On Fortune Telling

On the so-called Christmas Season fortune telling

Hegumen Job (Gumerov)

What is the Orthodox perspective on the Russian pastime of fortune telling at Christmas?

The desire to foresee, to know the future in advance, has been with man since ancient times. It is impossible to do so by earthly means alone. Man, limited by the laws of the physical world, inevitably resorts to supernatural forces. A question arises which requires a clear and resolute answer: what is the source of our knowledge of the future?

Holy Scripture shows us that the future is known only to God. The dark, demonic forces, as the Holy Fathers teach us, do not know the future. As immaterial beings, they are, however, better able than people to calculate and predict future events. Scripture also shows us the danger of turning to these forces, calling any divination hideous and a brazen sin before God (Deuteronomy 10-12).

In the book of Daniel there is an episode where the king Nebuchadnezzar turns to fortune tellers and magicians in the hope that they will interpret his dreams. Saint Daniel answers him: “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals the secrets” (Daniel 2:27-28).

In order for the Lord to reveal the future to a person, a strict and pure life is necessary, as is prayer and the fulfillment of God's commandments. And then God gives one knowledge of the future, according to his discretion, in the interest of our well-being. In order to enter into contact with demons, no ascetic achievement is required whatsoever. It merely suffices to employ well-known techniques. For this, however, the person pays a very high price – his spiritual health. Sometimes this ends in the person being possessed by demons. Even after repentance a scar still remains in one's soul.

The fortune telling which occurs during the Christmas season does not essentially differ  from divination during other times of the year. Even if people are not aware of it, but rather view it as a kind of exotic game, it does not become inoffensive. For the word has an existential power. Once spoken, it does not disappear, but goes into the infinite memory of God. On the day of judgment it will be presented for condemnation or for exoneration. The word used in magical formulas beckons the demons, even if one does not so desire. The existence of fortune telling in Russia during the Christmas season merely shows that certain sinful costumes can persist, for they are rooted in man's fallen nature.

In his time Saint John Chrysostom warned: “Willingly do not turn to fortune tellers, and if you are invited to them by others, even then do not accept... Man will always want to know the unseen, he especially wants to know about his troubles in advance, in order to avoid falling into distress... But if you resort to fortune telling, you will become unworthy of God's kindness and mercy, and thus you prepare for yourself a great deal of misfortunes.”