To the Levites, God proclaimed: ‘Let you and your sons and your households eat this (tithes), for this is your recompense, in the service of your place, which is in the temple of the vision’ (Num. 18:31). This noble practice of tithing in support of the Church carried over from the Old Law to the Christian community and remained in effect for many years. Saint Vladimir, the great prince of Russia, brought enlightenment through holy baptism and established church tithes to provide for God's ministers. Today, in Kiev, a testament to this tradition still exists in a church known as the Tithe Church, which was named for the tithes contributed to it. However, this ancient practice has largely diminished in Russia, even though it persists in some other Christian nations. Those who serve God and continually intercede for the people should partake of the offerings made by the faithful. Just as soldiers fighting for their homeland receive support from those who remain behind, so too should the spiritual warriors, battling for all believers against unseen foes, receive alms from Christians for their sustenance. In response to those who do not contribute and complain about Christ's servants as if they were overly affluent, St. Chrysostom offers this insight: ‘Think, what gave the Jews (priests and Levites) tithes, beginnings, more tithes, and still other tithes, and still other tithes, and nobody said that (priests) eat much, for the more is accepted, the greater is recompensed and recompense to the giver. They did not say then: they take a lot, they eat a lot, - as nowadays I hear some saying’ (Chrysostom. On the Epistle to the Philippians, conversation 9). Let us also consider a historical event from the reign of the Greek king Zinon. In a region called Norikia, a holy man named Severinus, known for his miracles, lived among the people. He taught them to provide tithes to sustain God's servants and assist the poor. When they were reluctant to comply, their fields, initially flourishing and ready for harvest, soon fell victim to blight that threatened to ruin their crops. Recognizing the Lord's judgment on their reluctance to give, the people came to Saint Severinus seeking repentance and mercy. He responded, ‘If you had tithed to the servants of God and the needy, you would have received eternal rewards and abundance in this life; but since you now acknowledge your faults, I assure you by God's grace that this rye, though it appears bountiful, will not ruin your harvest—provided that from now on your faith remains steadfast.’ After this, he instructed them to fast, and soon rain fell upon their fields, washing away the blight, leading to a plentiful harvest. This illustrates that giving to the needy and supporting those who serve God enriches the giver rather than diminishing them; conversely, the possessions of the stingy are diminished rather than increased. It is certain that one who not only fails to give but also covets the wealth of others will not prosper.
THEOSIS