Attending a temple and church services imposes certain rules of conduct on parishioners. But you need to be able to distinguish the church charter from simple superstitions and a false interpretation of Scripture.
When Temple Visit Is Not Allowed
For many people, visiting the temple is an opportunity for repentance, prayer, requests and strengthening of strength. But such grace, in turn, requires from a person the knowledge and observance of church canons and rules of conduct in the church. Orthodox traditions, established by our ancestors, are intended not to limit, but to streamline the actions of a parishioner in a church. This does not mean at all that other visitors to the church have the right to make harsh remarks to a person who is just beginning to church. Unfortunately, such cases are not rare. But you need to treat them as suppressing your own pride.
In order to avoid such situations, it is better to read special literature before the first trip to the temple, and turn to the priest with the most difficult and controversial issues. Because there are always many myths and misconceptions around church life, rituals and sacraments. For example, women and girls are very concerned about the question of whether it is possible to visit the temple during critical days. It is believed that a woman during this period is "unclean" and by her presence she will only desecrate the holy place.
Let's figure it out. For God there are no "unclean" people, he loves everyone in a fatherly way. And a person is more often "unclean" in soul than in body. And he came to the temple precisely for cleansing. All the stereotypes associated with the prohibition of visiting the temple for women during menstruation come from the Middle Ages. When it was still bad with hygiene and a drop of blood that fell on the floor could desecrate God's house.
Now, when everything is more than normal with personal hygiene, such a rule has become formal. A woman can go to church, but she cannot participate in church ordinances. Women and girls can confess, but they will not be admitted to Communion. It is impossible on such days to kiss icons, a cross, holy relics, get married and baptize children.
Exception to the rule
But if we are talking about an illness or a dying condition, then there is no time for rules and prejudices. A priest has the right to give the Holy Communion or to unleash such a woman.
According to church rules, a woman after giving birth does not have the right to visit the temple for 40 days. And after this period, the priest must read over her the permissive prayer "Prayers to the wife of the parent, for fourty days."
At the same time, one should not forget the gospel story when a woman suffering from bleeding touched the hem of Christ's robe and received healing. All people have the right to the mercy of God, regardless of their physical condition.
