The Bible does not mention a cat. The reasons for this lie in the history of the Jewish people, the creator of the Old Testament. Religious consciousness did not allow them to worship gods in the form of animals, as did the Egyptians, from whose slavery the Jews were freed. To be precise, the only time an animal is mentioned in Scripture is in the Epistle of Jeremiah in a negative context.
Why there are no cats in the Bible - 2 reasons for the lack of mention of felines in scripture
The Bible does not mention a cat. The reasons for this lie in the history of the Jewish people, the creator of the Old Testament. Religious consciousness did not allow them to worship gods in the form of animals, as did the Egyptians, from whose slavery the Jews were freed. To be precise, the only time an animal is mentioned in Scripture is in the Epistle of Jeremiah in a negative context.
Why isn't it mentioned?
Some ministers of the Orthodox Church explain this by saying that the purpose of the Bible is to lead a person along the path of salvation, and not to describe the life of ancient Palestine from an ethnographic point of view. But if you look deeper into this issue, it turns out that a negative, at best, indifferent attitude towards a cat is present in the mentality of the Jewish people. The reasons presumably lie in his history, which shaped his view of the world around him and was reflected in the Bible.
Echoes of slavery
It is known that the slave owners of the Jews and Egyptians, on the contrary, worshiped the cat and valued it more than a person. This attitude is at the origins of Egyptian beliefs. Every religion is a reflection of the economic conditions of society. The basis of the economy of this ancient kingdom was agriculture, especially wheat crops. It was important to preserve the harvest, and the cats actively helped with this. They hunted:
When the cat plays such a big role in the household, it is not surprising that he is deified. The embodiment of the cat in the New Kingdom was the goddess Bast; there was her cult, the center of which was the city of Bubatis. The Egyptians went so far as to embalm these animals. In ancient Hebrew, even the word “cat” itself is consonant with the “shroud” in which mummies were wrapped. It can be assumed that the bitter memories of the Jews about Egyptian slavery discredited the animal in their eyes and were involuntarily reflected in the Bible.
In modern Israel, children are taught to have an aversion to cats and are never kept in their homes.
Influence of religion
Jews were among the first to come to the concept of monotheism, as evidenced by the Bible. Among the main tenets of their religion was “Do not make yourself an idol.” The expression has a literal meaning, that is, you cannot make statues of gods and serve them. And the Egyptians did this, worshiped various animals - a bull, a scarab, a cat - considering them the incarnation of a deity. From a Jewish point of view, this is an “abomination,” and animals are carriers of evil, including cats. Although such conclusions make tentative sense.
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Why is a cat never mentioned in the Bible?
Reading the Bible, you can see that the holy book never mentions such an animal as a cat. Moreover, in some places of Scripture you can find references to a dog, a scorpion and a snake. Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answered this question simply. He believes that Scripture is not intended to describe the life of peoples. If the Bible spoke about the life of the peoples of Palestine, about everyday life, then in this case one could find many examples of how ordinary Palestinians and representatives of the cat family coexisted.
The worthlessness of material idols
The Bible is a collection of texts that guide and inspire man. The texts talk about life in God and about sins and deviations from the path. As for animals, they do not occupy such a big place in people's lives. Only one of the biblical books, not included in the traditional canon, talks about cats. From the non-canonical “Epistle of Jeremiah” one can learn that idols served as the object of attention of various animals. For example, cats calmly climbed them. Sometimes various birds and even bats sat on the idols.
The Epistle of Jeremiah hints at the insignificance of the material idols that the pagans worshiped. None of the idols could drive away the living creatures. If cats wanted, they could sharpen their claws on a wooden post.
If a believer wants to learn more about the attitude of different peoples towards representatives of the cat family, then he should look for the answer not in the Bible, but in ethnographic books. In some countries, these animals were deified, considering them sacred. The most striking example is Egypt. In this country, cats were treated with reverence. They were not only fed, but also worshiped. Orthodoxy, and Christianity in general, does not approve of this approach. This is the same as idolatry.
Worshiping a living creature, as well as its image in the form of a statue, a person forgets about its Creator. All animals were created by the Almighty, and the Lord did not command people to worship them. Man, being the crown of creation, must only be attentive to his smaller brothers and not harm them.
Egyptian gods
Don't forget that the ancient Egyptians simply idolized cats. They were considered sacred animals and were worshiped. Even people stood lower on a social level than cats. If there was a fire or other incident, these pets were the first to be rescued, not women and children. Cats became a real cult, and killing them, even if it happened accidentally and unintentionally, was considered the most terrible sin.
According to the biblical canons, the worship of idols or animals was prohibited, because the creation of an idol belongs to paganism. While studying the Bible, readers might have some associations between the cat and the Egyptian goddess Bast, and then the meaning of the spiritual teaching would be lost.
Perversions of morality in Rome
You can find other interesting details about cats in ethnographic books. For example, in Rome the life of a cat was revered above the life of a person. This is indicated by the fact that in the event of a fire, it was the cats that were rescued first, and only then were they provided assistance to people. Today this seems absurd, but these are real facts. This is what the pagans did, of course, who had very perverted moral concepts. They were raised in an environment where cats were highly revered.
You can learn about the veneration of cats in Rome from the works of Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus. As a Greek historian, Diodorus Siculus provided many interesting details about the attitude of his compatriots towards cats. He not only describes the relationship in general terms, but also talks about specific cases.
Attitude towards pets in the church environment
An Orthodox person does not necessarily need to delve into such details. He only needs to know that heresies flourished in some pagan countries. Citizens of these countries worshiped cats, attributing to them divine qualities. The Bible does not mention this because the cat is just an ordinary animal. Holy Scripture instructs man with its divinely inspired examples, and not with descriptions of pagan abominations.
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There is no mention of cats in the Bible, but they are allowed to enter Orthodox churches and catch mice there. Dogs and other pets are not allowed there.
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A long time ago, Fr. lived at the temple. Dositheus. In cruel times, when faith was the most serious crime against Soviet power, he served in places not so distant from Alaska. When his term came to an end (it was winter), he was released into the forest, into the taiga, so that he could go in peace. So he went. It was winter, cold, there was no way to cross, night had fallen, and then he got lost in the forest. I felt that I was starting to freeze. With humility, Fr. decided. Dositheus fell into a hole under the roots of trees, and prayed to the Mother of God not to let him fall into ruin. Before he had time to finish his prayer, cats of all kinds, lame, side-eyed, and one-eared, rushed towards him from everywhere. They surrounded him with themselves and covered him with a living woolen blanket. So we spent the night, and in the morning the cats took Fr. Dositheus walked through the forest and was led to the village.
Contemporary attitudes of faith towards animals
Over time, a lot has changed. Now in Orthodoxy there is a slightly different attitude towards man’s four-legged friends:
But one should not immediately say that her presence in the church in any way desecrates the shrine or interferes with God’s grace.
The problems in our lives, as well as the lack of God's grace, we should blame not on the presence of a dog in our house, but on the sinful lifestyle that we lead. Many also say that it makes no sense to bless an apartment with a dog. These are just superstitions. The dog does not in any way act as an obstacle to this ritual.
Remember only one thing: we are responsible for those we have tamed and must love them. After all, if we offend those who cannot defend themselves from us, then by this we will also not give ourselves righteousness.
The Lord is always with you!
How does the Christian Church view cats?
On the role of the cat in Orthodox asceticism
In every point of the globe you can find any living creature, even a penguin in Africa, if, of course, some eccentric brings it there. Only inside the church fence animals are prohibited from entering. They have nothing to do there, because animals do not have the ability to perceive the Holy Spirit, the grace that is poured into the church space. But they can disturb those praying because they do not know how to control their behavior.
The only exception is made
for cats. Once in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra of St. Petersburg, I observed how during the service, when the deacon exclaimed: “Catechumens, come forth!”, an impudent white-and-red cat waddled out of the altar, walked under surprised glances along the salt and went back to the Holy of Holies . No reprisals followed; the priests did not pay any attention to the cat. Many cats can be found in monasteries, where they are welcomed and even fed, albeit with lean food. Pussycats have to obtain meat on their own by hunting mice.
Why are cats given such privileges in the Church? It is traditionally believed that cats were allowed into the church precisely because they so cleverly clear the premises of rodents. Maybe that's true. I would, however, like, at least as a joke, to give this fact a theological explanation.
A cat is a purely individual animal. She treats even her own kind with suspicion. And for a cat to demonstrate its independence to a person is a common thing. She often forces her beloved owner to keep his distance - this is when he does not please the purr in some way. Try giving the pussy food that it doesn’t like, patting it on the belly when it’s not in the mood for affection, or putting it in a carrier when returning it from the dacha to the city apartment in the fall. You will immediately receive a pound of contempt if the slipper is not described. No educational measures will help.
A cat demands respect, the fulfillment of its desires, which are not always clear to us, and it demands it actively. The owner has no other choice but to accept the cat's ultimatum, submit to her whims, and adapt to her behavioral reactions.
But precisely this style of behavior is the most correct for an Orthodox person.
Trying to change someone else is the most futile thing in the world. Outwardly, a person can accept the role imposed on him, but internally he will still remain himself, and will either quietly hate his “guru” or laugh at him. This means that in order to successfully communicate with others, you need to change yourself. Learn to respect another, accept him for who he is, don’t be offended by him, don’t get angry, don’t judge, come to terms with his shortcomings, don’t take all his actions personally... That is, love.
How do Orthodox Christians treat cats?
Since the very beginning of Christianity, the cat has been considered a pious animal. There is a legend that a cat warmed Jesus Christ when he was lying in a manger and freezing. The Virgin Mary thanked the animal by inscribing the symbol of the letter “M” on its forehead. Another belief says that only the cat was shown the way to Paradise by the Creator after the first people were expelled from there.
Priests and monks treat cats with great love, allowing them to live in monasteries, and in some churches they even serve prayers for the calling of help to homeless animals, in which parishioners hold a “purr” in their arms
In Orthodoxy, cats even have their own patron - Saint Blaise.
In modern Orthodoxy, cats continue to be favored by the church. Purrs often live in monasteries and churches, attend services, and in some monasteries there are even special passages cut in the doors for furry creatures. This attitude is justified by one legend. According to her, it was the cat that saved Noah’s Ark, and thereby all life on earth, from extinction: she caught a mouse, under the influence of the devil and trying to gnaw a hole in the bottom of the ship. This is why it is believed that cats go to heaven after death.
There are absolutely everyday justifications for such favor:
What are the consequences of having a dog in your home?
According to Orthodox Christians, evil spirits can easily enter a house where a dog lives, which is why cases of dogs attacking their own owners often occur. The dogs do not spare either adults or children. There have been repeated cases of such brutal attacks.
Of course, every creature has the right to life, but every creature has its own place on earth, allotted by God. Animals must serve man; this is why the Creator created them. A dog occupies a strong place in a person’s life, but its place is next to the home, and its purpose is to protect this very home.
Why is the Bible negative about cats?
The word cat is used only once in the Bible. This can be checked in the symphony by entering the given word.
“And the beasts of the desert will meet with wild cats” (Is. 34:14). This is the only place in the Bible where cats are mentioned. And as I understand it, we are talking about large species of cats, and not about feral domestic cats.
Therefore, I can tell you with confidence that in the Bible there is no negativity towards cats, especially domestic ones.
In principle, you can check what I said for yourself using the link provided above.
Cats were probably not pets in Biblical times. Jews considered cats unclean, and also believed that cats had no practical use.
I believe this is one of the reasons why the Bible says almost nothing about cats. The Bible has a lot to say about lambs, dogs, sheep, and even scorpions and snakes.
And cats are mentioned twice. One says that cats climb on pagan idols because they (the idols) were not recognized and were despised by the ancient Jews.
And in the second case it is said that animals will meet wild cats. Although it is debatable who we are talking about here. Some believe that this passage in the Bible speaks not about cats, but about jackals.
And if we assume that in these places in the Bible, cats are written negatively, then most likely for the reason that the cat was considered an unclean animal.
The Bible specifically does not have a negative attitude towards cats.
And there’s nothing like that anywhere. That’s what concerns pigs, yes. A pig is considered an unclean animal. Because Christ drove demons onto pigs. That’s why Jews don’t eat pork. Since it is considered in Israel an unclean animal
As for cats, this is nonsense. And from the realm of superstition.
There is nothing in the Bible about a negative attitude towards cats. And I’ll tell you more that on Easter I left the temple and saw. who do you think? A black cat tied to a temple. And believers came out and absolutely calmly approached this cat, stroked it and so on. Why? Because it is a sin to be superstitious. This is not a Christian thing. They should fear God, not cats. And if a real Christian, he should know about it.
Dislike for cats is more likely due to superstition rather than religion.
But as for dogs, the matter is more complicated. If a dog entered a temple, then this temple was considered desecrated. Note, it was a dog, not a cat. I don’t know how it is now, but it used to be like that
Just because you “know somewhere” that “there is something like this somewhere” does not mean that it exists. I can also write a lot of things, but this does not mean that what I write will be true. Judaism has a completely indifferent attitude towards cats (and the Bible is, after all, primarily Jewish literature). Yes, there is such a fluffy animal. And nothing more. As for “Do not make yourself an idol,” you apparently pulled the Egyptian cat goddess Bast by the ears. Only the Bible makes no mention of it. At all.
Best answers
Tell me, why is a cat never mentioned in the Bible? Sergey
Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers:
The lack of references in other books (primarily canonical) can be explained by the fact that the Holy Scriptures are not an encyclopedia of the life and everyday life of the ancient people of Palestine, but are a collection of inspired texts about the economy of our salvation. Its purpose is to teach us the ways of God. Various domestic animals are mentioned only in a certain biblical context: descriptions of sacrifices, regulations of the Mosaic Law, the most important biblical events, parables. Animals are often used metaphorically for comparisons and imagery. So, for example, the word “dog” is used to describe professional fornicators: “You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog into the house of the Lord your God by any vow, for both are an abomination to the Lord your God” (Deut. 23:18).
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever, amen” (Rom. 1:25). "
Andrew: Mentioned. Man descended from a cat. It’s just that the Bible has been confused and needs to be understood correctly.
Old Mammoth: It's a total bummer. Me too. Does not apply to wild ones.
Stinging Nettle: The cat is too freedom-loving...
Dan_Ch: oh, so there was a parrot and a hamster there? and a guinea pig...
Vitaly Adamenko: The cat is not the only pet. Cows, chickens, goats, horses, etc. Why mention all the animals in the Bible? The Bible was written for man, but animals do not read it. If they had read, there would be no scapegoat
Larisa Grishchenko (Serova): There is a verse: You and your whole house will be saved. Enough for cats, I love them
Larisa Sidorenko: Well, I won’t say anything about the cat, but there’s definitely nothing written there about Guinea tilapia. and about the capybara too. and also about the okapi, takin and the Madagascar bat (((
Robot Robot: Your avatar is cool!) pass! Joseph the Magnificent used cats to protect crops in barns from rats... later they were deified by the Egyptians.
ZLov: They also kept silent about hamsters
IS: in Egypt, cats were considered a deity)) cats are perhaps the most harmonious animals, and even living with us, they know how to maintain their independence. I love cats very much))
carlito: Well, if nothing was mentioned about a cat in the Bible, then it doesn’t exist and never existed!)))) I’m telling you the truth!)))))))) 0
Tatyana Borevich (Rusakova): Cats were not pets then. They lived in the temples of the Egyptians.
Dunyasha: Actually, that is.
Artem the Great: She lived at temples dedicated to the goddess of the Moon, fertility and childbirth, Baet, and celebrations were held in her honor with songs, music, and dances. There remains a huge number of cat figurines made of wood, clay, bone, and gold. In Egypt, she was a cult deity and served as a deity. That is why the cat was not included in the Bible, although the feline group is mentioned many times in the Bible. But not only the cat is not mentioned in the Bible, but also other animals. The Bible is not a textbook on Biology
Why is a cat never mentioned in the Bible?
Why is a cat never mentioned in the Bible?
Hieromonk Job (Gumerov)
The word "cat" appears only once in the Bible - in the non-canonical book "The Epistle of Jeremiah." The author speaks about the insignificance of idols: “Bats and swallows and other birds fly on their bodies and on their heads, and cats also climb on them” (Post. Jer. 1: 21).
The lack of references in other books (primarily canonical) can be explained by the fact that the Holy Scriptures are not an encyclopedia of the life and everyday life of the ancient people of Palestine, but are a collection of inspired texts about the economy of our salvation. Its purpose is to teach us the ways of God. Various domestic animals are mentioned only in a certain biblical context: descriptions of sacrifices, regulations of the Mosaic Law, the most important biblical events, parables. Animals are often used metaphorically for comparisons and imagery. So, for example, the word “dog” is used to describe professional fornicators: “You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog into the house of the Lord your God by any vow, for both are an abomination to the Lord your God” (Deut. 23:18).
LiveInternetLiveInternet
I wondered why an animal like a cat is not mentioned in the Bible? It turns out that there is still a mention of a cat in the Bible, but only one in the non-canonical book “The Epistle of Jeremiah”:
“Bats and swallows and other birds fly on their bodies and on their heads, and cats also climb on them” (Jer. 1:21).
But not another word about the cat.
The Orthodox portal Pravoslavie.ru explains this by saying that the Bible is not “an encyclopedia of the life and everyday life of the ancient people of Palestine, but is a collection of inspired texts about the economy of our salvation. Its purpose is to teach us the ways of God.”
The ways of God apparently mean genocide and slavish obedience...
Another possible reason for the absence of a cat, and at the same time the question of why it is not there, may be the veneration of cats in Ancient Egypt. Cats were almost deified there; there was severe punishment for killing or harming this sacred animal, and the illogical Jews, for whom icons and statues are not idols, believed that a cat is an idol, and it is impossible to worship idols. This is a great sin. A jealous god will become angry and destroy everyone... the golden calf was enough...
The Old Testament is to blame again
It is curious, but cats are never mentioned in the Bible, while dogs are mentioned quite often and always in a negative context. For example, in the Second Epistle, the Apostle Peter refers to a proverb that goes like this: “A dog returns to his vomit, but a washed pig goes back to wallow in the mud (2 Pet. 2:22)
The Apostle Paul compares apostate heretics to dogs and warns them to be wary.
Perhaps this attitude towards dogs is due to the fact that, according to Jewish tradition, the dog was the embodiment of despicable uncleanness. In general, we must admit that there are reasons for this: a dog is not a particularly clean animal, it can roll around in rotten meat and eat excrement, and besides, it is a rather noisy and fussy animal that distracts a person from thinking. In addition, superstitious people believe that it is the dog that is most often possessed by the devil.
Answers from experts
Anatoly Litvinenko: CAT (Post. Jeremiah v. 21) - the word appears only once in the Bible, precisely in the indicated quote. It denotes a well-known domestic animal, skilled in catching rats and mice, for which reason they are kept in houses and shops. Cats in ancient Egypt were once considered sacred. animals and that is why, when they died, they were subjected to the embalming process. In the above quotation, St. Jeremiah clearly depicts the insignificance of idols - these imaginary, pagan deities, since “bats and swallows and other birds fly on their bodies and on their heads, and cats also climb on them.
Only in one source did I find information that the cat is still mentioned in the Bible. But basically everywhere it is written that it is not there.
— Are cats mentioned in the Bible?
— The words “cat”, “cat” are not found even once in the Bible, but there is a place where some animal is described, which, generally speaking, could be a cat.
- Therefore, a cat cannot be called a biblical animal. What about the dog?
- You can have a dog. The dog appears often on the pages of the Bible.
— Could you explain why there is such discrimination against cats?
— One commentary on the book of Genesis tells the following story. When the Almighty punished Cain for fratricide with eternal wandering, he asked Him to somehow ensure his safety. And the Almighty gave Cain a dog for protection. Cain is the son of the first people: Adam and Eve. Thus, our tradition traces the domestication of the dog to the very beginning of human history, which, by the way, is quite consistent with the opinion of modern science.
As for the cat, its domestication happened much later - so it did not end up in the Bible. But in Talmudic times, cats were already partly domesticated; however, even then they were still quite wild. The Talmud talks about domestic cats that caught small snakes. Presumably, they were not as good hunters as mongooses, but, on the other hand, it is not very convenient to keep a mongoose in the house.
Nash: Cats are mentioned twice in the Bible - in the Book of Isaiah and the Epistle of Jeremiah, and in a very prosaic context. The prophet Isaiah in his book denounces the wicked and sinful inhabitants of Idumea and predicts the destruction and fall of this country: “And the beasts of the desert will meet with wild cats, and the goblin will call to each other; there the ghost of the night will rest and find peace” (Isaiah 34:14).
We are not surprised when our Orthodox Christian evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are sometimes symbolically depicted on icons as an angel, LION, BULL and EAGLE.
sava: sheep)) ) but not one
Alex DiS: it seems like a cat to me
VOLK: Read more carefully; more than one pet is mentioned there. Which one interests you?
Salaam Alaikum: you wanted to write The Unmentionable. But it is not the only one. Llama, alpaca. guinea pig….)))))))
Why is a cat never mentioned in the Bible?
Reading the Bible, you can see that the holy book never mentions such an animal as a cat. Moreover, in some places of Scripture you can find references to a dog, a scorpion and a snake. Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answered this question simply. He believes that Scripture is not intended to describe the life of peoples. If the Bible spoke about the life of the peoples of Palestine, about everyday life, then in this case one could find many examples of how ordinary Palestinians and representatives of the cat family coexisted.
The Bible is not a description of everyday life
The Bible is not a textbook or an encyclopedia of people's everyday life. It focuses on human actions, spiritual teachings, the path to God and salvation. Descriptions of home life, caring for animals or other household chores do not fit into the general theme and flavor of the holy book. It should enlighten and answer any reader’s important and vital questions.
The Bible talks about human vices and good deeds. If animals were mentioned in it, in most cases they played an important plot role. For example, Noah's Ark saved the lives of many wildlife species. In this case, it was important to mention who survived the flood.
Also, references to animals can occur in the Bible as a comparison of human character or behavior, a description of a sacrifice, a description of a parable or law, as well as in other stories. Cats are most often associated with home comfort and hearth.
The covenant is not to blame
However, a biblical scholar at St. Tikhon’s University, priest Alexander Prokopchuk, believes that the concept of “uncleanness” in this context does not apply to a dog, since the Holy Scriptures deal primarily with those animals that humans eat.
The book of Leviticus clearly states that the Jews are only allowed to eat herbivorous animals that chew the cud and have cloven hooves. That is, according to the Bible, both a cat and a dog are equally “unclean” animals.
Dog in the house according to Orthodoxy
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The Ancient Greeks loved and cared for dogs. They were considered family and best friends. But this was not the case everywhere and not always. Previously, in Orthodoxy, a dog was considered an unclean animal. In the Old Testament, out of 30 mentions of this animal, only 2 were not of a negative nature. The hatred of the Jews for their enemies, the Egyptians and Romans, may have transferred to the animals they bred, loved, and used in battle.
One complete materialism
It is known that as Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, the current Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill strongly defended dogs, saying that the Orthodox Church never called dogs “unclean”, and the ban on allowing dogs into churches was due to tradition and hygiene; and there is no canonical prohibition.
It’s just that, unlike dogs, which can be left in the mud, cats are clean animals and “do not create hygiene problems.”
In the most complete breviary of Peter the Mogila - a collection of rites used by priests during services, there is no rite for consecrating the temple after dogs or other animals.
Consequently, the main reason why dogs are not allowed into the temple is the dogs themselves, who can not only trample, but also lift their paws onto the candlestick, start barking, or, being frightened by the crowd, bite someone.
Why Orthodox Christians cannot keep a dog at home
Just recently I met an old friend of mine who had spent her entire life breeding certain breeds of dogs and selling puppies for very decent money. This is how the woman lived until she began going to church, helping at services, and became completely immersed in the life of the Orthodox Church.
The problems arose by chance, the priest found out that she lives in an apartment with a dog, and the dog literally sleeps on the bed with her. He urgently asked to give up the dog and consecrate the apartment.
This reaction at first confused my friend, but after receiving an explanation, she without hesitation got rid of the animal, giving it to her relatives, and continued serving in the temple with a clear conscience.
Cats are not pets
Cats are not an example of the oldest domestic animals, unlike cows, sheep, goats, camels and horses. Cats have always been considered mystical pets; they were considered assistants to evil spirits and evil forces. It was impossible to write about them in the holy book, because many believers could react negatively to this, considering these animals unclean.
Also an important indicator of the lack of mention of them in the Bible was the fact that cats were not useful for the owners of the house and everyday life. There was simply no point in writing about them. They did not provide milk, fur, meat or other goods necessary for life.
Even today, these pets serve to a large extent as home decoration; they can be petted and played with. This has nothing to do with religious topics and spiritual teachings.
What was a dog for Christians?
The Law of Moses says that this animal is unclean. There was nothing worse for a Jew than being compared to a dog. It was also forbidden to bring money from the sale of a dog to the Tabernacle. Mention in the Bible about a dog as a pet appeared quite late. And then, its main function was to protect the home.
In the Old Testament there was a certain list of animals that Jews were forbidden to eat. But over time, this list was abolished and revised in the New Testament. There is an opinion among Christians that a cat is a clean animal, but a dog is unclean.
Why is a dog an unclean animal in Orthodoxy?
This can be attributed to the fact that a dog, like other animals, is considered hierarchically lower in position than a person. This animal is subordinate to man and the soul of animals according to the Bible is not immortal. Many priests say that there is no need to call animals after people, much less God’s saints, who have holy calendars.
According to Orthodoxy, keeping a dog in the house was not allowed. Unlike the domestic cat, which catches mice, the dog was kept in the yard, as it had a guard or herding function. Moses tried to protect his people from the worship of animals, thereby creating idols for themselves.
Where do dogs go after death? Orthodoxy does not give a clear answer to this question. There is no indication in church scriptures about where animals end up or what exactly happens to them. It is only written that the souls of animals are mortal. Regarding this, the animal does not go anywhere after death, since it does not have a soul.
A cat is not a dog's friend
But why then are cats not only allowed into the temple and allowed to enter the altar, but priests and monks treat them with great love, allowing them to live in monasteries, and in some churches they even serve prayers for the calling of help to homeless animals, in which parishioners hold “ purr" in your arms?
In the old Vladimir and Suzdal monasteries, the gates even have special holes for cats.
Perhaps this happens because the monks believe that a cat, with its softness, noiselessness and lack of fuss, disposes a person to pray and induces the best, warmest feelings in him. But there are also historical justifications for such love for cats.
About the “devilish” mice and the “cat” monastery
One of the last Optina elders named Nektary, who died in 1928, told a legend according to which a cat saved Noah’s Ark during the Great Flood by gobbling up a mouse, which, at the instigation of the devil, was trying to gnaw a hole in the bottom.
There is a legend about Saint Helen Equal to the Apostles, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, whose ship once landed on the island of Cyprus, where the empress learned that the inhabitants of the island were suffering terribly from an invasion of snakes.
To help them, the Empress ordered a thousand cats to be brought to the island from Egypt, and soon the snakes were done away with, and Helen founded the St. Nicholas Monastery on the Akrotiri peninsula, in which the monks took care of many cats. This “cat” monastery existed until the 16th century, when part of Cyprus was captured by the Turks. Now the monastery is being revived, however, instead of a men's monastery, they made a women's monastery here, but cats still live in it.
There is also a completely everyday justification for the fact that cats are even allowed into the altar - they hunt mice and do not allow them to gnaw on prosphora and wax candles, that is, they bring specific benefits to the temple and thereby serve God. And on Holy Mount Athos they also perform their service - they catch snakes.
