Henryk Semiradski’s painting “Christ Blesses the Children” refers us to the biblical story that we find in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark: “They brought children to Him so that He would touch them.”

The Gospel of Mark (10, 13-16) describes a very significant story from the earthly life of Christ:

They brought children to Him so that He could touch them, but the disciples did not allow those who brought them. Seeing this, Jesus was indignant and said to them: Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such is the Kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it. And he embraced them, laid his hands on them and blessed them.

It is this episode that is reflected in the “Blessing of the Children” icon.

Several points should be noted here, and first of all, the people’s faith in the miraculous power of Jesus’ touch. The position of the disciples seems somewhat strange, they did not want to allow children to come to Him, considering them foolish and unable to perceive the Word of the Savior. However, Jesus had a very special attitude towards children: He valued the purity and simplicity of children's souls and believed that only such souls are capable of accepting the Kingdom of Heaven and entering it.

Prayer Blessing of the mother for the protection of children

After birth, not only a biological, but also a strong spiritual connection arises between mother and child.
It often manifests itself in later life, when mothers have restless dreams or groundless anxiety arises - they immediately think about their child and anticipate a threat approaching him.

In most cases, such anxiety is unfounded, but sometimes the mother’s instinct really predicts that the child has problems.

The Bible describes many similar cases of spiritual connection between a child and mother, and thanks to the intervention of the Almighty, the mother, with her help, wards off problems from her child

To maintain such a spiritual connection, it is very important that the Orthodox mother knows at least one appeal and prayer of parenthood, and then she will be able to help the child on his future path in life

When is it necessary to read a prayer for blessing a child?

Despite the fact that most Orthodox Christians honor church customs, many are mistaken about parental blessings out of ignorance.

In wide circles of people, it is accepted that the prayer “Parents for the blessing of children” and “Blessing of the mother” is usually read only before the wedding, in order to make the future life together of the grown children happy.

Of course, such a custom of parental blessing has become entrenched, but in fact, according to church traditions, the Mother’s Blessing Prayer must be read to children throughout the child’s entire life, regardless of his age.

When is the best time to read a parental prayer:

In the morning, before a small child leaves home (to kindergarten, school, etc.).
In the evening, while reading evening prayers, you need to remember your children.
Before sending children on a long journey.
During a long separation from my children.
Before sending a child on an independent path in life.
In moments of worry and anxiety for your child.
Before all important events in a child’s life.

Also, the prayer “Mother’s Blessing” will be useful to the son when he is sent to military service, where he can often experience various adversities and military hardships. Therefore, many Orthodox mothers, before sending their son to the army, not only read the parental blessing prayer, but also visit the temple, praying in front of the icon of the Mother of God for the health of their child.

How does prayer help?

The prayer “Mother’s Blessing” is a powerful spiritual amulet that protects the child from all misfortunes. It helps to heal a child from any illness or mental anxiety. Also, this prayer can guide a child on the right path in life and find a goal in later life. But it helps not only the child himself, but also his parent.

Sometimes, some mothers tend to feel excessively worried about their child, sowing anxiety and confusion in their souls.

At such moments, it is very useful to read this prayer, and then it will give the mother strength to “calm down” her parental heart, if there is no need.

Most importantly, before reading this prayer, you must sincerely believe in its miraculous power, since it is by faith that the Almighty helps.

Text of the prayer “Mother’s Blessing”

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, hear me, Thy sinful and unworthy servant. Lord, in the mercy of Thy power, my child, have mercy and save him for Thy name’s sake.

Lord, forgive him all the sins, voluntary and involuntary, that he committed before You.

Lord, guide him on the true path of Your commandments and enlighten him with Your light of Christ, for the salvation of the soul and the healing of the body. Lord, bless him in the house, around the house, at school, in the field, at work and on the road, and at every the place of Your possession.

Lord, protect him under the shelter of Your Saints from a flying bullet, arrow, knife, sword, poison, fire, flood, from a deadly ulcer (atomic rays) and from vain death.

Lord, grant him the grace of Your Holy Spirit for many years of life, health and chastity.

Lord, increase and strengthen his mental abilities and physical strength. Lord, give him Your blessing for a godly family life and godly procreation.

Lord, grant me, Thy unworthy and sinful servant, a parental blessing on my child at this time of morning, day, evening and night for the sake of Thy name, for Thy Kingdom is eternal, omnipotent and omnipotent. Amen.

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Prayer for children

Holy Father, Eternal God, from You comes every gift or every good. I diligently pray to You for the children whom Your grace has given me. You gave them life, revived them with an immortal soul, revived them with holy baptism, so that in accordance with Your will they would inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, preserve them according to Your goodness until the end of their lives. Sanctify them with Your truth, may Your name be hallowed in them. Help me, by Your grace, to educate them for the glory of Your name and for the benefit of others, give me the necessary means for this: patience and strength. Lord, enlighten them with the light of Your Wisdom, so that they love You with all their soul, with all their thoughts, plant in their hearts fear and disgust from all lawlessness, so that they may walk in Your commandments, adorn their souls with chastity, hard work, patience, honesty, protect them with truth from slander , vanity, abomination, sprinkle with the dew of Thy grace, that they may prosper in virtues and holiness, and may they increase in Thy good will, in love and piety. May the Guardian Angel always be with them and protect their youth from vain thoughts, from the temptations of this world and from all evil slander. If, when they sin before You, Lord, do not turn Your face away from them, but be merciful to them, arouse repentance in their hearts according to the multitude of Your bounties, cleanse their sins and do not deprive Your blessings, but give them everything necessary for their salvation, preserving them from all illness, danger, troubles and sorrows, overshadowing them with Your mercy all the days of this life. God, I pray to You, give me joy and joy about my children and grant me the ability to appear with them at Your Last Judgment, with shameless boldness to say: “Here I am and the children whom You gave me, Lord. Amen". Let us glorify Your All-Holy Name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Icons for receiving blessings

In the modern world, mainly in order to bless children for family life, the icon of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God of Kazan, is used.

You need to study them in more detail:

The Mother of God of Kazan is the most revered image of all possible. Since ancient times, she was considered the patroness and intercessor for the entire people. She was miraculous, because many were confident in her power and ability to save people. It should be noted that it is with the help of this icon that the wedding ceremony is held in the church

She is very important for a woman. Before the icon you should pray for the conception of a child and the birth of children

The icon of the Temperance Savior is also used to bless newlyweds. Before her, you should pray that everything is good and joyful for the young people, and that difficult moments in life do not occur. She should be contacted so that the bride and groom always have well-being.

Currently, it is possible to carry out a blessing using either one icon or two at once. You can purchase a fold from these images in the church.

Blessing of a son

For the blessing you will need an icon of the Kazan Mother of God. The father must present this face to the mother; a very important condition for this is that the mother must hold the towels, because it is not recommended to take the icon with your hands. Father needs to take the loaf and hold it.

Parents should take turns saying what they wish for the young ones, without interrupting each other. You need to give the most simple and understandable parting words for your future family life.

After this, you should cross your son three times and bring the icon to him. He must also illuminate the image with the sign of the cross, and then kiss it. If a guy doesn’t have parents, then he should turn to his godparents. It is also recommended for young people to use the icon of the Temperance Savior for blessing by his parents.

Who should hold what during the ritual?

Typically, children decide to enter into legal marriage, mostly unexpectedly for their father and mother. When a celebration is planned and roles are assigned for the blessing, it brings with it difficulties. However, there is absolutely nothing complicated here. There are some options for assigning roles:

the groom's father holds an icon in his hands, and his mother holds a loaf;
the mothers of both young people are holding icons in their hands, and the fathers are holding a loaf of bread;
the mother holds two icons, and the other a loaf, the fathers stand to the side.

During the ritual, you can use a special prayer for blessing. After reading it, parents should wish the young people something from themselves. It is recommended to learn the prayer in advance so as not to be distracted by peeking, and the words can simply be pronounced from the heart.

We advise you to study Greek icons

Storing icons after the ceremony

After the ritual, you must give the icons to the newlyweds. They become the first family heirloom. If young people believe in the Lord and attend church, then the icons should be placed in the red corner, a clean napkin or scarf should be placed under them, and then covered with a church towel.

According to the rules of the church, it is recommended to place these icons on the east side of the house in the corner. Candles are placed next to them after the wedding ceremony or a candle that represents the hearth. There is also a sign that for happiness in family life you need to light candles once a year for each anniversary.

If the newlyweds are not very religious or there is no red corner in the house, they simply do not have a place where to put the holy images, then you need to wrap them in towels and determine a place to store them.

Words that come from a pure heart and are sincere will definitely be heard by the Lord. He will protect the newlyweds from misfortunes and adversities, and will bring happiness and peace to the house.

Conversation 10. Blessing children

Today we continue our conversations on the Gospel of Matthew on Radio Radonezh. Let's continue reading the 19th chapter from the 13th to the 30th verse. In this passage we will look at two topics: The Blessing of Children

and
the Lord Jesus Christ and the rich young man
.

Here we see a very organic transition: the Apostle Matthew, having talked about Christ’s attitude towards marriage and celibacy, moves on to the story of the blessing of children

. After all, the main goal of marriage is childbearing (Gen. 1:27–28). But, of course, the happiness of the joint family life of a man and a woman is also the goal and purpose of marriage. It is said: “Whoever finds a [good] wife has found good and received grace from the Lord” (Prov. 18:23); and again: “A house and property are an inheritance from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord” (Prov. 19:14).

And we read the 13th verse of the 19th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 19:13. “Then the children were brought to Him, so that He could lay His hands on them and pray; but the disciples rebuked them.”

Blessed Jerome of Stridon interpreted this behavior of the apostles this way: “[The disciples did this] not because they did not want to be blessed by the words and hand of the Savior, but because, not having a completely perfect (plenissimam) faith, they thought that He was like other people will be tired of the annoyingness (lack of timeliness) of those bringing

»113.

Blessed Theophylact explains: “Mothers brought children so that their children would receive a blessing through the touch of His hands. But women and children approached in disorder and with noise, and therefore the disciples did not allow them in.”

114.

Explaining why there was such a noise from children, Euthymius Zigaben writes: “Luke (18:15) called them babies who were brought according to the faith of their parents.”

115. That is, among the children who
were brought
to Him, there were also children (babies) who
were brought
to Him.
The Greek verb led
can also mean
brought
.

We can say that this is the most beautiful moment in all gospel history. All the characters are visible clearly and distinctly, although the entire story takes up only two verses.

“The Hindu Premanand, who converted to Christianity... quotes the words of his mother. When Premanand converted to Christianity, his family drove him away and the doors of the house were closed to him. But sometimes he still came to see his mother on the sly. His conversion to Christianity broke her heart, but she never stopped loving him. She told Premanand that while she was carrying him in her womb, a missionary gave her a book of the Gospels. She read them; She even still had that book. She told her son that she had no desire to become a Christian, but in those days before his birth she sometimes dreamed that he would grow up to become a man like Jesus."

116.

The connection that exists between a child and his mother is something more than sublime and beautiful. It is said: “Whoever curses his father and his mother, his lamp will go out in the midst of deep darkness” (Proverbs 20:20). A particularly respectful attitude towards mother and father, on the contrary, enhances the light in a person’s soul.

The wise Yeshua Ben Sir'a wrote: “He who honors his father will be cleansed of sins, and he who respects his mother is like one who acquires treasures” (Sir.4:3-4). It is obvious that there is a certain mystical connection between children and parents when they feel each other and influence each other even at a distance.

“The wife of a rural deacon from the Moscow region, a certain Varvara Ivanovna Znamenskaya, according to her, was going to take her son Sergius to the Volokolamsk Theological School. On the eve of departure, she went with him to church and here, throughout the liturgy and prayer service before the image of the Mother of God, earnestly and with tears prayed to the Queen of Heaven to take her son under Her heavenly protection and arrange his life for the salvation of his soul. When she returned home, the boy said: “Mom! I have a headache.” “Go and rest,” his mother answered him. The next morning, when it was time to take him to school, he was already dead. When his funeral service was held, his mother expressed her emotional feelings with strong crying. The priest, seeing her crying, said to her: “Varvara Ivanovna! You still have other children. Why are you crying so much!” She answered: “Father, I am crying not from grief, but from gratitude to the Queen of Heaven that She heard my prayer and took my son under Her protection for eternal rest.” So powerful is the prayer of a mother, opening Heaven and arranging the eternal happiness of her children.”117

The great Russian scientist, poet, artist M.V. Lomonosov in his youth foresaw the death of his father. When he was returning by ship to Russia from Germany, where he was studying, he dreamed the following: he saw his father, thrown onto an uninhabited island in the Arctic Ocean as a result of a shipwreck. The island turned out to be familiar - a ship with fishermen on which young Lomonosov and his father were somehow washed up. The dream alarmed Mikhail. Arriving in St. Petersburg, the young man immediately rushed to make inquiries about the whereabouts of his parent. And I heard a terrible story from my brother. As usual, as soon as the waters opened, the father went fishing. Four months have passed and he still has not returned. The story he heard and the dream he saw plunged Lomonosov into extreme anxiety. He asked for leave to go to that ill-fated island and find the body of his dead father there. However, circumstances did not allow him to accomplish his plan. Then Lomonosov made this request through a letter to the artel of Kholmogory fishermen. The message described in detail the island and the road to it. Soon the request was fulfilled. The father's body was found in the indicated place and buried, placing a huge stone on the grave.

And then we read:

Matthew 19:14. “But Jesus said, Let the little children come, and do not hinder them from coming to Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Blessed Theophylact interpreted this verse as follows: “In addition, the disciples believed that the dignity of their Teacher could be humiliated if they offered children. But Christ, showing that the one in whom there is no guile is more pleasing to Him, says: “Let in the children, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” He did not say “these,” but “such,” that is, simple, innocent, non-evil. Therefore, if even now Christians come to any teacher, offering children’s questions, then the teacher should not remove them from himself, but should accept them.”

118. That is, we cannot be like children in mind, but we must be pure like children in soul. It is said: “Brothers! Do not be children in mind; be children in evil, but mature in mind” (1 Cor. 14:20); and again: “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter into it” (Mark 10:15).

But there is also an allegorical interpretation of this verse. The Latin teacher of the Church, Hilary of Pictavia, writes: “So the children were brought, but they were prevented. Children are a prototype of the pagans, to whom salvation was granted through faith and preaching. But since the goal was first to save Israel, at first the disciples prevented the children from approaching Him. The actions of the apostles are not explained by their own intentions, but rather by the fact that they prefigure future preaching to the pagans. The Lord says that children should not be disturbed, “for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven”; the pagans were to receive grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.”

119.

The words “ Let the children in and do not hinder them from coming to Me”

"in the Ancient Church were cited as justification for infant baptism.

Here I would like to consider the issue of Infant Baptism. First of all, we Orthodox believe that Baptism brings deliverance from sins, which children also need. It is said: “I also baptized Stephen’s house; But whether I baptized anyone else, I don’t know” (1 Cor. 1:16). The concept of “home” in those days was quite broad and included all household members, servants and slaves with their families - both adults and children.

Do you think children are under sin? If someone objects that there is no need for children to be baptized since they are sinless, he will be wrong. Children still have sins. Scripture teaches: “...I am the Lord your God, a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth [generation] of those who hate Me” (Ex. 20:5). David said: “Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sin” (Ps. 50:7). Very often the Bible says that the Lord punished children along with adults, for example: “and at that time they took all his cities, and destroyed all the cities, men and women and children, and left none alive” (Deut. 2). :34). Therefore, separating children from the problems of adults and considering them separately from them is quite frivolous. It is said about equal responsibility before the law for both adults and children: “...neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter...” (Deut. 5:14). By the way, about the generation of the flood it is said: “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with evil deeds from them; and behold, I will destroy them from the earth” (Gen. 6:13). – None of the adults and children, except Noah’s family, were saved. The danger of God's wrath hangs over every person, regardless of his age. Not caring about saving children means showing the height of carelessness and imprudence.

And the Scripture says quite a lot about the fact that it is in Baptism that we partake of the redemptive action of the Blood of Christ: “So, why are you delaying? Arise, be baptized and wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16); and again: “Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38). And we know and believe that the Blood of Christ was shed for the remission of sins, as it is said: “... this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). And not only in the Sacrament of Communion, but also in the Sacrament of Baptism, we can partake of Her saving action, as we read about above.

I want to ask you, what time do you think was more salvific and grace-filled: the Old Testament or the New Testament?

- Of course, the New Testament.

- Right! As it is said: “For the law was given through Moses; But grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Where do you think it is easier to enter the people of God: in the days of the Old Testament, when the message of salvation was revealed to only one people, or in the days of the New Testament, when the truth of God is revealed to everyone?

Of course, our time is more favorable for salvation. But someone will ask, what does this have to do with the issue at hand? - Direct. Indeed, from the point of view of those who do not accept infant baptism, it follows that with the coming of Christ the Savior into the world, the situation of children worsened.

Let's answer the following question: what ritual, after going through what, in New Testament times can a person enter the people of God?

- Baptism.

- Fine. And in Old Testament times, what ritual did a person go through to enter the community of Israel and become a Jew?

- Circumcision.

- Great. At what age could a person be circumcised?

- In eight days.

This is indeed exactly the case. It is said: “Every male child among you throughout your generations shall be circumcised eight days from birth” (Gen. 17:12).

So, it turns out that in the Old Testament community of God a person could enter the community of Israel as a child, but in New Testament times the situation of children worsens, and they cannot be members of the Christian Church...

Someone will ask:

– How does circumcision relate to baptism?

Scripture itself draws these parallels when it says: “In Him you were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ; being buried with Him in baptism” (Col. 2:11-12).

So, circumcision, which could be performed on an eight-day-old child, prefigured Baptism.

Yes, Scripture is clear about baptism: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). The question arises: how can a child believe?

The answer is obvious: his godparents believe for him.

– Can one person believe for another?

“Perhaps there are many examples of this from Scripture. For example, remember the case of the centurion's servant. He was healed not by his personal faith, but by the faith of the centurion himself, as it is said: “And Jesus said to the centurion: Go, and as you have believed, so be it done for you. And his servant was healed that very hour” (Matthew 8:13).

By the way, the word that is translated as “servant” in the original Greek is read as paEw - “child”, “boy”. It turns out that the adult centurion believes for his servant, the child, and the latter receives healing through his faith.

Also, an example for us can be the case of the paralytic, lying on the bed, where it is said about his friends, when “Jesus seeing their faith, said to the paralytic: be of good cheer, child! Your sins are forgiven you” (Matthew 9:2). Here, as in other cases, Christ does not pay attention to the sick man himself (who, it seems, was relaxed not only in body, but also in soul), but looks at the faith of his friends and, according to their faith, heals him.

Now let's carefully read the following text: “When they heard this, they were touched in their hearts and said to Peter and the other apostles: What should we do, men and brethren? Peter said to them: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37–38). Let us pay attention to the fact that when the Apostle Peter says “repent,” he does not say “repent, all of you,” as in the part where he talks about baptism: “and let every one of you

"
This means that he is referring only to those who can repent (that is, adults). Little children cannot repent. But in the case when he talks about baptism, he says “let every one of you be baptized
,” meaning both adults and children.
After all, as we have established, both children and adults are under sin. And this is exactly what he (Peter) means when he adds about baptism “...in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.” Then he says even more specifically: “and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children
and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39). And He Himself testified that the Lord calls not only adults, but also children, saying: “Let the children come to Me and do not hinder them, for of such is the Kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14).

And then we read:

Matthew 19:15. “And he laid his hands on them and went away from there.”

Parents have the right to bless their children, like prophets and priests. Moreover, the blessing received from the father can radically change the life of the child - just remember Isaac’s blessing of Jacob, whom at first he did not want to bless. Likewise, the curse of a parent can completely change the life of not only the child, but also all of his offspring - the case with Noah and Canaan, the son of Ham (Gen. 9:25). Israel's (Jacob) blessing of Manasseh and Ephraim even changed the degree of their relationship (48:5).

The formula of this blessing, which reads: “God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh” (Gen. 48:20), has been preserved to this day among the Jewish people. Parents bless their children with it on the eve of Yom Kippur (Judgment Day).

In Rus', parental blessing was given special (sacred) meaning and was accepted in especially significant and fateful cases.

In the Trinity Leaf from the Spiritual Meadow (19th century) we find the following narrative: “According to the dean of the churches of the Volokolamsk district, Archpriest Mikhail Nikolaevich Rozhdestvensky, in one village of the parish of the village of Seredy near the city of Volokolamsk there lived a young couple who had a child. One spring day, the couple went to a field where the husband was sowing spring crops and the wife was harrowing. At the end of the day's work, they returned home, tired. After dinner, the husband went to bed, but the wife could not calm down her little son, who was crying and screaming unbearably. His mother calmed him down for a long time, finally, she could not stand it and cried out in anger: “If only the evil spirit would close your throat, if only the evil spirit would take you.” The little one immediately fell silent after this crazy wish. The mother was very happy that the baby had calmed down, put him in the cradle, and she fell into a deep sleep. 3–4 hours passed. The mother woke up and, without hearing the crying, went to the cradle to feed the baby. To her horror, she did not find her son. Assuming that she had put him on the bed while she was asleep, and wondering if she had crushed him, the mother began to intensively search for him on the bed, groping with her hands. The awakened husband asked her: “What are you looking for here, won’t you let me sleep?” The wife answered with a scream: “Nikolai! The child is missing.” To this the husband replied: “Stupid woman! Where could he have gone, turn on the light.” It turned out that there was no child in the cradle, nor on the bed, and when they began to examine all the corners in the room, they suddenly noticed: legs were sticking out under the bench, and the child’s head was stuck underground through a hole two and a half inches wide. The couple began to get the child, but they couldn’t, they called the neighbors, who took out the floorboard. Only after this were they able to pull out the baby, whose face had already turned black, but still showed signs of life. With great difficulty he was brought to consciousness. The dean officially reported this incident to Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow. The Metropolitan, in his resolution on the report, asked all the clergy of that deanery that the priests instill in their parishioners to be careful in their expressions towards children. Mothers were especially instructed by the resolution to remember the word of God, which says that mothers have been given judgment over their children. Therefore, every mother’s word has special effective force and will certainly come true. If a mother blesses her child, then God’s blessing will rest on him all the days of his life. If the mother curses him, no force will be able to save the child from disaster until the mother herself repents of her crazy word and asks the Lord God to bless her child.”120

Christ, blessing children, as if adopts them to Himself, and gives them a special status of grace. Perhaps, when blessing the children, He used in this case the canonical form known to the Old Testament Church: “God do to you as to Ephraim and Manasseh”; or another, which also had liturgical status (Num. 6:22–23) in Old Testament times: “May the Lord bless you and keep you!” May the Lord look upon you with His bright face and have mercy on you! May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace!” (Num. 6:24–26).

Lord Jesus Christ and the rich young man

Now we move on to the 2nd topic of our gospel lesson today: the Lord Jesus Christ and the rich young man.

And we read further:

Matthew 19:16. “And behold, someone came up and said to Him: Good Teacher! What good thing can I do to have eternal life?”

Blessed Jerome of Stridon writes: “The one who asked how he would inherit eternal life was young, and rich, and proud; and according to the words of other evangelists, he asked not with the goal of learning, but with the goal of testing

»121.

Blessed Theophylact has a different assessment of the personality of the person who approached and his motives: “This man approached not with the goal of tempting Christ, but with the goal of receiving instruction, since he thirsted for eternal life.”

122.

Saint John Chrysostom writes: “Some accuse this young man of approaching Jesus with cunning and cunning, and, moreover, with the intention of tempting Him; but I rather agree to call him a lover of money and a slave of wealth, since Christ exposed him of this very thing. I have no intention of reproaching the young man for wickedness: it is not safe to be a judge of what we do not know, and especially an accusatory judge. Yes, and Mark removed such suspicion when he said about him: “ someone ran up, fell on his knees before Him and asked Him”; and again: “Jesus looked at him and loved him” (Mark 10:17, 21)

»123.

That is, everything turned out more than well for the young man, but a certain duality of his soul destroyed him. It is said: “As for the fearful... their lot will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. This is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). That is, human fear

, which sometimes fetters us, can contribute to our spiritual degradation. On the other hand, the fear of God drives out all human fear and makes the believer completely fearless.

“Under Emperor Julian the Apostate, Christian churches were closed, and therefore Christians began to gather in the field to perform divine services. Julian found out about this and ordered one of the military leaders to kill everyone who was going there. The chief was a kind man and, sparing the Christians, warned them about the royal command. Meanwhile, early in the morning he saw one woman who, with a child in her arms, quickly left the house and just as quickly passed by the emperor’s soldiers. The chief ordered to take her and bring her to him. When they brought her in, he asked: “Wretched wife, where are you rushing so early?” She answered: “In the field where Christians gather.” The chief said: “Haven’t you heard that a messenger from the king will come there and kill everyone he finds there?” “I heard,” the woman answered, “that’s why I hasten to die for Christ.” - “But why, if so, are you carrying the baby with you?” “Then I carry it,” she answered, “so that he too may be worthy of torment.” Hearing this, the commander released his soldiers, went to the king and said: “If you order me to die, I am ready, but I cannot fulfill your order regarding Christians.” And he told about his meeting with the woman.”124.

Saint Basil the Great teaches: “He who fears God is not afraid of people; but whoever fears people does not fear God.”

125. But the young man who came to the Son of God feared people, and feared them more than God.

And then we read:

Matthew 19:17. “He said to him: Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”

It is possible that the young man guessed who was in front of him, and therefore turns to the Lord Jesus with the words “ Good Teacher.”

”, but does not call him Lord, fearing the Jews standing nearby.
And Christ denounces him, as if saying to him: You called Me good, call me Lord
- “
No one is good except God alone
.” But, shackled by his own fears and doubts, the young man was unable to rise above his own cowardice and objectively assess reality.

Saint John Chrysostom, interpreting the words of Christ “ no one is good except God alone”

”, writes:
“So, when He said: “no one is good,” he did not want to show that He was not good.
Let this not happen! After all, He did not say: why do you call Me good? I am not good; but: “no one is good,” that is, none of the people. However, with these words He does not deprive people of goodness, but only distinguishes the latter from the goodness of God” 126.

Answering his question: “ What good thing can I do to have eternal life?”

" - Christ says:

Matthew 19:17. “If you want to enter into [eternal] life, keep the commandments.”

Here Christ does not simply point to the Law of God, He, as we will see later, points to the practical side, the practical aspects of the Divine Law.

It is common for youth to abstract (distance themselves from reality). Young people are more attracted to abstract conclusions than to the mundane realities of real life. A young man can spend hours talking about the ethical aspects of God’s Law and still not even move a finger towards fulfilling a specific commandment (mitzvot). This is due, first of all, to the fact that young believers do not tend to feel the severity and danger of sin. Sin for the young is, although dangerous and frightening, still an adventure. They want to experience, experiment and test everything on themselves, without even realizing how later in adulthood, and even on the eve of the grave, the sins of youth can overtake them and deal a treacherous stab in the back. It is said: “For You write bitter things against me and impute to me the sins of my youth” (Job 13:26); and again: “His bones are filled with the sins of his youth, and with him they will lie in the dust” (Job 20:11). And if Job is afraid of the consequences of the sins of his youth, which filled his bones, then David begs God not to remember the days of his youth: “Do not remember the sins of my youth and my crimes; by Thy mercy remember me, for the sake of Thy goodness, O Lord!” (Ps. 24:7)

What happens next when Christ answers the question “ what should I do... to have eternal life?”

- points to the Law of God, to His holy commandments? The young man asks:

Matthew 19:18. “He said to Him: which ones?”

But really, what commandments must be observed first of all? If, in answering this question, you offer a young man something general, then he, most likely, will not even understand what we are talking about. And so the young man receives a more than specific answer:

Matthew 19:18–19. “Jesus said: Do not kill; Thou shalt not commit adultery; don't steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and: love your neighbor as yourself.”

It is possible that, having heard such a more than specific answer, the young man was offended or even offended. And indeed, if a priest during confession gives advice to one of us not to kill people or rape women, then perhaps this will offend and unbalance one of us. Isn't it obvious?

But in reality, many people need just such specificity, and each of us needs it too. For what is the use for a Christian to talk about uncreated divine energies and at the same time commit fornication, steal, abuse his neighbors with the last words, smoke and get drunk?

If this is the case with the rich young man, then he is simply a sinner who did not fully understand this.

But Lopukhin’s Explanatory Bible offers a slightly different interpretation, it says:

“It also cannot be assumed that Christ’s indication of such and such commandments, and not other commandments, was simply a matter of chance, that is, in other words, a simple set of words. Thus, only one thing remains - to assume that, on the contrary, the young man was especially strongly, especially zealously concerned about fulfilling those very commandments that Christ pointed out to him, and His answer, so to speak, was directly calculated not to say nothing new compared to what was already well known from the Old Testament law. This interpretation, at any rate, is well confirmed by the further statement of the young man (v. 20) that he “kept all this.” What else does he lack? “The very commandments listed by Christ are an abbreviated summary of the Decalogue and other places of the Old Testament law.”

127.

If you follow the interpretation of Lopukhin’s successors, it turns out that Christ is looking for the young man not just salvation in a position of lesser

in the Kingdom of Heaven, but offers him something different - and incomparably
greater
.

And indeed, further we read:

Matthew 19:20. “The young man said to Him: I have kept all this from my youth; what else am I missing?

This young man’s answer cannot be taken as something unconditional. Of course, he could fulfill the outer side of the Law, but if he had comprehended the inner meaning of each commandment, he would no doubt consider himself a sinner. The Apostle Paul wrote about himself: “If, in seeking justification in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners...” (Gal. 2:17). That is, he looked at the Law of God through the prism of the New Testament, and saw himself as sinful and defiled. It is said: “You have heard what was said to the ancients: do not kill; whoever kills will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause will be subject to judgment; whoever says to his brother: “raqa,” is subject to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, “You fool,” is subject to fiery hell... You have heard what was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28). In other words, sometimes a sinner does not commit a sin only because circumstances beyond his control do not allow him to do so, and should he really be considered righteous only for this? Of course not!

Sin, living in our soul, as a certain law of sin operating in us, in itself makes us sinners. This is what the Apostle Paul writes about: “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man; but in my members I see another law, warring against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members. Poor man I am! who will deliver me from this body of death? (Rom. 7:22–24).

The young man did not see living sin in himself - and therefore he was mistaken; the young man sought salvation for himself - and therefore Christ loved him.

And then we read:

Matthew 19:21. “Jesus said to him: If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me.”

With this call, the Son of God helps the young man to realistically assess his own condition as sinful and devoid of hope for salvation outside of divine mercy. And what could he hope for? It was said: “So, what? do we have an advantage? Not at all. For we have already proved that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, as it is written: There is none righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; no one seeks God; they have all turned aside from the path, they are worthless to one; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Rom. 3:9-12). That is, the Greeks sinned without knowing the Law, and the Jews sinned while under the Law, and “there is none righteous, not one.” But now it becomes clear to the young man himself, he cannot achieve perfection, greed strangles him, and where there is greed, there is anger, malice, and murder.

And then we read:

Matthew 19:22. “When the young man heard this word, he went away sad, because he had great possessions.”

It’s not very clear here, “ with sadness

“What is he leaving Christ for?
Either with sadness for the “ great estate
” - so as not to lose it, or with sadness for himself, who was unable to overcome his own selfishness and covetousness.

Saint John Chrysostom says: “...if the young man had approached Jesus with the intention of tempting Him, he would not have walked away with sadness about what he heard. None of the Pharisees ever experienced such a state; on the contrary, all of them, being refuted by Jesus, became even more bitter against Him. This is not what a young man does: he leaves with sadness.”

128. – The rich young man came close to salvation in the face of the Savior, but quickly, albeit with sadness, left Him.

And then we read:

Matthew 19:23–24. “Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven; And again I tell you: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

This was a challenge to the Old Testament idea of what righteousness and holiness should entail. The Jews were confident that wealth was a special blessing from God, and in their understanding they were more likely to be poor ( "em haaretz"

: “black bone”, “peasants”) - ignoramuses, sinners and enemies of righteousness.

A similar innovation puzzled the apostles...

And we further read:

Matthew 19:25. “When His disciples heard this, they were greatly amazed and said, “Who then can be saved?”

It’s clear in their question: “If the rich cannot be saved, then who can be saved?” To finally remove such delusion from their consciousness, the Lord Jesus Christ

Matthew 19:26. “...he looked up and said to them: With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Blessed Jerome interpreted these words as follows: “These words already show that it is not [only] difficult, but also impossible [for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven]. Indeed, if a camel cannot pass through the eye of a needle, and if likewise a rich man cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven; then none of the rich will be saved

"129.
Blessed Theophylact, as it were, clarifies the harsh tone of Jerome: “If someone begins to avoid greed, then, with the help of God, he will first succeed in cutting off what is superfluous, and then he will reach the point where he will spend what is necessary on the poor;
so God’s help will lead him in a good way to the Kingdom of Heaven ”130. That is, the rich are saved only through voluntary impoverishment, and nothing else.

And then we read:

Matthew 19:27–28. “Then Peter answered and said to Him, Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what will happen to us? Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The Apostle Peter, continuing to think in the Old Testament paradigm (after all, the Holy Spirit had not yet descended on them), seems to ask: “If the rich perish and do not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, then where will we go, who have become poor for Your sake?” To which Christ answers:

Matthew 19:29–30. “And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and those who are last will be first.”

In this way, the dilapidated paradigms (systems of ideas) of the Old Testament world collapsed and a new idea was created in the hearts of the apostles about the New Testament Kingdom of God, about which the Son of God Himself would once say: “My kingdom is not of this world... but now My kingdom is not from here” (John. 18:36). So, Christ proclaimed the theocratic principles of the New Testament Kingdom-Church, about which the prophet Daniel said: “And in the days of those kingdoms, the God of heaven will erect a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not be transferred to another people; it will crush and destroy all kingdoms, but it will stand forever” (Dan. 2:44).

Christ save you!

What does the holy face help with?

The Blessing of the Children imagery is a reminder to parents that children are receptive to the Word of God at a very early conscious age. We need to introduce them to faith and church from an early age. It is advisable for families with children to have such an icon.

Parents can pray in front of the image in a variety of situations related to the well-being of their children. You can ask for a speedy recovery, success in studies, good relationships with others, and a happy married life for your children. For teachers and educators who are in contact with the younger generation, prayer in front of this image will also provide support and allow them to derive joy from performing their professional duties.

Just as the Lord takes care of his creatures, so the head of the family must protect his household from everything bad, praying for their well-being in front of the icon and asking to send a blessing.

Important! No matter what age the children are, parental appeal to the Almighty will help them choose the right path in life, protect themselves from the temptations of such a complex world and always be guided by God’s commandments

Prayer for the blessing of children - how to read correctly

The blessing was first mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. God gave it to Adam and Eve when he appointed them to rule paradise, to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth.

Asking for blessings from father and mother is a tradition that has been proven for thousands of years. Our ancestors believed that, first of all, a person belongs to God, and secondly to his family. Parents were treated with great respect. Without the consent of their parents, they did not make important decisions, did not get married, and did not go on a long journey.

Today the blessing dance is not so popular, but children still come to their father and mother for advice and approval.

It is extremely important to provide psychological support, but it is even more important to ask the Almighty for help

Even in cases where the child is not a deeply religious person, parental blessing gives him enormous strength and tolerance in solving problems and tasks on the way to the intended goal. The blessed one becomes invulnerable from illnesses, wrong decisions, the machinations of enemies and the evil eye of hangers-on, because he is under God’s protection and the protection of holy patrons.

Children cannot be denied a blessing, even if the parents do not like the things to be given a blessing, otherwise the child may face failures that threaten life and health. You can read a parental prayer for blessings in the following cases:

admission to a school or university, passing sessions, exams, Olympiads, sports competitions, passing a driver’s license, etc.;
if your son or daughter is going on a long trip for a long time;
the son is sent to the army or even to a war zone;
before severe treatment and complex surgery for a child;
the beginning of a career path, a new business or business;
for a wedding, a prosperous and happy family, the birth of healthy descendants;
when bad premonitions disturb and the parent’s heart is restless.

Christ blesses the children - Semiradsky Heinrich Ippolitovich

Description of the work.

Henryk Semiradski’s painting “Christ Blesses the Children” refers us to the biblical story that we encounter in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark: “They brought children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples did not allow those who brought it.” (Mark 10:13).

The artist immerses the viewer’s gaze in a surprisingly lyrical panoramic landscape. Evening twilight envelops a group of parents and children gathered around the Savior sitting under a tree with a lilac haze. This creates an unusually intimate, intimate atmosphere that accurately conveys the essence of what is happening. Semiradsky's skill is manifested not only in his treatment of a panoramic landscape illuminated by the light of a fading sunset, but also in the complex compositional solution of a group of parents and children, consisting of many figures around a seated Christ, harmoniously inserted into the landscape.

The insightful Semiradsky grasped and masterfully conveyed the great message contained in the scene of the blessing of the children - a saving invitation for all people to enter the Kingdom of God: “Jesus was indignant and said to them: let the children come to Me and do not hinder them, for of such is the Kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it. And he embraced them, laid his hands on them and blessed them.” (Mark 10:14-16). Christ invites everyone - adults and children, sinners and righteous people - to enter the Kingdom of God now. The only thing that is required from a person is acceptance of the possibility of faith. As Archimandrite Iannuarius said: “faith is like the hand of a child, open to receive a gift.”

History of creation.

Semiradsky began work on the painting “Christ Blessing the Children” in 1895. This was the artist's last major project. The painting became the culmination of Semiradsky's Gospel cycle. Unlike many of his contemporaries (Kramsky, Polenov, etc.), Semiradsky does not try to break with the centuries-old tradition of depicting Christ - on the contrary, he preserves it. The artist emphasizes the spiritual nobility of the image of the Savior. Semiradsky solves the gospel theme as a genre scene. He strives to create a heartfelt atmosphere to convey Gospel events to the viewer. At the same time, the magnificent landscape, the setting sun bathing everything in a calm light, and the devotion on the faces of the men and women who came to Christ convey the sacred meaning of this scene.

In the Semiradski family, the Polish language, Polish literature and the Catholic religion were integral elements of raising children. Being a believer and a churchgoer, Semiradsky felt his organic connection with Russian culture, which was greatly facilitated by his studies at the Kharkov gymnasium, where drawing was taught by D.I. Bezperchiy, a student of K.P. Bryullov. Under his influence, the artist’s passions in art and in life were formed. Biblical scenes became the leitmotif of the painter’s work. Despite the fact that Semiradsky almost did not live in Russia, he with great inspiration set about sketches for a monument of truly national significance - the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. But nothing testifies to one’s attitude towards God more than a person’s posthumous words. Semiradsky wrote them on paper, since illness deprived him of the ability to speak: “If a miracle happened, and the Lord gave me a little more time, then I would like to live for my family.”

Biography.

Henryk Semiradsky was born on October 24, 1843 in the village of Novobelgorod (now Pechenegy) near Kharkov, in the family of a doctor - an officer in the tsarist army. After graduating from the Kharkov gymnasium, he entered the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Kharkov University, which he successfully graduated in 1864. Semiradsky showed an interest in painting from childhood, so after graduating from university he decided to continue his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts, which he graduated in 1870, receiving a 6-year state scholarship and the opportunity to improve his skills abroad. Until 1871, Semiradsky studied in Munich, with the German artist Carl von Piloty, and in 1873 he moved to Rome. The Eternal City captivated the artist immediately and forever; he lived here most of his life. He worked a lot, constantly visiting museums, galleries and churches, where he studied the works of outstanding masters of the Renaissance.

In 1873, Semiradsky was awarded the title of Academician of the Academy of Arts. In the same year, he married his cousin, Maria Pruszynskaya.

Semiradsky's refined and unique technique created vibrant, magnificent paintings. Following the laws of European academicism, the artist introduced picturesqueness, plein air effects and a chamber idyll. Biblical stories were the leitmotif of the artist’s work. He creates a whole Gospel cycle of paintings, and also depicts on a huge canvas one of the episodes of the struggle between paganism and Christianity - an illumination arranged by the cruel Nero from the burnt alive followers of the new religion. With this painting, known as “The Lights of Nero,” the artist brilliantly completed the end of his retirement in 1877. Being exhibited in St. Petersburg, it aroused general surprise, which was accompanied by its appearance at the Paris World Exhibition of 1878. For her, the Imperial Academy of Arts awarded Semiradsky the title of professor, and the French government awarded him the Knights Order of the Legion of Honor. The painter himself also considered his participation in painting the choir chapel of the northern wing of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow to be his most significant work.

Henryk Semiradski died on August 23 (September 5), 1902, on his estate Strzalkow near Radomsk, and was buried in Krakow, in the Pantheon on Skalka.

Compiler of the text: Minenko Evgenia Vladimirovna.

What God's Saints Say

According to the Athonite elder Kirik, Christians do not receive answers to their prayers for only one reason, that they do not ask with faith, relying only on their own strength and reason. God will never leave anyone in trouble if He is asked to help.

Hieroschemamonk Nikolai, who served as confessor in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra at the end of the 19th century, explains that many troubles and failures befall Christians when they do not rely on God and rarely turn to the Lord with requests to bless any undertaking.

Important! Without God's blessing it is impossible to achieve success, be it prayer, fasting, work, travel or healing. God Himself said that without His help man cannot do anything on his own (John 15:5)

God Himself said that without His help man cannot do anything on his own (John 15:5)

The Monk Ambrose of Optina calls all human deeds futile if they are not blessed by God. A person will work in vain if he does not ask for the Lord’s help in fervent prayer.

According to Saint Kirik, only a Christian with human pride and self-confidence will start a new business without God’s blessing.

From the teachings of St. Nicholas of Serbia we know that only in indissoluble communion with God can His blessings be found. One family member whom the Lord will bless will bring anointing to the entire family and descendants.

Advice! Call on God's grace for every deed with the words “Bless me, a sinner, and help me, Lord!”

Who may or may not receive a blessing

The Lord Himself has determined those upon whom He pours out His special anointing and help. No man has a right to divine benefits because of sinfulness, but God gives them to us upon request with humility. Only a humble heart can be looked upon by the Lord.

Through the prophet Isaiah (Is.66:2), the Creator says that His grace is poured out on those who are humble in heart and contrite in spirit.

A humble person can receive God's blessing

Only awareness of one's sinfulness will lead to humility and then to holiness.

You can measure the completeness of your humility by analyzing your attitude towards the expected praise from people, the desire to excel, the need to be recognized.

A humble person will never allow himself to have high self-conceit, and will not praise his talents and abilities; he will give all the glory to the Lord.
Humility does not live next to resentment and insult, the inability to forgive and a painful reaction to criticism.
Humility suppresses grumbling about your life and financial situation, gossip and dissatisfaction with the world around you.
A humble person tends to have a soft heart, a meek disposition, tenderness, compassion and a willingness to help any person in need.

The Lord is ready to bless not only good people, His rain of grace pours over all people. (Matthew 5:45)

Those who believe in the Savior Christ are especially blessed; the Apostle John writes that he who believes in Jesus already has eternal life. (John 3:36)

Important! This means that the Almighty, although a merciful Father, is also a strict Judge. He punishes disobedience for the good of the person himself.

And this is His mercy.

God's blessing is poured out on those who put God first in their lives and revere Him.

God blesses people who submit to His will

There is a certain category of people in the world for whom the sun of the Creator’s mercy will pour out when they get rid of their shortcomings:

lack of faith in the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ;
pride and arrogance, because “God opposes the proud”;
worship of the golden calf;
disobedience and disobedience.

Little tips

You should purchase several towels for the image and loaf. Each icon is held with a separate towel

We advise you to study Prayer to Tsar Nicholas II and his family

Each loaf, and there may be several of them, should have its own holiday towel. Before kissing the icon, the mother or father baptizes the young people with it three times, while making the sign from top to bottom, note, from left to right, so that the young people receive the Orthodox sign of the cross, from right to left. The entire church wedding ceremony must be previously discussed with the clergyman, so that everyone present at the wedding and holding the icon knows what and how to do.

Attention! In the old days, without parental permission and blessing, a priest did not have the right to perform a wedding ceremony. Disobedient children who entered into an unmarried marriage without parental blessing were deprived of inheritance and acceptance in society

A prayer request before the Creator with holy images has great power, because in this case a piece of the family happiness of the parents is inherited by the children, by blessing whom the father and mother ask for the intercession of the Almighty God.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6dAquR7i71E

What icons are used to bless the young?

Types and ways of blessings

Just as a person consists of spirit, soul and body, so God blesses on three levels.

Spiritual path

At this level, Christians receive several types of special anointing from the Almighty.

All people on earth are sinners, but by the power of the blood of Jesus, Christians receive justification and forgiveness of all sins that they bring to the cross during repentance, confession and communion.

The Great and Almighty Creator is open to the depth of His knowledge; during spiritual growth, people are filled with spiritual joy and special values. The Holy Spirit is open to baptism and filling by Him to all who seek the face of God.

Christians gain strength to join the church, to serve in God’s field, so that at the end of the journey they will receive the greatest reward—eternal life.

Soulful path

When the Lord blesses Christians, there is peace of mind and peace of mind in their hearts. Where can anxiety come from if everything is under the protection of the Creator?

Families blessed by the Almighty live in love, respect, help for each other and mutual understanding. Where God's anointing is sent, there is no worry about tomorrow, food or finances.

The Lord grants blessing to believers

Bodily way

A person filled with spiritual and mental benefits also receives physical support in the form of healing and health. A morally healthy person adapts well to the work team, he quickly rises through the ranks and is treated with respect by management.

The Lord gives faithful followers of wisdom the wisdom to be enterprising in order to achieve financial prosperity, in which part of the funds is brought into God's house to support it and the servants.

The Almighty blesses the earth and what it produces.

How to bless children in the name of the Lord

The tradition of blessing children today is forgotten, lost, and inaccessible. And this is a big minus, a huge loss not only for one person, but for the whole family, descendants and even the whole world. After all, the sin of one person even lies on the whole generation, and as Silouan of Athos said, it extends to the whole world. How he would change if people repented, and how he continues to die due to lack of understanding, unwillingness, and even the impossibility of reversing anything.

But this is global, and more specifically, blessing children is an infinitely important and necessary, precious and irreplaceable action. This is parental duty, invulnerability, cover. Parents act as mediators between their children and God. This means that, wishing them good, the good of God, the grace of God abundantly extends to our children. You need to remember this and cherish your parental blessing, they are afraid of losing it. This is already the power of God and cannot be ignored.

Today, the authority of parents is lost, traditions are forgotten. The old ones don’t remember, and the new ones “weren’t built.” And before in Rus' they couldn’t not only take blessings for marriage, but also for the day. Because they knew that without him it would be “a waste of a day,” and the undertaking might not end well. Parental blessing has always been a gift, a responsibility towards children. Parental blessings were taken very seriously. It is no coincidence that the word itself has Divine roots. Just like GRACE, THANKSGIVING, GLOBILITY...” Parents must learn to say these words without hesitation. Just not in vain, not “anyhow,” but consciously pronounce and feel every word, put into it all the best that you can wish for your children. Words must be full-fledged, that is, have weight and great meaning, the same as it was for ancient people. Noah once cursed Ham and his descendants are still “slaves of slaves,” and he blessed Shem and Japhith. And his prophecy came true. He said this a long time ago, but what Noah said remains to this day. That is, the word power has a great strong meaning. The father or mother will say and their wish will remain. That is, what power do parents have over their children? And all because God gave power to the father over the children: “May the Lord give you...” And the word turns into deed. You need to know this, remember this, and that means under no circumstances should you call names, curse, or scold children with bad, offensive words. Be afraid to say: “You are lazy, mediocrity. fool, stupid... This is an anti-prayer that needs to be feared.

The Apostle Paul says that we are "counted for blessing." Therefore, it is advisable to start doing this from childhood, from birth. And pray and bless: “May the Lord bless you, may the Lord protect you, may He give you understanding.” And the Lord will bless, and cover and save... Or “The Lord is with you; With God blessing; The Lord will give you peace." You can baptize by saying: “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The scriptures talk about blessing in different ways. And everywhere this is half of happiness. Wherever your child goes: on a trip, in the army, in marriage, so as not to start a new business, study, work, always bless, do not be lazy and do not be ashamed. The words should be simple, wise, natural and intelligent, as they were with the saints. This is a great thing and not simple science. You have to learn this. By the way, we ourselves bless the Lord. In Psalm 33 we often say the following words: “Let us bless the Lord at all times... you are praised, you are glorified...” That is, we thank him always, and for everything. It is especially good when we can do this in grief or after trouble, in illness and even tragedy. We, like saints who experienced sorrow and even burned in the oven, cannot help but glorify him, glorify him, and thank him. This is the greatest wisdom and living proof of our faith. We are then real Christians when we do not “crumple” faith under ourselves, and we are happy and faithful to it not only when it is convenient for us. We are true believers when we do not adapt faith to ourselves, but ourselves to faith, with every action, every attitude towards a person we prove our knowledge in practice. But in a mother’s prayer for the blessing of children, all the pain for her child is especially strong and accurately conveyed. In it, like on a thread, all the best wishes for the child are strung, which any mother can only dream of. This is a parental blessing at all times, morning, day and night, with which you can pray to the Lord to help strengthen your son or daughter, increase blessings, give a blessing for a godly family life and healthy childbirth.

In the book of numbers, chapter 6 of the Old Testament (its end), God himself gave us a prayer with which we can bless our children. He himself put it into the mouths of the ancient priests. 1. May the Lord bless you and keep you; 2. May the Lord look upon you with his bright face and have mercy on you; 3. May the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace. Then God gave this prayer to the priests so that they would bless their sons. But it concerns each of us. How God gave them power over the people, just as God gave them power over their children. Three wishes... You can remember these words and create them every time at every opportunity, not be afraid, but believe that they have “salt and essence.” This figure is symbolic, not accidental. Just as a person has spirit, soul and body, just as there are three Persons in the Lord, just as there are three porches in a temple, so there are three blessings that God has given us. “Blessed people live blessedly, and cursed people live cursed.” And the bad thing is that we live in a world of damned people. After all, Russian mothers do not watch their words at all. We can scold children for all we care. And this is very bad. We will answer for every word. “Stupid, dumb, moron, worthless, you will remain that way.” Among Muslims, every word is worth its weight in gold. And Jews will never scold their children or call them names. They know that every word can be a blessing or a curse. Once, even one people, the Bedouins, greeted a European, wishing him peace, but then, having learned that he was not theirs, not an Arab, they asked him to give back what they wished. For they put strength, energy, heart, and help into every word. For us, a word is steam, an empty phrase, for them it is a matter, half of the heart, roughly speaking, to make a loved one feel good. So Isaac, who mistakenly gave his blessing to someone other than his eldest son, could no longer take it back, and therefore gave a blessing, but less than to his brother. This is the significance it had, and still has today.

It is better to be ashamed of sin, considering it vile, disgusting, and terrible, than blessings. Spread it out on the children more often and scold them less. As Andrey Tkachev says: “You shouldn’t be shy about good things. Mother and father are the same priests. They can bless, instruct, instruct, teach, preach. They have been given a lot. After all, through the prayers of a father or mother, the Lord Himself blesses our children with the Holy Spirit. It is no coincidence that they even say: “A mother’s blessing will raise her higher than the heavens, a curse will dry her up...”. They build houses, ask for God's grace, and provide a strong foundation for their future. So bless the name of the Lord and your children will have happiness, joy and, God willing, salvation.

What does it look like

At different times, images were created that describe this event in the life of Jesus Christ. People really liked the Gospel story, and they wanted to capture the Savior’s love for those whose souls had not yet been stained by worldly worries and sins - for children.

Icon of Jesus Christ “Blessing of the Children”

There are a huge number of interpretations. But all of them invariably depict the Messiah laying his hand on the heads of children in a gesture of blessing.

Each icon carries a certain symbolic meaning. In some images you can see a desert in the background, in others - a city or a tree. This is no coincidence. For example, a tree means that without a strong root, nothing in the world can rise up. The city indicates human preoccupation with worldly vanity, which does not allow a person to be imbued with love for God.

In addition, you can notice that some icons contain images of women and apostles. According to legend, Jesus' disciples wondered why he was wasting his time on children who did not understand His teachings. In response to such an opinion, the Savior replied that the purity of a child’s soul is a thousand times more valuable to him than the knowledge of all the scribes of the world. It is the misunderstanding on the faces of the apostles that is captured by many icon painters. They stand behind Christ and talk among themselves.

This is interesting: Icon of the blessed prince Alexander Nevsky

The plot of the icon “Blessing of the Children”

The very history of this image carries a very strong meaning, from the point of view of Christianity. The Lord in the Gospel of Mark says that only one who cleanses his soul from worldly impurities, equating the purity of his soul with children - “these little ones” - will be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The acquisition of the Kingdom of Heaven had a special meaning, since life on earth is considered only a temporary stay. After death comes true life, which has no time, since it is endless.

And it is very important to spend eternity not in torment, but in peace and happiness

In the time of Jesus, children were considered a blessing from God, but there was also an opinion that they were not able to perceive teaching properly, so conversations about God were usually allowed to be adults with opinions. The speeches of Jesus were often not just instructive, but also theological in nature. Children, not always understanding what was being said, could distract the Teacher. This is exactly what the apostles feared when persuading mothers to take their children away. However, Jesus heard their speeches and invited children, mothers, and apostles. He blessed the children brought to Him, praised the mothers, and rather sharply reprimanded the apostles, teaching them that the purity of the souls of these little ones was much more valuable to Him than all the knowledge of the scribes, since only such a soul was not clouded by much knowledge, in which punishment for any offense, it is possible to accept His teaching about love, which does not carry punishment, but to reject it is punishment itself.

How did the relic appear?

Icon Blessing of Children 1890s I. Repin

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark there are references to the fact that children repeatedly came to the Savior, carefully listening to the sermons of the Son of God. The children who were pure in heart felt especially keenly the light emanating from Jesus Christ and enjoyed His attention, love and kindness. The Lord even set them as an example to his disciples: “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven... and whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me.” Since then, in the Holy Scriptures, an innocent child, with joy and tenderness absorbing the grace reigning in the temple, is the personification of sincerity, meekness, humility and selfless faith in the Creator.

In memory of this biblical episode, shrines were created where the Creator speaks to children. They can be very different - for example, you can buy the “Blessing of the Children” icon, made in the canonical Orthodox tradition, in our online store. This image demonstrates the deep connection between man and God, because the omnipotent and omniscient Lord tirelessly takes care of all people as if they were his own children, warning them against rash actions, vicious passions and sinful thoughts.

Variety of images

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As you can see from the photos offered in the article, the “Blessing of the Children” icons are very numerous and unique in their writing. This is explained by the fact that at different times in different places people tried to capture the story they liked. They show the Lord’s love not only for the great of this world, but first of all for those who can accept His love without any conditions dictated by this world.

In some images we see a city in the background, and in other icons we see a desert, a rock or a tree. Each image carries a symbolic meaning. The tree in the icons means that nothing can grow tall unless it has deep roots. That is, if the soil is not clogged with everyday troubles, then the grain that falls on it will take deep roots and grow into a mighty fruitful tree. The city symbolizes a certain opposite. In cities, people are concerned about the opinions of others, of which there are a huge number, and everyone needs to please. Everyone around knows how to live, any deviation is punishable by the Law. In such vanity, it is difficult for a person to accept the teaching of God’s Love for people. The life of such people is overloaded with worldly worries. And only children remain with pure souls until they embark on the path of growing up.

And the Lord teaches those gathered: to seduce a soul as pure as a child’s is a sin seven times more serious than to be tempted yourself. He calls on adults not only to take care of the integrity of children's souls, but also to become like them themselves.

Meaning of the icon

The meaning of the event that the “Blessing of Jesus Christ” icon depicts is important and deeply symbolic . The children were brought by their mothers, imbued with the spirit of Christ's preaching.
They want their children to be blessed by this extraordinary man (for the Divine Essence of Jesus had not yet revealed itself and was hidden from everyone). At this moment, the students are talking behind his back, not understanding what is happening. The Savior always showed special care for the souls of children unsullied by sin and considered them an example for adults.

It is not for nothing that all people are children of the Lord to Him, to whom He treats as a stern but fair Heavenly Father

In the icon “Blessing of the Children” there is peace and grace on the face of the Savior, and the blessing gesture is full of promise and fatherly care. The meaning of the icon “Children and Christ” lies precisely in the visual evidence of His attitude towards children.

Parting words to the son and “new” daughter from the groom’s father and mother

If all the previous speeches of the parents made before the wedding were relatively brief, then after the marriage the parents can allow a few more words and wishes.

From father

Dear daughter, dear son! We lived with (name of the bride's mother), my wife, for many happy years. There was harmony and harmony in our family. We raised a wonderful daughter who always tried to help us and pleased us with our successes. And now you, daughter, have become an adult and found a man who has become your husband. You will have a new family, a separate one. But know that your mom and I will always support you if you need help. At the same time, I am sure that (name of the groom), your husband, will be able to cope with any problems. He is a strong and worthy person. We are happy that now we also have a wonderful son. Children, be happy with each other, give love and joy, and give your mother and me grandchildren. May you live happily ever after!
Dear (names of the newlyweds), children! Today you begin building a beautiful structure - your family. My wife and I, having lived in harmony (the time that the bride's parents have been married) for years, know that it is not always easy. Therefore, it is a little sad that you, daughter, no longer fully belong to our family, that you need to go your own way. Whatever it is, I am sure that your husband will be able to support and understand you in everything. He's a good guy, we're glad we can call him our son. Build your life like a beautiful, bright and warm home, in which there is a place of love, joy and children, which is full of peace and tranquility. Having invested your soul in building your family, you will definitely be rewarded with happiness and prosperity. Joy and all the best to you!

We advise you to study Psalm 140

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Christian cross and what it means

From mother

My beloved daughter and (name of the groom), my new son! Don’t look that I’m crying - it’s out of joy for you, my dear children. Your family was born today. Let this day be just the first of an endless number of happy days warmed by your love. Live together, enjoy every minute, try never to leave each other for more than a few hours.

At the holiday itself, the groom's parents also give their blessing; here it is more like a parting wish.

From mother

Dear children! Today means a lot to all of us. I thought I was losing my son, but in fact I had found a wonderful daughter. Now my family has grown, this is also happiness. I bless you, live in harmony and appreciate each other. Let ringing laughter always be heard in your home, and let the smiles of two loving people give light. I wish you healthy children, to the delight of grandparents, to help mom and dad. Cherish the love!

From father

My dear son and (name of the bride), his wife. Thank you! Today has made me much richer - now I have a daughter. Son, look at this girl who has become your wife. She's beautiful. You must be worthy of her, be a protector and support. Love each other, children, keep your feelings for life.

What is a blessing

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). And today the “good word” gives people God’s mercy and grace. This happens in blessing. Christians call on God's blessing in their works and ask the priest for it. From the lips of an Orthodox person one often hears wishes for good things for his family. And also a prayer for the blessing of children.

Parents and child

The word “blessing” has several meanings.

First of all, this is God’s sending down to man of special gifts and grace, His mercy and bounty. Christians resort to the Lord with prayer for the blessing of important undertakings and responsible matters.

The blessing is given by priests who, through the Sacrament of Priesthood, receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to perform pastoral service. They are asked for blessings on important life events, believing that grace is given by Christ Himself. At every service, the priest, with the sign of the cross, invokes Divine grace and blessing on all those present.

The Lord always pours out His mercies on the person who comes running to Him with faith and love. Therefore, a Christian should always thank God and praise him. This is also called a blessing in Orthodoxy.

The blessing of parents plays a huge role. In prayer they call on God's help and mercy for their children. Let us take a closer look at what kind of prayer for blessing children exists in Orthodoxy and how to bless children.

Blessing children is a parental duty

The Lord endowed parents with amazing creative power. At the birth of a new person into the world, they act as co-creators of God Himself. At the same time, the father and mother bear a huge responsibility for the newborn.

“Neglect of children is the greatest of all sins; it leads to extreme wickedness. Even if our whole life was prosperous, we will be subjected to severe punishment if we do not care about the salvation of our children” (St. John Chrysostom).

Every action, look, every parental word is a cut that sharpens the soul, giving it the “correct” Christian form. The main tool for educating Orthodox parents should be prayer for the blessing of children.

“Prayer asks for God’s help, attracts God’s blessing... A person will call for a blessing, and it will come to him...” (Reverend Nikon of Optina (Belyaev).

A sincere prayer of blessing helps parents entrust their children to God. That is, to trust His Divine Providence, to ask for strength and help in the proper upbringing of a child.

“Parental blessing creates children’s homes” (Archimandrite John Krestyankin).

Christ Himself points out the necessity and special importance of blessing children. When the disciples wanted to remove the children brought to the Teacher, Jesus Christ said:

“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14).

After this He laid His hands on them and blessed them. The “Blessing of the Children” icon is dedicated to this evangelical event. A prayer for the blessing of children sounds before her; parents ask to protect their children from temptations.

“The greatest treasure on earth for people living in the world is parental blessing. Just as in monastic life the greatest blessing is the one with which your elder blessed you. That’s why they say: “Don’t miss your parental blessing” (Reverend Paisius the Svyatogorets).

How does blessing work?

The importance of a mother can hardly be overestimated; it is not for nothing that she is connected with her child with invisible threads until the end of her days. Psychics claim that each of us is influenced by our mother at the level of subtle matters.

Energetically, a child is an extension of the mother. That is why she can change his fate. And his future life depends on the direction in which she wants to direct this very destiny.

A blessing should be given not only before the start of family life, but also before any significant event. For example, buying or selling an apartment, moving, starting a business. The essence of the blessing is that the mother creates a kind of protective cocoon around the child, which does not allow him to get into trouble and directs all the actions that the mother blessed for in the right direction.

The blessing works even over long distances. It is believed that a person blessed by his mother becomes invulnerable. It is impossible to refuse a blessing, even if the parents do not like the things to be given a blessing, otherwise the child may face failures that threaten life and health.