How to make a vow of sobriety will tell the manual issued by the Russian Orthodox Church

The Moscow Patriarchate has published a practical guide dedicated to the traditions of sobriety in Russia. It tells about the causes of alcoholism, as well as how to give up alcohol yourself, having taken a vow of sobriety to God. As reported by the Moscow City News Agency, the Synodal Charity Department of the Russian Orthodox Church has issued a brochure.

Traditions of life without alcohol, the brochure says, have been in Russia for many centuries. Saint Sergius of Radonezh did not drink alcohol at all. The outstanding theologian and prominent historical figure, Saint Joseph Volotsky, spoke out against the use of alcohol in any form by the monastic brethren. Nowadays, remind the authors of the manual, the tradition of celebrating the Day of Sobriety has resumed, which originates in pre-revolutionary Russia, where the movement of believers who advocate a life without alcohol was very active and crowded. Today this day is celebrated on September 11.

“The manual contains thematic articles and speeches of experts on the approval of sobriety, historians, psychologists, priests, and contains excerpts from the speech of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. The manual can be downloaded free of charge on the website of the Synodal Charity Department. Also in the series 'The ABC of Mercy' there were previously published manuals of the Synodal Department for Charity 'Alcoholic in the family: how can relatives help?' and 'Group of sobriety at the temple: a guide for the leader', which are also available for download, '- clarified in response to a question from the journalist APN' Moscow 'in the press service of the Synodal Department for Charity of the Russian Orthodox Church.