Blessed is one of the forms of the Old Slavonic word "blessedness" and the church term "blessed"

The word "blessed" is a term that is used primarily to reflect the state in which a person is. Blessed , the pope declares after the death of the so-called "God-pleasing" people. The tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church is to regard as blessed certain saints and fools. The origin of the word is due to the Old Slavonic language, and the use is connected with the religious and moral sphere.

Blessed - happy or crazy?

Studying the meaning of the words "blessed", "blissfully," "blessed" is an exciting digression into the history of Christianity, Orthodoxy, the study of the traditions of Russian culture. The point is that from the point of view of the semantic structure the term is very multivalued, and its use requires a thoughtful attitude.

The word "blessed" has been subjected to semantic changes over the entire lengthy history of the Old Slavonic and Russian languages. In antiquity, the verb "blahiti" had the meaning of "praising". In modern language, one of the meanings of the word "blessed" is a description of a person's state when he is happy, happy. Often, "blessed" is called thoughtless stubbornness, insanity, foolishness, nonsense. "Blazhnoy" is used in the sense of "stupid", "crazy", "bad".

The religious interpretation of the ancient Christian term in Catholicism and Orthodoxy is somewhat different, but there is also a general significance. "Blessed" refers to the pacified righteous who resist temptation, behaving insanely from the point of view of the townsfolk. For this "Christ's sake" the holy fool was Vasily - the Moscow Wonderworker. Over time, next to the name of the saint appeared rank - Blessed, and the temple dedicated to him became one of the main symbols of Moscow.

If a person is blessed, what does this mean?

Orthodox in their prayers call "blessed" the deceased Russian tsars, the higher clergy. This title also refers to a number of patriarchs and archbishops. In ancient times the significance of this rank was somewhat different, blessed considered the saints secretly pleased God, and their holiness is confirmed by other people.

Considered by contemporaries of the mad Xenia Petersburg - Blessed. This is what tradition: early or late Christian? Where did she come from?

Foolishness is a tradition since the biblical Old Testament

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah walked barefoot, did not cover nudity for 3 years. His provocative, from the point of view of the inhabitants, behavior of Isaiah sought to draw attention to the words about the impending people of the Egyptian captivity. Another prophet, Ezekiel, was eating bread cooked on a cow litter, which was a call to repentance.

Each of the prophets was blessed, this was witnessed by their contemporaries. It is interesting that the Old Testament prophets only behaved like fools at times, perhaps they were not yet ready for that asceticism, which the apostle Paul later spoke of as a madness for Christ's sake.

The feat of foolishness

Christ and his followers did not recognize the laws established in their society. In the New Testament, madness is contempt for the power that imposes certain social principles, considering them wise.

Calling to renounce the Pharisaical rules, Christ and his companions became "insane" for the world in which they lived. That's how the church term "blissfully" happened - it literally meant "making fools for Christ's sake."

When the Apostle Paul called for imitating him, as he imitates Christ, the believers endeavored to endure all the persecutions and hardships that the Master suffered.

The deceased were ascetics who abandoned the house, the family. They mixed and frightened people, denounced injustice and were often the focus of the crowd.

Fools and Blessed

From the Greek word moros, which means "stupid", the Old Russian words "freak" and "holy fool" occurred. Such ragged wanderers, consciously imagining themselves insane, were in special honor in Russia. From their lips the seemingly incoherent words rushed at first glance, but in reality these were the most truthful speeches in the Glory of the Lord.

Believers tried not to offend the holy fools, believing that blissfully is holy. And what about a blessed woman talking about a woman? Who is this: a lucky woman who does not know cares, or an ascetic? Closer to the truth is the second interpretation.

For her foresight and miracle Xenia of Petersburg was awarded the rank of Blessed. This is what life should be to deserve such a title? Xenia of Petersburg gave her house, distributed money to the poor, wore the clothes of her deceased husband and spoke not to her own, but to his name. Blessed traveled for 45 years, helped the poor, took part in the construction of the temple, dragging stones on his shoulders for him.

Blessed Matrona Moskovskaya was blind and feeble, but she tolerated all the hardships. The saint predicted future events, helping people avoid danger, healed the sick and comforted the mourners. Shortly before her death, Matrona said that people in droves would come to her grave for help in their troubles and sorrows. And it happened.

Attitude towards the Blessed

The lines from the Gospel of Matthew: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" become for many Christians the main arguments, when they decide on hermits, renounce worldly goods, saving their souls.

For the sake of Christ, the blessed escape their greed, become uncorrupted, holy fools. Such behavior is contrary to the stereotypes of modern society, considered to be shocking, unacceptable.

The feat of the blessed, holy fools is that they remind of the Teacher's sacrificial love, the necessity of not external follow-up to rites, established norms, but of cordial participation and adequate return.