A Son of the Church (1793) | English Translation

Сын церковный

Klintsy: press of Feodor Kartashev, catalogued as printed after 1793

Translated by Grok (xAI) for Piece of Humanity
Translator: Grok 4.6, built by xAI
Model: Grok 4.6
Work dated: 18–19 September 2026

This is a reading translation of the Church Slavonic in the scan on this site. It is not a critical edition, not a priest’s blessing, and not a substitute for the Slavonic page. For a printed English handbook, buy “A Son of the Church”, tr. Hieromonk German Ciuba, Church of the Nativity (Old Rite), Erie.

Slavonic source also online: https://kp.rusneb.ru/item/reader/syn-cerkovnyy-2

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Preface

Look at the preface of this book, and attend with understanding.

Abba Jerome said: If you make a book, do not decorate it; that is a passion.

Whoever wants to know what is in this book, and first, before the beginning and the chapters, hunts through the middle of it, turning leaves and numbers — such a one labors in vain.

When you take the book, first understand: look at its chapters and their numbers. You will see, as on a tablet, the good reading. Then to the very end it is set out plainly and clearly, whatever this book holds and contains.

If you do not seek, such searching for the truth becomes a wonder, and the cause of understanding is found.

So many want to know, and they walk, and there is no light. But as one who has no light walks in not-knowing as in the dark, so is writing that cannot be understood.

Every speech is a proverb: do not give wisdom away from yourself. And again the Lord said: Do not cast pearls before swine, but put them elsewhere; that is the meaning. And again David the king and prophet says: The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. There is much to write of this, but we have no room; and this is enough for the understanding of the rest.

Account of the chapters of this book

A. Account of a son of the Church, and how those who believe in Christ are to walk
B. That one is not brought by force into the water of baptism of the Orthodox faith
G. Of the time of baptism
D. Of the renunciation of Satan
E. Of the renunciation of heretics and their heresies
S. Of the showing of Satan’s evil and unseemly works
Z. Of forgetting former heresy, and what the renunciation of the evil heretics is
I. Of the promise to Christ in holy baptism
Th. Praise of those who have been baptized
I. Of drawing near to God
AI. Remembrance: what a good name was shown us, and the inheritance of every good
BI. Of wisdom
GI. Of the immortal soul
DI. Of the Orthodox faith
EI. Of the saints who were well-pleasing to God
SI. Of the eating of the saints
ZI. Of the clothing of the saints
II. Of the prayer of the saints
Thi. Of the prayer of every man who lives in the world
K. Why it was appointed to sing in church at such-and-such times
KA. Of Midnight Office and Matins
KB. Of the Hours
KG. Of the Liturgy and molebens
KD. Of the church
KE. Of the same church
KS. If something unclean enter the church, not by baptism or by some chance
KZ. Of other faiths
KI. Of God Himself and of His Church; likewise of washing and of bowing
KTh. Of the Christian church
L. Of coming to church
LA. Of the same
LB. Of entering the church
LG. Of standing in church
LD. Of bows
LE. Of bowing to the people
LS. Of bows to those in authority
LZ. Of going out into the church
LI. Of standing in the holy church
LTh. Of prayer to God
M. Of prayer to the Cross
MA. Of prayer to the Most Pure Mother of God
MB. Of prayer to John the Forerunner
MG. Of prayer to all the saints
MD. Of the prayer of the saints to God
ME. Of prayer when there is no icon
MS. Of standing in the holy church
MZ. Of the order of bows
MI. Of prostrations to the ground
MTh. Of asking forgiveness at Vespers in church and at the dismissal
N. Of the forgivenesses
NA. Of bows at the Liturgy
NB. Of standing before the icons
NG. Of miracles that come from the holy icons
ND. Of moleben singing
NE. Of hearing the Gospel
NS. How to venerate the Gospel
NZ. Of what is fitting at a moleben
NI. Of the censer
NTh. How to venerate the Cross
Xi. Of the beginning and end of the church rule
XiA. Of the priest and the spiritual father
XiB. Of the priestly rank
XiG. Of the loosing of sins
XiD. Of the priestly blessing
XiE. Of the cross with which we sign ourselves with our own hand
XiS. Of the confessed Cross
XiZ. How to make the full sign of the Cross
XiI. Why we bow
XiTh. Of the Cross which we wear openly on the breast
O. Of bringing an offering into the holy church
OA. That it be one’s own and not another’s
OB. To have nothing [improper] of the church
OG. Of a canon when it happens
OD. Of the rule
OE. Of the feasts of the Lord and of His saints
OS. Beginning of the words of the home rule
OZ. Of morning prayer in the house
OI. Of prayer at the table
OTh. How it is unseemly to sit at table and eat
P. Of prayer after the meal
PA. Of all drinking
PB. Of the evening meal
PG. Of prayer when going to sleep
PD. Of lying down on the bed
PE. Of sleep, of waking, and of prayer
PS. Of rising from sleep
PZ. Of fright and of doubts
PI. Of going into rooms
PTh. How to begin every work with a blessing
Ch. Of the naming of a servant
ChA. Of judging how one lives
ChB. Of compelling the mind
ChG. Of the deceit of one’s companions
ChD. Of Christianity
ChE. Of the fast and of fasting days
ChS. Of the Great Fast
ChZ. Of Peter’s Fast
ChI. Of the Dormition Fast
ChTh. Of the Nativity Fast of Christ, and of Wednesday and Friday
At the end of all these words a homily is set before him. Remember also what was first set before him.

The book

An account of certain customs of the holy Orthodox Christian faith, set forth in order, uncorrupted.

Chapter 1 (А). Account of a son of the Church, and how it is fitting for those who believe according to Christ

To the new servant among the children, a son of the Church: from which all are dedicated by holy baptism. And now you also have received holy baptism, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 2 (Б). That one does not go down into the water of baptism of the Orthodox faith by force

Remember this also: that no one compelled you by force, or by some terror. But you, having seen our Orthodox faith which is in Christ God, undefiled and pure, desired to be baptized, and to be with us Orthodox Christians.

Chapter 3 (Г). Of the time of baptism

This happened to you not in infancy, but in full youth; and not after many years of delay, but when you had come, little by little, to a man’s understanding.

Chapter 4 (Д). Of the renunciation of Satan

And for this reason you must always remember — it is needful — how, stretching out your hands, you renounced Satan, and all his angels, and all his works.

Chapter 5 (Е). Of the renunciation of heretics and their heresies

After that you renounced the evil heretics who have corrupted the Orthodox faith, whose names are: the accursed Formosus, and Peter the Stammerer, and Martin, and Luther, and the rest who followed them, their teaching and their works. You renounced them all.

Chapter 6 (Ѕ). Of the showing of Satan’s evil and unseemly works

Remember now, and do not forget, what the works of Satan are, which you renounced: pride and high-mindedness, slander, lying, false oaths, oath-breaking, heresy, sorcery, flattery, theft, robbery, fornication, and every wickedness and uncleanness, and the rest.

Chapter 7 (З). Of forgetting former heresy, and of the renunciation of the evil heretics

Those whom you denied at holy baptism — that you should not remember them, and not give ear to their teaching after the renunciation, and not turn your thought back to them, and always spit upon their heresy when forgetfulness comes. And when your former life comes to your mind — how you lived in error, and with what evil you defiled yourself, and the teaching of those heretics, Formosus and Peter and Martin — then set it on your mind that they are enemies of God and man-pleasers. For such is your renunciation of those heretics and their heresies.

Chapter 8 (И). Of the promise to Christ in holy baptism

Then you must remember how you stretched out your hand toward the east and promised yourself to Christ; and always to love Him, and to do His work, and always to hear His commandments and His charges. For the Lord God Himself, our Jesus Christ, has said to us in the Gospel how the saints were commanded to live, and how the holy fathers confirmed it by the seven Ecumenical Councils. So you promised to believe in Christ, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And you promised yourself to Christ. Now by holy baptism you have become a servant of God and a betrothed of Christ. Do not go far from this promise, and from the works of it, and God will draw near to you, and you will be a servant of God.

Chapter 9 (Ѳ). Praise of those who have been baptized

Attend to this: how truly you have done a good work, and have now set yourself in order, and have been enlightened by Christ our God. You have washed your body, and you have cleansed your soul; you have been delivered from the one who gave you birth; you have known Him who made you; you have fled darkness; you have received light; you have been parted from the devil; and you have drawn near to God.

Chapter 10 (І). Of drawing near to God

Attend carefully, and understand why you have drawn near to God: because you were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and you promised yourself to Christ. Now by holy baptism you have become a servant of God and a betrothed of Christ. Do not go far from this, as from the promise and from the works. And God will draw near to you, and you will be a servant of God.

Chapter 11 (АІ). Remembrance: what a good name was shown us, and the inheritance of every good

If you wish to be a servant of God, have Him always in your heart, and do righteousness in every work. Do not steal, do not lie, do not slander, and do no evil to any man, either in your house or in your master’s, or among all who are sent. Do not steal, and do no evil; and if you do no evil, you will turn to every good, and you will inherit all the good things of God.

Chapter 12 (ВІ). Of wisdom

If you wish to gain wisdom for yourself, and a good mind, and to adorn yourself with manners, learn the books, and read the words of God, and the teaching of His saints. By this you will see that the soul of a man is more honorable than all the riches of the whole world. Riches perish; but the soul is immortal.

Chapter 13 (ГІ). Of the immortal soul

If you see that your soul is immortal, then you will understand the true Orthodox faith. For the sake of it the prophets rejoice, the apostles are praised, the saints are adorned, the martyrs are crowned, and all the faithful are magnified.

Chapter 14 (ДІ). Of the Orthodox faith

There is no need now to tell you a long word of what the right faith is. It is this: men living on the earth, with the holy angels loving one another and assembling together, and with them glorifying God, and after the departing of their souls to God working great wonders, enlightening the blind, healing the lame, and making the sick well, and driving away every infirmity and disease.

Chapter 15 (ЕІ). Of the saints who were well-pleasing to God

Such were Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, Clement the pope of Rome, Peter of Alexandria, Nicholas of Myra in Lycia, Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria, Leo of Catania, Polycarp of Smyrna, Peter, Alexis, and Jonah of Moscow; and our venerable and God-bearing fathers Sergius of Radonezh, Cyril of Belozersk, Varlaam of Khutyn, and many such, whose number and names God alone knows.

Chapter 16 (ЅІ). Of the eating of the saints

Do not wonder at this, and do not think that this work is impossible for a man. The Mother of God gave birth, and they received no harm and no disease; because, if you consider their life, it is not as with us. What they ate was little: bread and water. Some ate rarely; some once in the week; some twice; some for a week; some for forty days tasted nothing; some took no bread, but only grass and roots.

Chapter 17 (ЗІ). Of the clothing of the saints

So also in clothing they were unconcerned. They endured nakedness and went barefoot, and the ringing frost, and the winter cold, and every walking on the earth in the dust, and in the mire.

Chapter 18 (ИІ). Of the prayer of the saints

So also their prayer to God was always and unceasing, day and night. They stood as a pillar, not bowing, or when they fell upon the earth — but little. Such is the faith and love of the saints toward God.

Chapter 19 (ѲІ). Of the prayer of every man who lives in the world

For us men living in the world, that labor cannot be borne. And for this cause the same holy fathers appointed for us, every day, the church rule; and the same also to be sung in the house, according as each man’s strength is able. They appointed and commanded us to pray. But without the church rule and without the fulfillment of the home rule, it is in no wise fitting for an Orthodox Christian to be, nor is it commanded.

Hear also what the church rules are: Vespers with Compline, and Midnight Office with Matins, and the Hours with the Liturgy.

Chapter 20 (К). Why it was appointed to sing in church at such-and-such times

Hear why the holy fathers appointed, at each time, which singing to sing in church: Vespers, or Compline, or Midnight Office, or Matins, or the Hours, or the Liturgy, or a moleben. For this cause attend.

Vespers is commanded to be sung, that we may give thanks to the Lord God, who from morning through the whole day has kept us in health, and has brought us also to evening.

Compline is sung — that is, a prayer to God — that He may grant us to rest without fear, and to fulfill the night prayers as the faithful.

Chapter 21 (КА). Of Midnight Office and Matins

Midnight Office is sung for this cause: that at midnight God will come to judge the living and the dead, that is, the righteous and the sinners, and to render to each according to his works.

Matins is commanded to be sung because in the morning, that is, early, Christ our God rose from the dead, and to all the faithful granted eternal life and joy.

Chapter 22 (КБ). Of the Hours

The First Hour is sung, that the Giver of light, who made the day, may be glorified, and who enlightened us with the daylight, at the command of His Mother.

The Third Hour is sung, because at that third hour the Lord sent His Holy Spirit from the Father upon His disciples and apostles, and then they began to speak in strange tongues.

The Sixth Hour is sung, because at that sixth hour our Lord Jesus Christ, in the flesh, was crucified for our sins; and because Adam was created, who by the serpent’s deceit was driven from paradise. For this cause our Lord Jesus Christ suffered at that hour, that He might deliver us from the death of sin.

The Ninth Hour is sung, because at that hour Christ gave up His spirit to the Father, and ended His bodily passion on the Cross before the thief, the first son; and for the sake of the dead He went down to the dwellings of Hades, and destroyed the kingdom of Hades, and on the third day rose, and with Himself raised all the faithful.

Chapter 23 (КГ). Of the Liturgy and molebens

The holy and divine Liturgy is celebrated — that is the great and unsearchable mystery. Then the priests serve with the angels unseen; then our Lord Jesus Christ, the undefiled Lamb, is slain as a sacrifice, and is given to the faithful for deliverance and the cleansing of sins. Much might be said of this, but in its own places it is written; for the present this is enough.

Molebens are sung whenever a man wishes, whether early or late; for there is no forbidden time. Because we pray to the King who is in heaven. Still more has been said of the church rule. Attend to this, and learn the good customs of the fathers, their good words and their blessed works. Hear good men, and not evil.

Chapter 24 (КД). Of the church

Attend also concerning the church of God itself, how it is to be understood, and how one is to come to it, and how one is to stand in it. Understand it as the earthly heaven, and the bride of Christ, and the house of God; for there God Himself is received, and all the faithful partake of Him, and from Him they receive the forgiveness of mother and of sins, and they receive those who are being enlightened by unwavering faith.

Chapter 25 (КЕ). Of the same church

Attend also to this that is needful. Do not hold the holy church as a simple room; because it is sprinkled with the blood of Christ, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. For this cause nothing unclean may enter it, that beasts and cattle may not remain in it, and that an unbaptized person may not enter.

Chapter 26 (КЅ). If something unclean enter the church

If at any time, by negligence or by some chance, it enter, then the priest cleanses it with prayer, and sprinkles it with holy water. And for this cause it is always received as clean.

Chapter 27 (КЗ). Of other faiths

There is the Latin faith, and the German faith, and the faith in which you yourself formerly believed. These faiths are not true and not right. They have been corrupted by evil men, unclean heretics.

Chapter 28 (КИ). Of God Himself and of His Church; likewise of washing and of bowing

For this I write to you. Attend concerning the Latin and German churches: they are not adorned, but they have stripped the church of God, both in their holy things and in Poland. They are not sanctified, nor completed, as the holy apostles and the godly fathers commanded. But evil heretics, as thieves, have robbed them and laid them bare, and have taken all her honor. They do not paint her; they do not set a cross upon her; they do not carry the holy icons into her; and so they do not adorn her. They do not assemble in her, nor read the divine words of the books, and so they do not teach themselves. They do not keep her honor, and they have made the simplicity of all the church order and adornment a thing of no account. There is no singing in them; they do not raise a path of the true stichera by the word; they do not bless with kondaks and ikons; they do not proclaim the vespers and matins and the hymn of the Cross; the holy priestly words never take place in them.

Chapter 29 (КѲ). Of the Christian church

But among us, in Orthodox Christianity, there is the holy and undefiled and apostolic Church, which is sanctified by divine and priestly words, and adorned and completed according to the tradition of the holy fathers, and filled with all good things. For this cause attend how you are to come to her, and how you are not to go into her, and how you are to stand in her and to pray.

Chapter 30 (Л). Of coming to church

Always attend to this. When you come to church, do not go in at once. Stand outside at the doors, and examine your conscience: whether any uncleanness has attached to you from a man, or a dream, or some unclean food, or if some thought has come upon you, and uncleanness is felt. Then do not go into the church, but stand.

Chapter 31 (ЛА). Of the same

As Adam stood before paradise and understood that the enemy had driven him out, so you also, if you hold anger, or have great wrath against anyone, do not go in until the enmity has ceased and been reconciled. If you have kept yourself from bodily uncleanness, and then some dream has come, do not go in at once. Bow in the church three times, looking toward the image of the Lord, and say at each bow:

“God, be merciful to me a sinner. God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me. Lord, who hast created me, have mercy on me. I have sinned without number; Lord, forgive me, the sinful one.”

Then turn to all four sides, and bow to the people standing there, and say:

“Forgive me, fathers and brethren.”

And so go into the church.

Chapter 32 (ЛБ). Of entering the church

When you go into the church, go with fear and trembling. Do not think yourself worthy of the church entrance, for you are a sinner. For you are entering the earthly heaven, where the holy stand, and you pray to your Creator and God. Think that you stand as upon a pillar, and think nothing earthly, but only sigh and pray for your sins.

Chapter 33 (ЛГ). Of standing in church

Stand in one place, quietly and meekly. Do not step in front of another, and do not push him, except for great need. And standing, make three bows, as the three that were first told you. And standing, say:

“God, be merciful.“

Chapter 34 (ЛД). Of bows

If it happen not to be a feast, nor Saturday, nor Sunday, then make prostrations to the ground. But if it is a feast, or Saturday, or Sunday, then bow to the waist, and having made the assembly, the same three bows as were first told you. And then say: “It is truly meet. And at that make a prostration to the ground, even if it is a feast, or Saturday, or Sunday. And then say also: Lord, have mercy, twelve times; and: Lord, bless. Likewise the three bows of the first custom.

Chapter 35 (ЛЕ). Of bowing to the people

Then bow to the four sides, around you, to the people standing, and say to them also as before:

“Forgive me, fathers and brethren.”

Bow to them not to the ground, but only at the waist.

Chapter 36 (ЛЅ). Of bows to those in authority

If it happen that those in authority are present, you also, always first, bow to the ground, saying:

“Forgive me, holy father, and bless me, and pray for me, the sinner.”

Say this only, and then stand in your place. Always do this beginning when you enter the holy church.

Chapter 37 (ЛЗ). Of going out into the church

When you have come into the holy church, it is as if you have put on a new garment; you have fled the flood of sin. Attend to yourself: stand and do not go out, unless you have spoken with those who stand on high.

Chapter 38 (ЛИ). Of standing in the holy church

Stand meekly, with all humility, and set your face toward the image of the Lord, and lift your mind to His first-imaged being, and pray in silence. Do not talk in church, and do not look about.

Chapter 39 (ЛѲ). Of prayer to God

Pray to no one else but the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God: have mercy on me, the sinner.

Chapter 40 (М). Of prayer to the life-giving Cross of the Lord

When you look upon the image of the life-giving Cross of the Lord, say this prayer:

“We bow down before Thy Cross, O Master, and we glorify Thy holy Resurrection.”

And so bow to the honorable Cross.

Chapter 41 (МА). Of prayer to the Most Pure Mother of God

When you look upon the image of the Most Pure Lady, likewise set your mind toward her first-imaged being, and not upon the board itself, and say this prayer:

“Most Holy Lady, Mother of God, save us. And pray to her Son, our true God, that He save and have mercy on me, the sinner.”

Chapter 42 (МБ). Of prayer to John the Forerunner

When you look upon the image of John the Forerunner, set your mind in the same way, and do not rest it on the board, and say this prayer:

“Holy great John, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to the Lord Christ our God, that He save and have mercy on me, the sinner.

Chapter 43 (МГ). Of prayer to all the saints

When you look upon the image of any saint — a prophet, or an apostle, or a martyr, or a hierarch, or a venerable father — and you see whose image it is, set your mind toward him, and pray to all the saints, saying:

“Holy prophet [Name], or holy apostle, or holy martyr, or holy hierarch, or venerable father [Name], pray to the Lord Christ, our true God, that He save and have mercy on me, the sinner.”

Chapter 44 (МД). Of the prayer of the saints to God

All the saints pray to God for us always. There is one God of all, who has mercy and saves. With the saints His mercy is always; and at their asking, the sinful are saved.

Chapter 45 (МЕ). Of prayer when there is no icon

Attend to this also. If you hold faith toward some saint, or when the memory of a saint comes to you, and it happens that you do not see his image, then call upon him in prayer to God and for help, naming his holy name. And so soon you will be glad and without pain, and you will prosper in all your ways. If you have firm faith, you will be heard; if your faith is not firm, you will sink in all things. So also the prayer of God is received, even without the asking of a saint, if you call upon God our Lord. And if you do not see her image, still pray to our Lord Jesus Christ always, without an icon, not only in church, but on the way, and on the bed, as was said before and written.

Chapter 46 (МЅ). Of standing in the holy church

When you have already stood in church in your place, do not go from place to place. There is no one driving you from the place of the house of God. Remember in what place you stand, and do not come to another except for great need, or for singing, or for the honor of some man. And after that, stand again in your own place. Do not shuffle foot from foot, and do not lean against the wall, and do not turn about. And if you see some man behaving without order, do not judge him, and do not rebuke him. And if you do not set yourself right, you will not be called. God seeks humility, not high-mindedness. In the weakening of the flesh do not give yourself to the conversations and talk of the world. Do not forget him. Only hear the singing and attend to the reading. And if some word come to you and you cannot understand it, then after the singing ask those who know.

Chapter 47 (МЗ). Of the order of bows

Attend to what was written you before: what the church is, and why you come to it, and how you are to stand in it. Now attend also concerning bows. There are three bows by name.

The first is called ordinary, that is, to the breast, or to the waist.
And then the bow called that which is at the waist.
And the great bow is to the ground.

When it is appointed to make prostrations to the ground, then do not make a noise with your head.

In winter, and on the church pavement, and in the house likewise, only bend the knees, and bow the head down to the waist, and do not knock it on the ground. Put your hands together from your heart, and lay them on the earth with piety, and do not spread your elbows. And when you bow or rise, do not stamp with your feet, and likewise set both knees together when you kneel and when you rise. And look, and turn from inexperienced people and from the eyes. Remember the bows, and bow well before, and of that I write you no more.

Chapter 48 (МИ). Of prostrations to the ground

Attend when there is a feast, or Saturday, or Sunday: then there should be no prostrations to the ground, except what is greater than at the waist, except at the dismissal, and at “It is truly meet…” That prostration to the ground is always made; and at Compline the last bow; and the rest at the waist.

Chapter 49 (МѲ). Of asking forgiveness at Vespers in church and at the dismissal

When forgiveness is said, the priest says:

“Christ our true God. Attend.”

In secret say “Amen.” After the Amen the priest makes a prostration to the ground to the people standing; you also likewise bow to the ground in forgiveness. And after that the priest says the commemoration. We have prayed. The blessing of the church; and the rest of the actions.

Chapter 50 (Н). Of the forgivenesses

This appointed forgiveness is needful for every Orthodox Christian, in the confession of his sins. Attend to this.

And the priest makes a commemoration, and three great bows before the church doors. Then you also bow three times to the ground, and at each bow, according to custom, as was told you before: “God, be merciful…” Then the priest says again:

“Bless, holy fathers and brethren, and forgive me, the sinner, for I have sinned in word and deed and thought, and in all my senses.”

And you answer him:

“God forgive you, honorable father.”

And then bow to the ground, and say before him:

“Forgive me, holy father. All to the end.”

He answers:

“God forgive you, and may God have mercy on us.”

Do the same at Midnight Office at the dismissal.

The third is after the Hours, at the Liturgy. The same custom from the priest in the holy church: the custom of forgiveness.

Chapter 51 (НА). Of bows at the Liturgy

When you stand to hear the Liturgy, of the beginning it was already told you. Now I will tell you how and where to bow. Make the beginning according to the custom already told you, and do not talk with anyone, as in the time of the Hours. This is our rule. Hear the holy singing.

When the priest comes out with the Gospel, you bow with prayer:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner.”

And when they sing “Glory to Thee, O Lord…” And at the reading of the Gospel you likewise bow. And when they have read the Gospel and begin to sing “Glory to Thee, O Lord,” you likewise bow. When after the Gospel the priest says the great litany, and they sing many times “Lord, have mercy…” then it is blessed to make a waist-bow at every litany: for the Tsar, and for the Tsaritsa, and for their children, and for the army, and for the founders, and for all the church people, and for all Orthodox Christianity. All those bows make at the waist. And when there is no feast, it is good that they be to the ground.

When the priest offers the Body and Blood of Christ, and speaks with a divine trembling, and the faithful receive, then bow. When the priest says: “Always, now and ever…” and upon the sacrificed Body and Blood of Christ — then bow. When they have received, and our people say, three bows, and all the bows of “It is truly meet…” always, without distinction, many bows even on a feast. And then they say “Glory…,” “and now…,” “Lord, have mercy; Lord, bless.” Then three bows, according to the former instruction, as I told you.

This book is incomplete as it is currently being translated. Stay tuned for more!

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A Son of the Church (1793) IN PROGRESS