What is chastity? What does "chaste girl" mean? Chastity and virginity - the difference Violation of chastity.

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Chastity is a moral virtue, a state of mind and body of an individual, in which he chooses for himself bodily and spiritual purity. At present, the meaning of chastity is partly forgotten and for many it is even ridiculous and unnecessary. The state of affairs is such that every year the technological progress of the development of society gives more and more opportunities for the younger generations to avoid censorship from adults, parents and teaching mentors. But at the same time, little is given to the foundations and concepts of moral values, such as nobility, honor, chastity, modesty. To be such in today's reality, especially in megacities, is almost equal to the inability to survive. However, each of us has the possibility of choosing what we should be. A conscious choice in favor of virtues may not bring wealth and fame, but it will make it possible to remain oneself.

What is chastity

Let's try to rely on the word "chastity" itself. If we break it into two words, it turns out that the person who shows wisdom, remaining whole and whole, will be chaste. Me and my world are one balanced whole. Heraclitus (Heraclitus of Ephesus, ancient Greek philosopher, 544-483 BC) has a very beautiful definition of wisdom, and it sounds like this: “to be wise is the highest virtue and wisdom consists in speaking the truth and agreeing with her actions, questioning nature in order to know the truth.

The synonyms of chastity are such concepts as purity, morality, honor, purity, sanity, innocence, virginity.

Does the concept of chastity always refer to innocence and virginity? Until the 20th century, the chastity of a woman was of great importance, especially in the life of a girl, and was associated not only with her position in society, but also with the attitude of those around her, both men and women. If a girl of any class, be it Europe or Russia, protected her innocence before marriage, then in society she was guaranteed respect. For example, in Russia, since pagan times, a very serious and responsible ritual has been associated with the loss of virginity. When, in accordance with Christmas time and holidays, the wedding day was appointed, the guests gathered and the young people sat down between their parents and matchmakers, wishes, toasts and ritual songs began. When the time came for the newlyweds, a bed was prepared, and they were escorted by friends, matchmakers, parents and everyone who wished to songs and sayings to the room. This was considered the most crucial moment, since it was the signs of virginity - blood stains on the bride's underwear that determined her honesty before her future family and husband. If the girl was not innocent, she could be returned to her parents in disgrace, and in the future a very disappointing future awaited the whole family.

Lily parable. A beautiful white lily grew by the bank of a river. And she was so beautiful that the whirlpool began to seduce her. He whispered to what distance he would take the lily, what pleasures he would give her. And the tender lily, enchanted by promises and in anticipation of the new and unknown, was already ready to agree and jump into the pool. But then the nightingale intervened, who had long and passionately loved the lily. They argued for a long time, the nightingale begged her not to do this, for there was danger and darkness, and nothing more. But Lily disagreed. And in order to prove his love and save the tender and trusting lily, the nightingale soared up and fell like a stone into the pool. And the whirlpool swallowed up his noble and ardent heart forever. Only then did the beautiful lily realize from what danger she had been saved...

Just a few decades ago, Western and European societies relaxed their rigidity about the innocence of spouses before marriage. It must be said that Christian and Orthodox church schools to this day teach their pupils clear concepts of chastity, purity and purity.

High schools and universities in one of the provinces of China will teach the subject "the doctrine of life", which will deal with intersexual relations, love, the concepts of marriage, as well as the concept of chastity. Students are invited to write a letter to their son or daughter, which will tell what difficulties and temptations a person meets at the beginning of his journey, and most importantly, why they should begin to have sex only after marriage. What are the benefits of saving cleanliness, what is the significance of chastity in general for creating a happy future. Teaching manuals for this subject suggest chastity before marriage as the only way to stay healthy, avoid contracting venereal diseases, and avoid becoming addicted to unwanted pregnancies, which in general changes many destinies forever on a daily basis.

An interesting experience in matters of the importance of chastity and sexual education of one of the Anglican church schools in Great Britain. Here, Christian values are presented to pupils as topics for reflection, and not unshakable dogmas. Pupils are taught to think and express an opinion about what is happening in the world and at the same time rely on Christian commandments. They teach tolerance for others and for themselves.

The very concept of chastity can be divided into two paradigms - religious (church) and social and everyday.

Consider first the social and domestic. At what age can a decision be made about whether a woman should remain chaste? Age psychology believes that just in puberty, i.e. puberty, when the issues of becoming and finding one's place as a teenager in one's community become the leading activity against the backdrop of an ever-increasing interest in sex, exploration of one's changing body, and discovery of the associated pleasures.

With different characters and social statuses, the decision whether to maintain chastity can be different. Here it is necessary to show and in order not to succumb to false behavior - if all my girlfriends are engaged in sex at fourteen (although this may not be the case), then I do not want to be different from them. On the part of parents, maximum tact and patience with regard to behavior should be shown, which are important not only for girls, future women, but no less for growing men.

Religious concept. This is a virtue aimed at defeating lust, especially intimate, since a person can lust for material values, and not just carnal pleasures.

In religion, the concept of chastity is closely connected with the concept of sin. A vow or vow helps a virtuous and religious person protect himself from sin. The vow exists as a stimulus for the fulfillment of the plan, whether it is victory on the battlefield or spiritual development.

vow of chastity

The vow of chastity is given directly to God and is considered irrevocable. The one who made such a vow no longer has the right to marry and have children, as well as engage in sex forever. The vow of chastity can be given by both men and women, both in monasticism and in the world. Monasticism, as well as nightlife - is translated as "solitary, solitary residence."

There are also similar concepts: ascesis (from the Greek “exercise”), as a type of spiritual practice, the purpose of which is to achieve a certain spiritual state or acquire supernatural abilities, is recognized in all religions and cultures; celibacy (lit. "celibacy"), brahmacharya - sexual abstinence; self-control over desires, striving for purity of thoughts, words and deeds always and under all circumstances.

The vow of chastity is perhaps one of the most difficult vows, as it goes against the very nature of man. Those who choose this path will face many temptations and difficulties in curbing their natural desires.

chastity belt

A chastity belt, chastity belt or "Venetian lattice" is a leather or metal device that mechanically makes sexual intercourse impossible.

The concept of "chastity belt" is mentioned for the first time in ancient Greek texts. Allegedly, it was created in order to protect slaves from unwanted pregnancy, which would interfere with the use of their labor.

Historically, the mention of the chastity belt most of all falls on the Middle Ages. When a husband left home, so that his wife would not be tempted to cheat, a leather or metal belt was put on her hips, a strip of metal or leather was attached in front, passed through the crotch and fixed at the back. The key to the belt was given to the husband. Today it is believed that the chastity belt is a fiction, if you rely on logic and ideas, how much you can walk in leather or metal "thongs" without damaging the skin, not to mention the impossibility of maintaining at least partial hygiene. But history knows a lot of examples of the torture of people, especially in the name of preserving the chastity of a woman. But over time, such belts began to be created not only for keeping female fidelity. Different models of belts for boys that prevent masturbation are still kept in some European museums.

Speaker of the Medical and Psychological Center "PsychoMed"

Rev.

Rev. Peter of Damascus

blissful Augustine

Galina Muravnik

Tatyana Makienko

Is it possible to achieve true chastity outside the Church?

Chastity, in the highest sense of the word, is recognized in Christianity as one of the most important personal virtues. As the name implies, chastity is associated with internal integrity, wholeness. What is this wholeness, what does it consist of?

As you know, the newly created man, before he dared to sin, did not experience the slightest internal contradictions in his soul. All his spiritual forces acted harmoniously and harmoniously, the flesh completely and non-violently obeyed the soul. Being in such a state, a person lived and acted in accordance with his nature, enjoyed the natural joy of knowing God, communion with God.

The fact that chastity is achieved only by acquiring righteousness was proclaimed to man back in the days of the Old Testament (). But the Old Testament did not possess the fullness of grace-filled saving means that the Church of Christ is endowed with, and, of course, the righteousness of the Old Testament man differed from the righteousness characteristic of Christian saints.

Righteousness as the norm of life, and therefore the (genuine) chastity associated with it, is achievable only in Christ. The Lord Himself said it well: without me you can do nothing» ().

Do not be afraid to push the groom away with severity. Many men believe that you first need to live in the so-called. “civil marriage”, and then get married. True, it often does not come to marriage. Starting a relationship with carnal intimacy is wrong. There is a certain sequence in the development of relations between husband and wife: first - friendship, understanding, recognition of this person. After all, you live with this person, talk, share your impressions, look at the world together, raise children, help each other, experience sorrows, illnesses, difficulties - this is the most important thing and this is what you need to prepare for!
You are looking for yourself not a “partner”, but a life partner, the father of your children. Do not be afraid to clearly and definitely tell him that close relationships are impossible for you before marriage. This is a good test of how ready a person is to respect your opinion and meet you halfway. You need to choose a person who knows how to keep his desires in check, otherwise then they can simply get out of control and everything can end in tragedy. If you start building relationships on carnal needs, this will inevitably distort the consciousness of your choice - your love, passion, passion, dependence on a person you like will interfere. And you will not be able to evaluate it soberly.
Bishop Panteleimon (Shatov)

The devil is weaker than God, but his tactics are to crush, crush the inner state of a person. Therefore, if you read a prayer, enclose your mind in the words of the prayer, and do not get distracted, do not wander in your thoughts. It's the same in the world: when you listen to a lecture, listen, and don't dream about more pleasant things. Any negligence, looseness - both in work and in clothes - is a belittling of the spiritual essence. The virtue of chastity, which is highly valued in the Church, is not so much the preservation of girlish purity or youthful freshness - it is precisely the purposefulness, purposefulness, integrity of the individual. A chaste person does not exchange himself for tinsel.

What are the means for spiritual ascent? There are many means, but the meaning is the same - overcoming "pluralism". Our life is diverse: you do one thing, think another, answer a third. To be perfect in all spheres of activity is the lot of units. Therefore, a person who concentrates his forces in one direction achieves more. Integrity, concentration of internal efforts is very important.
metropolitan

Dictionary definitions

The concept of chastity, although always associated in religious tradition with the control of sexuality, has historically been used in different meanings: often it implies virginity, sometimes moral rigor and self-control in a broader sense:

"Chastity: 1. The same as virginity; 2. translation. Strict morality, purity (Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary).

The Dahl dictionary defines chastity closest to the modern interpretation:

“The chaste one who has preserved himself in virginity (youth is pure before marriage) and in marriage purity, immaculate, leading a life in marriage purely, immaculately.”

The concept in the church tradition

In the Christian religious tradition, chastity is understood in the sense of abstaining from illegal sexual acts and thoughts, and also in general as modesty in relationships in a broad sense: in looks, speech, clothes.

Forms of chastity

Sins against chastity

Sins against chastity are considered in the context of the interpretation of one of the ten commandments of Moses "do not commit adultery." Any sexual activity outside of marriage is considered a departure from the virtue of chastity, which in church tradition is correlated with this commandment. In particular, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

"The tradition of the Church follows the totality of the moral teachings of the Old and New Testaments and considers that the sixth commandment embraces all sins against chastity."

"The sins deeply opposed to chastity, each according to the nature of its object, are: adultery, masturbation, fornication, pornography, prostitution, rape, homosexual acts."

Chastity in marriage is traditionally understood as marital fidelity, as well as abstinence from sexual practices, classified in Christianity as "unnatural" or "perverted", chastity unmarried - in sexual abstinence. Accordingly, a distinction is made between sins against chastity, which are not related to marriage, and sins against chastity, which violate the dignity of marriage. For example, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

“Among the sins that are deeply contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography and homosexual practices.<…>Adultery and divorce, polygamy and free union are serious offenses against the dignity of marriage.”

The notion that any sin related to sexuality is a special case of breaking the commandment "do not commit adultery" is associated with the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount: "You have heard what was said to the ancients: do not commit adultery. But I tell you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27).

Links

Chastity in the encyclopedia "Round the World"

Notes

chastity- Old Slavonic - c (yat) lomudry. Old Russian - c (yat) wisdom. The noun "chastity" is a borrowing from Church Slavonic. Known in Old Russian since the 11th century. The word took shape on the basis of two adjectives - “whole” and ... ... Etymological dictionary of the Russian language Semenov

Chastity- a positive spiritual and moral quality of a person, expressed in innocence, holistic wisdom, purity of thoughts and preservation of a girl's virginity until marriage. This is one of the highest human qualities, valued in Russian ... ... Fundamentals of spiritual culture (encyclopedic dictionary of a teacher)

chastity- CHASTITY, I, cf. Peren. Book. The property of a person with high moral qualities, moral impeccability (honesty, truthfulness, selflessness, purity). The chastity of the customs of the modern village has clearly suffered in the years ... ... Explanatory dictionary of Russian nouns

“Chastity is integrity, a wise attitude to life, purity of soul and body, integrity of the mind, not polluted by passions.”
Nun Nina (Krygina), "Chastity of the Royal Family"

"Chastity is the comprehensive name for all the virtues."
John of the Ladder.

Chastity is a virtue that manifests spiritual and bodily purity, purity.
This is the inner purity of the soul, the integrity of thoughts and actions, which is not determined by external factors.

Chastity and nobility- two moral values that are more associated with the concept of "Honor".

“Chastity” in the dictionary of Russian synonyms:
impeccability, impeccability;
sanity, chastity, sinlessness, girlhood, girlish color, innocence, purity, chastity, morality, innocence, virginity, honor, honesty, sinlessness, modesty.

Dictionary definitions

In Ushakov's Dictionary (Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language by Ushakov)
Chastity, chastity, pl. no, cf. (Books). Virtue, moral rigor.

In Ozhegov's Dictionary (Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary)
Chastity:
1. Same as virginity;
2.trans. Strict morality, purity.

Dahl's dictionary defines chastity closest to the modern interpretation:
“The chaste one who has preserved himself in virginity (youth is pure before marriage) and in marriage purity, immaculate, leading a life in marriage purely, immaculately.”

"Chastity" in the modern explanatory dictionary ed. "Great Soviet Encyclopedia" The term "chastity" was not found in the dictionary.

"Chastity" in the Christian religious tradition

The word "chastity" is a religious word, it is a spiritual word. And so, to become chaste, you have to become a little bit religious. The priests know this. The word, the concept of "chastity" appeared long before the birth of Russia. Here are two very small examples.

Here is the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans. 3rd sih of the 12th chapter:
1) in Church Slavonic:
“I say, for the grace that was given to me, everyone who is in you should not be more wise than it is necessary to be wiser: but to philosophize in chastity, to whom God has divided is the measure of faith”
2) in Russian:
“According to the grace given to me, I say to each of you: do not think more of yourself than you should think; but think chastely, modestly, according to the measure of faith that God has given to each.

Here is the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, who lived in the 4th century
“Lord and Master of my life, the spirit of idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk, do not give me. The spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love, grant me to Your servant.
Yes, Lord the King, grant me to see my sins, and do not condemn my brother, for you are blessed forever and ever, amen.

This shows that chastity is a spirit, it is a gift that you need to ask for and, having received, keep it very carefully.

Chastity is a religious concept. Chastity is not good or bad, it is either there or not. Virginity, marital fidelity, modesty, etc. it's all about chastity, but not chastity. Chastity begins with obedience: to parents, teachers, husband, wife... But how to stay in obedience if a person is not religious, if his assessments of everything are on the level: "good - bad." Yes, and that "good - bad", as he himself imagines them.

Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov explains the concept of chastity as follows:
“Chastity is the avoidance of all kinds of fornication. Evasion from voluptuous conversations and reading, from the pronunciation of voluptuous, nasty and ambiguous words. Storage of the senses, especially sight and hearing, and even more touch. Modesty. Refusal of thoughts and dreams of prodigal.
Silence. Silence. Serving the sick and crippled. Memories of death and hell. The beginning of chastity is the mind that does not waver from lustful thoughts and dreams;
perfection of chastity - purity that sees God».

Saint Ambrose of Milan speaks of three forms of chastity:
“There are three forms of the virtue of chastity: the chastity of spouses, the chastity of widowhood, and the chastity of virginity. We do not praise one of them to the exclusion of others. This is the wealth of church discipline.”

Definitions from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Chastity is a positive moral characteristic of a person, which is revealed in the observance of a conscious self-prohibition on knowing, experiencing and doing everything that can weaken or destroy the ability to resist and resist evil.

In ordinary consciousness, the concept of chastity is associated with abstinence from sexual experiences. In this interpretation, chastity means:
a). refusal of a person from sexual relations in general,
b). abstaining from sexual relations before and outside of marriage.

In moral philosophy, in addition to this content, some special meaning was introduced into the concept of chastity: firstly, it was usually used as a characteristic of an unformed person; secondly, it expressed a proper attitude (namely, abstinence) not only to sexual, but also to bodily pleasures in general, as well as to strong passions, inclinations, unbridled impulses, etc. - to everything that can destroy the integrity of a person. Chastity was understood as the refusal of a young man from trials with which he is not yet able to cope.

Some cultures have oriented towards chastity as a universal ideal. In Christianity, this was partly manifested in the vow of celibacy of the entire Catholic clergy (celibacy) and Orthodox monasticism, and also in the fact that for the laity only marital sexual relations were recognized as permissible, the only justification having in the birth of children.

The concept of chastity is close in meaning to the concept of innocence. Like the state of innocence, the chaste state is distinguished by integrity, harmony, and purity. The essential feature of a chaste person is that he is not innocent in relation to good and evil, he knows their absolute difference, his thoughts, feelings and actions are in a field of tension formed by the main moral dichotomy, therefore they are subject to moral evaluation. Innocence is non-moral. In addition, the inner life of a chaste person is complex, differentiated, conscious. Due to these features, the preservation of inner harmony and harmony with the world, purity, peace in goodness requires a chaste person, in contrast to an innocent person, for whom such a state is natural and unconscious, to make certain efforts. The moral effort of the chaste is directed primarily to the observance of prohibitions. The bliss sustained as a result of such a moral effort was defined by P. A. Florensky as “rest from the tirelessly greedy and never satisfied desire, as self-conclusion and self-collection of the soul ...”.

Another concept close in meaning to chastity is the concept of moderation. If chastity is characteristic of the stage of a person’s spiritual development, then moderation is a virtue of a mature person, it manifests itself in stable self-control, in the ability to be the master of one’s feelings, desires and passions. If the chaste man protects himself from overwhelming trials, refusing everything that can plunge him into the power of temptations, then there are no temptations for the moderate. According to Aristotle's description, the moderate has no evil inclinations and does not experience pleasures contrary to right judgment. Moderation is a characteristic of a person striving for a morally justified or permissible, from the point of view of morality, goal, whether it be the highest good, selfless service to God, happiness, fulfillment of duty to oneself. Chastity, on the other hand, characterizes the spiritual maturation of a person, its main purpose is to protect the fragile soul and allow it to form.

In modern liberal ethical and philosophical thought, the concept of chastity has been moved to the sphere of sexuality. Thus, R. Scruton analyzes chastity in the context of sexual desire. Chastity here implies restraint and the fulfillment of only such a sexual desire, which is aimed at uniting with another (s), appearing (s) within the framework of this relationship in the fullness of his personality. Chastity is aimed at maintaining the integrity of a person, first of all - the unity of the sexual and personal in him. It manifests itself in a predisposition to avoid the fulfillment of sexual desire, when only the body of another is desired. Otherwise, both the subject and the object of desire turn out to be devoid of integrity: the corporality and personality of both turn out to be separated from each other, and their relationship becomes impersonal.

Chastity, strict morality, purity of relations between a girl and a boy. In such a relationship, the virginity of the girl, the purity of the youth is preserved. The basis of high moral purity is modesty - a quality acquired by a person with age. Modesty in relation to the opposite sex is especially strongly expressed with the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. During this period, young people begin to seriously make friends, fall in love. Friendship, and then love between a boy and a girl is a serious test of their morality. At first, happiness seems to be the opportunity to touch the hand of a loved one, then - to cuddle up to him, to kiss. But a person quickly gets used to what is permitted, and now a new "forbidden fruit" beckons, inflames passions. Having fallen into a flood of unknown sensations, young people cannot always understand their feelings, correctly assess the prospects for relationships with each other. Therefore, girls should weigh well the pros and cons of premarital sex, and not be guided by a momentary impulse. At all times, chastity was prescribed for young people before marriage, although public opinion forgave the young man more easily and asked the girl more severely.

The point here is not only in the influence of church morality, but also in the fact that only a woman bears biological responsibility for an intimate relationship. She is to give birth, she is to raise a child if the father refuses him. Nature itself imposed a great responsibility on the girl, denoting virginity even anatomically. Moreover, in many cases, it is the girl who sets the boundaries for the young man of acceptable relationships with herself. She sets the tone for love relationships, makes them vulgar or highly spiritual, truly beautiful.

No less important in interpersonal relationships is the position of the young man. No wonder the measure of man's dignity has always been considered his attitude towards a woman. A real man is just distinguished in relation to his beloved woman by restraint and correctness. Today, the moral requirements for men and women have become less stringent. However, even today, without love, respect, affection, a sense of duty, intimacy comes down to just an ordinary physiological act. That is why youthful restraint, girlish purity, pride, chastity are not outdated concepts. These are questions not only of morality, but also of future health and happiness.

“Chastity is not so much a physiological and not only a moral category, it is a worldview category that reflects a holistic picture of being, a holistic and wise image of the world.”
Vera Abramenkova "Education of chastity"

“Chastity is the sovereignty of both the individual and society in relation to evil.”
Artemy Ermakov "The State and Chastity"

Sayings of great and famous people about Chastity.

Albert Camus (1913-1960, French writer and philosopher): “Unbridled sensuality leads to the conviction that the world is meaningless. Chastity, on the contrary, returns meaning to the world.

John Krestyankin (1910-2006, clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church, archimandrite): “The beauty of the soul is in chastity and truth, the health of the soul is in courage and prudence.”

Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799, French playwright and publicist): "Heaven always favors innocence!"

Pavel Gumerov (b.1974, Russian priest, writer): "It is necessary to keep clean not only sight, but also the mind. Impure, prodigal thoughts, like dirt, stain, defile the soul and heart."

It can be interpreted in different ways. But it will always remain relevant for girls. Once ruining your reputation with frivolous behavior, you can reap the consequences for the rest of your life. Virginity and chastity - is there a difference between these concepts, and if so, what is it?

The term "chastity"

This concept implies, first of all, moral purity. Our contemporaries rarely think about their lifestyle. Girls, starting from a very early age, want to become more mature and for this purpose do not hesitate in any way. Meeting with older men, drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, the desire to have the most modern gadgets and a passion for travel - can a girl with such life values be called chaste?

Modern society has become so liberated and has lost the framework of morality and morality that the term "chastity" has become somewhat humorous, cheeky. Nobody thinks about its true meaning. Many people substitute the concept, considering the term "chastity" as a synonym for the word "virginity". Allegedly, a chaste girl must be virgin. Actually this is a myth.

What are the characteristics of a chaste girl?

In our time, this characteristic will not be liked by many. But people who are thinking about their future will appreciate a chaste girl.

Her portrait is characterized by the following features:

meekness. She will not praise herself in front of teachers or friends. It is better to prove your knowledge of the subject and the ability to learn directly in practice.
Seriousness to own promises and words. She does not throw phrases into the wind - she understands that "the word is not a sparrow, it will fly out - you will not catch it."
No bad habits. A chaste woman understands that a cigarette in her mouth and a glass of even the most expensive cocktail in a woman's hand looks caricatured and vulgar. Such a lady causes contempt and may interest a man in her person only for a short-term relationship.
Chastity is moral purity. Such people do not need to chase money and recognition. They do not live by ghostly short-term goals, but by fundamental ones - the family, the interests of the family, science, altruism.
A chaste girl is characterized by charitable deeds. She helps animals, old people and children, not for the sake of a beautiful gesture or the word "thank you". She does it at the behest of her soul.

The relation of religion to chastity

Many of our contemporaries, with the phrase "chastity - thoughts" or the like, immediately recall sects or various kinds of religions. This is a mistake, not always this concept has a similar connotation.

Any religion (be it Orthodoxy or Islam) does not welcome a cheeky and dissolute way of life. But is the desire to lead a decent life necessarily only under the fear of violating the dogmas of one's faith? Hundreds of thousands of women lead a chaste lifestyle, cherish their honor not under the yoke of mythical commandments, but thanks to their attitude.

What does "chaste girl" mean in terms of Orthodoxy? She not only takes care of herself in relation to men, but also observes fasts, regularly takes communion, knows and studies the Word of God, confesses to Batushka.

A chaste girl - is it good or bad? The answer to this question is clear. The family and the school should instill in the girl self-esteem, respect for elders, altruism and a true understanding of the concept of "chastity".

Which girl is considered virgin

The concept of virginity is slightly different from the above. This is a medical term. The hymen is an obstacle that arises before the very first sexual intercourse in the life of every girl. After its violation, we can say that virginity is lost.

This can only happen once in a lifetime. After this moment, the girl becomes a woman. In secular society, it is generally accepted that the status of "woman" is acquired by a female creature only after she becomes a mother. Viewpoints on this issue may differ.

Is virginity a disadvantage or an advantage?

The decisive moment in this matter is the age of the female. Of course, if the age is more than twenty-five years old, the hymen becomes a problem and a source of complexes. Everything must happen in its own time. If there is a permanent partner, mutual love between a guy and a girl, then there is nothing scary in the act of love. On the contrary, it will become a source of joy and happiness for both partners.

Both parents must take care of the upbringing of the girl. It is impossible to instill proper self-esteem, value yourself and keep your honor in the face of constant family scandals. Very rarely, a chaste girl can come out of a troubled family, where drunken scandals and assault are the norm.

If there is a girl in the family...

Then both parents should make every effort to teach her chaste behavior and instill a healthy self-esteem. Nowadays, due to the difficult economic situation in the country and the loss of the value of family status, children grow up like a "weed". They are left to themselves, walking the streets without adult supervision and scooping information from the Internet about the darkest aspects of adult life. How can a girl grow up in such a chaste environment?

The main value was money and financial well-being. Young girls look at the behavior of peers, start smoking and drinking, dating boys not for the sake of feelings, but for the sake of false prestige. For the sake of the new "iPhone" they are ready for literally anything. And we, adults, make their world so. How can they grow in such an environment? And then on TV people are surprised at the next program "Let them talk" about a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl who gave birth to twins.

Virginity and chastity: the difference

"Virginity" is a physical concept. And "chastity" is spiritual. This is the main difference.

The spiritual world of each person can be beautiful, or it can be ugly. Greed, envy, acquisitiveness, betrayal - these qualities arrange a personal hell in the soul of every person already during his lifetime. Without talking in a religious way, even from the point of view of the narrow-minded kitchen psychology, each of us recognizes that these qualities are destructive.

What does "chaste girl" mean in terms of secular society? Honest, kind, without evil thoughts, always ready to lend a helping hand to her neighbor. Only a narrow-minded person, having heard this word, begins to giggle and imagine indecent scenes from all famous films. A good education, a decent family and social circle, high-quality cinematography have a beneficial effect on the upbringing of girls and help them grow up as chaste and whole individuals.