| Article 1
- God |
| We believe in only
one God, who exists in Trinity, the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost, as Apostle St. Paul said in his epistle to
the Ephesians, Chapter 2, verse 20, "Built upon the
foundations of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
Himself being the chief |
corner stone." And Christ
said in Matthew, Chapter 28, verse 19, "Going therefore,
teach ye all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." |
| Article 2 - Prayer |
| Our praying
consists of our prayers to Christ in prophetic and
apostolic prayers, according to the order of God's son to
his disciples, as it is written in Matthew 6:9, "Thus
therefore shall you pray: Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name." Luke 11:2, "And he said to
them: When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come." Ephesians 6:18, "By all prayer and
supplication, praying at all times in the spirit ..." Luke
22:41, "...and kneeling down, he prayed." Apostle Paul,
Acts 21:5, "And we kneeled down on the shore, and we
prayed." |
Daniel
6:10 "...he knelt down three times a day, and adored
(prayed), and gave thanks before his God..." In John
4:23-24, our Saviour said to a woman from Samaria: "But
the hour cometh, and now is, when the true adorers
(worshipers) shall adore (worship) the Father in spirit
and in truth. For the Father also seeketh such to adore
[worship] him.
God is a spirit; and they that adore [worship] him, must
adore [worship] him
in spirit and in truth." In the epistle of Jude 1:20 is
written: "But you, my beloved, building yourselves upon
your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost." |
| Article 3
- Church |
|
As a church we consider a congregation of people according
to the testimony of Paul, the Apostle in his 2nd epistle,
to Corinthians 6:16, "...For you are the temple of the
living God. As God saith: I will dwell in them, and
walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people." (Also Leviticus 26:12.) In the Acts
17:24, "...He, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth
not in temples made with hands. Neither is he served
with men's hands..." On the same subject is testified in
the following: I Corinthians 14:26, "...When you come
together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine,
hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation.
Let all things be done to edification." In I Peter 2-5,
"Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house,
a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." |
In Ephesians
3:10, "That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known
to the principalities and powers in heavenly places
through the church." Ephesians 5:27, "That he might
present it to himself
a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such
thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." In
Acts 20:7 and 11, "...Paul discoursed with them, being to
depart on the morrow; and he continued his speech until
midnight ... and having talked a long time to them, until
daylight, so he departed." From St John in the Apocalypse
(Revelations) 19:5, "And a voice came out from the throne
saying: "give praise to our God, all ye his servants;
and you that fear him, little [small] and great." In
Hebrews 9:24, "For Jesus is not entered into the holies
[holy places] made with hands..." Isaias [Isaiah] 66:1,
"Thus saith the Lord: Heaven is my throne,
and the earth my
footstool; what is this house that you will build to me, and what
is this place of my rest?" |
| Article 4
- Placing a Sign of the Cross |
|
We do not place upon ourselves a visible sign of the
cross, but we are indicating ourselves as promised by the
Holy Ghost according to the testimony of the Holy
Scripture, Wisdom 16:6, "...having a sign of salvation to
put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law. For
he that turned to it was not heated by that which he saw,
but by thee, the Savior of all," Isaiah 66:19, |
"And I will set a sign
among them, and I will send of them that shall be
saved..." Acts 11:28, "And on of them named Agabus, rising
up, signified by the Spirit..." Matthew 28:19, "Going
therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost." To the Ephesians 4:30, "And grieve not the Holy
Spirit of God: whereby you are sealed unto the day of
redemption." |
| Article 5
- Images of Saints |
|
The ikons [icons], the images of saints, made by human
hands, we do not worship, according to the Holy Scripture.
4 Kings 17:41, "So these nations feared the Lord, but
nevertheless served also their idols..." Psalm 113:4-5,
"The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works
of the hands of men. They have mouths and speak not; they
have eyes and see not..." Psalm 134:15, "The idols of the
Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of men's hands."
Wisdom 13:10, "...who have called gods the works of the
hands of men, gold and silver..." In the same book of
Wisdom 14:8-9, "But the idol that is made by hands, is
cursed, as well it, as he that made it; he because he made
it; and it because being frail it is called a god. But to
God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike." See
Isaias [Isaiah] 44:12-18, Jeremiah 2:27, "Saying to a
stock: Thou art my father..." Apocalypse [(Revelation)]
9-20, "...that they should not adore [worship] devils and
idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and
wood..." |
Wisdom 14:27, "For the worship of abominable idols is the
cause, ..." Apostle Paul has said to the Romans 1:22-23,
"For professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into
the likeness of the image of a corruptible man..."
According to the testimony of the Apostle Paul, Colossians
1:15, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of every creature." Romans 8-29, "For whom he foreknew,
he also
predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son;..."
I Peter 2:21, "For unto this are you called: because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that
you should follow his steps." Epistle of James 5:10,
"Take, my brethren, for an example of suffering evil, of
labor and patience..." To the Philippians 3:17, "Be ye
followers of me, brethren, and observe them who walk so as
you have our model." I Timothy 4:12, "...but be thou an
example of the faithful in word, in conduct, in charity,
in faith, in chastity." Titus 2:7-8, "In all things show
thyself an example of good words, in doctrine, in
integrity, in gravity. The sound word that can not be
blamed: that he, who is on the contrary part, may be
afraid..." See Hebrews 1:3, II Thessalonians 3:9, "...but
that we might give ourselves a pattern unto you, to
imitate us." |
| Article 6
- Bishops and Priests |
|
We have only one Priest and Bishop, who sits on the right
side of God, i.e., the Son of God, the Head of the Church
(Ephesians 5:23). Ephesians 1:20-22, "Which he wrought in
Christ, raising him
up from the dead, and setting him on his right
hand in the heavenly places, above all principality, and
power, and virtue, and dominion ... and he hath
subjected all things under his feet, and hath made him head over
all the church." Psalm 2:7, "The Lord hath said to me:
Thou art my son,
this day have I begotten thee." Psalm 109:4, "...Thou art
a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech
[Melchizedek]." Hebrews 5:10, "Called by God a high priest
according to the order of Melchisedech [Melchizedek]."
This one we call bishop and priest according to the word
of the Holy Scripture, Hebrews 4:14-15, "Having therefore
a great high priest that hath passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For
we have not a high priest, who can not have compassion on
our infirmities, but one tempted in all things like as we
are, without sin." |
Hebrews 7:26, "For it was fitting that we should have such
a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from
sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not
daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices..." In
the same book 8:1, "... We have such a high priest, who is
set on the right hand of the throne of majesty in the
heavens." The Apostles have imitated the Christ and have
been purified by the Holy Ghost. Acts 20:28, "Take heed to
yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost
hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which
he hath
purchased with his
own blood," Ephesians 4:11, "And he gave some
to be apostles, and some prophets, some evangelists, some
pastors and teachers, which in our religion appear in the
image of man or old men according to the word of scripture
by Jesus, the son of Sirach in Ecclesiasticus
[Ecclesiastes] 37:15. "But be continually with a holy man,
whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God."
Jeremiah 5:1, "...if you can find a man that executeth
judgment, and seeketh faith..." In Chapter 9, verse 12,
"Who is the wise man, that my understand this, and to whom
the word of the mouth of the Lord may come..." I Timothy
2:8, "I will therefore that men pray in every place..." I
Peter 5:1-2, "The ancients therefore that are among you
... Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care
of it, not by constraint, but willingly..." |
| Article 7
- Using the Ornates |
|
We have no ornates, because the Apostles had no special
dress for divine services and Jesus Christ himself did not
create such vestments. As the holy Apostles have wandered
in plain clothes, so we are also praying in our regular
garments. Concerning the use of ornates we take it for
granted to be always clothed for salvation and always be
dressed with truth according to Ephesians 6:19, "Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and
having on the breastplate of justice." Ecclesiastes 9:8,
"At all times let thy garments be white, |
and let not oil depart
from thy head." Isaiah 69:17, "...he put on the garments
of vengeance, and was clad with zeal as with a cloak." And
in 61:10, "...my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath
clothed me with the garments of salvation, and with the
robe of justice..." Revelations 3:4-5, "...which have not
defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in
white, because they are worthy. He that shall overcome,
shall thus be clothed in white garments, and I will not
blot out his name out of the book of life, and I will
confess his name before my Father..." |
| Article 8
- Sacrificial Offerings |
|
We offer a sacrifice in every place a sacrifice of praise
as the fruit of our lips according to the testimony of the
prophet, Malachias [Malachi] 1:11, "...and in every place
there is sacrifice, and there is offered in my name a
clean offering..." Hebrews 13:15-1 6, "By him therefore
let us offer the sacrifice of praise always to God, that
is to say, the fruit of lips confessing to his name. And
do not forget beneficence and neighborliness, for by such
sacrifices God's favor is obtained." David in Psalm 5:17
says: "A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit, a
contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
Psalm 40:6, "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not
desire..." Psalm 60:14, "Offer to God the sacrifice of
praise, and pay thy vows to the most High." |
Of the same is said in the book of Prophet Daniel,
3:38-39, "Neither is there at this time prince, or leader
or prophet, or holocaust, or sacrifice, or offering, or
incense, or place of first-fruits before thee. That we may
find thy mercy: nevertheless in a contrite heart and
humble spirit let us be accepted." Prophet Isaiah 56:7,
"...their holocausts, and their sacrifices shall please me
upon my altar; for my house shall be called the house of
prayer..." In 66:20 the Lord says: "...as if the children
of Israel should bring an offering in a clean vessel into
the house of the Lord." Ephesians 5:2, "... as Christ also
hath loved us, and hath delivered himself for
us, and offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of
sweetness." Hebrews 9:26, "...but now once at the end of
ages, he
hath appeared for the destruction of sin, by the sacrifice
of himself."
Such sacrifices we also imitate. |
| Article 9
- The Throne |
|
The Throne testifies a prudent man according to Lord's
word as it is said in the books of Prophet Isaiah 16:5,
"And a throne shall be prepared in mercy, and one shall
sit upon it in truth..." Proverbs 12:23, "A cautious man
concealeth knowledge..." Read Jeremias [Jeremiah] 14:21. |
Ezechiel [Ezekiel] 43:7, "Said to me: Son of man, the
place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet,
where I dwell in the midst of the children of Israel
forever..." Zecharias [Zechariah] 6:13, "... and shall
sit, and rule upon his throne..." Proverbs 26:5, "...and
His throne shall be established with justice." Jeremias
[Jeremiah] 3:17, "At that time Jerusalem shall be called
the throne of the Lord..." The Apocalypse 21:3, "...
Behold the tabernacle of God with men, and he will dwell
with them. And they shall be his people: and God himself
with them shall be their God." |
| Article 10
- Censer and Incense |
|
Incense and Censer we regard in prayer according to the word of the
Scripture, Psalms 14.2, "Let my prayer be directed as
incense in thy sight..." Ephesians 5:2, "... and a
sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness." The Apocalypse
8:3, "... and there was given to him much incense, that he
should offer of the prayers of all saints |
upon the golden altar,
which is before the throne of God." II Corinthians
2:14-15, "Now thanks be to God, who always maketh us to
triumph in Christ Jesus, and manifesteth the odor of his
knowledge by us in every place. For we are the good odour of Christ
unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that
perish." |
| Article 11
- Vessels |
|
We consider as vessels on Divine Services the lips of the
reasonables according to the word of the
Scripture. Proverbs 20:15, "There is gold, and a multitude
of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious
vessel." Psalms 71:22, "For I will also confess (praise)
to thee thy truth with the instruments of psaltery..."
Isaias [Isaiah] 52:11, |
"... be ye clean, you
that carry the vessels of the Lord." Acts 9:15, "And the
Lord said to him: Go thy way, for this man is to me a
vessel of chosen to can my name before the Gentiles..." I
Corinthians 10:16, "The chalice of benediction, which we
bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?" |
| Article 12
- The Baptism |
|
With regard the baptism as a repentance and remission of
sins according to the testimony of the Holy Scripture Mark
1:4, "John was in the desert baptizing and preaching the
baptism of penance, unto remission of sins." And in 16:16,
"He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be condemned." Acts 13:23-24,
"...hath raised up to Israel a Saviour, Jesus. John first
preaching before his coming, the baptism of
penance..." |
Acts 22:16, "...Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away
thy sins, invoking his name." Romans 6:3, "Know you not
that all we, who are baptized in Christ Jesus, are
baptized into his
death?" I Corinthians 1:17, "For Christ sent me not to
baptize, but to preach the gospel..." Verse 18, "For the word of the
cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness: but to
them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of
God." Hebrews 6:2, "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and
laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead,
and of eternal judgment." Acts 1:5, "For John indeed
baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the
Holy Ghost, not many days hence." Luke 3:16, "John
answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with
water; but there shall come one mightier than I, the
latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose; He shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." |
| Article 13
- Naming of an Infant |
|
By giving names to infants we are acting in compliance
with God's word.
Luke 1:59, "... on the eight day they came to circumcise
the child, and they called by his father's name Zachary.
And his mother answering said: Not so, but he shall be
called John." Exodus 2:22, "...whom he called Eliezer..." |
So we also act regardless of what date the infant is born,
his father and mother and relatives give the name to the
newborn infant. |
| Article 14
- Anointment |
|
The anointment testifies the oil of joy, according to
God's word.
Psalms 45:9, "...therefore God, thy God, hath anointed
thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." Habakkuk
3.13, "Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people;
for salvation with thy Christ (thine anointed)..." Acts
4:27, "For of a truth there assembled together in this
city against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast
anointed..." |
And in 10:38, "Jesus of
Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost, and with
power..." I St.
John 2:20, "But you have the unction from the Holy One..."
II Corinthians 1:21-22, "...and that hath anointed us, is
God; Who also hath sealed us, and given the pledge of the
Spirit in our hearts." |
| Article 15
- The Holy Communion[s] |
|
We regard the Holy Communion as a divine and blessed
Sacrament according to the word of the Holy Scripture. Psalm
119:63, "I am a partaker [friend] with all them that fear
thee, and that keep thy commandments." Hebrews 6:4,
"...have tasted also the heavenly gift, and were made
partakers of the Holy Ghost, have moreover tasted the good
word of
God." Chapter 3, verse 1, "Wherefore, holy brethren,
partakers of the heavenly vocation..." Verse 14, "For we
are made partakers of Christ..." 12:10, "...that we might
receive his
sanctification." Deuteronomy 8:3, "...not in bread alone
doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the
mouth of God." Proverbs 12:14, "By the fruit of his own
mouth shall a man be filled with good things..." |
Wisdom 16:26, "...not the
growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but Thy word
preserveth them that believe in Thee." Ecclesiasticus
[Ecclesiastes] 15:3, "With the bread of life and
understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water
of wholesome wisdom to drink..." John 6:27, "Labour not for
the food which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto
life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you..."
Verse 64, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh
profiteth nothing..." Psalm 34:8, "O taste, and see that
the Lord is sweet..." Psalm 118:50 [119:50], "...because thy word hath
enlivened me." I Corinthians 10:17, "For we, being many,
are one, one body, for we all that partake of one loaf."
Verse 30, "If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I evil
spoken of for that which is give thanks?" |
| Article 16
- Repentance |
|
As a repentance we testify the baptism to redeem our sins,
according to the testimony of the Holy Scripture, Psalm
110:1 [111:1], "I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole
hears; in the council of the just, and in the
congregation." Psalm 118:62 [119:62], "I rose at midnight
to give praise to thee; for the judgments of Thy
justifications" |
I John 2:1, "...But
if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ, the just; and he is the propitiation for our
sins..." Hebrews 3:1, "... consider the apostle and high
priest of our confession, Jesus." James 5:16 "Confess
therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for
another, that you may be saved..." |
| Article 17
- Marriage |
|
In matrimonial covenant we betroth in truth, grace,
kindness and faith. God Himself hath said to man and wife,
Genesis 1.28, "...Increase and multiply, and fill the
earth..." Genesis 2:24, "Wherefore a man shall leave
father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they
shall be two in one flesh." Read Matthew 19:3-9. Ephesians
5:22 and Verse 24, "Let women be subject to their
husbands, as to the Lord... Therefore as the church is
subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their
husbands in all things." Verse 25, "Husbands, love your
wives, as Christ also loved the church..." |
We betroth according to the book of Tobias Chapter
7:10-15, "I will not eat nor drink here this day, unless
thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give me
Sara, thy daughter ... that this maid might be married to
one of her own kindred, according to the law of Moses ...
And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into
the right hand of Tobias...." Paul the Apostle in I
Corinthians 7:27, "Art thou bound to a Wife? Seek not to
be loosed..."
To the alliance in marriage
the groom and the bride present themselves in the
assembly of people and betroth themselves in faith, in
truth, in benevolence and in grace forever, and between
them is concluded the promise not to separate, but get
old together. This is performed in the presence of
fathers and mothers and witnesses. Then they perceive
each other as man and wife.
|
| Article 18
- Crowns |
|
We consider the crowns as a resistance to lust, and crown
our life to preserve the truth and hope to obtain the
crown, life, joy, hope, the diversity of sacrifices
according to the Scripture. Ecclesiastes 1:11, where the
crowns are called "crown of joy." In Verse 22, "crown of
wisdom." |
In 25:8, "Much experience
is the crown of old men,..." Isaias [Isaiah] 28:5, "...the
Lord of hosts shall be a crown of glory, and a garland of
joy to the residue of his people [all who long for his
appearing]." II Timothy 4:8, "...there is laid up for me a
crown of justice..." Apocalypse 2:10, "...and I will give
thee the crown of life." |
Article 19
- Affusion and Purification
Cleansing (Changed about 2000 by Los
Angeles Dukh-i-zhizniki) |
|
Under Affusion [Cleansing] and Purification we understand
not the material ones, but we endeavor to clean ourselves
from every blot of body and spirit. Through the
Purification of heart from cunning conscience, as it is
said in the Scripture: Hebrews 10:22, "Let us draw near
with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience..." II Corinthians 7:1,
"...let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the
flesh and of the spirit, perfecting sanctification in the
fear of God." Isaias [Isaiah] 45:8, "Drop down dew, ye
heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just; let
the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior; and let
justice spring up together..." |
Isaias [Isaiah] 4:4,
"...Lord shall wash away the filth of the daughters of
Sion [Zion], and shall wash away the blood of Jerusalem
out of the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and
by the spirit of burning." Jeremias [Jeremiah] 4:14,
"Wash thy heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem, that thou
mayst be saved..." 6:16, "...and see, and ask for the old
paths, which is the good way, and walk ye in it; and you
shall find refreshment for your souls..." I Corinthians
6:11, "...but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but
you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the Spirit of our God." Ephesians 5:26, "That he might
sanctity it, cleansing it by the washing of water in the word of
life." |
| Article 20
- Fasting |
|
We keep the Fast according to the example of Jesus Christ,
the Prophets and the Apostles. Prophet Daniel 10:2-3, "In
those days I Daniel mourned for three weeks. I ate no
desirable bread, and neither flesh, nor wine entered into
my mouth, neither was I anointed with ointment, till the
days of three weeks were accomplished." In the 3 [3rd]
Book of Esdras is said, that Esdras has kept on fasting
for seven days. David has also been fasting, as we can see
in Psalm 109:24 where he says: "My knees are weakened
through fasting; and my flesh is changed for oil (faileth
of fatness) [body is thin and gaunt]."
The Prophet Joel 2:12, "Now
therefore saith The Lord, be converted to me with all
your heart, in fasting..." Zechadah 8:19, "Thus saith
The Lord of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the
fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the
fast of the tenth..." Such Fasts we also approve and
submit ourselves to Fast, according to our possibility
[strength], for four and five days, and even a week, we
do not take bread and water, but the blessed food, we
eat any time according to the testimony of the Holy
Scripture: Leviticus 11:3, "Whatsoever hath the hoof
divided, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, you shall
eat."
|
I Timothy 4:3-5, "...to
abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received
with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by them that have
known the truth. For every creature of God is good, and
nothing to be rejected that is received with thanksgiving;
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."
We do not observe any other
Fasts, and Fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays we do not
accept at all. We honor more Spiritual Fasts according
to the words of Scripture: Isaias [Isaiah] 58:3-9, "Why
have we fasted, and thou hast not regarded: have we
humbled our souls, and thou hast not taken notice?
Behold in the day of your fast your own will is found,
and you exact of all your debtors ... Is not this rather
the fast that I have chosen? Loose the bands of
wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that
are broken go free and break asunder every burden. Deal
thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the
harbourless into [the shelter of] thy house; when thou
shalt see one naked, cover him, ...and thy justice shall
go before thy face, and the glory of the Lord shall
gather thee up."
|
| Article 21
- Funerals of the Dead |
|
Over the deceased, after the departure of the soul from
the body, we have vigil in prayers and the singing of
Psalms of King David and on burial we accompany the body
of the dead, weeping and singing of psalms to the very
grave, after the word of the Scripture: Psalms 145
[146], "Praise the Lord, O my soul, in my life I will
praise the Lord: I will sing to my God as long as I shall
be." Psalms 23:1 [24:1], "The earth is the Lord's and the
fullness thereof: the world, |
and all they that dwell
therein." Psalm 83:4 [84:3], "My soul longeth and fainteth
for the courts of the Lord..." Acts 8:2, "And devout men
took order for Stephen's funeral [buried Stephen], and
made great mourning over him." Ecclesiasticus
[Ecclesiastes] 38:16, "My son, shed tears over the
dead..." "Verse 17, "...Weep bitterly ... and make
mourning for him according to her merit..." Verse 24,
"When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and
comfort him in the departing of his spirit." |
| Article 22
- Resurrection of the Dead |
|
We believe in life beyond the grave and after the death we
hope to resurrect in another body according to the
testimony of the Scripture: II Corinthians 5:l, "For we
know, if our earthly house of this habitation be
dissolved, that we have a building of God, a house not
made with hands, eternal in heaven." I Corinthians
15:50-52, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God: neither shall
corruption possess (inherit) incorruption. Behold, I tell
you a mystery. We shall indeed rise again [not all sleep
but we shall all be changed] ... In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall rise again incorruptible:
and we shall be changed." Zecharias [Zechariah] 14:12,
"...the flesh of every one shall consume away while they
stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away
in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in
their mouth." |
Mark 12:26, Jesus said:
"And as concerning the dead that they rise again, have you
not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke
to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham, and the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God
of the dead, but of the living,.." John 5:28-30, "...for
the hour cometh, wherein all that are in the graves shall
hear the voice of the Son of God. And they that have one
good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of
life; but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection
of judgment." The Apocalypse 20:12, "And I saw the dead,
great and small, standing in the presence of the
throne..." 21:1, "And I saw a new heaven and a new
earth..." 3d and 4th Verse, "...Behold the tabernacle of
God with men, and He will dwell with them...And God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no
more..." |
| Article 23
- Commemoration of the Dead |
|
We perform memorials for the dead and pray that their sins
will be forgiven, an example of what we see in God's word. Judah
Machabee has offered a sacrifice for the dead. 2 Book
Machabee 12:43, "...he sent twelve thousand |
drachmas of silver to
Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins..."
(Read also verse 44.) Baruch 3:4-5, "O Lord Almighty, the
God of Israel ... Remember not the iniquities of our
fathers, but think upon thy hand, and upon thy name at
this time." |
| Article 24
- Seventh Day |
|
The Seventh Day we honor according to the testimony of the
Scripture: Leviticus 23:3, "...the seventh day, because it
is the rest of the sabath [a Sabbath of rest and], shall
be called holy. You shall do no work on that day..."
Sophonias [Zephaniah] 3:8, "Wherefore expect me, saith the Lord, in
the day of my
resurrection that is to come..." Mark 16:9, "But he rising
early the first day of the week..." |
This day we devote to prayers and good deeds, according to
the word
of the Scripture. Colossians 3:16, "...teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual
canticles [words]..." (Read also Ephesians 5:19.) James
1:22, "But be ye doers of the word and not hearers
only..." |
| Article 25
- Kings and Authorities |
|
We honor the kings and authorities according to the
testimony of God's word. Proverbs 8:15-16, "By me kings
reign, and lawgivers decree just things, by me princes
rule, and the mighty decree justice." Romans 13:1-2, "Let
every soul be subject to higher powers; for there is no
power but from God, and those that are, are ordained of
God. |
Therefore he that
resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God..." I
Peter 2:17, "Honour
all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."
I Timothy 2:1-2, "I desire therefore, first of all, that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings
be made for all men: For kings, and for all that are in
high stations (authority)..." |
| Article 26 - Do Not Judge (Added about 2000 by Dukh-i-zhizniki) |
| The prophets of old
depict Christ as the ultimate judge, Psalms 89:14, 97-2,
Isaiah 11:1-5, of God's law. Christ pronounced
devastating judgements against false leaders, John 7:24.
Yet He refused to become a judge in matters affecting
man's material possessions, Luke 12:13-14. Jesus clearly
states that we are not to judge. |
To pass judgement implies a sense of moral
superiority that we simply do not possess. What we are
not to do in judging is to criticize others while
passing over our own faults. James 4:11-12. Hence, we as
Christian Molokans,* cannot serve on a
jury.
* The only place "Molokan"
appears, but these are Dukh-i-zhiznik Dogma
|
| Article 27
- Oath |
|
We understand the Oath by testimony of Matthew 5:34-37,
where is said, "But I say to you not to swear at all,
neither by heaven
... nor by the earth ... neither shalt thou swear by thy
head ... |
but let your speech be
yea, yea; no, no; and that which is over and above these,
is of evil." The Apostle James in his Epistle 5:12, says,
"... But let your speech be yea; yea, no, no;..."
For this reason we always
preserve faithfulness. |
Article 28
- Our Sect Faith (Changed about 2003 by Los
Angeles Dukh-i-zhizniki) |
|
In our sect [Faith] exists the confirmation [affirmation]
to all multitude of people, that lewdness, adultery,
drunkenness, murder, robbery and all other sinful deeds,
we destroy [reject] and who of our fellow-believers does
not obey, is ousted from our congregation according to the
testimony of Apostle Paul I Epistle, Corinthians 5:11,
"But now I have written to you, not to keep company, if
any man that is named brother, be a fornicator, or
covetous, or a server of idols, or a railer, or a
drunkard, or an extortioner: with such a one, do not so
much as to eat." This is always corroborated in our
congregation, that the duty of christianity
is not to nurse any evil feelings against your next one
[one another]. We are endeavoring [endeavor] to eliminate
all quarrel[s] and discord from the congregation and
reconciliate with one another before sunset, because the
malice of a man is an old and deep rooted wrath. |
And if a man not reconciles [does not reconcile] soon with
his malice [brother], so it is converted into a sin,
according to the testimony of the Holy Scripture, where it
is said in Ephesians 4:26-27, "...Let not the sun go down
upon your anger. Give not place to the devil." He who
keeps malice and wrath against his next one [brother], so
the devil (i.e. the spirit of malice) has conquered and
leads him as his prisoner. The malice is born by [of] the
envy, as Cain for envy's sake has killed his brother Abel.
We are endeavoring with all our power not to admit such
things in our sect [Faith]. And to begin before praying
our principal (the Presbyter) reminds the congregation, as
it is written: Matthew 5:23-24, "If therefore thou [you]
offer thy [your] gift at the after, and there thou
remember that thy [your] brother hath something against
thee [you], leave there thy [your] offering before the
altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy [your]
brother, and then coming [come and] thou shalt offer thy
[your] gift. |
Article 29 - Thou Shalt Not Kill
(Added
about 2003 by Los Angeles Dukh-i-zhizniki)
|
| The Sixth Commandment, Exodus 20:13, is one of
the cornerstones of our Faith. In the Book of Genesis it
is said: Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood
will be shed: For in the image of God He made man.
Genesis 9:6. |
For this reason every murder, which ever one
it might be, and however it may have occurred is a sin
against The Lord God. No murderer has eternal life, I
John 3:15. Also, Jesus said, "All that draw the sword,
shall die by the sword." Matthew 26:52. |
