15 Questions for a Young Altai Priest

Do you have questions you’re embarrassed to ask a priest but would like an answer to? NGS22.RU asked Father Ioann Efimets on your behalf. He discussed whether pets can be given funeral rites, why churches have so much «gold» and ornamentation, and whether it’s true that everyone suffers in Orthodoxy.

Father Ioann Efimets is the rector of the church at Bulyginsko–Kirov Cemetery in Barnaul (Altai Krai, Russia). He is also one of the city’s youngest clergy. At 26, he is raising two sons close in age and leads Barnaul’s largest Orthodox youth association, «Kinóniya» (Koinonia).

— Is there a God?

— If you want to know whether He exists — seek Him. Ask, strive to know Him, and when you reach out, He will surely reveal Himself to you.

— Why do the grandmothers in church seem angry and often scare away parishioners?

— In my church the grandmothers aren’t angry. In general, some may seem stricter, perhaps because of the era in which they were raised. The Church is a living organism — times and morals change. They were formed during a period of the Church’s life that, to put it mildly, was not very rosy: the collapse of the Soviet Union and the early 2000s, when people were simply trying to survive — and that influenced a certain strictness and discipline.

— Will my life get better if I just light a candle?

— If we light a candle without thought, our life is unlikely to change. Communion with God — it’s not «bring something and get something in return». You must ask, and when you ask sincerely you receive an answer. A candle is an offering, a physical act that reinforces our spiritual actions. We light a candle and pray. Our life improves through communion with God.

— Is it all right to enter a church if I don’t believe in God?

— Yes, please, come in and look, but do not offend the feelings of believers. If you enter a church — accept the rules of that community and that building. In earlier times unbaptized people were even allowed to take part in the liturgy up to a certain point, and then, after the deacon’s proclamation, they would leave the space.

— Does bathing on Epiphany wash away sins?

— Of course not. In our Church there’s no barter: bring something and get something in return. It doesn’t work that way. When we speak of «washing away» our sins, our soul’s ailments, there’s one path — tell them to a doctor. Our doctor is God. Go to confession, not into the ice hole.

— Many people think that in Orthodoxy everyone suffers: they fast, stand for long services — is that true?

— On earth we will always face spiritual deprivations and trials. Some suffer, some do not — it’s a matter of attitude. Orthodox believers strive to be with Christ. This is aided by concrete means such as attending services, prayer, or fasting. Probably it’s the person who doesn’t understand the purpose who suffers.

— Why is prayer needed?

— How else will you speak with God? Every person needs communication. There is always something to thank Him for and something to ask for; there are moments when you want to share. When this world passes and another begins, it will be difficult to be close to someone you never spoke with.

— Why is there so much gold in churches?

— In fact, there is almost no gold in our churches, and if there is any it pales beside what was in Solomon’s Temple — the First Temple in Jerusalem — where everything was richly adorned with gold and silver, even the walls. Why decorate so lavishly? Simply to set the space apart and show that it is God’s house. You can serve in a cave, but people want the church to be beautiful and fragrant. We also arrange our homes. However, ornament is not required, as wooden churches demonstrate.

— Is depression a sin?

— You need to distinguish depression and despondency. In the Church these two concepts are different, since one is more related to psychiatric problems, while the other is a matter of the soul.

— In the Orthodox tradition is sex for pleasure between spouses acceptable, or is it only for conceiving children? What about premarital sex and cohabitation?

— Sex is an important part of the relationship between spouses. There is the concept of love, which is above physical desires, but sex is a natural element of love. If a person loves, entering into intimacy is normal. Children are the fruit of love when spouses are ready. Sex is not only for conception. As for sex before marriage — it is unequivocally a sin, as is cohabitation if there is sexual intimacy. If you abstain, then, please — live together.

— Can a cat or another pet be given funeral rites?

— You cannot perform a funeral service for a cat. Its soul dies with its body. The only beings whose soul lives on are people. Therefore you cannot perform a funeral for a cat, a dog, or a pig, even if you deeply want to.

— Can you get into heaven if you do not confess or take communion, but live honestly and help others?

— It’s individual. The experience of our saints shows this. One can neither confess nor receive communion and still enter paradise, like the robber who believed and accepted. Confession can be external, and there is also spiritual confession, when you open your inner concerns to God in your heart. There are such examples, but you cannot live as you please, taking everything from life — useful and useless — and expect to enter heaven. You still must meet Christ and accept Him.

— If someone has a «Orthodox» tattoo on their body — is that a sin? How does the Church view this in general?

— What distinguishes a Christian is not an «Orthodox» or any other tattoo, but his life. Christ says: «By your love for one another they will know that you are mine». If a person treats everyone with love, then he is truly a Christian. It’s better, of course, not to get such tattoos. What messages do they send? There’s nothing criminal about it — we won’t drive someone out of the church; he will remain the same. But our teaching says that you are beautiful as you are, because you were created in the image and likeness of God.

— Is it sinful to meet people online?

— God will not send a wife to you from heaven — you won’t sit on the couch and have her fall into your lap from above. As I said, people have free will. The Lord helps in the search for a partner, but you must make some effort yourself. So it’s fine to look for a wife or husband. Dating apps are not a sin. You just need to approach the search sensibly.

— Which stereotypes about priests annoy you?

— There’s a stereotype that the priesthood is a caste that always has everything, but that’s not true — we’re ordinary people. Some think a priest must be old with an impossibly long beard, and if he’s young and has a short beard, then he isn’t a priest — something else.

A few times I’ve met people surprised that I’m not overweight — there’s that stereotype. Some are surprised that I’m married, for instance; they think that if you serve you cannot be married. That’s spiritual illiteracy.