A true Christian lives by the Church and for the Church. He is whole: for him there is no separation between personal and public life, and he always tries to act according to the commandments. There are certain rules for the life of a Christian:
Faith, “is a firm conviction of what we hope for, confirmation of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). The path to Christ and man’s ability to overcome his sinful essence arises from faith in Him. To have true faith is to see the Lord in your life as being more real than everything surrounding you. God grants faith to those who seek it and to those who are worthy of it.
Hope for heavenly salvation by the mercy of Christ, for His forgiveness and help.
Love. Especially for your neighbours. Marital love, parental, friendly and other – through self-denial for the sake of a loved one. “And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give my body to be burned, but I have no love, I receive no benefit” (1 Corinthians 13:3). But above all earthly love must be love of the Lord.
Virtue. “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). It is necessary to do good to any person. Treat others as you want them to treat you. “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Mark 4:24). Never repay evil for evil.
Constant prayer – congregated (church, communal) and personal prayers, along with the daily fulfilment of minimum allotted prayers, and the incessant mental appeal to the Lord in the language of one’s own mind, of one’s own heart.
Observance of fasts to tame the flesh, to submit it to its spirit.
Chastity, sobriety, striving for holiness, fear of sin and vice, avoiding them with all one’s might.
Constant study of the Holy Scriptures.
Preaching the True Faith to the unbelievers and heretics. Preaching through word, example, activity.
Regular communion with the Mysteries – the sacred rites uniting a person with Divine grace.
