How to receive communion in church. Is it necessary to give communion to a child? After Communion it is necessary

The Orthodox Church was founded by Jesus Christ and since then has preserved everything destined by him. And the Son of God in his Gospel commanded communion in the church. He even asserted that those who do not partake of this Holy Sacrament cannot inherit its Kingdom. Only the communicant can be saved and united with God.

Considering that the Eucharist in the church uses wine and bread, this requirement seems completely meaningless. Many even ask: “How can this piece bring me closer to God?”

Doubts

These doubts are understandable, because we are the heirs of the era of rationalism. But the Orthodox Church preaches a completely different approach to a person’s spiritual life. Many people believe that in order to be a good Christian, one must do good deeds and not do bad ones. This is a somewhat simplified scheme that is more typical of Catholicism. Orthodoxy demands much more from its followers.

This is impossible!!!

An Orthodox person who lives a spiritual life treats himself very carefully. Not only actions, but also words and thoughts can be sinful. If a person is able to refrain from bad actions for some time, then he has absolutely no control over his thoughts. Every mortal makes mistakes and slips almost every hour. The Lord said that even one who has sinned once cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. How can a person who sincerely wants to become better, to be saved?

It's really impossible

Even if a Christian makes every effort to improve himself, he will not reach the required height.

Besides God and man, there are angels in the world. These are special creatures. They are very smart, fast, almost magical, but still limited by time and space. Moreover, not all perfumes are kind and bright. There are a huge number of evil messengers who have fallen away from God and have been fighting man since the moment of the first temptation. Fallen angels are called demons (demons, devils). Offering people all sorts of nasty things and sins is their main job. They deceive people, try to tempt them. Demons can communicate with a person without his consent, non-verbally, so that the person does not even suspect that these are not his own thoughts. Since demons are much smarter than humans, no one can defeat them on their own.

Dangerous mistakes

If a person thinks that everything is going well, then there is a high probability that he is developing exorbitant arrogance. And since “God opposes the proud,” the matter of saving such a Christian is in a very deplorable state. You cannot rely on your own strength in this matter. If salvation had been possible without the intervention of the Son of God, He would not have come, would not have suffered, would not have died, and would not have commanded the sacrament to people.

Communion in church is the only hope

Bread and wine turn into the Body and Blood of Christ. Only by tasting the Blood and Body of Christ, uniting with Him in this way, can a person overcome all temptations and really take a step upward. There is no other way, and if there was, the Son of God would not become incarnate and give his life on the cross.

Sacrament tradition

Communion in church is the main thing that the first Christians preserved. Everyone took communion often then, almost every day. Nowadays spiritual life is rarely so active. Communion in church requires special preparation. It is performed at the end of the morning service, which is called the Liturgy. It is also traditional for Orthodox Christians to give communion to children in church, while Catholics and Protestants do not do this. Orthodox Christians introduce children to the Holy Sacraments from infancy. If you want to take communion in church, you must read the rules and make a confession first. Preparation for the Eucharist is a separate topic, very voluminous.

I regularly take communion in church to cleanse myself of accumulated negativity, feel even better connected to God and be filled with the amazing energy of the temple. I will tell you in detail about the meaning of communion and the features of the ritual that are important to know if you are going to perform it.

Communion or communion is the oldest church rite, the history of which began back at the time of the Last Supper. The rite and its “regulations” were established by the Son of God himself. Christ broke off the bread with his own hands and distributed it to the disciples-apostles, saying that this was his body, and the wine was his blood.

The sacrament of communion has its own deep religious and sacred meaning. The ritual symbolizes the restoration of unity and harmony between man and God, which existed in the Garden of Eden before the original sin committed by Eve and Adam.

The meaning of communion is to give the beginnings of a new life in the heavenly kingdom. The sacrament of communion is inseparable from the image of Jesus, who, at the cost of his own life and shed blood, saved the human race and atoned for all its sins. And in the name of this sacrifice, a person, agreeing to receive communion, helps restore the flesh and blood of God’s son.

It is noteworthy that it is during the sacrament of communion that in the Orthodox Church it is allowed to eat flesh (meat) and wine. It is believed that the killed body of an animal in this case symbolizes the incorruptible Divine nature. The meat nourishes the soul, which is then reborn during Baptism.

How to take communion in church

Almost everyone has heard the name of this rite, but few people understand how to properly receive communion in church. I'll tell you about the basic rules and give recommendations.

It is important to understand that communion in church is a rite that assumes that a person is ready to transform both his body and shake his soul.

What is important to observe when preparing for the ceremony, during and after it:

You must be as aware as possible of what you are getting into. Understand why you need it. Not out of curiosity, but for what? Answer this question honestly, and you will understand whether you need a ritual at all.
There is such energy in the temples that most people feel a certain awe, a feeling of sacred reverence. If you are completely indifferent, perhaps you should not think about how to take communion. Your soul is not ready - it does not feel connected to God.
Only a sincere believer should receive communion. Otherwise, what is the point of this action? The event will affect only those who feel, understand God, believe in him and want to enlist his support.
Before the ceremony, you need to understand the whole meaning of this great sacrament in order to fully understand what will happen.
Communion in church has its own rules - the state of a person’s soul must be peaceful and calm. It is better to clear yourself of negative emotions, grievances and claims in advance. Internal state and emotions are extremely important.

How to properly take communion in church: rules

So, how does communion take place in church?

The entire ceremony takes place in strictly regulated stages. It is important to know how to behave at any given moment. The recommendations are as follows:

On the eve of communion, special evening services are held in churches, during which the priest says prayers with special religious meaning.
On the day of communion, it is better to come to church early, before all the action begins.
When the ceremony begins, you must listen silently to the priest. Do not leave the temple until the end of the prayer. Stand and listen until the priest leaves the place at the altar and calls everyone to take communion.
As soon as the invitation follows, people in the temple line up in the following sequence: children, sick, disabled and old people, men, women.
While queuing, you need to keep your hands on your chest, folding them crosswise. Important: as soon as your turn comes to the cup, you do not need to cross yourself - this is not customary during communion.
When you are near the priest, introduce yourself and open your mouth. They will put a spoon in it, which you need to lick with your lips. Then blot them with a handkerchief and kiss the edge of the bowl.
It is very important to go through the ceremony in silence. Do not contact anyone, do not approach the icons. After receiving the sacrament, simply step away and take the wine and holy water.
After you find yourself at home and the ritual is completed, read prayers, turning to God or the saints with thanks.

Watch a video about what it means to take communion in church:

What then?

After you have received Holy Communion, it is important to follow certain recommendations. It is necessary to avoid negativity, not to let it into your soul. Follow the commandments and not commit sins. Repeat the sacrament periodically. It’s great if you have the opportunity to come to the temple for this at least once a month.

This will help your soul cleanse itself of all the bad and negative to make room for positive events and joyful emotions.

A long refusal to take communion is a real disaster for a person. Sins, passions, and negativity accumulate in his soul. The farther you go, the more there are. All this poisons life from the inside and corrodes the soul. That’s why it’s so important to visit the temple occasionally and cleanse yourself of all this.

But, of course, you need to come to church only consciously, and not because “it’s necessary.” Only a sincere desire and understanding of the process and its religious significance will make sense.

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Orthodox Christians treat church sacraments with special trepidation and respect. And if some of them are more understandable, not everyone knows such communion in church.

Under this concept lies a sacred act, thanks to which Divine grace descends on a person. It cannot be seen with the eyes, but it can be felt with all the heart.

There are seven main sacraments: marriage, priesthood, confirmation, baptism, repentance and communion. Jesus Christ told the world about the last three of them. What is communion in church, how and why is it done. This is one of the most revered sacred rites. It also has a second name – Eucharist, which means “thanksgiving”.

During its execution, the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ occurs. Participants receive these sacred gifts of purification by participating in the sacrament.

The fact is that the church considers not only the material essence of a person, but to a greater extent its spiritual component. And just as the flesh needs food to maintain physical life, so the soul needs spiritual food.

The procedure for conducting the sacrament of communion was inherited by priests from ancient times, when the birth of the Church of Christ took place.

All actions are performed exactly as it was at the last supper of Christ with his apostles. Then Jesus Christ himself, breaking bread, blessed his disciples. Wine was taken from a common bowl, dipping pieces of bread into it.

Note! Thanks to tasting divine gifts, a person is cleansed of passions, receives peace and harmony with the external and internal world.

Meaning

What does the Eucharist give to a believer, and why is it necessary for an Orthodox Christian. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifice that the Savior made in the name of every person. His body was nailed to the cross and his blood was shed so that every sinner could gain eternal life.

According to Orthodox doctrine, when the Day of Judgment comes, those who have undergone the ritual of communion after the resurrection will be able to reunite with God.

Sin is inevitable on earth, and just as contaminated blood requires renewal, so the soul suffers if it does not receive strength for restoration. And the believer finds it through thanksgiving.

Everyone who receives the blood and body of Christ is cured of passions, finds peace and joy of life. He will take a conscious step towards purification, improvement and salvation of the soul. This is the meaning of the sacrament.

Timing

A true Christian life is not led by the one who attends church on holidays and gives alms, but by the one who tries to live by faith and keep the commandments that were given by Christ. This is the only way to fulfill the will of God. But faith in which there is no love is dead and cannot serve as a road to eternal life.

People wonder how often communion is needed in church. The answer will be ambiguous; different demands were made in different eras. At the dawn of Christianity, believers received communion daily, and those who missed the sacrament three times were considered to have “fallen away” from the church and were excluded from the community.

Over time, the tradition has changed, and now the clergy do not insist on the same frequency. But it is recommended to take communion at least once a year. In Tsarist Russia, parishioners received thanksgiving before fasting, for example, on the day when they celebrated their name day.

You can participate in the sacrament on the twelve feasts celebrated by the church. But the most correct advice would be this: take communion at the behest of your soul. This should not be a clear schedule, but an internal spiritual message. Otherwise, the sacrament loses its main value and meaning for a person.

Before undergoing the sacrament, careful preparation is required: reading the sequence and canons, observing fasting. Without sincere faith, without effort and achievement, it is impossible to receive salvation.

During the sacrament, you must take a submissive pose, crossing your arms in front of you on your chest and bowing your head, approach the clergyman, and say your name. Having received the gifts, one must kiss the cup with the Holy Gifts and peacefully step aside, giving way to the next communicant.

Having received the prosphora and water, called “warmth” in the church, you need to drink it and eat a piece of the prosphora.

It is important to be extremely careful not to catch the cup, so it is better not to cross yourself while being close to it. After communion, you should not rush to leave the temple. You must wait until the end of the service. When the priest finishes his sermon from the pulpit, come up and kiss the cross. After this you can leave the temple.

Important! Throughout the day, you should try to maintain peace of mind and avoid quarrels and conflicts. Spend time praying or reading the Bible in a quiet environment.

The Church teaches that confession and communion help cleanse the soul, lighten it, filling it with healing power and grace. A person becomes more sensitive to bad deeds, realizes the boundary between good and evil, strengthens in true faith and finds the strength to resist temptation.

Another question that worries parishioners is who can receive communion. Any person who has received holy baptism has the right to participate in the sacrament.

Moreover, this is highly desirable and even obligatory for a Christian, but it cannot be approached without preliminary preparation of soul and body. The ritual is preceded by prayer, fasting and confession of one’s sins.

Interesting! What is: when and how to pray correctly.

Set of rules

The Eucharist, like other church sacraments, has its own laws. So, in order to undergo repentance, you need to listen to your soul and come to church when it asks.

Preparing for communion in church is not only about following the instructions, but about prayer, sincere faith and a special mental attitude.

Rules to follow:

It is important to be in awe of the upcoming event.
Understand the meaning of the sacrament itself.
Sincerely believe in God and his son.
Feel peace and forgiveness.

This must be known and followed.

Preparation

The culmination of the Divine Liturgy is communion; preparation for it requires time and effort. During the main church service, believers turn to God with gratitude for saving humanity from sin.

Before or after the liturgy, a general confession takes place, provided for those who repented individually no later than a month ago.

It is important to know! You cannot begin communion without confessing your sins. An exception is provided for children under 7 years of age, but parents must prepare for them.

In order for repentance of sins to proceed correctly, it is necessary to think about your actions in advance and correlate them with the commandments of Christ. It is important to try to forgive everyone and not hold evil in your heart.

Prayer canon to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Canon to the Guardian Angel.

At midnight, stop eating. With the permission of the priest, an exception may be made for pregnant, nursing women, children and the severely weakened.

First Communion

Only church members have the right to take part in church sacraments. The first time a child becomes a participant in this ritual is immediately after baptism has been performed.

The clergy teach that after receiving communion in church, the baby receives the protection of a Guardian Angel who will accompany him throughout his life.

It is recommended that the children be accompanied by their biological parents and those who will become their godfathers and godmothers. Some of them will bring the child to the Chalice, some will help calm him down if he bursts into tears or is capricious.

You can learn about what the first joining to God is like from special literature, which talks about what needs to be prepared.

If the child is not yet three years old, then he is allowed to relax the fast and eat in the morning, but so that this happens no later than thirty minutes before participating in the sacrament.

It is important that the little person feels good and calm. To do this, you need to avoid noisy games and other entertainment that can overstimulate the nervous system. It is necessary to ensure that the clothes the child wears are convenient and comfortable, and nothing bothers him.

You don’t have to buy expensive outfits for your first communion in church and wear fancy hairstyles. What is important here is something completely different. In addition, expensive suits can cause envy among poor families, so parents should be wise and dress their child cleanly, but not pompously.

The clergy will explain how infants receive communion and what is necessary for this. The child is held on the right hand, holding it so that he cannot accidentally knock over the Thicket or push the priest.

If for some reason it was not possible to take communion immediately after baptism, it is better to do it as soon as possible, as soon as the opportunity arises.

There have been cases more than once when a sick child, having received thanksgiving, began to feel much better and soon completely recovered.

The Eucharist is a step that leads to real Christian life, so it is not surprising that church ministers recommend participating in it every Sunday.

When should first communion take place? A child begins to confess at about 8 years of age. But age is not the main guideline; the main indicator that a son or daughter is ready for this is that they begin to consciously commit bad acts.

Having noticed this, parents should prepare the child for a year with the help of a spiritual mentor to fulfill God’s Commandments and repentance.

How to fast

It is always necessary to observe a liturgical fast before communion, which involves abstaining from food and water for 24 hours. You can ask the priest what to eat and drink on such days. It should be lean food.

But fasting is not only about introducing food restrictions. It is necessary to get a mental mood, and this can only be done by consciously avoiding entertainment events, watching entertainment and music shows.

Both the body and soul of a person should strive for purity. Even married couples should avoid physical intimacy the day before communion. This must be done consciously.

And if a certain relaxation in food is introduced for the sick and children, then strict fasting begins exactly at midnight. In the morning you should go to the temple on an empty stomach, and those who suffer from the sin of smoking should abstain from this addiction for a while.

Preparation procedure:

For exactly three days it is necessary to refrain from various delights and give preference to modest food: dishes from cereals, vegetables, fish, nuts and fruits are allowed.
Alcohol, meat, milk and eggs are prohibited.
Try not to get into conflicts and not to swear.
In your thoughts, strive for good, driving away envy, anger, and resentment.
Refrain from any kind of entertainment.
Keep your body strict, avoiding pleasures, watching entertainment programs and reading romance novels.
Keep the commandments of Christ, make peace with those with whom you are in quarrel.

Now it is much easier for believers to abstain from food. Modern manufacturers offer a sufficient range of lean products, which in terms of taste are in no way inferior to real ones.

The table lists what you can eat during Lent before communion itself:

Useful video: Preparing for Communion

Let's sum it up

There are no age restrictions for receiving the holy gifts. The doors of the church are always open to those who want to let God into their body and gain unity with him.

Communion should not be scary, and preparation for it should take place with the blessing of the priest. And if you have never had to take part in this sacrament before, you should not be afraid of something new. Trust the Lord, and with his help everything will work out.

We often hear questions: communion in the Orthodox Church - what it is, how to prepare for it, and why, in fact, it is needed. Since these questions are important and necessary, we decided to give a detailed explanation of this most important Sacrament to those interested in Orthodoxy and beginners, based on the Holy Scriptures.

To maintain the life of the human body, nutrition is necessary: food, drink; as well as treatment if he is sick. The human soul, as a substance of a more subtle organization, needs to be reinforced with special – life-giving spiritual food. Like a loving mother, she never leaves her child, but cares and takes care of him; Moreover, the Lord does not abandon His creation, but provides for man, sends him an abundance of earthly fruits for food and feeds His faithful children with the most precious, immortal and incorruptible Food: with Himself - His Most Pure Body and Blood, taught to us in the sacrament of Communion.

Communion is a sacrament in which an Orthodox Christian, under the guise of bread and wine, partakes (partakes) of the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Through Communion, a person is most closely united with Christ, becomes involved in Christ for the renewal and strengthening of a person’s spiritual and physical strength and their inheritance of eternal life.

The Lord tells us about the sacrament of Communion :

“I am the Bread of Life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and died; The bread that comes down from heaven is such that whoever eats it will not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this Bread will live forever; The bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (Gospel of John, chapter 6, v.: 48-51). “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My true Flesh is Drink. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in him.” (Gospel of John: ch. 6, v.: 53-56).

Why do you need to take communion?

So, we see that in order to unite with God and have eternal life, we need to receive communion. If a person has blood poisoning, then the only way to save his life is to transfuse him with healthy blood. Likewise with the human soul, infected with sin, the only way to save it is a “transfusion” of healthy Blood, which only Christ Himself has. And, as the holy fathers of the church said, after partaking of Communion, “The Blood of Christ flows in our veins,” “we become co-corporeal with Christ.” After all, a diseased and destroyed organ in the human body is replaced by a healthy one through a transplant so that the person can live on.

So in the spiritual sense, the Body of Christ replaces with itself the part of the human soul that is sick with passions and sinful ulcers, nourishes it and gives life: “For we are members of His Body, of His Flesh and of His Bones” (Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians: ch. .5, art. 30). Through Holy Communion, the Lord Himself, in His Most Pure Flesh, enters a person, giving him peace, cleansing from sins, and joy from the close presence of the Lord. In the sacrament of Communion, a Christian tastes the “immortal source”, receives the ability to improve spiritually, to be one of the participants in a blissful and immortal life, which, for a person who reverently partakes of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, begins here on earth, and is the guarantee of his resurrection and eternal life.

The history of the appearance of the Eucharist

The Sacrament of Communion is also called the Eucharist, which translated from Greek means “thanksgiving.” The service at which the sacrament of Communion is celebrated is called the Liturgy (it is performed in the morning, and sometimes at night), which means “public service.” The Holy Eucharist (sacrament of Communion) in the Orthodox Church is the “Sacrament of Sacraments,” the heart of the Church, its basis and foundation, because without it the existence of the Church itself is unthinkable.

The Sacrament of the Eucharist was established by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself at His last supper with His disciples - the Last Supper, on the eve of the Savior's Passion on the Cross.

He Himself performed this Sacrament: “And while they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and giving it to the disciples, said, Take, eat: this is My Body. And taking the Cup and thanking (God the Father for His mercy to the human race), he gave it to them (the disciples) and said: drink from it, all of you; for this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Gospel of Matthew: ch. 26, v. 26-28)

The holy evangelist Luke complements the narrative of the evangelist Matthew - while teaching the disciples the Holy Bread, the Lord said to them: “... Do this in remembrance of me.” (Gospel of Luke: 22, v.:19-20); the same is said in the Gospel of Mark: chapter 14, v. 22-24, in the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians: ch. 11, v.: 23-26.

After the Resurrection of the Savior, the disciples of Christ gathered on the “day of the sun” (now this day is called Sunday and in the church, as before, it is the first day of the week (week)) for the “breaking of bread.” Initially, it was a meal during which the Holy Scriptures were read, psalms were sung, a sermon was preached, and prayer was carried out. Sometimes the meal lasted all night.

Gradually (over time, communities expanded), from the supper-dinner Eucharist was transformed into a divine service, which in our modern church also begins in the evening: the evening service is the first part of the Sunday (or holiday) service, and the morning - Liturgy - its second part, in during which the holy sacrament of the Eucharist is actually performed.

How often should you take communion?

The first Christians took communion every Sunday. Nowadays, unfortunately, not many people can approach this Sacrament so often due to various circumstances. On average, it is recommended to take communion at least once a month. Well, or at least every post, of which there are four in a calendar year, which means at least four times a year. But no less than once a year - this is, so to speak, the “very minimum”.

Some people rarely approach the sacrament of Communion, considering themselves unworthy of this holy Sacrament; for others, communion has generally turned into a formality: a tradition, “for show,” or something like that, when people without proper preparation, awareness of the great Sacred and feelings of reverence, or in general, running past, “running in” to take communion.

Actually, a person is not completely worthy, due to the sinfulness of his nature, of this great Sacrament, since all people are sinners, and the Eucharist was given to us by the Lord for this purpose, in order to make us purer in heart and soul and, accordingly, more worthy of this Divine gift. Based on the above, it is better to decide how often to receive communion individually with your confessor or with the priest to whom a person confesses, based on his spiritual age (level).

How to prepare for the sacrament of Communion?

The Holy Fathers of the Church emphasized that those who approach this holy sacrament must be ready to meet Christ Himself - but how could it be otherwise, since we eat the Body and Blood of the Lord Himself!

Preparation for communion should not be limited to just reading some prayers and abstaining from any food - first of all, readiness for communion is determined by purity of conscience, absence of enmity against neighbors or resentment towards anyone, peace in relations with people: “If you If you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar and go, first be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Hebrews from Matt., : Chapter 5, Art. 23-24). An obstacle to communion is grave sins committed by a person, which must be repented of in confession.

Before receiving the Holy Mysteries, an Orthodox Christian tries to spiritually gather and concentrate. You need to prepare yourself for Communion by fasting, which consists of fasting, prayer, and doing good deeds (which, however, a Christian should always do, because “faith without works is dead”). Before receiving communion, a Christian must clear his conscience, and for this, according to the tradition of the Russian Church, he must come to confession to receive forgiveness for his sins.

Everyone who wishes to begin the Sacrament of Communion, firstly, must be baptized in the Orthodox faith, since through baptism a person becomes a member of the Church and receives the right to receive communion. Secondly, he must clear his conscience, which is facilitated by fasting and prayer. “Let a man examine himself, and in this way let him eat of this bread and drink of this cup. For whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation for himself, without considering the Body of the Lord.” (1st Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians: chapter 11, art.: 28-29).

That is, a person must realize that in front of him in the holy Chalice is not ordinary food, not ordinary bread and wine, but the immortal Table of the Lord - the Most Pure Body and Blood of the Lord Himself, the Lord Himself, which one must partake of with the fear of God, reverence and faith. A person’s irreverent attitude towards the Sacrament exposes him to judgment and condemnation. One of the teachers of the Orthodox Church wrote:

“Bread and wine are seen in the cup, and bread and wine are smelled, but the Holy Mysteries are revealed and revealed through their action. Thus, God, hidden by humanity, was revealed.”

This is because of the Lord’s immeasurable love for us, and his boundless mercy, because of his condescension towards
We feel bread and wine in weak human nature.

It must be said that when, feeling his sinfulness, a person does not approach Holy Communion by his own decision, this is an act of pride, since only a priest can deny access to Communion. Contrition from the awareness of one's sinfulness is not an obstacle for a Christian to perceive the Eucharist as a holiday and joy from union with the Lord, because the Divine Blood washes away our sins and heals our sinful ulcers.

And so, we examined what spiritual preparation for the Holy Sacrament consists of. Now let's look at the physical side of this preparation.

When we are expecting a visit from a person who is very important and authoritative for us, we clean our house: sweep, wash, polish. Similar to this, but only many times more carefully, we must prepare our home - the body - to receive the Lord Himself. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians says:

“...Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own?” (St. Paul, 1st epist. to Cor.: 6, 18-19)

The holy apostle likens the human body to a temple - how responsible is this and how can one not prepare one’s body for Communion?

Before communion you must:

. If this is not one of the four fasts of the calendar year, then it is recommended to fast for an average of three days, where seven days are recommended, and for some - at least one day. It is better to decide in advance individually with the priest. During fasting they do not eat food of animal origin, and during strict fasting they do not eat fish - this can also be discussed with the priest. During fasting, one abstains from marital intimate relations.
On the eve of Communion you are supposed to attend an evening service. Different churches have different starting times, usually it starts: where at 14.00 o'clock, where at 15.00 o'clock, at 16.00 o'clock, at 17.00 o'clock - you need to find out this in advance in the church where you plan to go to the evening service.
In the evening, on the eve of Communion, you need to read (in the sense of not just “reading” - as they sometimes say, but, while reading, delve into the meaning of what is being read - praying): evening prayers (“Prayers for those coming to bed”) and three canons: “Canon of Repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ”, “Canon of prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos” and “Canon of the Guardian Angel”. The Canon for Communion is also read (It is contained in the “Follow-up to Holy Communion”).
After midnight (after 24 hours) they no longer eat or drink anything, since it is customary to begin the Sacrament of Communion on an empty stomach.
In the morning, after the Morning Prayers, they finish reading that they didn’t have time in the evening. (It happens that in the evening they do not read the Canon from “Following to Holy Communion”, but in the morning, after the morning prayers, they read the entire “Following to Holy Communion”).
obligatory, which in some churches is held in the evening after (during) the evening service, in others - in the morning before (during) the liturgy. It is also advisable to clarify this in advance. In which part of the temple confession is held - you can also ask the temple servants.

During Communion

After confession, all believers line up (in line to the Chalice you should not talk, but pray) to the solea (the elevation on which the iconostasis stands, protruding significantly forward), to the center of the solea - to the pulpit (at the level of the Royal Doors, with steps).
When the Chalice with the Gifts is brought out, immediately make three prostrations in front of the Chalice (touching the forehead to the floor), but not in front of the Chalice itself, so as not to knock it over, but at a distance from it, stand in turn, fold your arms crosswise on your chest (right hand on top left) as a sign of his humility before the Lord.
When it’s your turn, go up to the Chalice, no longer crossing yourself or bowing (so as not to catch the Chalice), say your full name (Ivan, not Vanya; Natalya, not Natasha, etc.), open your mouth wide and, Having taken Communion, immediately swallow it and kiss the edge of the cup.

Then, without talking, go to the table on which there are cups of “warmth” (warm water for drinking Communion, to which a little wine can sometimes be added) and eat a piece of prosphora lying on a plate on the same table. Step aside so as not to disturb other participants.

After communion, you need to be there until the end of the liturgy and, only in extremely urgent circumstances, leave the church before the end of the liturgy (venerate the cross brought out by the priest (kiss the cross) and leave the church after closing the Royal Doors.

After Communion

After communion you must:

1) Read “Prayers of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion” (all of the above prayers and canons are in almost any book of “Prayers”).
2) On the day of communion, abstain from marital intimate relations.

In the Eucharist, the Lord cleanses, sanctifies and deifies man. In this Holy Sacrament, the grace of the Holy Spirit transforms bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ and transforms the person receiving communion from one darkened by sins into one enlightened by the Divine light and free from the heavy burden of sins. Having accepted the Mysteries of Christ, we already carry Christ Himself within us. It’s as if we are carrying a cup filled to the brim with Divine grace - if we are careless, we will spill the contents of the cup, and if we stumble and fall, we will lose all its contents. From the moment of Communion, preparation for the next Eucharist should begin and you need to monitor your spiritual state and protect it from sin. And if, due to the weakness of human nature or because of our negligence, we stumbled, fell, sinned again, do not hesitate, rush to the doctor of our souls: repent and confess, receive the sacrament of Holy Communion for the salvation of the soul and eternal life.

It would be more correct if you, dear Masha, yourself approach the clergyman of the temple where you plan to go for Communion (or at least the clergyman of another Orthodox church) and as he blesses (i.e. says, allows) you to do so, you will do so . He will tell you how many prayers to read from the Rule for Communion - sometimes beginners are allowed to read only part of the rule, because... It is not short and may be difficult to read in its entirety at first. But it is better to do all this with the blessing of a clergyman.
After 24 hours on the night before Communion, you cannot eat or drink anything until you receive Communion.

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How to fast before communion, can you explain in more detail?

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In the Orthodox Church there is such a concept as the sacrament of communion; it is also called the Eucharist. Communion is the Lord’s blessing for the remission of sins and filling Christians with His grace. If you have decided to visit the temple for this purpose, then our article will explain to you all the related issues.

The main thing in the article

What is the sacrament of communion in the Orthodox Church: what does it give and what is it needed for?

Not every person who wears a cross and who was baptized in the Orthodox Church can call himself a Christian. A person becomes a believer when he begins to participate in the life of the church and observe all its canons. . In other words, he is in spiritual unity with God.

For our ancestors, who professed the Orthodox faith, it was unthinkable to be called Christians and not observe the sacrament.

The Sacrament of Communion was instituted by Jesus Christ even before he was betrayed and sent to torture. At the Last Supper, the Savior established the sacrament of communion among his disciples. He blessed the daily bread and wine as his own flesh and blood, thereby commanding his apostles, and through them, their other successors, to perform this good deed.

By performing the sacrament of communion, a person has the opportunity to be cleansed of sin and receive healing of the soul. There is an opportunity to improve your life for the better, to transform your human essence.

How is communion celebrated in church?

If you are a true believer, then must properly prepare for communion (read more about this below). By doing this you will express gratitude and respect to the Lord. You need to come to the decision to take communion not out of a sense of duty, your soul must consciously strive for this.

The concepts of confession and holy communion are inseparable . You will not be able to receive communion if you do not confess first.

Confession is repentance before the Lord God about the sins committed, denial of committing further sins. You, a servant of God, in the presence of a priest, voice all the sins for which you ask God for forgiveness. In turn, the priest helps you through prayer to cleanse yourself of your sins. You also need to prepare for confession:

Early think about possible sins that you have committed. First of all, pay attention to those committed acts that bother you and interfere with your life. But do not forget about other disobediences of faith that, at first glance, seem less significant (check out the list).

If it is difficult for you to voice your sins out loud, then you can write a note and give it to the priest, he will do it for you. Only at the moment of confession you need to sincerely realize your mistakes - you will not hide anything before God.

After preparing for communion and confession, the priest gives the blessing to receive communion.

As a rule, the sacred action occurs in this way:

In the morning a person comes to confession, after which the service in the church begins.
Then the priest brings out a cup of red wine, symbolizing the blood of the Savior.
Then, one by one, without jostling, people approach the priest to take a little wine from a spoon.
After drinking red wine, the Orthodox Christian steps aside, where church ministers give him a piece of prosphora with holy water, symbolizing the flesh of Christ.
Children are allowed to receive communion first; until they are seven years old, they may not prepare for communion.
At this point, the procedure for receiving the sacrament of communion is considered completed.

What are the days of communion in church?

You can receive the sacrament of communion on any day when there is a church service. This Christian service has a name - liturgy. To avoid mistakes, talk in advance with the priest or church officials about the exact day of communion. As a rule, church services must be held on Saturday and Sunday.

The exception is Great Lent before Easter until Holy Week. During this period, there is a special calendar (schedule) of services.

Lent is intended to prepare the Christian people for the great celebration of Easter. Divine services during this period are distinguished by prayers for the remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and his repentance.

An Orthodox Christian should receive communion as often as possible, once or twice a month. But this is very individual, you yourself must feel the pull towards repentance, and not adhere to standards. It would not be a bad idea to discuss with your priest all the issues of spiritual life that concern you.

What time does communion start in church on Saturday and Sunday?

The sacrament of communion begins at the end of the morning service in church. Each church has its own individual start time for the morning service. Church services are divided into: morning, afternoon, evening. Communion is often held at the morning service (there are exceptions), it is also called the 1st hour. Typically, such a service begins no earlier than seven and no later than ten in the morning.

The duration of service depends on:

On the nature of the service (holiday, daily, evening, Lenten, etc.).
From the speed of the service performed by both the holy father and the choir. In some churches this happens slowly, in others it happens more quickly.
Depending on the number of people wishing to confess before the start of the service and receive communion after it, respectively.
It depends on whether there will be a sermon at the service.

On average, the morning service lasts 1 hour 20 minutes - 2 hours.

If you will take communion at an evening service, then it is better to consult with the Holy Father about the moments of preparation for it, since the action should take place on an empty stomach. Perhaps it is better to confess before the evening service, and receive communion after the morning service.

How long does a participle last?

The duration of communion itself will depend on the number of those eager to receive communion .
After the end of the service, the priest takes out the Chalice with the Holy Gifts from behind the altar and invites those who wish to receive communion.
First, church ministers and monks receive communion, and then children and everyone else are allowed through.
While waiting for your turn, you cannot arrange a farce and showdown, otherwise all repentance will not make any sense.
To taste the Holy Gifts (“Cahors”, prosphora, holy water or “warmth”), it will take less than a minute.

How often can you receive communion?

This is a rather controversial question. Rather, it is not the frequency that is important, but the “quality” of communion, the person’s awareness of the importance of what is happening. If such awareness is always present, then you can take communion as often as possible, even every week.

Orthodox Christians It is recommended to experience the sacrament of communion two or three times a month.
People who are preparing to devote their lives to the church can receive communion more often, then mental and physical fasting can be slightly weakened for one or two days.
You can also do this before each post - four times a year.
It is strictly forbidden to receive communion twice in one day.

Thanks to the church, human spirituality is revived. If you feel a burden in your soul, start attending just the liturgy, without communion. Talk to the Holy Father, perhaps you will find answers and find peace. When your consciousness itself comes to the desire to confess and take communion, you will feel it.

How to take Holy Communion for the first time?

The first communion occurs a little after the child's baptism.

Before First Communion you need to spiritually tune and prepare both yourself and the child:

It would be a good thing if after the christening, relatives and godparents will take communion with the child .
The preparation before communion includes all the same points that you read earlier.
Say prayers for the child (see below), ask the Lord in your own words , so that he would endow the baptized child with his grace and help raise a worthy Christian on the path to the salvation of his soul.
Then bring the baby to the priest, place his head on his right hand, hold his hands so that he cannot accidentally knock over the Holy Chalice.
Also need prepare your clothes correctly , the child should be comfortable so that he does not worry again.

If you teach a child to take communion as often as possible, he will grow up being in spiritual balance with himself.

It happens that a person receives baptism and first communion as an adult. Then don’t be afraid to make a mistake - the first communion, like all subsequent ones, is almost the same. Feel free to ask questions to your spiritual mentor, he will be able to prepare you.

Preparation for Communion

The most important preparation for communion is awareness of the process itself. You should go to church to get closer to God, to realize and repent of your sins. You should feel a bright mood before going to church, and not a painful burden from compulsion.

Further, no later than three days, need to fast– do not eat food of animal origin. The communion itself must take place on an empty stomach.
Also three days before communion you must abstain from sexual contact , and try to rid even your thoughts of this. The end of bodily abstinence ends on the day following the day of communion itself.
It is required to give up worldly pleasures and celebrations.
If there are no obstacles in life, then you need to cleanse your body; entering church dirty is a sin. For this Wash early in the morning before going to the temple.
Next you need confession- repentance before God about all your sins.
After going through confession or attending a church service, you can be blessed to receive communion by a priest.

What prayers should you read before communion?

How to behave at communion in church, what should you say?

A Christian cannot be admitted to Communion if:

He did not confess (except for children under seven years old).
He is excommunicated from the Holy Mysteries.
He has lost his mind and is not himself. Faith is not forced.
Spouses who had sexual intercourse the day before.
Woman during menstruation.
Doesn't wear a cross.
Other points are discussed with the priest.

You must arrive at the church before the service begins. If you are late, confession and communion will be postponed.
After the prayer “I believe, Lord, and confess...”, the priest brings out the Chalice with the Gifts, while you need to bow low .
When the royal gates open you need to cross yourself, fold your arms with a cross on your chest (right on top) . In this situation, you need to receive the sacrament of communion.
You need to approach the Chalice from the right side of the church, without getting ahead of other parishioners.
It is advisable for women to take communion without makeup (at least without lipstick).
Finding yourself near the priest, you need to clearly say your name, accept the Holy Gifts, kiss the Chalice (like the rib of Christ) . You can't touch or kiss anything else.
After leaving, you will receive prosphora and drink from the church servants - holy water or warmth.
If there are several Cups, then the Gifts can only be received from one.
Next, read the prayers for Holy Communion or listen to them in church.

What is needed for a child to receive communion in church?

Basic rules for communion in the Orthodox Church

According to church law, there are certain rules that every Christian must follow. Passing the sacrament of communion also has its own nuances. Let's figure out which ones.

Is it possible to receive communion at the evening service?

You can definitely receive communion at the evening service on the day of the Last Supper. Jesus Christ himself laid down this rule by giving communion to his disciples - giving them his flesh and blood.

As for evening communion on other days, the answer to this question is rather ambiguous. In the vast majority of cases, communion occurs in the morning, on an empty stomach. It is not very convenient to follow such a rule throughout the day, and not everyone can stand it. In this case, it is advisable to attend the evening service; you can also confess there, or you can do it in the morning. Therefore, this question needs to be asked to the holy father of the church where you are going to take the sacrament of communion.

Is it possible to receive communion during menstruation?

No, You cannot take communion during your period , such an act will be considered insolence and a great sin. Touching the Holy Chalice during this period is a great disrespect for the Lord God. Moreover, A woman during her menstrual period cannot enter the temple at all. The explanation for this is that menstruation is an unfulfilled pregnancy, and a woman should be held responsible for this. A woman is considered “unclean” because of her bloody discharge, thereby desecrating the church by entering it.

It’s a completely different matter if bleeding accompanies a woman for a long time - this is no longer a cleansing, but an illness. Then ask your spiritual mentor for advice, and at confession, repent. The priest should allow you to take communion, perhaps by going through it you will receive healing.

Is it possible for pregnant women to receive communion?

Yes, you can, and the more often the better. This is a special period; a woman, even before the birth of a child, should realize the importance of atonement, and after birth she should involve her child in this process.

The Church is lenient for pregnant women - they are allowed to simplify their fast according to their well-being. If the state of health allows, fasting and prayers are prepared according to general rules. Preparation with prayers and service in church can be done while sitting in a pew.

Is it possible to receive communion if you have not fasted?

There are different cases sometimes the fast can be broken due to a small mistake (accidentally eating a quick meal, for example).
Or a person due to health reasons, he cannot come to communion hungry or without drinking water. Such moments are discussed with the priest, and in confession you need to repent for this.

You need to understand that fasting is good, but the purpose of communion is the remission of sins and unity with God. If there are good reasons why the fast was broken, there are no obstacles to receiving the sacrament.

If we are talking about violation of physical abstinence by spouses - then it’s better to skip the sacrament once, and take this moment into account at the subsequent confession.

Is it possible to receive communion without an empty stomach?

It is possible, but only for children under seven years old. Moreover, eating food should not occur immediately before communion, but in advance. Children should be prepared from a very young age for communion on an empty stomach.

This rule also applies to sick people if they cannot do without food in the morning.

Is it possible to receive communion without preparation?

No, you can't do that . It turns out that you are doing this just “for show.” But you should look at this situation from two sides:

You take communion several times a year, in general, just like you attend the church itself. In this case, you need to strictly observe fasting, go to confession, read all the canons and prayers.
You live according to church canons, observe all fasts, that is, preparing for communion is your way of life. Then you can simply come to the sacrament of communion on an empty stomach and read the necessary prayers.
As already mentioned, Children under seven years old may not be prepared.

Is it possible to receive communion without confession?

This rule also applies to children under seven years of age. In some churches, exceptions are made for regular parishioners if they take the sacrament of the sacrament often.

Is it possible to receive communion if I had an abortion?

The Lord God is all-merciful, he is able to forgive any sin if you truly sincerely repent of it. Infanticide is one of the most terrible sins of humanity. The purpose of realizing this atheism is to avoid committing similar acts in the future. The spiritual mentor cannot refuse confession and communion if you want to atone for your guilt.

If a woman runs to church after each abortion, then this is not welcomed by the church; the woman has not fully realized her guilt if she continues to do this.

Is it possible to receive communion if you live in a civil marriage?

Many people confuse the concept of marriage, let's find out where the truth is:

Church marriage - this is a marriage that received its blessing in the sacrament of marriage.
Civil marriage - This is a legally registered marriage by the state. His church recognizes and allows people in such a marriage to receive communion, even if they are not married.

Do not confuse civil marriage with ordinary cohabitation , which in church terminology it's called fornication . If you live in fornication, then you may be denied a blessing for the sacrament of communion.

It's another matter if you regret your action, and Are you planning to legalize your marriage soon? . According to Orthodox canons, you need to either get married or end the relationship, then you can take communion.

Video: How is communion celebrated in church?

If you are interested in how the Sacrament of Communion works in practice, then watch the following video: