Is it possible to play cards at home? Folk signs and superstitions

Why can’t you play cards, play solitaire, use card symbols, and especially guess at least queen of spades, at least for a heart? Symbols, images, hieroglyphs are by no means always harmless pictures. These are the same words presented in the form of graphic images. Some words cannot be uttered at all without harm to the soul. There are concepts that should not be present even in thoughts. For the same reasons, one cannot draw ungodly subjects for the sake of the subjects themselves in any way: naturalistic, symbolic or symbolic (taboo), including cards.

Explanatory Dictionary V.I. Dalia gives the following definition of cards: “glued together, small pieces of paper with images of points in four suits and figures.” Cards have ancient history, their origin has not yet been precisely established. The invention of playing cards is attributed to the Chinese. Ching Tsze Tung's dictionary says that cards were invented in 1120. (according to Christian chronology), and in 1132. were already in widespread use in China. According to another version, cards were invented in Egypt and were intended for fortune telling. Card suits were used in Byzantium to decorate fabrics. In Western Europe, maps appeared in the 14th century. In its modern form with kings, jacks, etc. they have existed since the 15th century.

According to the writer S.S. Narovchatov, under Ivan the Terrible, a certain Chercelli appeared in Moscow. Cercelli, or as he was popularly called Chertello, was called a Frenchman in Italy, a German in France, a Pole in Germany, and a Russian in Poland. He brought to Moscow a chest wrapped in a shawl, black with red stripes, which seemed to correspond to the colors - black and red, but Muscovites said that these were the colors of hellfire. A gambling epidemic began in the Third Rome, “they were cutting for money.” The cards began to be in demand, and Chercelli decided to develop them in Moscow special kind card business, which by that time was already flourishing in the West - card printing. His tempting offer was received rather coolly by Muscovites. The first printer, Ivan Fedorov, flatly refused to participate in such a matter.

At first, the authorities were tolerant of practicing with cards, but then they began to persecute them because they saw the interference of evil spirits here. Of the legislative monuments about cards, the Code of 1649 is the first to be mentioned, which prescribes to deal with card players “as it is written about tatii” (thieves), i.e. beat mercilessly, cut off fingers and hands. Decree of 1696 It was introduced to search all those suspected of wanting to play cards, “and whoever has their cards taken out will be beaten with a whip.” In 1717 Playing cards is prohibited under threat of a fine. In 1733 For repeat offenders, prison or batogs are designated. In the 18th century, the attitude towards this game in Russia softened greatly and in general, when researching prohibited games, it was ordered to “act with caution so as not to cause unnecessary slander, insults and worries.” The passion for the game grew, and no one was interested in why these particular figures were depicted on the cardboard rectangles and what, or rather, who was the ace?

Ushakov's dictionary answers: “ace” is a word of Polish origin from the German Daus and means a playing card worth one point. The German-Russian dictionary also indicates another meaning of the word: Daus - devil. It is possible that Daus is a corruption of the Greek "diabolos" - a dispeller of slander. The structure of a card deck is known to everyone: king, queen, jack (from the French “servant”), even lower tens, nines, and so on up to sixes or twos in a full deck - a typical hierarchical ladder from highest to lowest. Sometimes another card is added to the deck - the Joker. A frivolous figure in tights, a jester's cap, bells... And in his hands - a scepter with a human head strung on it, which has now been replaced by humane artists with musical "cymbals". In pre-revolutionary stage performances similar character called Fradiavolo. The Joker card is the highest of all, it has no suit and is considered the strongest in the game. At the top of the pyramid, in any case, there is not a monarch, but that same Daus, from whom you can only shield yourself with the sign of the cross and prayer. Thus, the hierarchy in deck of cards submits to the prince of this world, he, the prince of the power of the air, is symbolized not by one point, but by number one.

“Trump” cards, their very name, have their own special purpose. “Kosher” i.e. Talmudists call ritual sacrifices “pure”, so the true meaning card games lies in the humiliation of our shrines, because by covering the cross with the “trump six” the players believe that this “six” is higher and stronger than the Life-Giving Cross!

So, playing cards- is by no means a kind of simple game compromised by an element of excitement. This is a model of the domination of the prince of this world over his free and involuntary subjects. This is the meaning of card symbolism, and symbols are no joke. There is a strict prohibition of the Church: under no circumstances should you touch the so-called “depths of Satan” (Rev. 2:24), therefore, when in a company someone suggests playing cards, remember: who is higher than the card king.

Happens often to a player:
Sat down rich -
became a poor man.
Who took the cards?
seduced by profit,
He doesn't know the game
happy.
The game of chance is sinful:
It was not given to us by God, -
Satan invented it!
Sebastian BRANT. 1494
Trefoil card cross, copy, sponge and nail

from the book “The History of the Development of the Cross Shape”
www.wco.ru/biblio section “Reference books”

The motives for the outrageous desecration and blasphemy of the Holy Cross by conscious cross-haters and crusaders are quite understandable. But when we see Christians drawn into this vile business, it is all the more impossible to remain silent, for - in the words of St. Basil the Great - “God is betrayed by silence”!

The so-called “playing cards”, which, unfortunately, are available in many homes, are an instrument of demonic communication, through which a person certainly comes into contact with demons - the enemies of God. All four card “suits” mean nothing more than the cross of Christ along with other sacred objects equally revered by Christians: a spear, a sponge and nails, that is, everything that was the instrument of the suffering and death of the Divine Redeemer.

And out of ignorance, many people, playing the fool, allow themselves to blaspheme the Lord, taking, for example, a card with the image of a “trefoil” cross, that is, the cross of Christ, which is worshiped by half the world, and throwing it carelessly with the words (forgive me, Lord !) “club”, which translated from Yiddish means “bad” or “evil spirits”! Moreover, these daredevils, who are playing with suicide, essentially believe that this cross is “beating” with some lousy “trump six”, not knowing at all that “trump” and “kosher” are written, for example, in Latin, the same.

It would be high time to clarify the true rules of all card games, in which all players are left “in the fool”: they consist in the fact that ritual sacrifices, in Hebrew called by the Talmudists “kosher” (that is, “pure”), supposedly have power over Life-giving Cross!

If you know that playing cards cannot be used for purposes other than the desecration of Christian shrines to the delight of demons, then the role of cards in “fortune telling”—those nasty quests for demonic revelations—will become extremely clear. In this regard, is it necessary to prove that anyone who touches a deck of cards and does not bring sincere repentance in confession for the sins of blasphemy and blasphemy has a guaranteed registration in hell?

So, if “clubs” is the blasphemy of raging gamblers against specially depicted crosses, which they also call “crosses”, then what do “blames”, “worms” and “diamonds” mean? We will not bother ourselves with translating these curses into Russian, since we do not have a Yiddish textbook; It’s better to open the New Testament to shed the Light of God, unbearable for them, on the demonic tribe.

Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov in the imperative mood edifies: “get acquainted with the spirit of the time, study it, so as to avoid its influence if possible.”

The card suit “blame”, or otherwise “spade”, blasphemes the gospel peak, then As the Lord predicted about His piercing, through the mouth of the prophet Zechariah, that “they will look at Him whom they pierced” (12:10), this is what happened: “one of soldiers (Longinus) pierced His side with a spear” (John 19:34).

The card suit "hearts" blasphemes the gospel sponge on the cane. As Christ warned about His poisoning, through the mouth of the prophet David, that the soldiers “gave me gall for food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Ps. 68:22), so it came true: “one of them took a sponge, gave me vinegar to drink and He put it on a reed and gave Him something to drink” (Matthew 27:48).

The card suit “diamonds” blasphemes the Gospel forged tetrahedral jagged nails with which the hands and feet of the Savior were nailed to the tree of the Cross. As the Lord prophesied about His cloves, through the mouth of the psalmist David, that “they pierced My hands and My feet” (Ps. 22:17), so it was fulfilled: the Apostle Thomas, who said “if I do not see in His hands the wounds from the nails, and I will not put my finger through the wound of the nails, nor will I put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25), “I believed because I saw” (John 20:29); and the Apostle Peter, addressing his fellow tribesmen, testified: “Men of Israel! - he said, - you took Jesus of Nazareth (...) and, nailing him (to the cross) with the hands of the lawless (Romans), you killed him; but God raised Him up” (Acts 2:22, 24).

The unrepentant thief crucified with Christ, like today's gamblers, blasphemed the sufferings of the Son of God on the cross and, out of inveteracy and unrepentance, went forever to hell; and the prudent thief, setting an example for everyone, repented on the cross and thereby inherited eternal life with God. Therefore, let us firmly remember that for us Christians there can be no other object of hope and hope, no other support in life, no other banner uniting and inspiring us, except the only saving sign of the invincible Cross of the Lord!

Playing cards belongs to the category of gambling. A person gets excited and forgets God. Unclean spirits begin to influence him (at this moment they have the right to do so). The player harms his soul. If they play for money (or “interest”), the player develops greed (acquisitiveness). And this is already a sin. And precious time is wasted, which could be used for the benefit of yourself and your loved ones.

Playing cards are associated with the desecration of Christianity and are a direct means of communication between a person and demons. All four card suits imply nothing more than the Cross of Christ along with other sacred objects equally revered by Christians. By playing the fool and carelessly throwing playing cards on the table, many people, without realizing it, desecrate Christian shrines.

The suit of clubs (trefoil) is the blasphemy of raging gamblers against the Cross of Christ. In Jewish tradition, treph food is unclean. Accordingly, the suit of “crosses,” blasphemously symbolizing the Cross of the Lord, is designated by a word testifying to the Jewish abomination of the Cross.

The suit “spade” blasphemes the gospel spade. As the Lord predicted about His piercing, through the mouth of the prophet Zechariah, that “they will look at Him whom they have pierced,” so it happened: “one of the soldiers (Longinus) pierced His ribs with a spear.”

The suit “worms” blasphemes the gospel sponge (on a reed), which touched the lips of the Savior. As Christ warned about His poisoning, through the mouth of the prophet David, that the soldiers “gave Me gall for food and gave Me vinegar to drink,” so it came true: “One of them took a sponge, gave it vinegar to drink and, putting it on a cane, gave Him to drink.”

The suit of “tambourines” blasphemes the Gospel forged tetrahedral jagged nails with which the hands and feet of the Savior were nailed to the tree of the Cross. As the Lord prophesied about His clove piercing, through the mouth of the psalmist David, that “they pierced My hands and My feet,” so it came true. The Apostle Thomas, who said, “unless I see in His hands the marks of the nails, and put my finger into the marks of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe,” but “I believed because I saw.”

How did playing cards get to Russia?

According to the writer S.S. Narovchaty, under Ivan the Terrible, a certain Chercelli appeared in Moscow, whom the Muscovites (not without reason) renamed Chertello and both of these names were combined in the records of the embassy order. He brought to Moscow a chest wrapped in a shawl, black with red stripes, which seemed to correspond to the colors - black and red. But some Muscovites considered them the colors of hellfire.

In the West, a special form of card business already existed - card printing. Chercelli wanted to involve Ivan Fedorov in a similar activity. Naturally, the pioneer printer refused.

An anti-card campaign has begun. The Code of 1649 ordered the complete eradication of playing cards in Rus'. However, in the 18th century, the attitude towards this game in our country softened greatly. At the same time, it was unlikely that the gamblers knew why these particular figures were depicted on the cardboard rectangles and who the ace was? To the last question, Ushakov’s modern explanatory dictionary answers: “ace” is a word of Polish origin from the German Daus and means a playing card with one point. The same dictionary also indicates another meaning: Daus - devil, followed by a list of typical German curse words mentioning the unclean. Probably Daus is a corruption of the Greek "diabolos" - a dispeller of slander.

The structure of a card deck is a typical hierarchical ladder from highest to lowest. At the top of this pyramid is not a monarch, but that same Daus, from whom you can only shield yourself with the sign of the cross and prayer. Thus, the hierarchy in the card deck is subordinate to the prince of this world, and he is symbolized not by one point, but by number one.

So card games Far from being harmless, they are a mockery of the suffering of Christ. Anyone who has playing cards at home should better get rid of them - burn them. Should be sent into the fire various cards for fortune telling, causing great harm to a person. Finding out your destiny by any means, including cards, is going against the will of the Lord.

What do the holy fathers say about fortune telling?

St. Ephraim the Syrian: “Beware of making potions, casting spells, telling fortunes, making storages (talismans) or wearing those made by others: these are not storages, but bonds.”

St. John Chrysostom: “Just as slave traders, offering small children pies, sweet fruits and the like, often catch them with such bait and deprive them of freedom and even life itself, so in the same way sorcerers, promising to cure a disease, deprive a person of the salvation of his soul.”

Saint Basil the Great: “Do not be curious about the future, but make good use of the present. For what benefit is there for you to anticipate the command? If the future brings you something good, it will come, although you did not know it in advance. And if it is sorrowful, why languish in sorrow until the end? Do you want to make sure of the future? Fulfill what is prescribed by the Gospel Law and expect to enjoy blessings.”

Sources:
from the book “Invincible Weapon: The History of the Development of the Cross Form”;
from the article by V. Prilutsky “Who is higher than the king?”

Why Orthodox Christians Shouldn’t Play Cards Surely there are quite a few people who like to play cards just like that, for fun, when they have nothing else to do. Moreover, many Christians do this without even thinking about whether Orthodox Christians can play cards? At first glance, this is a harmless game that does not carry any negative consequences. But in reality this is far from the case. And in the Orthodox religion there are certain prohibitions on card games, even if you are not playing for profit. Moreover, this is considered a great sin, which should be taken into account in the list of sins before confession. Cards and faith First of all, why Orthodox Christians cannot play cards, it is believed that a card game is excitement, which in turn gives rise to an inevitable addiction acquired by the appearance of sinfulness. Orthodox people should under no circumstances be attracted to cards and play various games in them. Since the demon has only one goal - to tempt all those who are closer to God. Having played one game and lost, a person will want to play again and again until he wins. Even if you are already addicted, everyone can say that they can stop at any time. But in reality this is not the case. In addition to excitement, the ban on spending time in card games has another interpretation, which carries a deeper meaning than excitement. The whole point is in the depiction of the suits themselves, which imply the image of the Cross of Christ along with other revered objects among Christians. These are items such as a spear, a sponge and nails. After all, it was they who became the instrument of execution, which brought incredible suffering to Jesus Christ. The meaning of suits in Orthodoxy As mentioned above, all four suits of cards carry a certain secret meaning: - Kresti means the cross on which Christ was crucified. - The pikes are the pikes that were used to pierce his ribs. - Diamonds mean nails. - The worms symbolize a sponge with vinegar, which the torturers specifically gave to Christ instead of water. For example, a player takes a card with the image of the Cross of Christ, which half the world worships, and throws it away, exclaiming “clubs.” Few people think about the fact that translated from Hebrew it means evil spirits, nasty. In the Bible, this word is interpreted as meat torn to pieces in the field, which cannot be eaten. It should be noted that each of the suits is mentioned in the holy scriptures and the Bible. The unrepentant thief, who was crucified with Christ like a gambler, blasphemes the suffering of the Son of God, and without sincere repentance went to hell forever. The thief set an example for everyone and repented on the cross, thanks to which he inherited eternal life with God. Cards are demonic revelations, so under no circumstances should you keep them in the house and play or tell fortunes with them.

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Surely there are quite a few people who like to play cards just for fun, when there is nothing else to do. Moreover, many Christians do this without even thinking about whether Orthodox Christians can play cards? At first glance, this is a harmless game that does not carry any negative consequences. But in reality this is far from the case. And in the Orthodox religion there are certain prohibitions on card games, even if you are not playing for profit. Moreover, this is considered a great sin that should be taken into account.

First of all, why should Orthodox Christians not play cards? It is believed that a card game is excitement, which in turn gives rise to an inevitable dependence that acquires the appearance of sinfulness. Orthodox people should under no circumstances be attracted to cards and play various games with them. Since the demon pursues only one goal - to tempt all those who are closer to God.

Having played one game and lost, a person will want to play again and again until he wins. Even if you are already addicted, everyone can say that they can stop at any time. But in reality this is not the case.

In addition to excitement, the ban on spending time in card games has another interpretation, which carries a deeper meaning than excitement. The whole point is in the depiction of the suits themselves, which imply the image of the Cross of Christ along with other revered objects among Christians. These are items such as a spear, a sponge and nails. After all, it was they who became the instrument of execution, which brought incredible suffering to Jesus Christ.

The meaning of suits in Orthodoxy

As mentioned above, all four suits of cards carry a certain secret meaning:

• Cross means the cross on which Christ was crucified.
• The pikes are the pikes that were used to pierce his ribs.
• Diamonds mean nails.
• The worms symbolize a sponge with vinegar, which the torturers specifically gave to Christ instead of water.

For example, a player takes a card with the image of the Cross of Christ, which half the world worships, and throws it away, exclaiming “clubs.” Few people think about the fact that translated from Hebrew it means evil spirits, nasty. In the Bible, this word is interpreted as meat torn to pieces in the field, which cannot be eaten. It should be noted that each of the suits is mentioned in the holy scriptures and the Bible.

The unrepentant thief, who was crucified with Christ like a gambler, blasphemes the suffering of the Son of God, went to hell forever. The thief set an example for everyone and repented on the cross, thanks to which he inherited eternal life with God. Cards are demonic revelations, so under no circumstances should you keep them in the house and play or tell fortunes with them.

Other games in Orthodoxy

There are several more common games, permission to play which is of interest to many believers. For example, a certain part of Christians do not know whether Orthodox Christians can play the lottery.
There are cases when lottery winnings very often go not to the player for his own profit, but to charity. Despite this, many clergy are convinced that the lottery is also a game of chance. And therefore, playing it is also a sin.

As one priest said: “You shouldn’t play gambling even if you really need money, as God wills, that’s how it will happen in life.”

Is it possible for Orthodox Christians to play computer games?

Despite the fact that today there is enough large number various computer games, with different goals and tasks, they are considered gambling and do not bring any benefit to a person. Therefore, playing such games according to the Orthodox religion is also a sin. Moreover, such games carry a fairly serious threat of not only psychological illness, but sometimes even death.

The Lord is always with you!

Moreover, it may be harmless, as it seems, “ sneaky fool"or more serious games, the rules of which imply subtle calculation and hope for a serious win.

But are card games so dangerous, why can’t you play cards, as many people think?

According to the church, card suits- This is an exact repetition of the attributes used during the execution of Christ.

The “peaks” exactly repeat the shape of the weapon that was used to inflict wounds on the Savior’s body. The “worms” are shaped like a sponge soaked in vinegar, which Christ, suffering from thirst, was given instead of water by his tormentors. The “tambourines” repeat the shape of the square nails with which it was nailed to the cross. And “Kresti” itself doesn’t require any comment. That is, when playing cards, willingly or unwillingly, a person himself takes the symbolic instruments of Christ’s torture and passes them from hand to hand to his partners, plunging both himself and them into sin. This is exactly how the church explains why Orthodox Christians should not play cards. By the way, in fairness, it is worth noting that devout preachers of Islam also do not encourage such hobbies.

Children playing cards is not new today. A child's soul is pure and open to the world. A child is not always able to figure out on his own what is good and what is bad. Card games are one of those temptations that can slowly but surely undermine a child’s psyche. Surprisingly, many parents do not see anything wrong with their children playing “the fool”: what is it, a harmless game! Alas, everything is not as easy as I would like to imagine. At first it is the desire to win and taste sweets a feeling of victory - it would seem that what’s wrong with that?! Nothing, but not all means are good to achieve the goal. It is also worth considering that children, imitating adults, do not play “just like that”: their favorite toys, sweets, and small money are bet on the game con. And if she turns away, resentment and excitement awaken: the child experiences the loss extremely painfully and is ready to do everything to not only get back “what’s his,” but also to teach a lesson to a more successful opponent. It is in childhood a painful addiction is established, which in psychiatry is called “gaming addiction.” Parents should understand that card games are gambling; that's why children shouldn't play cards.