of Christ and arrange them to speak or think in self-imminence, that it was we by ourselves and by our own efforts engendered such and such a good thought or said a reasonable word. Venerable Simeon the New Theologian.

Devotion - the sacrifice of the flesh to God

Those who ascend in this life will have to fight not with people, but with demons and disembodied forces. That is why their leader is not a man, not an Angel, but God Himself. And the weapons of these warriors correspond to the nature of the battle: they are made not of leather and iron, but of truth, righteousness, faith and wisdom. Saint John Chrysostom.

The Christian feat, which happens not against flesh and blood, but against the spirits of wickedness (Eph. 6, 12), consists in humility, in contempt for vain glory, in patience and meekness, rejecting oneself, crucifying the flesh with passions and lusts, in courage when tempted. When Christians do this, they do not yield their place in the battle to their enemy, the devil. This is how all the saints fought and received the crown of righteousness from the Ascetic Jesus Christ. And we must follow them, beloved Christian, if we want to have a part with them in the Kingdom of Christ. Otherwise, they will not recognize us that we are Christians, and Christ will not recognize us as His own, for we do not have His sign, that is, the patience of the cross, under which His faithful servants ascend. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

Our flesh, which rises up against our spirit and fights us with bodily members as instruments, and wants to kill our faith, is then sacrificed by Christians when they mortify their members that are on earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust and covetousness, which is idolatry, according to the apostle (Col. 3, 5); When they cleanse their heart and circumcise it by circumcision not made by hands; when they cleanse the mind from vain thoughts, from evil, proud undertakings and godly intentions; turn away the will from evil lust and subdue it to the will of God; they drive out malice and all indecency from memory, turn away their eyes, "so as not to see vanity" (Ps. 119, 37); turn their ears away from slander, slander, seductive songs; keep the tongue from slander, condemnation, slander, curses, blasphemy, profanity, idle talk and other evils ... (Rom. 6, 13). Let them direct the mind to meditation on the wonderful works of God, to the growth of His glory, the benefit of one's own and one's neighbor; will - to please the will of God; the heart is for the love of God and love for one's neighbor; tongue - to the glorification and glorification of the name of God, to the building up of one's neighbor; eyes - to the contemplation of God's wondrous creation and in the creation - the Creator; ears - to hearing the word of God, the glory and praise of God. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

Beware of every sin, lest you perish. There can be no Christian without a good conscience. It is better for a Christian to die than to sin and placate and irritate his conscience. This feat against sin is needed by all Christians who want to be saved. But, Christian, smash the lawless "baby" while he is small, so that he does not grow up and kill you (Ps. 136: 9). Kill lust, so that it is not fulfilled with deeds, kill small anger, so that it does not turn into rage and anger ... Kill all evil, until it is not enough, so that it does not grow and ruin you. This feat is difficult, truly difficult, but necessary. Strive, so that Christ, the Hero of the Great, will give you the crown of life. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

Those who live in the wilderness and in solitude have both a great zeal for piety, as well as a greater temptation from the devil. And the more someone tries to please God, the more temptations the devil inflicts on him. Church history testifies to this enough, but those who fight against this enemy and strive for salvation will also know this by themselves. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

Physical exploit gradually cleanses the soul from passions and acquaints it with the spirit of the Gospel. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

(Physical feat) is essential for driving out the passions by actions opposite to the demand of the passions; it is necessary for planting virtues in the heart as directed by the gospel. Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

In the life of our venerable father Elijah the hermit we read: "He became a monk in his youth, went to a distant desert, spent seventy years in it and never left it. The path to his cell was so narrow that he could hardly walk along it, because sharp stones surrounded her. Elijah was sitting in such a cramped cave that one could hardly see him. He was one hundred and ten years old. The fathers said about him: "No one remembers that he ever left his cell to the nearest mountain ". As an old man, he ate in the morning and in the evening three rusks and three berries of olive, and in his youth he ate food only once a week. To the monks who came to him, for the sake of their spiritual benefit, he said the following:" Do not give yourself into the power of Satan ... He has three powers that come to a monk before every sin. The first is oblivion, the second is laziness, the third is lust. If he finds oblivion on a monk, laziness arises in him, lust increases from laziness, and a person falls from lust. But if anyone accepts the fear of God, laziness flees from him and evil lust is not conceived in him. And then Satan will not defeat us and lead us into sin, and we will be saved by the grace of God. " Prologue in teachings.

Abba Athanasius said: some say that now there is no deed of martyrdom. Not fair. You can enter into a martyrdom under the guidance of conscience. Die to sin, mortify your earthly attachments and vices, and you will be a willing martyr. Martyrs fought with tormentors, kings and princes; and you have a tormentor who torments you - the devil, you have princes who persecute you - demons. Once upon a time, temples and altars were erected to the devil and the demons; abomination idolatry was offered to every false idol; understand that even now there can be a temple and an altar in the soul, there can be a mental idol. The temple is insatiable voluptuousness, the altar is voluptuous lust; idol-spirit of lust. "The one who works for fornication and is carried away by voluptuousness has rejected Jesus, worships an idol, has in himself the image of Venus - an abominable fleshly passion. And yet: if someone is conquered by anger and rage and does not cut off these violent passions, he has denied Jesus, has Mars as his god, has subjugated himself Another covetous man: shutting his heart to his brother and not pardoning his neighbor, he denied Jesus, serves idols, has the idol of Apollo in him and worships the creature, leaving the Creator. The root of all sins is the love of money. and you will be saved from violent passions, then you trampled on idols, rejected evil, became a martyr and confessor. Puffiness.

The goal of an ascetic life is the salvation of the soul

The ascetic life has one goal - the salvation of the soul. Saint Basil the Great.

He who has endured thousands of deeds for the sake of virtue and to acquire it with an excess of tested himself in labors, he will live to the end ... Saint Basil the Great.

If the ascetic seeks rewards here for his labors and merits, he causes regret, for, receiving a temporary reward, he loses the eternal. Saint Basil the Great.

Ascetic, wait for the One who exalts, and do not be faint-hearted in the present. For you are a fighter and a doer of Christ, having agreed to spend the whole day in the struggle and endure the heat of the whole day. Why then, having not yet fulfilled the measures of the day, do you demand repose? Wait until evening, the limit of life here, and then the Householder will come and count your payment. Saint Basil the Great.

Your feat is temporary, but your reward and praise are eternal; your labor is short, and peace and perfection do not grow old. Monk Ephraim the Syrian.

He who envies his brother's successes excommunicates himself from Eternal Life, and he who helps his brother will be his accomplice in Eternal Life. Monk Ephraim the Syrian.

First, you need to practice your labors and acquire a crown in exploit, so that you can taste Divine grace in this way. The bitterness of achievement is replaced by the sweetness of repose, and the severity of life is replaced by grace. Monk Ephraim the Syrian.

If a person does not perform a proper bodily feat, then the true vision will not be revealed to him. Rev. Abba Isaiah.

When (the ascetic), through a satisfactory bodily feat, subordinates the senses to the power of the spirit "and frees himself from passions, then the true vision is revealed in all glory to the mind. Rev. Abba Isaiah.

If we do not find in ourselves the abundant fruits of love, peace, joy, meekness, humility, simplicity, faith and longsuffering, then all our exploits were in vain and in vain. Venerable Macarius of Egypt.

Small deeds performed here (in a short life) give us great boldness (in the afterlife). Saint John Chrysostom

Wellbeing

All this time, as I saw from your letters, you saw only disposition to you and goodwill ... But, apparently, prosperity in life alone cannot be useful to a person, but without shocks; since the always consumed sweet food can damage our bodily health, it is necessary sometimes to use wormwood bitterness, for the health of the body. So in a moral position, well-being alone introduces a person into arrogance and carelessness about his spiritual disposition, and therefore the Lord discreetly allows a person to taste the sorrows of sorrows, so that he has humble wisdom and does not hope for the strength and immutability of a temporary good, and would resort to God in in our sorrows, for He Himself, through the Prophet, prompts us: “Call on Me in the day of sorrow; I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me "" (Compare: Psalm 49, 15). Through sorrow and in faith we are established, and human glory is imputed for nothing. will happen ... although we see the cause of the sorrows of our people, they are only instruments of the Providence of God, acting in the work of our salvation, and they can only do that to us that God permits ... (Venerable Macarius).

Well-being is surrounded by three dangers that must be avoided in every possible way: the first is exaltation, the second is luxury, and the third is unmerciful avarice. These closely connected vices with prosperity, as very contrary to God, can conveniently make a person unhappy in happiness itself, if he deviates into any of them (Venerable Anthony).

Blessing

It is very pleasing to God that what is done with blessing, therefore, we will also live in such a way that every step of ours is blessed (Venerable Anthony).

I approve of your discretion that without blessing you do not enter into any relationship with others. You will do this, it will be easier to preserve and save yourself (Venerable Anatoly).

Without being blessed, nothing should be done. If worldly people in more or less important matters ask for advice from more experienced people, then all the more a monk should be in obedience (St. Barsanuphius).

You write that you did not dare, without my blessing, to bring to Vladyka the rosary beads made of dew incense made in your monastery. And it shouldn't. You shouldn't also give the Right Reverend a prosphora from yourself (St. Hilarion).

You write that, thinking everything over, you think that it is better to be blessed several times for the same deed, so that Mother somehow, forgetting, does not think that the deed has been done, but without her blessing (this is good, so do it) ... And with regard to the fact that Mother is dissatisfied with that, if out of trifles they are blessed, and if they are not blessed, then it is better that you be guilty of bothering you (Venerable Hilarion).

...<Нужно>contrive; sometimes, apparently, a good deed will appear, but evil done without blessing happens, and will serve to harm and confusion of the soul ... (Venerable Leo).

Bliss

Life is bliss, and not only because we believe in blissful eternity, but here, on earth, life can be blissful if we live with Christ, fulfilling His holy commandments. If a person is not attached to earthly goods, but relies on the will of God in everything, to live for Christ and in Christ, then life here, on earth, will also become bliss (St. Barsanuphius).

Near

You write, esteemed E.A., that K. is unwell and you are afraid that she will not get sick anymore. This does not mean anything - a bodily illness, one must be afraid that mental ailments do not remain unhealed, and you do not even want her to receive healing from these illnesses. Itself is proud, you want to confirm it in the same; you do not want to be rude to her, and you are worried that rude ignoramuses who, in your opinion, are inferior to her will command her. How you insulted me with this sim! - Whose student are you? Christ was humble, and he told us to learn from Him to be humble and meek, and you think others are inferior to her; this is the science of the resistance, and now you put your own pledge of pride in it. It is necessary to instill in her that she is the worst of all, and if she considered herself so, then before God she would be superior. God commanded reproach and vexation to endure from every person from whom He will allow us to come, and you make an analysis: that they are below her, they are rude, and they, perhaps, are great before God. I see that you have no idea about spiritual life, that others think so. Here there are no nobles, no merchants, no peasants, but all about Christ are brothers and sisters, and the last will be the first, and the first will be the last (Venerable Macarius).

The will of God is visible in His commandments, which we must try to fulfill when dealing with our neighbors, and in case of non-fulfillment and transgression, bring repentance (Venerable Macarius).

Our salvation is in our neighbor, and it is commanded to seek not “our own, but his neighbor's” for creation (Phil. 2, 4; 1 Cor. 10, 24, 33) (Venerable Macarius).

Prodigal abuse

The lust of all is at war. And in ordeals, the demon of fornication boasts before all the princes of darkness that he gave the prey to hell more than anyone else. Be patient and ask for God's help. Talking to sisters is good, but keeping quiet is even better. And while reproaching oneself, praying for them is even better (Venerable Anatoly).

And that you are allowed by the permission of God to scold fornic purposes, and especially the dreams of demons, then do not be surprised at this that the all-wicked enemy represents such stinginess in his dreams! But only, my beloved daughter, know that this letting go is not easy for you! But for the contempt of others who of the weak-falling: apparently, in her thoughts she secretly condemned and blinked. Therefore, secretly and with the blessing of God, he departs not far from us, and the greedy enemy, seeing us defenseless, takes revenge on us and<повергает>into such vain and stingy thoughts and imaginations. But we, who were punished by this event and tired to the point of exhaustion, and as if wounded and wounded, will resort to the All-True Physician of our souls and bodies, our Lord Jesus Christ, as infants and who have experienced our weakness and insignificance! And yes we ask the All-merciful God, that He Himself will take revenge on our adversary the devil the devil for us, the weak and falling into his grief-filled nets. And may he keep us the weakest from all the arrows of the enemy (Venerable Leo).

Call upon the prayers of those who have struggled for purity, the holy martyr Thomais, Saint John the Long-suffering, Saint Moses Ugrin and the prayers of the spiritual fathers and all mothers; and impute yourself to be the worst of all. During the struggle, all these means are useful ... N. say: when you put up with it, then the abuse will subside - sleep less, eat less, beware of idle talk, condemnation and not like being adorned with a good dress, keeping eyes and ears. These are all means of preserving; do not yet allow thoughts to enter the heart, but when they begin to come, rise up and ask for help from God (St. Macarius).

Some live like cats, dogs, sparrows and other animals - they have darkness in their heads and hearts, and like madmen, they do not think, nor do they know, and do not believe that there is God, there is eternity, there is death and physical and spiritual! Such people live and die like cattle - and even worse (Venerable Anatoly).

That the demon of fornication is fighting against you is not a miracle, he did not disregard Antony the Great either, and even more so with you. But that you are conquered and succumb to it mentally - this means that God leaves you for something. Its own volca is more convenient here for the devil of all. Yes, and your frankness is of a dubious nature ... First of all, and most of all, try to acquire humility, then God's help will not be far away! (Venerable Anatoly).

About<блудного>excitement - patience and self-reproach, and the mother's humility<иди>and ask for help for the patronage and prayers of the Monk Moses Ugrin, John the Long-suffering, the Kiev miracle workers and the holy martyr Thomas, and remember the hour of death, and for their prayers the excitement will calm down ... (Venerable Leo).

M., when she absolutely does not rely on keeping her doors with fences about her lips, (then) otherwise it is impossible for her to free herself from the embarrassment and torment of the most voluptuous incantations and thoughts of adultery, and from these - boredom and despondency, and then the most pernicious thoughts of despair (Venerable Leo) ...

You, daughter, are offended and faint-hearted, that you are conquered by fleshly inclinations ... But, O beloved daughter, we are not faint-hearted, lower yes we are embarrassed, although we fall, and, having called the Father and Mother's prayers to help, we will rise, and yes we suppose beginning, and let us curse ourselves, and knowing our comfort, ambition and weakness, and God Almighty and Humanitarian, at our request with humility and hope, will not shame in every possible way, but will create what has been accomplished and take revenge on our all-evil rival, and will raise us up, and affirm our weak forces are courageous against arrows and his violent slander! .. (Venerable Leo).

And that fornication has been erected on you or allowed to fight, I will also remind you of this with your love, in the 4th part of "Philosophy" in the Word about reasoning, Saint Cassian the Roman writes the words of Saint Apollos to his desperate brother, who is going into the world, spoken: “ Do not be astonished, child, despair below: I’m very old and gray-haired, and I am terribly cold from these thoughts. Do not despair because of the crumbling (dilution), heals not only by human diligence, but by God's love for mankind "... (Venerable Leo)

Why are you complaining about prodigal abuse and that you are often defeated, and from this you often indulge in despondency, and that God announced to Mother to teach you 50 bows for each crawl, then even though it seems to you not much ... but you remember your title novices and should not make up their minds in anything! But be content with what is commanded and go through the given with fear and tenderness, and the strength of our repentance consists not in quantity, but in quality! and contrition of the heart, but we have no authority over this either. But the Human-loving and Gracious Lord, according to His mercy, the tuna (gift) also grants us this, but as you and I have an inclination towards vanity and pride, and therefore we are not given the desired repentance and tenderness by you, and we owe all this with humility make up and consider yourself worse than all creation, and you will be at peace, and I, although profane and triumphant, but I hope in the mercy of God, that will not allow you to fall into the depths of pernicious despair, but with His omnipotent right hand will raise up and confirm future success and perfect salvation ( . A lion).

And how, out of your benevolence and unlimited faith in my accursed accursedness, did you deliberately ask me the poor-minded - how to warn yourself in such cases. But although it is extremely insufficient in such consequences to teach appropriate advice, but even then I am quite sure that your faith, which helps our lack, can propitiate the Great Lord, send invisibly help and sound reason from above.<к преподанной>your love, according to your desire: how to stay awake and protect yourself from the aforementioned seductive thoughts and outrageous dreams and demonic ones! I already told you that I am rude and inexperienced. But I remembered the blessed father of the late Fr. Theodore, and he of my thinness rather retells many tales of the holy fathers who lived in the Ukraine during the time of his blessed Elder Onuphrius ... of whom, as much as I can, with the assistance of the grace of the Lord, I am urged to write your love; and, first of all, my daughter, with the help of God, we must try in every possible way.<причины>cut off, (that is) in order only to pay attention to yourself and your salvation. And when someone comes to you and, although at the action and instigation of a general enemy, begins to utter empty words and ... events to you, then you, seeing its significance in your face, if you cannot shorten the conversation in reasoning of partiality, then you should try your ears to lay, or so that in one ear the word to receive, and in the other to release and mentally ask the Lord, in order to save us from such a soul-crushing poison; and when you begin to do this, and in other similar cases, and with the one that filled your ears with soulful stories and quibbles, we are obliged, according to the commandment of the Lord, to love and regret. And the absurdities she utters to despise and hate to the point of evil, and the goodness of the Lord grants you the feeling of being protected from condemnation; and remember the holy prophet David the verse to remember: "cleanse me from my secrets, and spare Thy servant from those who are strangers" (Psalm 18: 13). And since it was said above, when we begin to protect ourselves from condemnation, the grace of God will persist with us, and insensibly affirms us and protects us, and invisibly reflects demonic actions and dreams. And inside us, it strengthens the spiritual strength, and the action of prayer revives, and the memory of death reminds us of future creations and eternal torment! And these emotional feelings, by deeds the adversaries are struck with evil thoughts and are destroyed (Venerable Leo).

You write that prodigal thoughts attack you, but from prayer you do not have the consolation that you had before, and you do not feel warmth. Forcing yourself to prayer as before, do not be discouraged and do not grow cold. Although you are sometimes defeated in thoughts, but again, with a new fervor of zeal and zeal, turn to God and in humility of spirit and trust in His mercy continue your usual domestic and church prayers, surrendering all of yourself to the will of God. Take care of your conscience and eyes, have the fear of God, more often think about death, oh Last Judgment and that if now you do not control yourself in a godly good life, then after that you will completely weaken for good. Against lustful thoughts arm yourself with abstinence in food and sleep, try to always be in work and in deed, and above all have humility and self-reproach in everything and always, do not condemn anyone (Venerable Ambrose).

Pray to the Monk John the Much-gracious and holy Martyr Thomais out of lustful passion, make three obeisances every day. Pray for those sisters to whom you have a dislike, inequality. As it is said: pray for one another, that you will be healed (St. Joseph).

Prodigal dreams occur at night in a dream ... When this happens, she should put 50 bows and read: "Have mercy on me, God" - psalm (50) (Venerable Anatoly).

When prodigal thoughts attack, pray to the holy martyr Thomais. And do the Jesus Prayer more strongly ... (Venerable Anatoly).

You are sick, but you hardly understand the cause of the disease. Frustration comes from frustration. Although you write about hobby in general, it is not clear, keeping silent, how you yourself kindled a fire in your Dubrov, not avoiding reasons, but voluntarily attracting them. Take a good look at yourself. It is dangerous to deceive yourself. I give you a reason to consider yourself - not everything is confused, it's time to get down to business in a real way (Venerable Ambrose).

You ask me to tell you the means of how to get rid of prodigal thoughts. Of course, as the holy fathers teach: the first thing is to humble ourselves, the second is not to look at either the deacons or the young children, and the third, most importantly, is to be patient (Venerable Anatoly).

At one time you are complaining about a neighbor who disagrees with you and about prodigal passion. You are a wonderful girl! You are a foolish nun! She burns with fire on the right, and pours cold water on her left. Yes, you foolish one, take water and pour it on fire! That is, bear with the weak sister! And the passion of fornication will fade away. After all, this passion lives on and is supported by hellish oppression (arson) - pride and impatience! Be patient and you will be saved! Let the enemy and the flesh press you, but I will not stop repeating the Psalm word to you: "Be patient with the Lord, be of good courage and let your heart be strengthened, and be patient with the Lord!" (Ps. 26, 14) (Venerable Anatoly).

Why are you, daughter, complaining, your fierce and fleshly passion has receded for a while, and the ailment of cowardice is most immersed in time, then, O mother and daughter, may your love be aware that the universal enemy, the devil, always changes his battles and intrigues, and so cunning and insidious deceptions of us, unskilful ones, deceives and conquers, and you do not claim that your rage and fleshly passion should be completely extinguished, but unless for a while you have been given a break for rest, and this is not the enemy who teaches the weak, but , by the mercy of God, the grace of God is invisible to us for the prayers of the Father and Mothers will help; and if God did not bless us, who were weak from these battles, invisibly protected and strengthened, then hardly anyone could keep himself in integrity (Venerable Leo).

Saint Mark the Ascetic says in his spiritual law: "the root of lust is the love of praise and human glory." Lust increases, as other holy fathers say, when a person loves bodily rest (in food, drink and sleep) and especially when he does not keep his eyes from seducing objects (St. Ambrose).

They are worried about inappropriate carnal abuse. Where there should be spiritual benefit for you, then the enemy contrives to erect a temptation for you. Despise it, because absurdity out of absurdities is such a suggestion as an enemy. You write that in this struggle it seems to you: someone is standing beside you. Such things happen when a person, during confession, either completely forgot some important sin, or did not know how to confess something as it should. Pray to the Queen Heavenly and the Guardian Angel to help you remember and confess this. Then the worthwhile dreaming will pass. You also need to humble yourself before God and people, considering yourself to be the worst of all. Because of carnal abuse, I find it inappropriate for you to go to Moscow for treatment. This will intensify this struggle even more. It is better to endure the suffering of illness to cleanse your sins. - This is more correct (Venerable Ambrose).

Fornication is a very insidious passion. She takes possession of the human mind and indulging her can become one of the main incentives human life... In order to ennoble "lust", it is often called love. And from time to time this very love is not reduced exclusively to physical attraction, but nevertheless often it is the prodigal passion that lies at its foundation. One often hears: "I love her, but I don't want to marry her." Well tell me, please, what kind of love can we talk about (even if we use the word love in a purely human passionate sense)? This very love is an absolutely integral part of life. "How are you? - we ask when we meet. - How's your work? And on the personal front? "

So if there are interruptions with work, that's nothing. And if there is a lull on the personal front, then it's bad. Very often, when one of the girlfriends gets married, then women have nothing to talk about (provided that the woman is faithful to her husband), the same happens among friends. I know of many cases when, after marriage, a man almost completely broke with all his former surroundings: simply because the topics of conversation were completely exhausted.

"As it is pleasant for a pig to wallow in the mud, so demons find pleasure in fornication and uncleanness." Ephraim Sirin

One of my acquaintances, an unmarried woman, thought about going to confession and generally starting churching. The only thing that stopped her by and large was her unwillingness to give up fornication.

And what, not making love at all? But this is impossible. Without this, life almost loses its meaning. I can't wait until I get married! After all, I'm not going to get married in the next couple of years.

The fight against the spirit of fornication of St. the fathers call the struggle fierce. Fornication begins to prevail from the "first age of maturity" and does not cease before the victory over all other passions. In order to overcome fornication, it is not enough to observe physical abstinence and chastity, but one must all the time be in repentant contrition of the spirit and unrelenting prayer against this unclean spirit. Physical labor and handicraft are also necessary, which keeps the heart from wandering and returns it to itself, and most of all, deep true humility is needed, without which victory cannot be gained over any passion.
The beginning of the struggle

The difficult struggle with the passion of fornication must first of all begin with abstinence in food (“Punish thoughts with scarcity of food, so that they think not about fornication, but about hunger” - Nil of Sinai), that is, from fasting, because, according to the testimony of St. Fathers, gluttony invariably leads to the passion of fornication: "The pillar rests on its foundation - and the prodigal passion rests on satiety" (Nil of Sinai). Drunkenness is especially dangerous from this point of view.
First, drunkenness reduces a person's ability to control their actions and control their desires.

Second, alcohol is known to fuel lust. There are many examples of this. How often do we hear that something happened "drunk." And here it is impossible to speak only about the loss of control, since it also happens that "drunk" happens to the person with whom it is quite difficult to even imagine closeness "soberly". However, as it is also known, at a certain stage of intoxication, desire already disappears and intercourse, on the contrary, becomes absolutely unattractive or even impossible. The demon of fornication is replaced by a demon of despondency.

Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov refers to the sins caused by lustful passion:
- Prodigal irritation, prodigal sensations and state of mind and heart.
- Acceptance of impure thoughts, conversation with them, delight in them, deign to them, slowness in them.
- Prodigal dreams and captivity.

- Failure to keep the senses, especially the sense of touch, which is insolence, destroying all virtues.
- Swearing and reading voluptuous books.
- Natural fornication sins: fornication and adultery.
- Unnatural prodigal sins.

"This prodigal demon's dog," when he comes to you, drive away with a spiritual instrument of prayer; and no matter how much he continues to shamelessly, do not yield to him. " St. John Climacus

Not keeping the senses (meaning the five senses: touch, smell, hearing, sight, taste) - we very often do not notice this sin, considering it the norm of things. I must say that intemperance in feelings is considered in our time a sign of relaxedness and uncomplexity and is put rather as a plus for a person than a minus. Of course not here in question gross harassment that is still discouraged. If in the older generation close physical contacts are not yet very popular and familiar pats on the shoulder cause embarrassment, then among young people they are very accepted.

However, from time to time there are examples of the opposite.

The girl met a young man. After talking with him for a while, she was surprised to notice that he did not look her in the eyes when talking.

- Listen, why, talking to me, you keep averting your eyes? - Well, you're not my girlfriend. Looking into the eyes is pretty intimate. I cannot stare at the unfamiliar young lady. This is the same as hugging you or kissing you.

Non-preservation of sight is also considered to be delighting in the sight of beautiful women and men, and addiction to all kinds of perfumes, colognes and other perfumery means is not keeping the sense of smell, since, as you know, certain components are added to perfumes that stimulate a person.

Deafness can be called not only the desire to listen to seductive speeches, but also the love of compliments about our appearance, sexuality, etc. There is, for example, a wonderful saying about the fact that "a woman loves with her ears." However, this is true not only for women, but also for men, too, since flattering speeches often provoke a feeling of love, which is closely associated with sexual desires. Vanity is very often an aid to lust.
Acceptance of impure thoughts, delight in them.

Delighting in unclean thoughts, firstly, is a sin in itself, and secondly, it leads to incitement of carnal desires and often provokes a person to commit physical fornication.

A child, learning for the first time “where children come from”, experiences a rather unpleasant feeling, a feeling of disgust. And only then, having already become accustomed to the concept of the technology of conceiving a child, he begins to feel the desire and attraction to the being of the opposite sex.

In the process of arousal, our psyche plays the biggest role, not physiology. If we assume that nothing depends on our will, then it turns out that we must react to any individual of the opposite sex in exactly the same way. But that's not how it happens in life.

Realizing that physical process excitement directly depends on mental processes, we begin to realize why it is so dangerous to accept impure thoughts. Without driving away the thought, you already, as it were, agree to sin, you are already committing it. And from the inner consent to sin to committing it on the physical level is a stone's throw. The Gospel says: “ Whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart».

One brother, being indignant with fornication lust, came to the great old man and asked him: "Show love, pray for me, for lust for lust revolts me." The elder prayed to God for him. The brother comes to him another time and says the same thing. And again the elder began to pray to God, saying: “Lord, reveal to me the state of this brother, and from where does the devil attack him? Because I prayed to You, but he still didn’t get peace. ” Then he had a vision: he saw this brother sitting, and next to him was the spirit of fornication, and the brother communicated with him, and the Angel sent to help him stood aside and was angry with the monk, because he had not surrendered himself to God, but, delighting in thoughts, his whole mind betrayed the devil's action. And the elder said: "You yourself are to blame, because you are carried away by your thoughts," and taught his brother to resist the thoughts.

When a prodigal thought is accepted and received consent to settle in a person's head, he gradually takes possession of his mind, and erotic pictures are drawn in the human brain that delight him. In this case, we can already talk about prodigal dreams.

In fact, the difference between accepting thoughts and daydreaming is not that great. The former almost inevitably leads to the latter, and the latter is necessarily the result of the former. We talk about prodigal dreams when delight in prodigal thoughts occurs on a conscious level. A person begins to draw images that excite him, come up with various situations and plots on this topic, and generally indulges in thoughts about fornication.

Often, a person obsessed with prodigal dreams, in search of nourishment for them, turns to erotic literature, to cinema, goes to nightclubs to watch striptease, etc.

Tempting a person, the demons first draw beautiful romantic pictures, which later, as indulging in lustful passion, turn into ugly, anti-aesthetic, black cloths, which are much closer in essence to what the demon of fornication looks like in reality.

Foul language is also considered a manifestation of prodigal passion. Foul language - the use of words related to taboo (forbidden), informal vocabulary. Basically, these words are associated with a person's sexual life. Other expressions that are considered rude and abusive (for example, vocabulary denoting mental abilities, or rather, the absence of them, or character traits) do not apply to foul language. In principle, it is considered bad, forbidden curse words, which, according to the assumption of some scientists, in ancient times did not have a negative connotation, but were ritual and were replaced by euphemisms, because they had a sacred meaning.

Finally, the most pronounced manifestation of prodigal passion is the direct extramarital intercourse between a man and a woman. If a person who indulges in fornication is single, then his sin is called fornication, if a person cheats on his spouse, then adultery.
The most extreme degree of depravity is unnatural forms of fornication such as sodomy (homosexuality), etc.

Of course, starting to fight the passion of fornication, one must, first of all, stop indulging it, that is, stop all extramarital sex. However, this first step is quite obvious, because priests often refuse to forgive sins to people living an extramarital sex life. Repentance for adultery or fornication implies a willingness to end a life of fornication and turn to chastity.

An extramarital union can be broken or, on the contrary, legalized. A marriage (married) can be dissolved in case of betrayal of one of the spouses. If the family breaks up, the Church allows remarriage and even re-wedding, clearly preferring it to illegal cohabitation.

Teaching the fight against the passion of fornication, St. the fathers advised:
Refrain from food. "He who feeds the flesh of his body, the flesh feeds evil lusts, and shameful thoughts will not fail him" (St. Ephraim the Syrian). "The nourishment of the womb is the mother of fornication, and the oppression of the womb is the culprit of purity" (St. Ephraim the Syrian). Abstinence in food has a dual meaning. First, as mentioned above, mortifying the flesh, we thereby strengthen the spirit to fight the passions. Secondly, by strengthening the flesh, we thereby strengthen its desires, that is, purely carnal passions. A weak and infirm person will never suffer from a lustful passion as a strong and healthy one.
Abstinence from speech.

One day a brother came to Abba Pimen and said: “What should I do, father? I suffer from lust. And now I went to Abba Ivistion, and he said to me: do not allow her to remain in you for a long time. " Abba Pimen answers his brother: “The affairs of Abba Ivistion are high - he is in heaven, together with the Angels, and he does not know that you and I are in fornication! But I will tell you from myself: if a person abstains from his belly and tongue, then he can control himself. "

Abstinence from speech, and at best, and thought is very important. Idle talk, like idle thinking, can lead you far. In principle, any idleness gives rise to prodigal lust, which manifests itself either in thought or in word.

The girl in confession mentions idle talk as one of her sins. The priest, hearing this, picks up her speech:

- Well, if idle talk, then it means condemnation, and backbiting, and foul language and many other sins of the word.

Empty chatter, seeming at first glance rather harmless, always makes a person more licentious. Wandering in a word, we somehow begin to touch upon certain subjects, discussing which, we inflame passions.
“Do not allow your eyes to wander here and there, and do not peer into someone else's beauty, so that with the help of your eyes your adversary does not overthrow you” (St. Ephraim the Syrian). To this advice can be added the recommendation to abstain from all five senses. First of all, of course, the sense of touch, since the most seductive is not sight, but still the sense of touch. In the future, you need to turn your attention to vision. A wandering gaze often betrays the lasciviousness of nature. In particular, in the Caucasus, a woman staring around is considered a licentious person and invariably provokes a lot of indecent proposals. However, in Europe the situation is not much different, just the causal relationship is less conscious.
“Refrain, brother, from jokes, lest they make you shameless; shamelessness is the mother of lewdness ”(St. Ephraim the Syrian).
It happens that the wicked one inspires you with such a seductive thought: "Satisfy your lust, and then you will repent." To this answer him: "How do I know that I will have time to repent if I commit myself to fornication."
In the same way he will tell you: "Satisfy your passion one day and you will calm down." But remember that the more you eat, the more you want. Your stomach stretches and requires more food, but if you abstain from food, then the need for it decreases every day. So it is with prodigal passion. The more you indulge her, the more she overpowers you. Abstinence, however, ultimately leads to a weakening of the abuse.
And, seeing that you longed for a woman (a man), the demon will say to you: “You have already committed a sin, longing for a woman in your heart, so now satisfy your passion, for to do and to lust are one and the same. Since I have already sinned, what can I lose now? " But answer him: "Although I fell with an eye and committed adultery in my heart, now it is better for me to repent of this and pray to God for forgiveness, than to aggravate my sin, committing adultery also in my body."
“Whoever tries to put an end to this fight with one abstinence is like a person who tries to swim out of the depths of the sea, acting with one hand. Conjugate humility with abstinence; because the former is not useful without the latter ”(St. John Climacus).
“Don't be deceived, young man! I saw some people praying for their beloved persons, who, being prompted to do so by a prodigal passion, thought, however, that they were fulfilling the duty of holy love ”(St. John Climacus).
Do not allow yourself to think during the day about dreams that were in a dream; because demons strive for this, in order to defile us who are awake with the help of dreams.
Do not dwell in idleness, because "idleness gives birth to love, and having given birth, it protects and cherishes" (Ovid). That labor, especially physical work, helps in the fight against any passions, St. fathers write quite often. As for the prodigal passion itself, labor is a particularly good medicine for it.

But deepening in work can only somewhat weaken the fornication, and not in any way eradicate thoughts from the heart. Tearful prayer, repentance and frequent participation in the Sacraments of Confession and Communion heals from lustful passion.
It is extremely difficult to achieve complete victory over lustful passion.

In patericons, stories are often found about how young monks came to the elders with the words: "I want to leave the monastery and return to the world, because I am too overwhelmed by prodigal thoughts." To this the wise fathers replied: “I am many times older than you, and as far as I can remember, fornication thoughts have always prevailed upon me. And until now I can not cope with them, and you thought to overcome them in your youth ”. And the brothers remained in the monastery in order to continue to struggle with the lust.

St. Ephraim the Syrian writes: “If fleshly warfare arises in you, do not be afraid and do not lose heart. This will give the enemy courage against yourself, and he will begin to plant seductive thoughts in you, suggesting: "It is impossible to stop the burning sensation in you if you do not satisfy your lust." / ... / But do not be faint-hearted, God will not leave you. "

Acquiring the virtue of chastity is the direct road to the Kingdom of Heaven... St. John Kas

The material presented below is the author's work of priest Maxim Kaskun (Moscow region), published on the Internet in the format of video lectures. The author of this project “ierei063”, with the aim of more concise presentation of information, has optimized his lectures in such a way that, without losing the main idea, significantly reduce the amount of material, providing the reader with the opportunity to quickly and accurately grasp the main idea.

The priest did a serious, respectable work, from various sources, including the works of the Holy Fathers, collected information on the topic, clearly systematized and disclosed it. He worked on the development of this material for a very long time, and I do not pretend to be authorship, but in order to save my own time, seeing this worthy work, I dare to post the "abridged version" on my website. Those who wish to refer to the original material, please go to the Internet project of Priest Maxim Kaskun, who also needs support for his work.

Passion is a person's perversion of his natural ability. But, in addition to passion, a person in fornication also sins the sin of death.

What is a mortal sin? The Apostle John the Theologian says that "there is a sin to death, but there is a sin not to death." So the sin of death is the one that, firstly, kills the soul of a person. Secondly, this sin gives the demons the right to cry out to God, so that He would take this person's life for such a crime. This sin, first of all, refers to fornication.

If a person does not repent and does not change his life, then, as a rule, he dies an unnatural death, that is, not his own death: violent or sudden, unprepared, without repentance and forgiveness.

The term "fornication" is translated as sexual debauchery or debauchery. But in Russian transliteration the word "fornication" means - to wander, to be mistaken. Which shows that such a person has complete ignorance or delusion, senselessness, that is, this is a person who does not have spiritual path... This is expressed in such a concept as "spiritual fornication."

Fornication of the body - it means sexual relations before marriage, that is, civil marriage and so on, which is very common among young people today. Young people argue that they want to get to know each other better, live together, and suddenly they will not fit or, on the contrary, will be convinced that they will. But, as far as I noticed, even from Soviet times, such couples before registration at the registry office lived very well and amicably, gave birth to children and the like. But as soon as they formalized their marriage officially, it did not last even five years. Civil marriage itself cannot give a person the full sense of legal marriage, when you want to check whether you will get along - this is simply impossible. It's like checking yourself whether you can be a priest. Without the sacrament, this cannot be known in any way. So marriage is also a sacrament, it is God's blessing on your life together, and without it it is just fornication, a mortal sin and nothing more. As for the official position of the Church on civil marriage, She recognizes it, but as not perfect, since there is no God's blessing on it. However, by civil marriage, the Church does not mean cohabitation, but a registered marriage at the registry office. And such a marriage is no longer fornication, and the one who calls it a sin himself sins, since no priest has the right to perform the sacrament of a wedding if the couple has not registered with the registry office.

Adultery is when one spouse cheats on the other. These include the so-called "Swedish families" - this is when two men and one woman live together, or vice versa, or when two families come together for mutual betrayal - this is all adultery.

The next manifestation of prodigal passion is nocturnal or no semen outflow. These problems are familiar to those who abstain for a long time and therefore are subject to demonic attacks.

Handicraft or malakia- a very common type of prodigal passion. V Soviet time doctors began to recommend to men this practice of relieving tension, stress or depression, arguing that it is good for the body. We hear all this even now, and after all, having tried at least once, it is already very difficult to stop, especially for young people, during the period of growth, both physical and emotional.

The most insidious type of prodigal passion in a person is manifested in attraction to the same sex or sodomy, and among women. Also, I would include pedophilia to this point - this is the attraction of an adult to young children or underage adolescents. These phenomena are very widespread, I would even say, ubiquitous. People no longer understand what they are doing, they are so blinded by their base desires and instincts.

Bestiality is an extreme degree of prodigal passion.

How the sin of fornication is born.

First of all, it is the expression of the will of the person himself. Without our consent, without our will, this is impossible.

Procreation is our natural desire, but when we make a source of pleasure out of it, this is already sin and lust. This sin is by no means the lot of adults, you can often hear that prodigal or even perverted thoughts visited a person when he was 5-10 years old, that is, even before puberty. Sin is a mystery and a personal choice of each person. We can only pray for our children and educate them in morality, but this does not give us a 100% guarantee of their righteousness in the future. Here is the mystery, here is the Providence of God.

And it is necessary to remember the story of Noah and his son Ham, who saw the nakedness of his father. And what's going on now! For example, many take their children with them to bathe in the bathhouse, they say, what's wrong with the tutu, they are still small. And no one understands that by this we ourselves are corrupting our children.

“Like strives for like, so the flesh desires the flesh,” says St. John Climacus. An inner consent is necessary for sin, after which a desire appears, which is expressed in lust, which pushes us to action, be it violence or crime.

The reasons why fornication occurs in a person

The corruption of human nature after the Fall - it rebelled against man, and we are doomed to wage a constant war with it. And we receive this body from our parents and pass it on to our children. Our nature is prone to sin and convenient to vice, that is, we understand with the mind, but the body demands, rebel against will. And who will win?

Vices of education. Do you know there is famous saying: "The apple never falls far from the tree". Our personal example, the way we live, our behavior - all this is imprinted in the soul of the child, and then he imitates his parents.

The temptations of this world are a whole river of vice.

Spiritual Causes of Prodigal Sin

Unbelief - after all, it is precisely this that is the main cause of sin. And this also applies to those who live the church life. Unbelief is so ingrained in us that it has become a habit, we no longer even notice it. We fast, receive communion, pray, go to services - but where is faith ?! After all, we live worldly dreams, fun, sins.

The next reason is gluttony. Fornication is based on the womb, when the womb is full, the person receives excess juices, as St. Theophan the Recluse, and the extra juices excite human nature.

Immodesty of hands and eyes. A person should monitor his vision and not stare at people of the opposite sex. When we just look at a person, that's okay, but as soon as we have made our judgment about his attractiveness or beauty, then a wide road for sin is already opening up. It is easier for married people in this regard, since they have found their companions along the path of life, and they are already working to preserve their marriage and increase love. And people are single, who are still in search of their chosen ones, they are forced to look, evaluate, search. The main thing here is not to get used to this, the Lord, even before the creation of everything visible, chose for each of us co-workers on this path of life. If we allow God, if we believe in his providence, His love for us, then we will not miss our soul mate, since they were created for each other. Unfortunately, very often we do not allow God to do this, and we do everything in our own way, for which we often grieve.

Many Holy Fathers forbade going, especially single ones, to public baths.

It is best to refrain from unnecessary temptations. Remember the life of St. Anthony the Great, when he and his disciple crossed the river, they separated so that no one could see the naked body of the other, and when they crossed, they dressed and again united for a further journey. Since you cannot look at the naked body of another person and not harm your soul.

As for the hands, there are many dangers here. Many Holy Fathers, such as St. John Climacus and Venerable Ephraim the Sirin, especially noted the fact that when a person is washing, he should not examine his body, touch his intimate places, and stretch this process. Since at the same time people who lead a chaste lifestyle can very easily become aroused by their own touch, and then sin cannot be avoided.

For married people it is not so important, but for single people it is very important.

People who have chosen the path of monasticism and asceticism have a very vulnerable spot through which a prodigal passion can penetrate into their souls - this is love for sweet, tasty food or guttural delusion. This happens at the beginning of the monastic path, and when the monk has already gained some spiritual experience, then fornication is looking for another path - this is arrogance.

If a monk has not found humility, then the Lord sends him prodigal temptations in order to humble him. The third reason for the prodigal temptations of the ascetics is if they condemn their neighbors. Abba Evagrius and other Holy Fathers write that, judging your neighbors, you yourself fall into this sin. Condemnation kills love in a person. Each of us loves his child, no matter what, even if he does something, fights or something else. We still love him, protect him, shield him, forgive him. And if someone else's child does something, we are immediately indignant, we condemn and touch his parents, how badly they bring up their child, etc. Condemnation in a person kills not only love, but also prayer, reverence - this is a very insidious passion and one must be on the alert with it.

Signs of fornication

A full womb is the first sign that a prodigal temptation awaits a person.

Dreamy dream, a long sleep or, on the contrary, insomnia (when a person lies and dreams) - all this is a consequence of overeating.

Lack of sleep - when a person does not get enough sleep, there will also be a struggle of passion.

Weakening - a person who often indulges in lustful passion, loses his strength, both physical and spiritual.

Resistance to prayer... Sadness, despondency, hopeless darkness is a state of extreme despair, since a person's soul dies. Dies from the depletion of spiritual strength, God's grace. Fornication destroys us from the inside, and after that comes the demon of despair and fills everything with itself, pushing a person to commit suicide.

Free treatment of neighbors (especially with the opposite sex) - when a person behaves cheekily with the people around him. Abba Dorotheus advised not to look his interlocutor in the face at all, but to look at the ground, since he taught his disciples that when talking with another person, you are talking with the image of God, that is, with God. Therefore, he taught reverence in communication between people. V modern society you rarely hear respect in your voice, let alone reverence.

Frequent night desecrations- that is, if something like this happens to a person more than once a month, then we can confidently say that the prodigal passion progresses in him. And we urgently need to take up the fight against it.

Intemperance in family life- that is, not observing fasts.

Degrees of sin:

Suppression or perversion of conscience is necessary condition for the initial stage of prodigal passion. In the beginning, she needs to expel the Holy Spirit from the soul of a person, so that nothing prevents her from putting down her roots;

Corruption in thoughts and deeds is practical side prodigal passion. When a person goes from theory to practice;

And the last, extreme degree of fornication is when a person with only one thought can bring himself to the outflow of the seed.

Derivative sins of prodigal passion

Many of us are familiar with them, since they were taken from St. John Climacus, so I'll just remind them: pleasing passion and peace in everything, relaxation, condemnation, blasphemy and blasphemous thoughts, pride, ridicule (taunts and untimely laughter) and so on.

The influence of prodigal passion on the human body

“First of all,” says St. Theophan the Recluse, this is the loss of the body's strength, and its exhaustion, and its weakness. " In ancient times, no warrior or athlete shared his bed with either a wife or a woman before a battle or competition. because even then they knew that a person becomes weaker after that by about 25%. And now, what is shown in modern historical films - they drink, eat, walk all night, and in the morning we go into battle. Only suicides behave this way. And then there is victory, fanfare and a happy ending!

Weakness of the body - a person becomes less able to control his body, as it becomes disobedient.

Development of the habit of sin and dependence on it, when a person can no longer live without it. This is especially evident among those who have taken monastic vows. It is good if a person came to the monastery as a virgin, and those who know sin are tormented by memories and dreams.

Fornication produces gloom and spiritual stench in the human body - and this is the real truth. The demons of fornication are fetid, and the person seduced by them takes over this stench, and his body becomes stinking, unclean.

Influence on the human soul

Weakness and insensibility of the soul, and, as a result, torment and death. After a prodigal sin, the soul suffers and suffers greatly. It is hard for her, she is devastated, she is wounded, and the prodigal sin very much defiles the soul and shakes the mind. The one who has sinned by fornication is a completely demoralized person, prone to despair, since the mind cannot comprehend the full depth of its fall. Precisely falling, since this word is used only for prodigal sins and not for any others. Even if a person sinned with fornication only in his mind, he still fell, as fornication immediately brings down the entire spiritual building of a person to the ground. In his creations, St. John Climacus makes the following comparison more than once: when a repentant heretic is accepted into the Church, he is accepted through repentance and even in his present dignity (if he is a priest) and that's it, no penances. And for fornication, they were excommunicated from the Sacrament for up to 10 years. That is, how much more terrible is the sin of fornication compared to heresy!

Inflating the soul with passions - a person can finally lose control over himself and become just an animal, a slave to his passions.

Paralysis of all spiritual movements in a person - after a sin, a person cannot find the strength and will to pray, fast sincerely, with all his soul.

Frustration, anxiety, throwing and reeling of the soul is when the soul cannot find peace. She flutters like a flag in the wind, finding no refuge for herself.

Suppression of the joy of God in the soul of a person - this happens when a person begins to enjoy prodigal thoughts, sin. Such a Person can no longer rejoice: he jokes, smiles, he is affable and friendly, he is the soul of the company, but inside there is longing and despondency, and there is no place for joy in his soul - passion has destroyed everything.

Influence on the human mind

Plunging the mind into darkness and darkening it - it becomes insensitive to everything spiritual.

Debility and mental disorder- when a person thinks and philosophizes only in a worldly way, the spiritual component is gone. This happens when a person is completely enslaved by vice. He cannot imagine himself without it. He speaks, thinks, jokes and lives only by this. Look at modern television, and there you will find only fornication and womb. And nothing more.

Influence on the human spirit

The landing of the spirit. After prayer, the spirit of a person burns to God, burns with a thirst for grace, love, joy, but when the lustful passion takes possession of a person, it does not allow the spirit to be kindled by God, but returns him to earthly affairs and joys.

Fornication drives out the Holy Spirit, and a person loses boldness before God.

Defamation of a person is what a person who is possessed by the passion of fornication comes to. He becomes like Satan, since this sin is one of his most beloved.

The general impact of prodigal passion on a person

"Fornication is a fleshly passion, it is a denial of Christianity within us" (St. Theophan the Recluse). When a person commits a prodigal sin, he denies Christ and drives Him away, becoming a pagan and an atheist. Fornication is one of the most terrible passions.

The whole enslavement of a person to sin occurs through fornication. And also he destroys all the good that is in a person. He destroys and plunders everything that man has created in his soul, leaving no stone unturned.

Punishing a person for the sin of fornication

Taking away God's blessing in life.

Sorrows. Troubles. Adversity. Diseases. And even death.

Church punishments follow in the following order:

masturbation and fornication - a ban on communion for 7 years;

adultery, sodomy, bestiality - excommunication from Sts. Secrets for 15 years;

night pollution - if a person did not inflame himself before this, and this happened simply for physiological reasons, then he can receive communion.

This is stated in the rules of Svtt. Athanasius the Great, Dionysius of Alexandria and Timothy of Alexandria.

Fighting passion. Common Methods

First of all - the fight against gluttony, fasting, abstinence. In the fight against them, it is very important to pay attention to the quality of food - this is the removal of meat, fatty foods, spicy. Get used to getting up from the table a little hungry, there is not often, so that there is no constant state of satiety.

Physical labor to the point of exhaustion and fatigue. You yourself know when you get tired, just to get to bed, what fornication there is.

Jealousy for a feat. Faith in God. Prayer is all helpers in the fight against passion.

Humility. Obedience. Mercy - banish fornication from a person.

Modesty in dress and behavior. Panache should be completely ruled out. Because the one who flaunts - tempts not only himself, but also others. It provokes looking at yourself and experiencing feelings. It has become so close to our nature that even some older women cannot refuse perfumery and cosmetics. And when you tell them about it, they are offended, do not understand the true nature of their habit.

Avoiding the spectacle of someone else's body is films, television, magazines, etc. All these images then emerge in our memory and inflame passion in us. Again, let me remind you about the baths - in no case should children see their parents naked. If you want to go to the sauna with your son, please put on your swimming trunks and go.

Family creation. According to Ap. Paul, “But, in order to avoid fornication, everyone should have his own wife” (1 Cor. 7: 2). This helps in the struggle with passion, in achieving chastity through family life, since it is blessed by God - this is already the law. No one will condemn this person for this, because everything is by love, by law, by grace.

Private methods.

During temptations, it is necessary to cut off thoughts in the bud, that is, as soon as an image or inspiration appears in the soul, one must resort to prayer in order to expel this defilement from the soul or replace this thought with a good one - this is how St. Theophan the Recluse. Calling on the name of God, the Jesus prayer or whatever, because without the help of God, no one can ever overcome this passion. According to the Holy Fathers, before defeating her, a person must admit his weakness and his inability to fight this sin on his own. Until this moment, God cannot help us without destroying our soul, but as soon as we admit our weakness, from this moment begins our true struggle with the sin of fornication.

Memories of Shame After the Fall... Remembering the punishment for sin in this life and in the next. Many Holy Fathers resorted to this method - the constant remembrance of death.

Reading the Holy Scriptures and Lives of the Saints. This helps to drive out prodigal thoughts, and then the place of Satan in our souls takes the grace of the Holy Spirit. Alternatively, you can keep yourself occupied with what you love or hobby, which will also help distract yourself from sin.

Fornication and family relationships.

Can fornication be present in family life? Fornication may be fornication, but there is no fornication! Because fornication is the illegal use of each other, and in marriage everything is according to the law. When a family man cannot abstain during fasting, this shows that he is weak and sick with fornication.

Prodigal impurity in family life is expressed in perversions, unnatural use of the other sex. This is all a mortal sin, and it must be eradicated. I will not talk about them in detail, but I will note one of them, since many may not know that this is a sin - this is mutual handicap. Some people think that this is not a sin, but it is not. This practice came to us from family psychology. Many have read such manuals to revitalize family life and began to practice it, not knowing that it is a desecration.

Of course, you need to remember about decency, about natural shame. Once I was walking the dog and decided to visit my acquaintances, newlyweds. His wife opens the door for me - dressed in only one shirt and that's it! I was so dumbfounded. They invited me to tea, but I, referring to the deeds, hastened to leave. I come to the priest, I say so, they say, and so, and he answers me: "Well, what are you - this is everyday life." It's one thing when they are alone in the house, but meeting guests like this is, at the very least, disrespect and temptation.

Such little things have become so firmly embedded in our lives that we began to perceive them as the norm. We began to forget that the Lord constantly calls us to purity, to holiness, to prayer. We must strive for this with all our souls. Nobody says that we are saints, but the pursuit of holiness should become our need, like in the air. It is necessary to remind people of their dream, to wake them up, and not to dismiss sin with worldly wisdom.

Relationships before marriage should be without sin. There is a proverb: "As you start, so you finish." That is, you started your family life with a sin, and you will continue with a sin. Whoever can, let him better abstain from fornication.

Demons love nothing more than fornication, because through fornication they most quickly receive our destruction. Therefore, every Christian should be afraid of him, fight with him and not indulge in sin, but call white - white, and black - black.

 

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