Religion of love tattoo on leg. Religious tattoos - a combination of modern art and spirituality

Modern culture very often expresses itself by challenging and provoking generally accepted norms. And many traditions, which until recently were unacceptable in society, are now becoming almost the norm and do not cause harsh criticism.

On the other hand, Orthodoxy is an orthodox religion, the basic tenets of which have not changed throughout the two millennia of the existence of Christianity. Let's talk today about such a fashionable trend of our time as tattoos. What is the attitude of the Orthodox Church towards tattoos? Is it permissible for an Orthodox person to do them?

What the Bible Says About Tattoos

We see the main justification for the prohibition of putting an image on oneself in the Old Testament Book of Leviticus: “You shall not make any cuts in your flesh or write marks on yourself.” In the New Testament, in the Revelation of John the Theologian, there is a warning not to put on yourself the marks of the beast, which is also very often compared with tattoos.

The Bible on Tattoos

The essence of the biblical prohibition of images on humans is a reverent attitude towards the physical body, as a vessel of the immortal soul. In the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians you can see that the human body is called the temple of God. Such a high comparison excludes a disdainful attitude towards everything physical, preventing it from being desecrated.

According to the same apostle, every believer is a living temple of God. And just as you cannot desecrate temples at your whim, you also cannot change anything given by God at the request of a person. This does not mean at all that the body does not require care; on the contrary, there should be care as a vessel of the soul. But excessively decorating, changing one’s original appearance or features is a sin for a Christian.

Historical and cultural aspects of tattoos

In pre-Christian and early Christian times, tattoos were part of pagan and occult rites. They were applied either as a sign of the dead, or to enter into trance and other states that alter consciousness.

Interesting! With the advent of Christianity, tattoos were used mainly as a mark. They were used to mark, for example, criminals, women of easy virtue, and card swindlers.

The tradition of tattooed branding has been preserved throughout the world for many centuries. Many probably remember how much trouble the lily on the shoulder of Lady Winter, the heroine of A. Dumas’ novel “The Three Musketeers,” brought. To this day, in places of deprivation of liberty there is a whole complex system of prison tattoos, which imprint on a person for life the history of his crimes and serving sentences.

The civilized world learned about tattoos as decoration around the 18th century, when the traveler D. Cook discovered the native settlements of the Tahiti islands. It was there that he saw images on local residents that were purely decorative in nature and were made only for the sake of beauty.

How the Orthodox Church views tattoos

However, the fashion of decorating the body in this way did not meet with much approval from society. Not so long ago, already in the 19th century, the authoritative Italian doctor C. Lambroso considered tattooing as a disorder inherent in people prone to crime.

Only in the middle of the twentieth century did tattoos become a fashionable attribute of young people. People begin to paint themselves at their own discretion, not always putting deep meaning into the images. Massive youth subcultures are emerging that actively use tattoos.

As we see, even without taking into account the spiritual influence of tattoos, simply in the historical and semantic meaning, images on the body have not brought anything good since ancient times. The most harmless thing - a tribute to fashion - suggests that a person simply does not understand the deeper meaning and influence of tattoos on his life.

Spiritual harm of tattoos

Why is a simple picture on the body so dangerous for a Christian? First of all, desecrating oneself as a vessel of God is a sin. There are already many sinful acts in a person’s life, which often cannot be avoided. So why spoil your soul even more with something you can easily do without?

About sins:

Man is a spiritual-physical being. It is impossible to consider physical life separately from the life of the soul, and vice versa. Therefore, any changes on the physical level will certainly affect spiritual life, and vice versa. And drawing images is no exception.

Priests who deal with human destinies every day and listen to confessions often note that people repent of having gotten tattoos. For many of them, when they started wearing the “simple picture,” difficulties and problems began in life, a feeling of abandonment by God and despondency appeared. This is the action of sin, which a person himself allows into his life.

Important! Signs and symbols applied to the body carry with them a certain spiritual load, which a person may not even know about.

Thus, neo-pagans and occultists often use runes, hidden pentagrams and other satanic symbols for tattoos. To an outwardly uninitiated person, such a tattoo may seem like just a beautiful graphic design that does not carry any information. But in fact, by applying it to himself, a person allows those forces that are indicated in symbolism to enter his life. Of course, for an Orthodox Christian this is unacceptable.

Even if you don’t inject any mystical or magical signs, a tattoo “for beauty” is incompatible with the faith of Christ. The pursuit of fashion, excessive decoration of the body (not only with images, but also with overly pretentious clothing, bright makeup, etc.) - all this distracts a person from Christ and occupies his thoughts with earthly things. The Lord should always come first in the life of a Christian, and concern for the physical and external should remain within reasonable limits.

The attitude of the church towards tattoos

What to do if the tattoo was done a long time ago

Since many modern Christians gained faith as adults, we come to church with a lot of baggage of previous sins. And it is not uncommon for a person to come to faith whose lifestyle was previously very distant from moral standards. And if a person repents internally of moral sins, external changes sometimes remain visible for the rest of his life.

Of course, if a person realized that at one time he stumbled and got a tattoo in vain, he must definitely repent about it in confession. If it is technically possible, it is advisable to remove the tattoo, especially if it is an aggressive or angry image.

Repentance implies an obligatory refusal to repeat a sin. Avid tattoo artists very often fall into a certain kind of addiction to applying more and more new images to their bodies. We must understand that if a person goes to God and repents, he must refuse new tattoos for the rest of his life.

On the attitude of Orthodoxy to other aspects of life:

Some priests who strictly observe church canons may not allow a person with tattoos to take communion for a while. Such a decision by the priest can be caused not only by tattoos, but also by other serious sins.

Advice! In this case, it is important to be sure to resign yourself to this decision of the priest. He can assign some kind of penance - a penitential rule that must be fulfilled. This could be reading some prayers, helping the suffering, working in the temple.

If the penitent accepts such work as from the hands of God, he will feel great spiritual help. After completing the required work, the priest will read a prayer of permission, and the person will be able to begin the Sacraments.

Thus, tattooing a person has never been encouraged culturally or spiritually. The Lord created man in His image and likeness, and we have no right to modify this image. The body must be kept in order, health and neatness, and excessive adornment does not benefit the Christian.

Is it possible to get tattoos - the priest’s answer

"Glorify God both in your body and in your soul, which are God's"

(1 Cor. 6:20).

Are Christians allowed to have images on their bodies? To understand this, let’s turn to the Bible and patristic writings, the dogmas of ecumenical councils, as well as literature for preparing for confession, because it usually lists all kinds of sins in great detail. For a Protestant, there is only the authority of the Bible. A Catholic should listen to the decrees of the Pope and councils.

The dogmas of the Orthodox Church and the writings of the Church Fathers say nothing about this. Let us then turn to the Bible, it contains only 1 verse that clearly speaks of impaled images. Here he is:

“For the sake of the dead, do not make cuts on your body and do not write on yourself. I am the Lord.”
(Leviticus 19, 28).

In this case, the line above says:

“Do not shave your head round, and do not spoil the edges of your beard” (Leviticus 19:27).

These Old Testament quotes speak of the inadmissibility of adopting pagan rituals, that is, performing these actions for the sake of the deceased and for the glorification of pagan gods. If we assume that tattooing is clearly prohibited here, then we must also recognize the prohibition of cutting a beard. Moreover, the Gospel has abolished many old norms, such as rituals involving the blood of animals.

The New Testament says about the Antichrist:

“And he will cause everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead” (Rev. 13:16).

But it is also written:

“And it was said to it [the locust] that it should not harm the grass of the earth, or any green plant, or any tree, but only to people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Rev. 9:4).

“And I looked, and behold, a Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with Him an hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Rev. 14:1).

Does the mark or seal on the forehead have anything to do with a tattoo? It's impossible to say clearly. So, it appears that Scripture does not directly command anything for modern Christians regarding tattooing.

At the same time, we must remember that Christians live for the glory of God and strive with all their souls for the salvation of themselves and others. Following the words of the Apostle Paul, I will say that not everything that is permissible is useful, and not everything edifies. The concepts and morals of our time are already far from the covenants of Jesus Christ. People make body art to please people, to emphasize their beauty, to preserve the memory of worldly things. It’s not even worth putting the name of your loved one, because, firstly, God comes first, secondly, romance did not come from Christianity, but from the medieval military environment, and, finally, thirdly, real Christians love all sisters and brothers alike, they make no difference between relatives and step-brothers. Romantic love and Christian love are not the same thing.

You also cannot tattoo oriental symbols, that is, dragons, Japanese and Chinese characters, and the like. They express a completely different vision of the world, far removed from Christianity. So, a non-Christian tattoo for believers in Jesus is unacceptable. If salvation is the most important thing, then why just pay attention to worldly things?

In books for preparing for confession, there is no sin of tattooing, although such violations of God's law as dancing and crossing the road when the color is red are cited. In one of them, however, there is a phrase: “I sinned by following the godless customs of this world, and also wanting to please and seduce, I cut my hair and put on makeup (this violated God’s commandment about the appearance of a woman).” That is, any actions with unjust goals are condemned, and it is difficult to imagine Christian cosmetics.

According to the Orthodox faith, sacred images are needed, firstly, to remind us of God, sacred events, the instructive life of the Lord and the saints of God, secondly, to present the teachings of God, thirdly, to excite religious feelings in us, fourthly, to glorifying God with art, just as they glorify even people with all sorts of monuments, just as they glorify God with art - singing and music. (According to N.Yu. Varzhansky “Weapons of Truth”)

The Bible recognizes the possibility of correct sacred images:

“And thou shalt make the tabernacle of ten curtains of fine woven linen, and of blue, purple, and scarlet [wool], and thou shalt make cherubim on them with cunning work” (Ex. 26:1).

“Cherubim and palm trees were made: a palm tree between two cherubim, and each cherub had two faces. On one side the face of a man was turned to the palm tree, and on the other side to the palm tree was the face of a lion; this was done all around the temple” (Ezek. 41, 18-20).

Besides:

"Don't you know that your bodies essence temple the Holy Spirit living in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God and in your bodies and in your souls who are God's" (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

The temple has the correct images.

“Show them the appearance of the temple and its location... and all its images” (Ezek. 43:11).

Some argue that impaling is prohibited because it was used by pagans. If this is understood, then it is necessary to prohibit sacred images in general, because even before God’s command to make images of cherubim in the tabernacle, pagan peoples depicted their gods.

In the Christian world, tattooing is widely used by the Coptic Orthodox Church (Egypt); after baptism, a cross is made on the right wrist. Egyptian law requires showing your hand when applying for a job, because Copts are prohibited from leadership positions. Therefore, for example, men become loaders, and women become cleaners.

In any case, the question of salvation depends on the human soul, images and objects; formal execution of the rules alone cannot do this. When choosing a tattoo, you should not completely trust catalogs in tattoo parlors, because who created them is unknown, and any image reflects the inner world of the artist. It’s better to choose yourself and bring the finished sketch to the master. The master, performing a procedure with his own hand, unconsciously introduces a piece of his “I”. After all, only Christians, and not worldly artists, paint churches. Finding a truly religious tattoo artist in salons is not so easy. Today, most people perceive the owner of body painting as a thrill-seeker who lives for pleasure and satisfaction, and at the same time, a person who is firm enough to adhere to his rules. The images that are painted forever are looked upon as something mundane, but now it is almost a modern youth language. To bring other people to Christ, we must convey to them the lofty Christian truths of Orthodoxy in an accessible way.

In ancient times, painting on the body was done to demonstrate that a person belonged to a particular tribe, faith or status.

What do religious tattoos mean?

Today, tattoos in almost every case are of an aesthetic nature and are made to decorate areas of the body. But nevertheless, many contain a certain meaning in them.

Religious tattoos are applied by people who belong to one faith or another; they, as a rule, are performed not only for decoration, but also to protect a person from dark forces, to influence fate.

Each religion has certain symbolic signs, thanks to which it can be distinguished from others.

History of tattoo

Tattoos on a religious theme arose in ancient times. Ritual drawings were a unique mark of the religions of Palestine. In Christianity this was prohibited, but this did not lead to the extinction of tattoos in the faith. Pilgrims still practiced tattoos, which were applied by Coptic priests and made in the form of drawings of the Mother of God with Jesus, St. Peter. Icon tattoos could often be seen on a person’s body. Muslims decorated themselves with tattoos dedicated to Mecca and Medina. The symbol of the drawings was purification after death.

Facts were discovered about the controversial practice of similar ones that were applied in the Balkans. Bosnia and Croatia had their own unique character, but during the period of Muslim raids they acquired a different color. At this time, the warring parties left drawings on the bodies of women, showing that they belonged to their opponents.

Religious symbolism is of particular importance to believers; they apply tattoos to be closer to God, but not all religions are characterized by body changes. Religious tattoos have reached the level where they are considered a separate direction in tattoo practice. Such drawings are incredibly difficult to execute, and only an experienced craftsman should be trusted to apply them. Sometimes a tattoo with the image of a Saint can take quite a long time, but in the end the result is an incredible and unique picture.

Tattoos are a way of repentance

However, they are not always inflicted by believers, since faith is primarily an internal state. Such drawings can often be found on the bodies of criminals who resort to them for the purpose of repentance. As a rule, these are all kinds of domes and other religious symbols.

Christianity, both before and at the present moment, cannot accept religious tattoos, but also completely reject them. There is a quote in the Bible that explains this: “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the sake of the dead, nor shall you bear marks on your body.”

One thing is certain: tattoos related to religion are very relevant today. They are a means of protection from misfortunes and evil forces. In any case, whether to make a drawing on the body or not is everyone’s choice. But before you apply anything, you need to study the meaning of the tattoo, because it will be with you for life.

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The meaning of religious tattoos

Religious tattoos can be classified according to their affiliation with a particular religion:, or. Each of these religions is filled with certain symbolic signs that identify it among others.

Facts have survived to this day about the very controversial practice of religious tattoos that were carried out in the Balkans. Croats and Bosnians had somewhat unique tattoos; during the invasion they had a different color. When raids were carried out, the warring parties could leave tattoos on women’s bodies, emphasizing their ethnic and religious affiliation to any half of the opponents.

Many believers seek to get a tattoo with religious symbols in order to be closer to God, but although not all religions accept intentional changes to the body. And yet, religious tattoos can be considered a separate direction in the art of tattooing. Their depiction has reached a high level of skill and can be considered real creativity. Sometimes one such tattoo, for example, with the image of a saint’s face, is done for more than one day or even a week, when unique in beauty and skill are created.

Unfortunately, all modern tattoos cannot be called close in the spirit of religion and self-sacrifice, since they can often be found among criminals, and true believers do not make any distinctive signs. Criminals paint religious designs on their bodies after a critical moment to demonstrate their beliefs, attract attention and repent. The most common are tattoos

Are tattoos just fashion or something much more serious? Can a Christian get a tattoo if he really wants to? Archpriest Alexander Avdyugin reflects.

Tattoos in the life of a Christian

Fans of tattoos, seeing my rejection of them, immediately counterattack: they say, look at your Okhlobystin, all painted.

The technique of justification is old, well-known and, sadly, often works. Remember how parents were attacked with a request, where the main argument for fulfilling it was “everyone has it, and I want it.”

Ivan Okhlobystin:

Everyone knows that I led a rather controversial life. My tattoos are related to travel and drinking.

...There was a naked lady here, when I got married, it became uncomfortable. This is laser cut... Oh, if God forbid they burn me, then now I know what I smell like when I catch fire. The smoke in the room was knee-deep. Colored tattoos are also deep. Then I tattooed the text - “radiation”... But Oksanka and I got this tattoo for our wedding. She has exactly the same one. This is a unicorn, it is a symbol of purity. According to legend, only a virgin can pacify a unicorn. And these runes are in Ireland.

...When I said goodbye to the last motorcycle, I made this skull. I already have too many children to drive on two wheels. And this is one of the tattoos that bikers get that go away forever. This is one of the options - a skull with teeth grew into the ground, took root, and flowers grew from it. And I never got on a motorcycle again. They even offered it to me on the set.

But with tattoos the situation is different, here “I want” is only found in the negative, because any tattoo is an overt connection with paganism and the occult. Pagans made tattoos and cuts on the body either in honor of the dead, or in order to enter a trance during occult sessions. As soon as you want to summon the spirits, you get a tattoo, and to enter into unity with them, you get a tattoo. That is why the Lord warned in the Old Testament: “For the sake of the deceased, do not make cuts on your body and do not write on yourself. I am the Lord"(Leviticus 19:18). Also in Deuteronomy 14:1 “You are the sons of the Lord your God; “You shall not make any cuts on your flesh or cut off the hair above your eyes for the dead.”

So any tattoo, no matter how “harmless” it may be, is an abomination before God. It is with this impartial word that the Lord defines everything that relates to occult practices. Objections that a pinned flower or figurine are harmless in spiritual terms and are only made for beauty are absolutely incorrect.

The Lord created the human body perfect. Remember: “And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). There is no need to throw down the gauntlet to God with a challenge: “I will do better.” It couldn't be more beautiful. Perfection cannot be improved upon. There have been quite a few similar attempts. The result is sad. Because of these rational proposals for “change and improvement,” our earthly age has become shorter by many years, we live on a polluted earth, and in moral terms we remain in a geometric progression of sin.

In addition to the fact that a tattoo is a pagan symbol, another objective reality is added: its application can seriously change your life, make such changes against your will in your own way of thinking and character that it will be very difficult to correct them.

Konstantin Kinchev:

The skull in the helmet is a warrior who is ready to die for Christ. I would like to survive in difficult times and be closer to this warrior whom I carry on my arm. The tattoos signify the difficult path “Alice” went through. This is the girl Alice and the temptations that she encountered on her way in this fairy-tale world.

Regarding the fact that internal changes should lead to external ones, I can say the following. When I read from Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh that the body is the visible part of the soul, I stopped getting tattoos. Although the temptations to inject myself with something else come upon me with colossal force.

I was once quite skeptical about the story of a priest I knew about a girl who had a beautiful image of a butterfly tattooed on her forearm. The life of a previously quite morally prosperous woman changed dramatically. She turned into an outright harlot. The butterfly has been a symbol of fornication since ancient times.

My skepticism was defeated by my own priestly experience. The young man came to confession and instead of repenting of his sins, he kept complaining that everything in his life had been going wrong lately. Only his enemies surround him and everyone wishes him harm. We began to figure out when these troubles began. They came to a mutual decision: from then on there were troubles and troubles, like the tattoo he made with satanic symbols.

And another typical example. Not long ago I talked with a man who had visited not so distant places three times and spent a total of eleven years there. The man lamented:

- So, father, I decided to really “give it up”, but how can anyone look at my hands, completely filled with prison signs, and turn away. No smart work, no trust...

Tattoos are a scary thing. We insult God, and we create problems for ourselves that did not exist before.

How is the presence of God in the human heart determined? By external modesty and internal modesty. A tattoo is an escape from modesty, since you are trying to distinguish yourself, and at the same time it is a killer of modesty, because it harms the soul.

And one more characteristic feature of such a fashionable tattoo nowadays. Having decided to carry out such execution on your own body, you, in addition to the listed sins, are also engaged in self-mutilation. There are a colossal number of examples where tattooing becomes the cause of a wide variety of diseases, including AIDS. Visit a dermatologist and complain about a skin disease. The doctor's first question will be about the tattoo.

I go to church or down the street in a cassock - the girls shyly hide their cigarettes. The presenter on a TV show comes up to me with a question and pulls my short skirt lower. The confessor approaches the lectern and walks sideways so that I don’t see the tattoo on her opposite shoulder.

Why is this happening?

Because it's embarrassing.

So why do something that is shameful, harmful and humiliates you as the image and likeness of God?