Female infidelity is a rather complex phenomenon. First, with the social ...
"Is it okay or not to go to church with your period?" - important question which has no clear answer. He has both ardent supporters defending church-historical rules and concepts, and active opponents defending women's powerlessness in front of the natural processes of the body. Both are right, but what should a woman do at this time?
Old Testament Prohibition
The history of questions and answers on church attendance on critical days dates back to ancient times - the Old Testament era. This Holy Scripture united in itself two religions - Christianity and Judaism, and was a kind of constitution of the Christian belief.
The Old Testament singled out a certain group of "unclean" people who did not have the right to receive communion, confess, pray within the walls of the holy place, that is, they were strictly prohibited from entering the temple. The category of "unclean" included:
- lepers people;
- people with purulent-inflammatory infections in the body;
- men during ejaculation and with prostate dysfunction;
- people who touched the corpse, thereby defiling themselves;
- women during bloody discharge from the vagina (menstruation, postpartum fuckers, and the like);
- men and women with any kind of bleeding.
Why can't women go to the temple on critical days, when menstruation is considered a natural process that is directly involved in childbirth? The Church's Response is: Periods Is Rejection female body human life, which could arise and develop in her womb. The "uncleanness" of people in the Old Testament is associated with death. That is, roughly speaking, the main purpose of a woman is to give birth to descendants. She must be in a constantly pregnant state, since menstruation is the death of an unborn embryo and, accordingly, a sin. The answer is unfair, but it is a fact.
This attitude of the church towards women is somewhat reminiscent of discrimination. Sexual oppression is observed even in the periods allotted for cleansing after childbirth: if a boy was born - 40 days, if a girl - 80. At this time, a woman should sit at home and wait until the days strictly allotted by the church for bleeding are over.
The exception was considered seriously ill and dying women - faith turned a blind eye to their menstrual flow.
New Testament Prohibition Adjustment
During the domination of the New Testament, the understanding of the church affiliation of a person changed and the list of "unclean" was revised. The church began to treat women more leniently, and the topic of menstruation could only be considered from the point of view of hygiene.
After Jesus Christ accepted death, thereby taking upon himself all the sins committed by man, and returned to life (resurrected), his understanding of divine belonging became different - the physical body is nothing in comparison with the spiritual strength of a person striving for union with God ... That is, religion does not look at how a person looks and what state his body is in now. For religion, one important concept remains - the soul. Thus, a woman's menstruation is not a prohibitive reason to visit the temple.
The Church did not forbid a woman to go to church on "these" days, to receive communion, to confess, to pray. But she still welcomed the decision of the woman on the days of menstruation to stay at home, and not to go to God's house.
The modern view of the church
The points of view of modern clergy, as in ancient times, do not coincide. Why can you walk? Why can't you walk? When is it allowed and when it is not allowed? The answers to these questions are stuck in time. Some believe that a woman is forbidden to go to church, others are allowed to pray within the walls of the church, to confess, to receive communion, despite the "red" days of the calendar.
Neither one nor the other can convincingly defend their point of view, without having any arguments in defense or accusation.
Arguments from supporters of the forbidden ritual
The “defenders” of the prohibition explain why it is impossible to go to church, receive communion and confess on “these” days, relying on the traditions of the Old Testament and the fact that during menstruation, a woman's body is freed from an unfertilized and dead egg. But they cannot answer unequivocally what relation the physiology of processes has to spiritual power.
In their opinion, a woman on critical days within the walls of the temple of God is forbidden absolutely everything: to enter the temple, touch holy icons and books, light candles, receive communion, confess. To desecrate a holy place with any bleeding is a great sin. Even the injured priest is not allowed to enter the church.
Arguments of opponents of the forbidden ritual
On the other side of Orthodox Christianity, the ban on women visiting church on critical days is morally untenable. Even St. John Chrysostom (IV century) considered the propaganda of the "forbidden ritual" superstition and called such behavior of the church unworthy of faith.
It is also worth noting that, according to opponents of the "menstrual taboo", the ban was created in the days of paganism, and this religion has no points of intersection with Orthodoxy and cannot dictate its own rules and laws.
One can unambiguously answer that for God the inner purity of thoughts is more important, and the behavior of the body is secondary. If a woman came to God during her period, but at the same time with a pure soul and sincere faith, then no menstrual flow can prevent her from doing so. Man was created by God, and what he consists of is valuable to God. You cannot be ashamed of the menstruation he invented, and even more so to consider them a sin.
If we touch on the aesthetic side, then modern ways hygiene products reliably protect the woman and the temple premises from accidental bloodshed. In ancient times, such "incidents" were very much feared, because any bloodshed within the walls of the church was considered a sin, and women did not follow hygiene properly.
What is allowed on critical days?
It is very upsetting that the church does not have common and unified views. If there is one faith - Orthodoxy - then the laws should be the same. Why then there is a dispute on the question "is it possible or impossible to go to the House of God during menstruation, is it possible to receive communion and, if not, why?"
Today, God's house is open to all women, regardless of their personal menstrual calendar. It is believed that for God it is not the physiological manifestations of the body that are important, but spiritual purity and the thoughts with which a woman turns to the saint in confession or prayer.
In most temples, religious women adhere to the laws of critical days and do not visit the holy place until their period is over. For them, it is a tribute to a centuries-old sacred tradition.
So, in our time, there are two completely opposite truths of the same faith: the answer of the first lays a complete taboo on attending church, the opportunity to receive communion and pray to women on critical days; the second answer is that all the prohibitions that apply to women on the days of menstruation are outdated church prejudices. You can visit the temple if your soul and faith require it.
Can i go to church during my period? Unified opinion there is no. You can read all kinds of religious forums, questions to the clergy and their answers, but their opinions on this issue do not agree. Most refer to the Old Testament. Allegedly, it is impossible to go to church during menstruation, since menstruation is a consequence of a failed pregnancy, and a woman should be responsible for this.
In addition, during menstruation, "impurities" are secreted in the form of dead endometrial tissue, which defiles the church. This opinion is very, very doubtful. Previously, it was possible to understand that the clergy feared that a menstruating woman would desecrate the temple of God with her secretions, since the reliability of hygiene products (if they can be called that) left much to be desired. But modern facilities intimate hygiene can hardly fail. In addition, the New Testament tells how Jesus healed a menstruating woman. She touched the savior, but it was not considered a sin. Then what could be the sin that a woman on critical days simply goes to God's temple to pray?
The logic seems clear, and women are not at all to blame for the fact that nature has given them such a "punishment", but many priests still ask to refrain from sacred sacraments during critical days. Therefore, for example, the baptism of your child should be planned for "clean" days. If the planning has failed, then the sacrament does not need to be transferred, you will simply not be allowed to be present during the ceremony in the church, and then you will be able to enter. Other holy sacraments are also prohibited by the Church during menstruation, but indulgences can be made if, for example, a woman is seriously ill, before an operation and in other difficult situations.
And this prohibition is not so strict. Women can enter church on any day, but just touch the Gospel, icons, and attend the sacraments. However, even such a seemingly small prohibition is often taken with hostility. The educated priests answer this approximately as follows: “The point is not that a woman is not a“ pure ”being, but that during bleeding one cannot touch the shrines. For example, if a church minister injures his hand, then he also should not touch icons, divine books, etc. " This opinion as to whether it is possible to go to church with menstruation is the most adequate and does not hurt female pride.
“I was surprised that you cannot receive communion during your period! Maybe you can't go to church either? Some priests consider this prohibition superstitious. Who is right?"
Now on the net you can find many references to authoritative sources that approach this problem in different ways.
The Council of Bishops on February 2-3, 2015 consolidated the generally accepted practice when a woman should abstain from communion on the days of purification: female impurity(2nd Canon of Saint Dionysius of Alexandria, 7th Canon of Timothy of Alexandria). An exception can be made in case of mortal danger, as well as when bleeding continues for a long time in connection with a chronic or acute illness. "
I do not think that it is reasonable to call the decision taken by the assembly of bishops of the entire Russian Orthodox Church superstition. Some priests hold a different opinion, it has a certain basis, but it is most reasonable to adhere to the tradition that is accepted by the majority of the episcopate.
In addition, hardly anyone leads such a spiritual lifestyle that abstaining from the sacrament for several days could harm the soul. On the contrary, abstinence out of reverence for the sanctuary of the Holy Gifts will prepare a pious woman for communion more than if she wishes to commune on those days when most Christians do not dare to approach the sacrament.
To the temple, according to modern tradition, walking on the days of monthly cleansing is allowed. Although it is worth remembering that in the history of the Church there was a time when women during their periods did not go to the temple. An echo of this remained the tradition of reading prayers for the 40th day over a woman in labor. From the text of the prayer, it is clear that until the completion of the period of postnatal cleansing, a woman should not have entered the temple. Now this custom is not observed, but the Church, in the person of its hierarchs, urges to abstain during the days of cleansing from Communion, unless this is associated with a prolonged illness.
In general, in the tradition of the Church, it is accepted that in the temple where the Bloodless Sacrifice is performed, any shedding of blood is unacceptable. Any bleeding wound, if it is not life threatening and is not the result of prolonged illness, also serves as an obstacle to communion. So it's not about the woman, but about reverence for the Bloodless Sacrifice of the Savior, the inadmissibility of the shedding of blood in the temple.
I am a Catholic, we have no such prescription. There are the following norms:
Can. 915 - Those who are excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or announcement of punishment, as well as other persons persistently in obvious grave sin, should not be admitted to Holy Communion.
Can. 916 - Anyone who realizes a grave sin, without prior mysterious confession, should neither serve Mass, nor receive communion, unless there is a good reason for this and if there is no opportunity to confess. In the latter case, he needs to be mindful of his duty to perform an act of perfect contrition, including
the intention to confess as soon as possible.
The concept of ritual impurity is inherent in the Old Testament. The Jews became unclean for 7 days because of touching a corpse (Chl 19: 11-14), to a human bone or a tomb (Chl 19: 16), because death is the wages of sin; eating the carrion made him unclean until evening (Le 11: 8.24); the discharge of semen in men (Le 15.2-15), pollution (Le 15.16-17), intercourse (Le 15.18), menstruation (Le 15.19-23), bleeding (Le 15.25- 30), postpartum impurity 7 days after the boy and 14 after the girl, plus 33 or 66 days of purification, respectively (Le 12.2-5). Well, and also leprosy.
Our Lord Jesus Christ reduced the Jewish precepts about uncleanness to their inner justification and taught that real uncleanness comes only from the heart of a person when he voluntarily sins: That "comes from the heart - this defiles a person, for from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery , fornication, theft, perjury, blasphemy - this defiles a person "(Mt 15: 19-20).
And the Apostolic Council upheld only the food ban on sacrificed to idols, on blood and strangled material.
I think that if a woman belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate takes communion with her period, she will not have sin against the Body and Blood of the Lord. But she will sin against the commandment of the ROC-MP. And if she observes this commandment for love of the Church and for humility for the sake of, then she will have merit.
If Ignatius Brianchaninov, with his fierce aggressiveness towards science, towards reason and other marasmus, is the "authority of the Church", then it would be better if I, a scientist, would no longer be in such a Church. So decide, gentlemen! And I will decide too!
Of course, humility in love is love. But, I would like to hear the reason why not? Maybe a wounded soldier is also not allowed if he is bleeding? You can think of many such questions. It seems to me that if you explain the root causes to people, then there will be fewer questions and temptations.
There is a Heavenly Church Triumphant. And there are earthly Councils. And it's hard for me to understand how the test of the Gospel, which contains the words of Christ himself (Dare, daughter, your faith will save you), as well as the opinions of many holy fathers (not only Western, but also Eastern) could not outweigh a tradition that was not known neither the apostles nor early Christians until the third century. There is a clear dualism. And as a result - again thousands of those tempted, stumbling ... I am absolutely in solidarity with Saint Athanasius - a person has real impurity. This is a sin committed of their own free will, out of insatiable greed, selfishness, cowardice and cowardice, out of an eternal desire to use the whole world for their own good ... Wouldn't it be better to leave women a chance to once again resort to the healing Sacraments of the Body and Blood of Christ, which some are for us a true cure for inner mortality - spirit, soul and body? I understand - it's easier to act like Gleb Zhiglov: "I said!" - and point ... Lord, have mercy on us sinners and unhumble ones ...
in the history of mankind there were the times of the Great Discoveries (better known to us from textbooks as the times of the Middle Ages and the Inquisition), the times of the Great Migration of Nations, etc., at the same time, these are times of massive epidemics - viruses also traveled. We remember this less, because often there was no one even to leave notes ... They tried to solve the problem - the echoes of those ancient methods have survived to this day - in India and Pakistan there are peoples who can beat a woman with menstruation with sticks - after all, a person could be born, and she's like a killer of an unborn child ... Let's live in the 21st century and not come up with reasons why not let a person into church.
Hello everyone. And I have such a question on this topic. It turns out that Adam and Eve sinned. And the consequence of sin, among other things, were women's periods. Otherwise why are they called "impurity"? But the paradox is that God, according to the teachings of the Church, forgave Adam and Eve. Moreover, they are now in paradise and are considered saints. And women still continue to pay for Eve's sin, which she herself has long been forgiven! And then what kind of narcissism is there in Communion? After all, what is this Sacrament? We confess and partake in order to get rid of our sins. Learn not to sin. But female impurity still remains, no matter how much you confess! So what is the woman punished for? For the ability to give birth?
Unclear. I don't go to confession and communion these days. Moreover, I don’t light candles, I don’t apply to icons either. But the feeling from this is a kind of heaviness on the arch and sin. Moreover, as if I was punished for something - and neither repent of this mute nor change something - it is also dumb.
There are certain rules of conduct for attending church. Some of them are known to many. For example, most people know what should be the dress code for women to visit the Temple - a skirt below the knees, a closed jacket with sleeves and a covered head. Men, on the other hand, need to take off their hats when entering the church, and clothing should also cover the body as much as possible - shorts and T-shirts are unacceptable. However, there are many nuances that arise before visiting holy places. One of them is the question of whether you can go to church with your period. Let's figure it out. After all, there are many conflicting answers to it.
Is it possible to go to church with menstruation
According to the Bible, a woman during her period is considered "unclean." That is why in ancient times a girl with menstruation was forbidden to visit the Temple. Is it possible to go to church with menstruation in modern world? According to the priests, women can enter the Temple on such days. However, during menstruation, she cannot participate in the Sacraments and apply to shrines (a cross, icons, anointed with oil and take prosphora). It is believed that this state is not considered sinful, however, there is some impurity, which was written earlier.
Where do the origins come from?
And why weren't girls allowed to visit the Temple in ancient times? Why the question arose "is it possible to go to church with menstruation" in those days? Of course, first of all - the answer in the Bible, which was already mentioned above, is the same "impurity". In the ancient church, any excretion from a person's body was considered impurity. This is saliva, blood, phlegm and other secretions from human organs. For example, even a priest with an open cut on his arm could not participate in the rituals. And in cases when "impurities" fell on the church floor, it was considered a desecration. This explains why women were not allowed to enter temples during their periods. However, in the modern world, there are many hygiene products that prevent secretions from getting on the floor. In addition, the Monk Nicodemus Svyatorets explains that God called the cleansing of women during menstruation "unclean" in order that men would not touch them for copulation. The reason for this is taking care of the offspring.
Controversial issue
And yet, until now, the answer to the question: "Is it possible to go to church with menstruation?" is rather ambiguous. And if in Catholic churches it has long been decided that menstruation has nothing to do with the church, then in Orthodoxy this question remains open. Some priests consider it unacceptable for a woman to visit the Temple on such days. However, most of the clergy are of the opinion that a woman can go to church during her period, but only for prayer, but she should not take part in rituals and kiss the shrines. Therefore, if you are wondering whether it is possible to go to church with menstruation, then you can be sure: a woman has the opportunity to come to the Temple at any moment in her life. Only in
Usually people go to church when they need the support of their faith in God, want to pray for their own and the health of their loved ones, to perform the ritual of baptism, wedding, ask for advice and just be closer to the Almighty. The Orthodox religion, unlike Islam, does not impose severe restrictions on women in visiting the temple of the Lord, but still recommends refraining from attending church during menstruation. Therefore, planning of Orthodox rituals by Christians should take into account the days of the woman's cycle.
Can and why not go to church during your period? - the answers to these questions lie in the origins and traditions of the Orthodox faith and are associated with the physical "impurity" of women during this period.
Why shouldn't a woman go to church when she has her period?
The Old Testament prohibits going to church in the following cases: leprosy, purulent discharge, ejaculation, the time of cleansing of women in labor (40 days giving birth to a boy and 80 days if giving birth to a girl, Lev. 12), female bleeding (monthly and pathological), touching a decaying body ( corpse). This is due to the fact that these manifestations are indirectly associated with sin, although they are not sinful in themselves.
But, since the moral purity of believers is important for religion, the lists of prohibitions when compiling the New Testament were revised and left only 2 restrictions on visiting the temple:
- for women after childbirth (up to 40 days, during postpartum discharge);
- for women during menstruation.
First, the reason is purely hygienic. Indeed, the very phenomenon of such secretions is associated with the leakage of blood from the genital tract. This has always been the case, and in times of lack of reliable hygiene products from leaks. And the temple, in turn, cannot be a place of bloodshed. If you adhere to this explanation, then today, using tampons or pads, you can prevent the occurrence of such an incident, and visit the church.
Secondly, the reason for "uncleanness" is explained by the fact that these secretions of a woman are associated with endometrial rejection due to delivery (which indirectly implies the commission of the original sin of a child born), or purification due to the death of an egg and its release along with blood.
Can you go to church with your period?
Depending on what opinion the abbot of a particular church adheres to about the reason for the prohibition, a decision is made in the question "is it possible to go to church during menstruation?" There are those clergy who do not see anything wrong with a woman visiting church during critical days, and there are those who are categorically against such a phenomenon.
In fact, by appearing during the period of postpartum or monthly discharge, a woman will not commit any sin. After all, for God, first of all, the inner purity of a person, his thoughts and actions are important. 
Rather, it will look like disrespect for the observance of the rules of the temple and its life. Therefore, this limitation should be waived only in cases of extreme necessity, so that such actions do not become a reason for a woman's feelings of guilt in the future.
Today, almost all clergymen agree to go to church and pray to a woman with bleeding it is possible, but it is worth refraining from participating in religious rituals (confession, communion, chrismation, baptism, etc.) and touching shrines.
