Calvin carried out his reformation in Switzerland, while his teaching spread throughout southwestern Germany and Holland (the Reformation), France (the Huguenots), and Scotland, England and North America under the name of Presbyterianism. Calvin added to Lutheranism the teaching on “absolute predestination.” Luther had at least retained the basic principles of Christianity with only glimpses of Judaism, while in Calvin’s teaching, elements of Judaism and paganism are so obvious that Calvinism can barely be considered a Christian religion. “Absolute predestination” according to Calvin professes that God pre-eternally chose some people for salvation and others for damnation, irrespective of their will. Those predestined for eternal salvation comprise a small group of people chose by God by dint of His incomprehensible decision, irrespective of any merit on their part. On the other hand, no efforts can save those who are predestined to eternal damnation. Good and evil deeds serve only for the accomplishment of God’s will.

Why, then, did Jesus Christ teach us so meticulously how to live, how to labor spiritually, how to tread the narrow path? What sense is there, then, in prayers, repentance, correction of life?

The Calvinists quote various sayings of Apostle Paul (Romans, chapter 9), taken out of context, fragmentarily, and deduce from them some confirmation of Calvin’s teaching on predestination. These quotes may be understood correctly only within the framework of the entire chapter, in which the Apostle says that justification is not the fate solely of the Jewish people: “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel; neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all his children” (Romans 9:6-7). Here the apostle speaks out against the Jews who considered pagans to have been rejected by God, and only themselves to be the sons of the Heavenly Kingdom (by provenance and by fulfillment of the law of Moses). The apostle proves that the saving grace of God spreads to all people, and that God summons not only the Jews, but all pagans to salvation. Calvin’s teaching is greatly influenced by Judaism, especially when he teaches that only the elect are predestined to be saved, while all the others are condemned to damnation. In fact, however, the word of God teaches that “God will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4); “The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Calvin’s teaching contradicts the concept of God’s holiness. This concept is incompatible with the teaching that God Himself is the author and the cause of evil, having pre-eternally chosen some for salvation and others for damnation. Such an assertion shows the influence of paganism, which believed in the existence of an impersonal and fatal power called fate. Calvin’s teaching leads to moral disinterest and to indifference towards good and evil deeds.

Thus, Calvinism negates the freedom of will in man; acknowledges sin as a natural and inevitable manifestation against which all struggle is in vain, because even prayers and repentance are powerless against it; rejects the principles of Christianity and regards the sacraments in a purely symbolic light; believes that God’s presence in the Eucharist is only imaginary.

In Scotland Calvinism (Presbyterianism) was acknowledged by Parliament as the state religion in 1592. Presbyterians by the name of “Puritans” demanded from the English king the simplification of church services and the deletion of symbolism, such as: the image of the cross, using the sign of the cross during baptism, etc. The basic institution of the Presbyterians is their church community, headed by a presbyter elected by the parish. The rank of bishop has been deleted. The services consist of hearing prayers composed by the presbyter, his sermons, and the singing of psalms. They take communion while sitting at a long table. Marriages are blessed at home. There are no icons. The liturgy has been abolished, likewise the Creed (the prayer “Our Father” is not mandatory either).