The Commandments of the Church — Five Rules of Orthodox Practice

What Are the Commandments of the Church

Alongside the Ten Commandments of God, revealed by God Himself to the prophet Moses, the Orthodox Church also has its own commandments of the Church — rules established to order the spiritual life of the faithful. These rules do not replace God’s law; rather, they are a practical help toward fulfilling God’s law in everyday life.

The commandments of the Church are most commonly listed as five basic rules: keeping Sunday and the feasts, fasting on appointed days, regular prayer, confession and communion, and respect for church order and the clergy. Different catechetical handbooks sometimes list them in a slightly different order or number, but the substance remains the same — they are guideposts for a devout life.

The Church, as the mother of the faithful, establishes these rules guided by two thousand years of the experience of the saints. She knows what nourishes the soul and what starves it, and so she prescribes a rhythm of prayer, fasting, and participation in the holy sacraments. Whoever accepts these rules not as a burden but as a remedy soon feels their beneficial effect.

The Difference from God’s Commandments

It is important to distinguish God’s commandments from the commandments of the Church. The Ten Commandments of God were given by God Himself, and they are eternal, unchanging, and binding on every person — they are the foundation of morality. The commandments of the Church were established by the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, and concern the practical organisation of spiritual life.

In other words, God’s commandments say what must be done and avoided in order to live righteously, while the commandments of the Church show how, through concrete practice — fasting, prayer, participation in worship — to maintain a living connection with God. The commandments of the Church add nothing to God’s law; they serve it and help us fulfil it more readily.

Keeping Sunday and the Feasts

The first commandment of the Church calls the faithful to keep Sunday — the day of Christ’s Resurrection — and the great feasts of the Church holy. This means refraining from unnecessary everyday work, attending the Divine Liturgy, and devoting that day to God, to prayer, and to works of mercy.

Sunday is not an ordinary day off, but “a little Pascha” — the weekly celebration of Christ’s victory over death. A Christian who regularly misses the Liturgy gradually loses connection with the Church and the source of grace. That is why the Church places this commandment first.

Fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays and During the Four Fasts

The second commandment of the Church concerns fasting. The Church prescribes fasting on Wednesday (in remembrance of Christ’s betrayal) and Friday (in remembrance of His crucifixion), as well as during the four great multi-day fasts:

1. Great Lent — the longest and strictest, before Pascha
2. The Apostles’ Fast (Peter’s Fast) — before the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
3. The Dormition Fast — before the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos
4. The Nativity Fast — before the Nativity of Christ

Fasting is not only abstinence from non-fasting food (meat, dairy, eggs), but also abstinence from sin, anger, and bad habits. Bodily fasting without spiritual effort remains empty. The degree of fasting should be suited to one’s health and discussed with a spiritual father.

Regular Prayer

The third commandment of the Church calls the believer to regular prayer — morning and evening prayers at home, prayer before and after meals, and participation in the communal prayer of the Church at services. Prayer is the breath of the soul; just as the body cannot live without air, so the soul cannot live without constant turning to God.

The Church does not ask only for occasional prayer in time of trouble, but for a steady rhythm of prayer that keeps a person in continual communion with God. A small but regular prayer rule is worth more than long prayers said only from time to time.

Confession and Communion

The fourth commandment of the Church obliges the believer to approach the holy sacraments of confession and communion at least four times a year — during each of the four great fasts. Confession is an encounter with God’s mercy, in which the sinner repents and receives forgiveness, and holy communion is union with Christ through His Body and Blood.

Communion is always preceded by confession, fasting, and prayerful preparation. Many devout believers approach these sacraments far more often than the prescribed minimum, for in them they find a source of spiritual strength. It is best to agree on the rhythm that suits you with your spiritual father.

Respect for Church Order and the Clergy

The fifth commandment of the Church calls the faithful to respect church order and the clergy. This means accepting the spiritual guidance of the priesthood, respecting the Church’s rules and canons, preserving peace and unity within the community, and supporting the Church in her mission.

A priest is not a master but a servant of God and of the faithful, appointed to minister the holy sacraments and guide the flock toward salvation. Respect for the clergy is not respect for the man for his own sake, but for the ministry he carries. A believer who respects church order builds up both his own soul and the community to which he belongs.

The commandments of the Church, then, are not a checklist of obligations to be dispatched, but a framework for a healthy spiritual life. Whoever accepts them with love discovers that they do not confine but liberate — leading the heart toward peace, order, and closeness with God.