Can I go to church when. "Women's impurity" to go to the temple or not? Do's and Don'ts in the Temple

Minasyan Margarita

Critical days are integral companions of a woman from the moment of puberty until the onset of menopause. Cyclic blood discharge indicates the health of both the reproductive system and the whole body of a woman. But can this manifestation of bodily well-being affect her spiritual life? How, from the point of view of religion, is interpreted female cycle? Is it possible to read prayer during menstruation? Is it permissible to go to church when menstruating? Let's try to understand these issues, relying on the Holy Scriptures and the opinions of the Holy Fathers of the Church.

How does the church relate to menstruation according to the Old Testament

To answer the question of whether it is possible to go to church with menstruation, it is necessary to understand the view of the Orthodox Church on this physiological phenomenon.

Sin of Eve and Adam

According to the Old Testament, menstruation is the punishment for the human race for the fall into which Eve pushed Adam. Having tasted the fruit of the forbidden tree on the advice of the Serpent Tempter, the first of the people, having seen their physicality, lost their angelic spirituality. The woman, revealing the weakness of the spirit, doomed the human race to eternal suffering.

In the third chapter of Genesis of the Old Testament, after Adam and Eve saw their nakedness and confessed their deed to God, the Creator said to the Woman: “I will make your pregnancy painful, in pain you will give birth to children.”

Later, many biblical scholars of antiquity were inclined to believe that not only the hardships of pregnancy and the pain of childbirth became a punishment for the female half of the human race for the sin of disobedience, but also menstruation is a monthly reminder of the loss of the former angelic nature.

Answering the question: “Is it possible to go to the temple with menstruation?” from the point of view of the Old Testament theologians, one can say with confidence: “No!”. Moreover, any of the daughters of Eve, who disregards this prohibition, defiles Holy place and plunges his race into the abyss of sin.

Symbol of death

Many theologians tend to personify monthly blood not with the sacrament of birth, but with a systematic reminder to the human race of its mortality. The body is a temporary vessel filled with the Holy Spirit. Only by constantly remembering the imminent demise of “matter”, you tirelessly improve the spiritual principle.

The ban on visiting the temple during menstruation is closely related to the processes that give rise to the appearance of bloody discharge. During menstruation, the body rejects the unfertilized egg. This process, quite physiological from the point of view of medicine, in religion borders on the death of a potential fetus, and hence the soul, in the mother's womb. According to the religious dogmas of the Old Testament times, a dead body defiles the Church, reminding of the lost immortality.

Christianity does not forbid praying at home, but a woman, according to orthodox theologians, is forbidden to visit the House of God.

Hygiene

Another reason forbidding a woman to cross the threshold of the Holy House during menstruation is the concern for hygiene. Pads, tampons, and menstrual cups are relatively new. Means of "protection" against the outpouring of uterine secretions in the past were quite primitive. Speaking about the date of birth of this prohibition, one must remember that the church was then the place of the most massive gathering of people. Especially during festive, iconic services.

The appearance of a woman during menstruation in such a place endangered not only her health, but also the health of those around her. There were, and still are, many diseases transmitted through substances rejected by the body.

Summing up the first results of the search for an answer to the question: “Why you can’t go to church during menstruation,” we highlight several reasons for this ban from the perspective of the Old Testament theologians:

1. Hygienic.
2. Menstruation is a tangible reminder to posterity of the fall of Eve.
3. A rejected egg, from the point of view of religion, is equated to a fetus that died as a result of a miscarriage.
4. Equating spotting with a symbol of the mortality of all things.

Menstruation according to the New Testament

Christianity of the New Testament era looks more loyally at the possibility of a woman to participate in church life on critical days. Changes in views, and hence theological interpretations, are connected with a new concept of human essence. Having accepted suffering for human sins on the Cross, Jesus Christ freed mankind from the mortal shackles of the body. Only spirituality and purity, fortitude are paramount from now on. A woman who bleeds from month to month is what the Lord intended, which means that there is nothing unnatural in menstruation. After all, carnal things cannot interfere with a pure and sincere striving for communion with God.

In this case, it is appropriate to recall the apostle Paul. He argued that every creation of God is beautiful and there cannot be anything in it that could defile the Creator. The New Testament does not give an unequivocal answer to the question of whether it is possible to visit holy places during menstruation. This position was the cause of the birth of disagreements between the Holy Fathers. Some were sure that forbidding a girl to attend Church means going against the very teachings of Christianity. In support of their words, theologians who hold this opinion cite a biblical parable about Jesus and a woman who bleeds for a long time.

Touching the skirts of the Savior's clothes healed her, and the Son of Man not only did not push the sufferer away, but said to her: "Be bolder, daughter!" Many women ask if prayers can be read during menstruation at home. Wouldn't this be a deviation from the accepted canons. Christianity is loyal to this issue and does not consider critical days an obstacle to communication with God.

Is it possible to go to church on "unclean" days

There is no definite answer from the priest about whether it is possible to enter the church during menstruation. It is necessary to ask for blessings from the priest-rector of the church that the woman wants to visit.

Remember that spiritual matters are purely individual. In case of extreme need or spiritual confusion, the priest will not refuse to confess a woman. Bodily "impurity" will not become a hindrance. The doors of the Lord's House are always open to the afflicted. There is no strict canon on how to behave properly or incorrectly in matters of the Faith. For God, both a woman and a man are a beloved child who will always find refuge in his loving arms.

If there is a ban on visiting the cathedral, then the question naturally arises, and what to do if the event cannot be rescheduled. Follow the link for answers to these questions.

Norms of behavior in the church on the days of menstruation

The opinion has taken root that a woman can visit the Temple during her menstruation, but she should adhere to certain rules, the observance of which will avoid desecration of the holy place.

During menstruation, a woman cannot take part in any church sacraments.

Is it possible to confess

Many of the women who are looking for a priest's answer on the forums ask if it is possible to confess during menstruation. The answer is quite categorical: no! It is impossible to confess, to receive communion, to get married, or to take part in baptism these days. The exceptions are severe illness due to which bleeding is prolonged.

If menstruation is the result of a diseased condition, it is necessary to ask for blessings from the priest, and only then take part in the Sacraments of the Church and partake of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Is it possible to drink holy water during menstruation

There is no exact answer to this question in the Bible, but when studying the regulations of the church service, you can stumble upon a ban on this action. Regardless of whether it happens at home or in the temple, it is better to wait until the end of the critical days. In modern Christianity, one can find a ban on the use of prosphora and consecrated cahors on critical days.

Is it possible to apply to the icons during menstruation

Turning to the works of New Testament theologians, it becomes clear that kissing icons or an iconostasis is strictly prohibited. Such behavior desecrates a holy place.

During menstruation, you can go to the service, but it is better to take a place for the "catechumens" or next to the church shop.

The New Testament says that the Temple is where the name of Christ is remembered. Do the strict prohibitions also apply to prayer at home? The works of theologians say that it is not forbidden to turn to God in prayer form both at home and in the Church in any state of body and spirit.

Is it possible to take communion during menstruation

Those who seek the priest's answer to this question receive a categorical refusal. The democratic approach of the modern church and a number of indulgences for women during critical days do not concern the Holy Mysteries. It is worth abstaining from confession, communion and chrismation until the end of menstruation. The only exception is cases of severe illness. Bloody issues caused by a long illness cannot become an obstacle even to Unction with prior preparation for communion.

Please note that before taking part in the Holy Mysteries, even in a state of illness, it is necessary to take a blessing from the Father.

Many stories on thematic forums that tell that a woman was confessed and allowed to venerate shrines during menstruation are connected precisely with the illness of the one in question.

It is worth noting that girls who came to church on critical days are allowed to submit prayer notes for the health and repose of their loved ones.

Is it possible to visit the monastery with menstruation

Many girls are concerned not only with the question of the possibility of home prayer and visiting during the regulars of the House of God. Women attending religious forums are keenly interested in the question of whether it is possible to come to the monastery during menstruation. Sister Vassa answers this question in detail and vividly in her materials.

Summarizing the information contained in her materials, we come to the conclusion that no one will expel a woman from the monastery just because she arrived on “unclean” days.

Restrictions may be imposed on attendance at services, the keel way of life, or restrictions on obedience. The nuns continue to carry out their obedience in accordance with the charter of a particular monastery. You can learn about the restrictions imposed on a novice or sister during menstruation from the Mother Superior of the monastery where the fair sex arrived.

Is it possible to apply to the relics during menstruation

Many of the women visit the monastery in order to touch the remains of the Saint, who was laid to rest on the territory of a particular monastery. Connected with this desire is the desire to get the priest's answer to the question of whether it is possible to venerate the relics during menstruation. There is no single answer to this question. It is unlikely that there will be those for whom the action is of an idle nature.

Before the trip, regardless of whether it coincides with the regulations or not, it is necessary to ask the blessing of the Priest of the parish in which the woman leads the church life. In this conversation, it is advisable for the girl to state the motives and warn about the possibility of menstruation. Having weighed all the pros and cons, the priest will be able to give an unambiguous answer.

Is it possible to pray during menstruation at home

Orthodoxy

It is not forbidden to offer a prayer to the Lord during menstruation at home.

Islam

In Islam, it is widely believed that a woman on such days is in a state of ritual defilement. Such a view of menstruation entails a ban on the fair sex from performing prayers until the end of menstruation.

Khaid means natural monthly hemorrhaging, and istihadah means bleeding that goes beyond the cycle or postpartum discharge.

The opinions of Islamic theologians differ regarding the possibility of prayer, but, in most cases, it is recommended to refrain from praying and touching the Holy Quran in Arabic.

When can I go to church after giving birth?

Returning to the review of the opinions of the Fathers of the Church, it is worth noting those who, without insisting on a strict ban, put forward a number of rules governing the presence of the fair sex in the church on critical days and after the birth of a child. Looking ahead, it is worth noting that this religious belief has taken root and exists to this day.

One thing is indisputable: despite the many opinions of theologians and the variety of interpretations of Holy Scripture, in order to answer for yourself the question of whether it is possible to go to church during menstruation and when it is worth returning to church life after childbirth, you need to know the answer of the parish priest, to to which the woman "belongs".

There is an opinion that a woman during menstruation is forbidden to enter the church and attend worship services. This prohibition has been observed for many centuries, so believing women still doubt whether they can go to church during menstruation. Maybe the bleeding makes them unclean, so they don't belong in the church?

Is it possible to visit a temple or church if a woman is on her period?

Where did the ban on visiting the temple during the regulars come from, is it relevant in the 21st century? Some women continue to strictly observe this prescription and are very worried that menstruation will not begin in the church. Others calmly attend church services, considering such warnings outdated. Can I or can't I go to church when I'm on my period? The answer to this question can be found in the study of the Old and New Testaments.

According to the Old Testament

According to the Old Testament, the first woman, Eve, succumbed to temptation and ate the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and then persuaded her husband Adam to eat it. For this, God punished Eve. The punishment for misconduct was imposed on the entire female sex. Since then, children have been born in suffering, and monthly bleeding is a reminder of the sin committed.

The Old Testament contains a prescription according to which women in certain situations are forbidden to approach the temple and enter it:

• during the regulation;
• after the birth of a boy - within 40 days;
• after the birth of a girl - within 80 days.

The clergy explained this by the fact that the female sex bears the imprint of the fall of man. During the period of menstruation, a woman becomes dirty, unclean, so she should not defile the house of God. In addition, the Most Holy Bloodless Sacrifice is performed in the house of God - a prayer, therefore any bloodshed within its walls is unacceptable.

According to the New Testament

With the coming of Jesus Christ, the emphasis shifts from the physiological to the spiritual. If earlier, in the times of the Old Testament, a person was considered a defiler because of physical dirt, now only thoughts matter. No matter how clean outwardly a person may be, if he has dirty thoughts and intentions, there is no faith in his soul, all his deeds are considered unspiritual. And, on the contrary, even the dirtiest and sickest believer can be as pure in soul as a baby.

The New Testament describes a story that happened while Christ was going to the sick daughter of the arch-synagogue Jairus. A woman who had been bleeding for many years approached him, touched the hem of Jesus' garment, and immediately the bleeding stopped. Feeling the power emanating from him, Jesus Christ asked the disciples who touched him. The woman admitted that it was her. Christ answered her: “Daughter! Your faith has saved you; go in peace and be healed from your sickness.”

The origins of the ban

Where did the idea come from in the minds of society that a woman during menstruation is unclean? This point of view was common in antiquity among many peoples who did not understand why a woman bleeds, so they tried to explain this phenomenon in all possible ways. Since many physiological secretions were considered a sign of illness, the regulations began to personify bodily dirt.

pagan period

In times of paganism in different tribes, the attitude towards a woman during the period of bleeding was almost the same. How can a person shed blood, considered a sign of wounds and disease, every month, and yet he remains alive? The ancient peoples explained this by a connection with demons.

Girls on the verge of puberty underwent an initiation ceremony that was directly related to menarche. After that, they were considered adults, they were initiated into the women's sacraments, they could marry and give birth to children.

In some tribes, women during the period of bleeding were expelled from the house. They had to live in a special hut, and only after that, having cleansed themselves, could they return home. In remote corners of the planet, such customs have survived to this day.

Times of the Old Testament

Researchers believe that the period when the Old Testament was created refers to the I-II millennium BC. To understand why the prohibitions against the female sex were introduced into the Bible, it is necessary to pay attention to the social position of women at that time.

The female sex in ancient society was considered lower in status than the male. Wives and daughters did not have the same rights as husbands and sons. They could not own property, conduct business, did not have the right to vote. In fact, a woman was the property of a man - first the father, then the husband, and then the son.

The idea of ​​the fall of man, of which Eve was the culprit, explained why a woman should occupy an inferior position compared to men. Another reason why menstruation made the female sex unclean lies in the concept of disease. The ancient peoples did not have knowledge about what causes various diseases.

The blood and pus were dangerous because they were an obvious sign of a disease that could infect another person. That is why in the days of the Old Testament it was forbidden to enter the church not only during menstruation, but also for those who had festering wounds, suffered from leprosy or touched corpses.

What are the restrictions on visiting the holy place today?

Despite the fact that the New Testament placed spiritual purity above physical purity, the opinion of the clergy remained unchanged for many centuries. For example, in the Kiev "Trebnik" of the beginning of the 17th century, there is an instruction that if a woman with menstruation enters the temple, she should be punished in the form of a 6-month fast and 50 daily prostrations.

Nowadays, there is no such strict ban on visiting temples. A woman can go to church, pray, light candles. If she is worried about the possible desecration of a holy place by her presence, then she can simply stand aside, at the entrance.

However, some restrictions still remain. The Church does not recommend performing the Sacraments during menstruation. Communion, baptism, confession and wedding - these events are best moved to other days of the cycle.

In addition, the parishioner should not forget about other rules for visiting churches. Women are supposed to enter the temple only with their heads covered and in a skirt. Too deep necklines and miniskirts are not allowed. However, many churches, especially those located in tourist areas, have become more loyal to the appearance of believers. If a woman feels an irresistible desire to go inside, she can do it in trousers and without a headscarf.

How do other religions view a woman's menstruation?

In Islam, opinion on this issue is ambiguous. Some Muslims believe that it is better to refrain from visiting the mosque. Others insist that such bans should be abandoned. It is forbidden to desecrate the mosque with bodily secretions, but if a Muslim woman uses hygiene products (tampons, pads or menstrual cups), she can enter inside.

In Hinduism, women are not allowed to enter temples during the regul. In Buddhism, unlike other religions, the ban on visiting has never existed. A woman can enter the datsan at any time.

The opinion of the clergy

Catholic clerics believe that the ancient ban on visiting churches was due to poor hygiene in past centuries. Unable to bathe and change clothes regularly, women often contracted infections. During the regulars, they smelled unpleasantly, and drops of blood could drip onto the floor of the church. Due to the fact that now the problem of hygiene has been resolved, the ban on entering the temple does not have the original meaning.

The opinion of Orthodox priests is not so unambiguous. Some of them continue to stick strict prohibitions and recommend to refrain from performing the Sacraments, but explain this by concern for the health of the parishioner. Wedding, baptism, confession last a long time, and a believer during menstruation may feel ill, because of the smell of incense, she may feel dizzy. Other clergy say that the woman herself must make a decision. If she feels the need to attend church, she should not restrict this desire.

If a parishioner is afraid of violating the prohibitions and doubts whether she should attend worship during the days of the regulars, she should ask her spiritual mentor. A church minister will be able to dispel a woman's doubts and calm her down.

What is menstruation every woman knows. But why you can’t go to church with menstruation, most do not even guess. We will look into this matter.

Visiting a temple is a spiritual need for every person, so few people think about any prohibitions in this regard. The timing of church attendance is the choice of every believer.

Many believe that when a woman has her period, as well as in the first month after giving birth, she should not attend church. But why? Where do such speculations come from?

During menstruation, women are considered "unclean". Such beliefs also exist among the Indians. Women left the tribe for a while until they become clean. And men were forbidden to give even the slightest sexual attention to her.

The church ban does not have any supernatural properties for the female representatives, but it is generally accepted that they can desecrate the temple of God.

Old Testament: Why shouldn't women with menstruation go to the temple?

It states that spilled blood is a symbol of death. And menstrual blood is doubly a sign of death, as it contains particles of the uterus.

For this reason, it is believed that in this way a woman recalls the great human sin that Adam and Eve committed. Also in the Old Testament there is a ban on visiting the temple:

• with various diseases;
• unusual discharge from the male genital organs;
• purulent secretions;
• during the cleansing period of women in labor (up to 40 days, at the birth of a boy, up to 80 days at the birth of a girl).

As well as any other pathological discharge. At the same time, it is categorically impossible to touch the patient if he is festering or decomposing.

Such phenomena are related to sin and unpleasant consequences, but today doctors have proven that discharge is not considered something sinful.

Why it is forbidden to go to church when bleeding: Christianity

In Christianity, this prohibition is profound. As discussed above, the Old Testament speaks of "impurity" as death, when Adam and Eve were cast out, they became mortal.

It turns out that absolutely any disease, eruption of blood, semen, is considered the elimination of a living embryo, which means that people should not forget that they are mortal and they have no privileges, to live forever and not get sick.

What the New Testament Says About "Unclean Women"

In the New Testament there are no longer those definitions that were in the Old Testament. An episode was described when a woman who had blood from her vagina touched the clothes of Christ and was miraculously healed. The Son of God did not reject it, but, on the contrary, accepted it and preached: "Everything created by nature is given by God, which means it is natural."

It is noted that neither Christ nor any of the Apostles gave any definition of the “impurity” of a woman during bleeding.

When the prohibitions of the New Testament were being drawn up, the church established the following prohibitions for the female sex:

• it is forbidden to attend church when menstruating;
• after childbirth, you can not go to the temple for 40 days.

Why you can’t go to church during menstruation: reasons

How did the church motivate its bans? Let's consider the reasons.

Hygiene in this period is the most important and significant reason. A long time ago, women were not able to contain the flow of blood these days, so it was believed that it was spilled on the floor. And the church cannot be the place where blood is shed.

Moreover, the cleaners in the temples did not want to clean someone's blood, since any touch to it was also considered a sin, and at that time there were not even disposable gloves.

That is why today tampons and pads will help a woman solve this problem and you can safely attend church. Cleaners do not need to clean anything and other people will not come into contact with the "evil spirits" in any way.

Are there any bans today?

Why it is impossible to go to church during menstruation excites believers who are baked about spiritual purity rather than physical. AT modern world There are no restrictions on attending church during critical days.

Women can go to the temple, but certain ordinances cannot be performed:

• confession;
• baptism.

Associated in particular with hygienic requirements.

Confession- these are moral ideas about innocence, this includes spiritual and physical purity. In the process of confession, a person is cleansed, so his body must also be clean.

Despite all these arguments, many priests are sure that women with menstruation can put candles, pray and visit the temple if they consider it necessary.

It can be summarized that there are no strict prohibitions regarding the physiological and physical needs of a person in order to go to the temple. The main thing is to have pure and good thoughts.

But many women make the decision on their own not to go to the temple after giving birth or on “these” days. Most likely, this is due to the fact that a woman must physically be near the child. After 40 days, you can go to church even with a child and perform a baptismal ceremony.

Conclusion: so all the same "for" or "against"

There are no strict prohibitions, so women can attend church on critical days. Physiological processes should not affect spiritual values ​​in any way. Pregnant women can also visit the temple and participate in the ordinances.

Each person has his own ideas, so if some believe that these days it is impossible to visit a holy place, then it is not necessary, but you cannot impose your opinion on others.

Therefore, to decide whether to go to church or not, why it is impossible or possible, each person decides. The main thing is that he goes to the temple with spiritual purity and pure thoughts.

It is so conceived by nature that every month women have critical days. They affect well-being and lifestyle, but, in addition, menstruation causes controversy about whether it is possible to go to church during this period? The question is not as simple as it seems at first glance. On this occasion, there are different opinions, even among the clergy.

Until now, there is no single clear opinion on this matter. Disputes about women's "impurity" have been going on for centuries. And authoritative theologians explained in different ways how the daughters of Eve should behave during menstruation.

Today, different temples have their own rules for visiting and participating in the rites of women experiencing critical days. They boil down to 3 main behaviors:

• Women during menstruation are not even allowed to enter the temple, not to mention participation in the sacraments.
• You can visit the church, but you can’t put candles, drink holy water, touch icons and other shrines. It is forbidden to take communion and participate in the sacraments of baptism, wedding, unction.
• There is no prohibition on visiting the temple and participating in any rituals.

Origins of the ban

It is worth noting that we are talking about Christian traditions. But only Orthodox parishioners are concerned about the permissibility of coming to church “these days”. Western Christian women have no such doubts, they freely visit churches, take communion, put candles, touch icons.

In Russian Orthodoxy, this is much more complicated. Therefore, our priests so often hear questions from their parishioners, how should they be on the days of menstruation. The answers may vary.

The attitude to menstruation as a manifestation of the “impurity” of the female body is reflected in the Old Testament. The woman herself, and anyone who touches her, was considered unclean.

The outflow of blood was perceived as a sinful destruction of the embryo of a new life, a reminder of the mortality of people. When, thus, human nature, distorted by the fall of Adam and Eve, manifested itself, it was necessary to stay away from God's temple.

But there is another interpretation of the prohibition of the presence of a woman with menstruation in the church. The fact is that in a holy place you can not shed blood. And in those distant times, women did not have reliable hygiene products, so trouble could happen at any moment.

But the Old Testament times have long passed, and there is no definite answer to the questions of parishioners why they cannot go to church on critical days.

Opinions of authoritative theologians

Even Saint Clement of Rome wrote in the 3rd century that the holy spirit is always present with believers, and a woman is not deprived of it during the days of natural purification. After all, the Lord himself created it just like that, there is nothing “vile” in this.

One cannot blame the fair sex for what does not depend on them, but is given by nature - St. Gregory the Dialogist wrote about this. The saint was against the ban not only on visiting, but also on taking Holy Communion. If a woman herself, out of great reverence and reverence, does not dare to participate in this sacrament, then another matter, it is worthy of praise. But, if she wants to take communion, then you should not blame her for committing a sin.

Everyone who took the side of women in this dispute recalled the story of the bleeding woman described in the Bible. She dared to touch the hem of Jesus' garment and was immediately healed. And the Lord not only was not angry with the sick woman, but also encouraged her with kind words.

The very concept of "ritual impurity" in the New Testament by Jesus Christ is separated from everything bodily, independent of man. Natural physiological processes cannot be defiling. You need to be afraid of dirty thoughts and actions and strive for spiritual purity.

Contemporary views of the church

In our time, many parishioners are perplexed about the ban on attending church services, they are even offended by such an attitude towards themselves. But the point in this question has not been set so far.

Most clergymen and theologians believe that a biased attitude towards features female body is a superstition and a relic. But there is also another opinion. And since, in the traditions of Orthodoxy, humility and obedience are welcomed in a woman, parishioners often simply do not know who to listen to.

For example, the argument of those who are on the side of the fair sex sounds like this - the church has always been and remains a haven for everyone who is overcome by infirmities, troubles and sorrows. And a woman on critical days is weak not only physically, it is difficult for her morally. So why exacerbate her sorrows, albeit temporarily, but exclusion from meeting with the Lord in his house?

And the very recognition of a woman as unclean on such days humiliates her dignity, turning her into a second-rate creature. Archpriest Konstantin Parkhomenko, editor of the ABC of Faith Orthodox Internet portal and teacher at the Theological Seminary, is completely on the side of women. He is sure that only the sin committed by him defiles a person, and not the natural processes of the body.

Many ministers of the church consider the ban on the presence in the temple and participation in the rites an outdated canon. Today, in many temples, women work without regard to their monthly cycle- they put things in order, bake prosphora, sell candles, icons, books in the church shop.

With the fact that a woman during menstruation can be present in the temple and pray, according to most ministers of the church. But with the sacraments, the situation is different. Until now, modern priests are against women taking communion, being baptized and getting married during menstruation. An exception is made only for terminally ill patients and if the bleeding continues for a long period and is associated with a serious illness.

However, it is worth noting that in the temple no one asks the parishioner if she has this moment period. You can freely come and participate in church life.

In order not to be tormented by the question of whether or not to go to the temple on critical days, it is better to adhere to the rules of your arrival. If your priest is against visits, then it is better to wait and come to worship the next day with a clear conscience. Self-will and rebellion are not characteristic of Orthodox Christians, therefore, you need to get permission (or a ban) to be present in the church “these days” from your confessor.

Usually people go to church when they need support for their faith in God, they 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 strict restrictions on women visiting the temple of the Lord, but still recommends refraining from visiting church during menstruation. Therefore, the planning of Orthodox rituals by Christians should take into account the days of the woman's cycle.

Is it possible and why not to go to church during menstruation? - the answers to these questions lie in the origins and traditions of the Orthodox faith and are associated with the physical "impurity" of a woman during this period.

Why shouldn't a woman go to church when she's on her period?

The Old Testament forbids attending church in the following cases: leprosy, purulent discharge, ejaculation, the time of purification of women in childbirth (40 days for a boy and 80 days for 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 connected 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, in itself, the phenomenon of such secretions is associated with leakage of blood from the genital tract. This has always been the case, and in times of lack of reliable hygiene products from leakage. And the temple, in turn, cannot be a place of bloodshed. If you stick 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 “impurity” is explained by the fact that these secretions of a woman are associated with the rejection of the endometrium due to delivery (which indirectly implies the commission of original sin by a baby born), or purification due to the death of the egg and its release along with blood.

Can I go to church with my period?

Depending on what opinion the rector of a particular church has about the reason for the ban, a decision is made on 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, appearing in 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 restriction should be waived only in cases of extreme necessity, so that such actions do not become a reason for a woman to feel guilty in the future.

To date, almost all clergy descend in resolving this issue to the fact that they go to church and pray to a woman with blood secretions you can, but you should refrain from participating in religious rituals (confession, communion, chrismation, baptism, etc.) and touching shrines.