‹ Questions to the priest ‹ Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Date: 27.04.2012 at 13:29

Christ is Risen, Father Andrew!
1) Can an Orthodox girl paint her nails with varnish? Is it wrong?
2) Is it a sin to dye your hair? I just know that piercings and tattoos are a sin, so I'm thinking about hair. I don’t paint wildly, I just make the tone brighter ...
3) Is it necessary to be baptized when passing by churches or on a bus, or is it a "play for the public" and one cannot show one's faith?
4) Father, who should read akathists from the passion of fornication? I am a teenager, and it’s hard for me to fight, I panic, I get discouraged when I sin like that.
5) How to distinguish the beginning love of money from the desire to simply provide your child (future) and yourself with a decent life (to want to have your own room, even if it’s small, not to need elementary things - is it a sin?) I have frequent quarrels with my boyfriend because of money.
6) Please pray for the ailing maiden Leah, the sick servant of God Michael, the servants of God Elena and Valentina and the servant of God Vladimir, so that God guides him on the true path.
Low bow to you for your help!

Truly Risen!
1. It is possible, but carefully and preferably colorless.
2. If not gray-haired, then it is better not to, but as you wish.
3. It will not be superfluous.
4. Protect your eyes from all this and dress modestly. You can pray st. Moses Ugrin.
5. Work and do not make the meaning of life out of these blessings.
6. Well, help and bless the Lord! Thanks a lot.

Many people know that nothing can be done on church holidays, but few people understand why such a ban arose. The meaning of such taboos is that the holiday is for God, and not for worldly affairs. It is recommended to devote such days to caring and talking with loved ones.

What can not be done on church holidays?

It is important to note that the opinion that any physical work should be excluded on such days is incorrect and is only a myth. In fact, there is a certain list of restrictions that are considered more than a threat.

Many are interested in why it is impossible to sew on church holidays and what can happen if this prohibition is violated. Since ancient times, people have not picked up a needle on such days, especially at Christmas, as this can lead to the loss of sight of one of their close relatives.

Other prohibitions on religious holidays:

Another hot topic is why you can’t do laundry on church holidays. In fact, this prohibition also arose due to the fact that on such days it is worth devoting time to God and loved ones, and not working at home.

This topic, unfortunately, has been and remains one of the most discussed in our Orthodox community, especially among the female audience.

Since your obedient maid has completed make-up courses and has actually been doing make-up for a very long time, I can say a few words about this.

“Is it a sin to paint now?” It depends on how the woman relates to this process. Sometimes it can be voiced like this: “Oh, Lord, how badly You did me, now, what is this lip color? Why are the eyes so expressionless? Eyelashes that couldn't be made thicker and longer, that's how it's done! - and the woman corrects what, in her opinion, the Almighty did not succeed. In this case, it is a sin, you have to confess. If a wife tries to remind her husband how beautiful the Lord created her, and adds a little “brightness” somewhere in order to attract the attention of her husband, then, in my opinion, there is no sin in this. - writes Priest Alexei.

Once, when I was going to church, I, a seventeen-year-old girl, had a desire to fully follow the essence of the message of the Apostle Paul - that "a wife should not adorn herself." I took it straight and stopped wearing any jewelry at all, stopped doing my hair, stopped dressing nicely, stopped using any kind of make-up and care products. Of course, I felt like a black sheep, I felt very bad and bitter. I didn't want to look in the mirror. I didn't want to go on holidays. The young people did not look at me. In general, life collapsed! 🙂

In the end, I succumbed to the persuasion of my friends and mother and stopped this disgrace. I decided for myself that now such a way of life does not suit a city dweller, that it is necessary to look decent, in accordance with her position, without plunging those around her into temptation. If it is now considered decent for a woman to comb her hair beautifully, dress well and use makeup, then this is how it should be done, observing the measure and having taste.

So, what is makeup in historical terms?

Woman looks after himself under all circumstances, even in the war in the trenches, even experiencing a bereavement: she sobs all night long about her dead husband, but then thickly lubricates her face with a nourishing cream, and at the funeral she is fully armed with a thorough make-up.

Cosmetics were already used in Ancient Egypt: antimony, bright lipstick were used, eyes were made green, decorated with tattoos, perfumes and fragrant oils were used, and centuries before the new era, i.e. of the Nativity of Christ, "drugs for touching up the face" were considered insidious tricks inherent in the deceitful female gender. The Monk John of Damascus (8th century) called seductresses those who paint their faces like a flowering meadow, blush their cheeks in different tones, whiten their faces with starch, line their eyes black, decorate their necks, hands, hair with golden ornaments, use various incense. But, alas, at all times piety is defeated in the competition with the desire of women for beauty, as they understand it.

On the other hand, in the East, eyes have been painted since ancient Egyptian times with antimony (kohl), since, firstly, it disinfects the eyes, secondly, it strengthens the optic nerve, and thirdly, it protects the delicate skin around the eyes from solar radiation. And they do it there in the East so far, and not only women, but also men!

In Western Europe, initially male aristocrats began to use make-up and lipstick, starting from the 16th century. This fashion - to whiten the face, line the eyes, put flies and use lipstick - came from Turkey. Then the aristocrats began to follow this fashion, and after them - the women of the demi-monde. It was fashionable to be white-faced, with “heart” lips, with black dots emphasizing beauty - “flies”. Later, under the influence of Protestant and Lutheran ideas, the whole fashion for luxury and everything that was connected with aristocratic habits was criticized. Including makeup.

In Russia, fashion for make-up, also coming from the East, has spread very widely in urban fashion. In the 15th century, women from wealthy families, going out into the street without a thickly smeared face, red cheeks, thickly blackened eyebrows and eyelashes, were subjected to public censure. This fashion was perfectly combined with piety and piety.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, makeup fashion came and went.

Lipstick, like many other cosmetics, was invented in ancient Egypt.
Then there was lipstick in bright and dark shades, obtained from red ocher and natural iron oxides. She made her lips visually thinner and more elegant. The ancient Greeks borrowed lipstick from the Egyptians and used it willingly. At the same time, she was no less popular than in ancient Egypt. But in the years of the dark Middle Ages, the use of lipstick could be a reason for convicting a woman of witchcraft. The revival in the field of cosmetics happened only in the Renaissance with its cult of human beauty. Moreover, cosmetics at that time were used so intensively that in the 17th century English parliament passed a law that gave a man the right to divorce his wife if, after the wedding, he discovers that in reality she is not as beautiful as she was during the matchmaking period.
At the court of Louis XVI, lips were also painted by men - so that the contours of the mouth were noticeable and did not merge with the beard and mustache.

In the Soviet Union, women until the 60s rarely wore lipstick, even in educated circles, as it was considered vulgar. My grandmother started wearing makeup after she was 25, when she already had children, under the influence of her friends. And the fashion for eye makeup became ubiquitous in the 1960s, with its huge arrows and false eyelashes. The fashion for foundation and eye shadow came later, along with imported cosmetics.

Now there is another wave of rejection of makeup in society. In the West, this is associated with the rise of the feminist movement. In Russia, on the contrary, makeup is a companion of feminism. A variant of this “natural beauty” trend is the fashion for discreet makeup, as well as permanent makeup.

Sometimes beginners try to keep to the full strictness of the rule by not wearing make-up or dressing up, leaving makeup and hairdressing, turning into their own shadow. Why, one wonders, did the novice not start her spiritual feat from the other side? For example, would you give away your property to the poor, sell your apartment, your last earrings and not have a second garment, as it is directly stated in the Gospel and patristic writings? Because the feat of non-acquisitiveness is more difficult and difficult than the formal observance of external rules?

So if you eradicate in your heart main reason sinfulness - the desire to seduce, which is generally sinful for a married woman, or the desire to look better, more beautiful than others, or to lie with your appearance - that you are actually not thirty but forty, that you are a pale, tortured city dweller, and not a full-blooded maiden - then your soul and makeup, I'm sure it won't hurt.

If you remember that red lipstick is a symbol of a sexually aroused woman, a woman who is ready to mate, then you will not go overboard with the color of lipstick once again. Paint your lips with red lipstick at home, for your husband, before love, there will be no sin for you 🙂

(I’ll note, for the sake of truth, it’s not the face that attracts men in women, let alone jewelry. Men are seduced by the smell, the timbre of the voice, the expression of the eyes, the figure and some of its details, the general impression of the woman. Gait, manners. In general, that "Something that mostly eludes women. Why is this or that woman considered seductive and another not? Women often do not understand. Or vice versa, a beautiful woman remains lonely, or only connoisseurs of appearance, libertines, stick to her. This is the problem cosmetics won't fix it.

Why do we mostly wear makeup? A young girl - in order to look older, as well as for a fashionable look. An older woman - to look decent and like everyone else. Sometimes - to give your pale face some colors to look brighter. Sometimes - to hide flaws. Wise women emphasize the dignity of their face with makeup and correct the flaws. As a rule, the older a woman is, the more makeup she needs. As a rule, under make-up we hide our dissatisfaction with our appearance, our disappointment in our own appearance, the desire to restore the elusive beauty or give our appearance those features that we are not endowed with by nature.

I really like the saying of Khakamada - "make-up is a means to correct the shortcomings of the hairstyle." Have you noticed that a beautiful successful hairstyle does not need a lot of makeup?

The funny thing is that just then, at the age of seventeen, I didn’t need much makeup. These were all fake tears.

The beauty of a woman comes from within. The face is illuminated by the soul, and the traces of what has been lived in life are imprinted on the face better than in documents.

It is correctly said "at twenty years of a woman, the face that nature gave, at forty - that she deserved."

I have always resented my appearance. God gave me pale skin that turns red when I get worried, drink a hot drink or walk along a windy street ... Light eyebrows and cilia ... Bright eyes ... I always saw flaws in my appearance that needed to be painted over or changed. Needless to say, these were mostly complexes? 🙂 Facial expression is the most important thing that makes women beautiful. In the morning, before putting on makeup at the mirror, say to yourself - “thank God that he created me such a beauty!” You will need much less makeup than usual. Checked! Think about men. Why do they seem beautiful to us, with their red faces and unplucked eyebrows, wrinkled skin?

We are forcibly fed the ideal of a permanently made-up woman, we are shown hosts, actors, photo models, which make-up artists have been working on for a long time, we are shown faces retouched on the computer, which we are supposed to match. Even if a person by role in the film does not have makeup, he actually is there, and in a thick layer. We have lost the habit of seeing an unpainted face. Moreover, the image of the “new Cinderella” is being imposed on us. That is, there is an ugly girl, unsure of herself, to whom the prince does not pay attention. As soon as she goes to the makeup artist, dress more fashionably, comb her hair, and she is already a “princess”, and the prince runs into her arms. I’m thinking, but the prince doesn’t understand that when he washes her and undresses her, there will still be Cinderella. Katya Pushkareva, beauty is a terrible force. In real life, I do not know such cases. Beauty cannot be hidden, ugliness can only be changed by a plastic surgeon, alas. Mostly young girls believe in these fairy tales. Shame on a respectable lady who still believes that if she buys expensive lipstick, the prince will rush to her on a white horse.

In other words, if makeup can help you be self-confident (and it helps me), then who will forbid you! If only the husband. I recall a scene from the film “Zoya's Standing” - the priest says to mother “yes, madam, you made up your lips ...” and washes her in a basin with rinsing linen. In short, do not be surprised if your husband somehow asks you to paint less. And even more so, do not be offended. Many, oh many men are categorically against makeup. And even non-Orthodox. Men have a different attitude towards makeup than we do.

In conclusion, a couple of tips regarding the actual makeup. If you pick up every time lipstick to match the clothes - you have a taste. If you have chosen lipstick once and for all, according to your type of appearance, you have excellent taste! If you are focusing on the lips, do not paint the eyes too much. And vice versa... It is best to follow the Eastern principle. Arab ladies make their eyes a lot, but their lipstick is mostly light, this is with a brunette appearance! And because they have bright lipstick - it is considered vulgar. Half-face eyes, but drawing there is considered the norm ... (I don’t urge this).

Now all kinds of lip glosses are in fashion. Here, take them on board! The eyes are the mirror of the soul. Highlight them. If you have time, do your best "Japanese" makeup. Its essence is that it is not visible. The main focus is on the correction of skin imperfections and the shape of the face.

The main principle of makeup, if you already do it, do not rush and do not overdo it. Professional basic make-up takes two hours. The bottom line is that everything is done carefully. Concert make-up - red cheeks, black eyes, long glued eyelashes and a mouth with a crimson wound - ten minutes. This is to be seen from afar. AT ordinary life This look only suits clowns.

In an intra-church society - be prepared - you may be given a condition to refuse make-up and generally embellish your own appearance. If you are a parishioner of the temple, you may not be reproached at all. But if you are a singer, an employee, or a mother in general, in order to be accepted into the intra-church society, you must adhere to fairly strict rules of behavior and appearance. For example, in our parish and in the "environment" this is exactly the case. Once I came to the parish warehouse, it happened by chance to go in, it was good that I had a handkerchief with me. Oh horror - jeans, blonde bangs, lipstick, piercings in the ears. They told me that I looked non-Orthodox, and they almost kicked me out. Grannies are strict. I don't blame them at all. You are the one to blame. 🙂

Tertullian, about make-up and generally about decorating yourself - clothes, jewelry, hairstyles (oh, he exposes me :))

http://aleteia.narod.ru/tertul/zh_ubr2.htm

“All that I have said so far does not tend to turn you to a way of life, so to speak, peasant and disgusting, or to advise you not to observe neatness in your person. My intention is only to show you to what extent and to what extent your solicitude for your body can extend, so that chastity may be inviolable. Should not go beyond the boundaries of modest decency and decent neatness. We must begin by pleasing God. What offends him most is the immeasurable tendency of many women to use all kinds of drugs to make their skin white and smooth, to paint their face and cheeks with rouge, to blacken their eyebrows with soot. It can be seen that they do not like the simple creation of God when they find flaws in it.

Some of you are incessantly smearing your hair to give it a blonde color. They seem to be ashamed of their fatherland, and angry that they were not born in Gaul or Germany. They try to forcibly convey to their hair what nature has endowed these peoples with. This shiny hair is a sad omen: their vain and imaginary beauty leads to disgrace. Indeed, apart from other inconveniences, is it not true that through the use of these incense, insensible hair is lost? Isn't it true that the brain itself is weakened by these extraneous moisture and from the immense heat of the sun, on which you want to burn and dry your head? Is it possible to love embellishments that produce such disastrous effects? Should we call good what is composed of such obscene things?

What benefit do your head ornaments bring to your salvation? Can't you leave your hair alone? You curl them, then develop them; then raise, then lower; today you will braid them, and tomorrow you will leave them to worry carelessly; sometimes you burden them with a lot of other people's hair, making them either a kind of hat with which you cover your head, or a kind of pyramid so that your neck is open. What a strange thing it is to want to continually transgress the commandment of God! Who cares about you, says the Savior, can add one cubit to age (Matt. 6:27). And you certainly want to add something to it, accumulating on your head tufts of hair with a bunch of ornaments with which you burden the crown of your head, as if the focus of a helmet (oh, my laced blond tresses!). If you are not ashamed to bear such a burden, then at least be ashamed of its unworthiness. Do not place on the head sanctified by baptism the mortal remnants of any poor man who died of debauchery, or any villain condemned to die on the scaffold. A free head must remove itself from the slavery of all these burdensome attire. However, in vain do you try to appear splendidly dressed; in vain you use the most skillful masters for cleaning your hair; God wants you to be covered. What for? probably so that no one sees the heads of women who shame themselves with a frank head (1 Corinthians 11:5).

Do you think that God himself taught people the art of dyeing wool with the juice of famous plants or the oily parts of famous fish? Probably at the beginning of the world He forgot to create red or blue sheep, and therefore later revealed the secret of giving different colors to fabrics in order to make their fineness and lightness more valuable. Probably He also produced these golden toys, shining with many precious stones, and pierced the edges of your ears to attach magnificent pearls to them. Didn’t He fully recognize it necessary to torment His creation and tire children who are dissatisfied with their lot, to the point that from the cuts on the body designated for work hang some grains with which the Parthians, the barbarian people, cover the whole body in the form of a necklace? Meanwhile, the same gold that leads you to admiration is used by other peoples to make chains and shackles; what their historians are talking about. It is true that these things are valued not because they are good in themselves, but because they are rare. But who opened out? None other than the rebellious angels or their slanderers: they initially pointed out to people these earthly works. Then labor and industry, together with their rarity, made them even more precious from their insane zeal to satisfy the luxury of women. It must be assumed that God will plunge into pitch darkness these evil spirits, among other things, because they pointed out to people these dangerous substances, such as: gold, silver and things made from them, and especially because they taught the art of dyeing fabrics and the most face. How can we please God when we love the works of those whom His justice has condemned to eternal punishment?

Tell me: what reason do you have to appear in a magnificent outfit when you are separated from other women who have a need for it for such motives that do not concern us? You do not visit pagan temples, you do not attend their spectacles, you do not attend the festivals of the gods. But the usual reasons for lavishing such splendor in clothes are precisely to be in meetings, to see others and show oneself, to put chastity up for sale.

It is truly a great blasphemy when someone says about any of you: this woman has become more modest, having become a Christian! How! Aren't you already afraid of being branded poorer, having become richer, or seeming careless, having become more respectable? Should a Christian follow the rules of the pagans, or the rules of God?

Let simplicity and chastity be your only decoration. Describe before your eyes the humble modesty that comes from a well-ordered interior. Bind the word of God to your ears, and the yoke of Christ to your neck. Repent to your husbands: this is sufficient for your adornment. Keep your hands occupied in spinning, and keep your feet in the circle of your houses: your feet will be made more beautiful by this than by an abundance of gold. Be filled with the joy of wisdom, holiness and purity. If you adorn yourself like this, then God Himself will love you faithfully and forever.”

So, if you want to have a perfect lifestyle, then here is a direct instruction for you. It remains on your conscience - to listen to the sage of the 3rd century AD or live by the rules of our modern society. Even for myself, I’m not yet ready to categorically answer “no” to makeup, and I constantly repent of this in confession. I am vain and I love to attract men with my beauty, especially since I am not married, and there is no one to keep and hide it for. And I also don’t like to show the world the flaws that no no yes happen to my appearance. But at least now I know WHO invented makeup and why ..... If you, the reader, have the courage and determination to challenge the laws of this age, honor and praise to you. It is clear that it will be most difficult for those who are accustomed to do this all the time to give up decorating themselves, and consider it something necessary, moreover, decent for the person of their position. I couldn't. Bye. It is clear that if the Lord gives me the opportunity to live to a ripe old age, the passion to decorate my face and hair will pass by itself. Although, we know a lot of “young old women” who immoderately paint their faces, wear wigs, pull up sagging skin and dress up as brides in their seventies - here is Svetlichnaya and the late Gurchenko, how many such “beauties” walk down the street?

On the other hand, I dare to discuss with the wise Tertullian. Now the living conditions are completely different, in Western civilization (in patriarchal societies everything is the same). Women are no longer recluses at home, they are no longer the keepers of the hearth. They leave the house every day, go everywhere and go alone. They do everything on a par with men, and sometimes for them. This lifestyle has completely changed the principles of decency for women. It is not necessary to cover the head all the time, as well as to wrap the body in a hoodie. In society, something completely different began to seem seductive. If in the time of Tertullian men were seduced by the face and voice of women, now in order to seduce others it is necessary to undress almost to the naked. You and I, adult women, many of us have some experience, we know that if there is some kind of spark between two people, then it arises from eye contact. This happens quickly, within a few seconds, we subconsciously perceive the whole person, his subconscious signals, smell, voice, and for the first few minutes of communication we already know whether we like a man or not. Men think even faster. 🙂

During the service, sometimes in the company of young monks, I meet their eyes - and I understand, because they hastily turn away - that I may have become an occasion for temptation for them. One look is enough. Even if I came to the temple without makeup and with a modest handkerchief. This does not happen with old priests. So perhaps we should not be afraid to accidentally seduce someone with our make-up, modest jewelry and clothes that are not hoodie enough. There is always a reason for temptation. Keep track of what's going on in your head.

On my own behalf, I can say that at confession every time I confess that I adorn myself, including braiding hair and face paint.

And I prefer makeup so that it’s impossible to say for sure whether it’s me or not until you come close. Although on holidays, yes, I paint according to all the rules. Once, on a trip to nature, my brother asked me to put on makeup. My face was burnt in the sun, it was aggravated by the fire smoke, and my appearance became simply ugly. He asked me to sort myself out somehow. And after thinking, he said ... “Do not go without make-up at all. Makeup suits you. Just don’t overdo it….”

Another plus for makeup and hair. I don't know how a proper Christian should look. Will it be useful to the Orthodox faith if I turn into a unkempt woman? Will it not be a temptation for others? They will say to themselves in their hearts, “this Elena is boasting of her Orthodoxy, she looks like a crazy sectarian, all Orthodox are moved on their heads” .... It seems to me that this will not benefit others and the image Orthodox Church. On the other hand, many theologians of both our time and the ancients write something in the sense of “you must show that you do not belong to the rest of the world, that you differ in behavior, including appearance, from pagans and unbelievers ...”

Then it turns out that both are right - and those who call on virgins and women to wear headscarves and hoodies, to forget about cosmetics and hair dye. And those who are trying not to alienate society from the church with their outward piety.

And I wish you to be happy, no matter what appearance God has awarded you.

Protodeacon Andrey Kuraev "on women's cosmetics"

Basically, I agree with him. He said the right thing. Are there any holy women in our Orthodox Church who definitely used cosmetics? Of course! For example, Empress Passion-bearer Alexandra Romanova with her daughters, Holy Princess Elizabeth. It was a sign of decency and tradition of that society.

Now for the comments. Dear readers! I will be happy to answer your questions about my experience, suggest some solution in case of practical makeup issues. But the priest did not bless me to enter into disputes (I took a blessing to write this article). So don't be offended if I don't respond to some comments.

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04.04.2016 18:09:

Hello Marina!
Mute is surprised that your impressions, conclusions and development of the topic are based on only one "sigh" of the priest. Perhaps the priest sighed from fatigue or lack of air, because of the burning candles. And you have already allowed yourself to condemn him for lack of love and intolerance for your appearance. I think. That this is just your personal subjective impressions.
Try to control yourself and in the future not allow yourself to condemn persons of the clergy.
Marina 04.04.2016 18:34:

Father, forgive me, maybe I explained it incorrectly, but in no case do I condemn anyone, especially this father, and moreover, I am grateful to him in many ways. But he sighed with real displeasure, I might not have paid attention, but people told me that they were around, and they also pointed to long nails, they said "our father does not like this." I asked you if long nails are a sin, because I really try to grow spiritually all the time, work on myself. Forgive me, sinner.
RB 04.04.2016 21:22:

In your question, hypocrisy is barely hidden)) don’t be cunning Marina, if you are striving for churching, you should understand that make-up, defiant clothing, etc., is not appropriate on Orthodox women, but from the height of my life experience I’ll say what more people worries about the outer less time for the spiritual life!
Marina 04.04.2016 21:34:

Dear RB, you even hide your name, isn't that hypocrisy? I didn't ask you, I asked the father a question. The rules of the site say that this is not a forum. If you think that you have the right to criticize and give advice, then this is already pride and a desire to judge others. You haven't seen me, I don't have provocative clothes and make-up. And about the\"height of life experience \"-it's generally funny.\"Height \"!!!So I, in your opinion, below? \"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not see the beam in your own eye\". I hope you will not continue to comment and give the priest the opportunity to answer my question.
RB 04.04.2016 22:42:

Forgive me if my message disturbed you so much))) but as for me, the father answered you everything)))
Marina 04/04/2016 22:59:

Well, you got me involved in the discussion. Batiushka did not answer everything, because in some of his answers to other questions I read that it was not forbidden to use makeup, and he even gave the example of the Grand Duchess. So I would like to clarify about the nails. Again, no one asked for your opinion. Forgive me if I offended you. It’s a pity that I still don’t know not only your name, but even whether you are a man or a woman.)))
Olga 04/05/2016 08:20:

Why don’t you all ask such questions in the church to the real Father, who sees you and talks to you live? In general, this site is strange, after all, no one checked who is under the name ((Father Alexander. Forgive me Father for distrust, but tell me how We believe in our time a lot of terrible things happen.
RB 04/05/2016 09:11:

Olga! father Alexander serves in the church of Theodosius of Chernigov in Kyiv! What more evidence do you need "to believe"?! Save the Lord o. Alexandra! Thank him for this site.
Anastasia 04/05/2016 11:30:

Sorry. Are you not afraid of mental anguish? Probably better to be deceived than not to trust an honest person. Why do you need to know the secrets of the soul? Each person is not only an image of God, people also have an inner secret world and no one has the right to encroach on a person’s freedom. 04/05/2016 11:34:

Marina: Once again I want to reassure you so that you do not worry about the “sighs” of the priest and the opinions of others. I haven't seen your nails, so I can't say anything. Although sometimes in the temple I express my point of view when I see the nails of black or purple, when the nails are decorated colorfully, like Easter Easter eggs, or have the shape of cold weapons, claws-daggers from horror films.
And I confirm my personal opinion that a woman should take care of herself. In a manicure with a moderate length of nails and if the varnish is close to the natural color of the nails, there is nothing sinful and reprehensible.

Olga: Our site is open to everyone. Among the visitors there are many people who know me personally, parishioners of our church, their relatives, friends, godfathers, acquaintances, etc. Moreover, the site contains the contacts of the temple and my personal phone number. In the "Photo" and "Video" section there are many materials confirming the reality of the existence of our church and me, as its rector. If you have any doubts, I do not recommend you start trolling the site, because. by this you commit a sin, leading other people into temptation.

Olga 04/05/2016 17:00:

I didn’t intend to offend anyone, there’s just a lot of fiction on the Internet now, my colleagues had a question (why should the temple answer questions from invisible people? Free cheese is only in a mousetrap, sorry that I wrote to you

Metropolitan Athanasius of Limassol

Remain the way God created you, so that we treat ourselves beautifully first of all, so that we start with ourselves, so that we do not want to humiliate and ridicule ourselves. Sometimes they ask:

- Is it a sin to paint?

It's not a sin, paint how you want! But what is the problem? That you are changing yourself. Or you wear an earring - and the other looks at you and asks himself: how can you stand it? And why did he put it on his eyebrow? Okay, but doesn't it bother you like a fly is sitting on your forehead?

Or she comes to say something, and something hangs from her hair and enters her eye. Well, why is it all, children? Or some boots, and you have to make special efforts to keep your balance.

I really do ask myself that sometimes. I sit and look at them from above from the monastery, where silence reigns, and from a distance I can hear how the car stops, and she knock-knock-knock with her heels until she enters the temple. Inside, maybe they are reading the Gospel and there is complete silence. And then she says:

“I don’t go to church because when I go inside, everyone turns around and looks at me!”

Well, of course, they look if you alarmed people! How can a person not see what you put on and what you came here on! They got dizzy when they saw it!

Children, respect starts with yourself. Well, it is in the nature of a woman to adorn herself, this is true, and, of course, you need to wear good clothes. But only measure is needed. Beauty is in moderation. Extremes are superfluous, because then a person loses measure and can no longer understand what is right and what is not, because he does not have a sense of proportion, he has lost the feeling that by doing so he will challenge other people. When you say to him:

“My child, this is defiant! he asks you:

- And why? How can it be provocative?

He does not understand this, because he no longer has a measure.

We must learn to appreciate others and God Himself. Gratitude to God comes gradually: at first you begin to value yourself, respect yourself, your body, face, take care of it, but in a beautiful way, with respect for yourself, without changing your face. Then, when you respect yourself, you also respect your parents, teachers, brother, neighbors, uncle, spouse.

So our life becomes beautiful, because what you give to another, he will return to you. If you are a barbarian, then you will be treated the same way. Therefore, we need to work on ourselves, and when we do something, then sit down and ask ourselves: “Why am I doing this, for what reason? I put on 15 earrings, hung them from top to bottom. What for? For beauty? But it's not pretty. What then is the reason? What motivates me to do this? We must see the impulse, that is, to explore ourselves, but not with mental anguish, but in order to work on ourselves.