Do they receive communion on Easter night? When to give communion to a baby? Is it possible to kiss icons and the priest’s hand after Communion and make prostrations?

“Our Passover is Christ, sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7) says the Apostle Paul. And all Christians of the universe gather together on this day to glorify the Risen Lord, awaiting His return. And a visible sign of this unity in Christ is the common Communion of the entire Church from the Chalice of the Lord.

Even in the Old Testament, God gave a commandment about this terrible night: “this is a night of vigil for the Lord from generation to generation” (Ex. 12:42). All the children of Israel were to gather in their houses and eat of the Passover lamb, and whoever did not eat, his soul would be cut off from his people. – The destroying angel will destroy him (Numbers 9:13). Likewise now, the great vigil of the Paschal night must be accompanied by the eating of the Paschal Lamb - the Body and Blood of Christ. The beginning of this was laid by the Lord Himself, who revealed Himself to the apostles in the breaking of Bread (Luke 24). It is no coincidence that all meetings of the Risen Christ with his disciples were accompanied by mysterious meals. So He made them feel the joy that is prepared for us in the Kingdom of the Heavenly Father. And the holy apostles established the celebration of Holy Pascha Holy Communion. Already in Troas, the Apostle Paul, according to custom, celebrated the night liturgy on Sunday (Acts 20:7). All the ancient teachers of the Church, when mentioning the celebration of Easter, first of all spoke about Easter communion. This is how Chrysostom generally identified Easter and communion. For him (and for the entire church congregation), Easter occurs when a person receives communion. And “the catechumen never celebrates Passover, although he fasts every year, because he does not participate in the offering of the Eucharist” (Against the Jews. 3, 5).

But when many began to move away from the Spirit of Christ, and began to evade communion on Bright Week, the fathers of the Trullo Council (the so-called Fifth-Sixth Council) 66 testified to the original tradition: “from the holy day of the Resurrection of Christ our God until the new week, Throughout the entire week, the faithful must continually practice in the holy churches in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, rejoicing and triumphant in Christ, listening to the reading of the Divine Scriptures, and enjoying the holy mysteries. For in this way we will be resurrected together with Christ and ascended. For this reason, on the said days, there should not be horse riding or any other folk spectacle.”

The Council of 927 (the so-called Tomos of Unity) even allows trigamists to receive Holy Communion on Easter. Tain.

This same striving for Easter union with the Lord can be traced in our worship. After all, according to Chrysostom, “we fast not for Easter and not for the cross, but for the sake of our sins, because we intend to begin the mysteries” (Against the Jews. 3, 4).

The entire Holy Pentecost prepares us for the meeting with God on Easter night. It is no coincidence that even before the beginning of Lent, the Church sings: “Let us be led to repentance, and let us purify our feelings, against which we fight, creating the entrance to Lent: the heart is aware of the hope of grace; And the Lamb of God will be carried away by us, in the sacred and luminous night of the Resurrection, for our sake the slaughter brought, the disciple received on the evening of the sacrament, and the darkness destroying ignorance with the light of his resurrection” (stichera on the verse, on the Meat Week in the evening).

During fasting, we cleanse ourselves of iniquities and learn to keep the commandments. But what is the purpose of fasting? This purpose is to participate in the feast of the Kingdom. At the Easter Canon of St. John of Damascus calls us: “Come, let us drink a new drink, not from a barren stone, a miraculous work, but from an incorruptible source, from the tomb of the one who gave birth to Christ,” “come, let us partake of the rods of the new Vine on the deliberate day of the Resurrection of the Divine Joy of the Kingdom of Christ, praising Him as God forever.”

At the end of the luminous Easter Matins we hear the words of Chrysostom: “The meal is complete, enjoy it all. A well-fed calf - let no one come forth hungry: all of you will enjoy the feast of faith, all of you will receive the riches of goodness.” And so that we do not think that Easter consists of breaking the fast, our Charter warns: “Easter is Christ Himself and the Lamb who took away the sins of the world, on the altar in a bloodless sacrifice, in the most pure mysteries, of His Honorable Body and Life-giving Blood from the priest to God and the Father. , and those who partake of the true communion eat the Passover.” It is no coincidence that the sacrament for Easter sounds like this: “Receive the Body of Christ, taste the immortal source.” Immediately before the removal of St. The Gifts Church calls on everyone to enjoy the Divine Mysteries.

And recent saints continued to confirm this understanding of the greatest Feast. Rev. Nicodemus the Holy Mountain says: “those who, although they fast before Easter, do not receive communion on Easter, such people do not celebrate Easter... because these people do not have in themselves the reason and occasion for the holiday, which is the Sweetest Jesus Christ, and do not have that spiritual joy that is born from Divine Communion. Those who believe that Easter and holidays consist of rich meals, many candles, fragrant incense, and silver and gold jewelry with which they decorate churches are seduced. For God does not require this from us, because it is not paramount and not the main thing” (The most soul-helping book about the unceasing communion of the holy Mysteries of Christ. pp. 54-55).

It is no coincidence that those who avoid Holy Communion on Easter and Bright Week feel a decline in spiritual strength. They are often attacked by despondency and relaxation. This is exactly what the Lord warned us about, saying: “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with overeating and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and lest that day come upon you suddenly. For he, like a snare, will suddenly come upon all those who live on the face of the earth” (Luke 21:34-35).

But, unfortunately, in Lately not only some careless parishioners avoid Communion on St. Easter because of their gluttony, but some priests began to introduce something new, forbidding reverent Christians to fulfill the will of Christ. They say:

- There was a fast, and you could take communion. So why take communion on Easter?

This objection is completely insignificant. After all, St. Communion is not a sign of sadness, but the beginning of the future Kingdom. It is no coincidence that in the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great says that when we partake of Communion, we proclaim the death of the Lord and confess His resurrection. Yes, and if Easter were incompatible with the Eucharist, then why celebrate the Liturgy in churches? Are modern fathers wiser than the Universal Church? I'm not even saying that during consecration we all take an oath to follow the sacred canons. And the Ecumenical Council requires communion on Easter and Bright Week. Specifically rejecting this argument is holy. John Chrysostom says: “He who does not fast and approaches with a clear conscience, celebrates Easter, whether today, tomorrow, or in general whenever he participates in communion. For worthy communion does not depend on observing the times, but on a clear conscience” (Against the Jews 3:5).

Others say that Since Communion is celebrated for the remission of sins, then it has no place on Easter night .

Let us answer this with the words of the Lord, if a donkey and an ox are pulled out of a pit on Saturday, then shouldn’t a person be freed from the burden of sin on Easter. Both Ancient Easter and the current canons indicate that best time for the forgiveness of sins in the sacrament of Baptism is Easter night. Yes, this is not the place for confession at this time. But the post has already passed. People mourned their iniquities and received absolution at confession on Holy Thursday. So on what basis can we prevent them from reaching the Holy Chalice on the Day of Resurrection? I’m not even saying that Communion is celebrated not only for the remission of sins, but also for eternal life. And when is it better to make a person a communicant? eternal life what if not on Easter day? Of course, if a person remains in unrepentant mortal sin, then the road to the Chalice is closed to him by his iniquity. But if this is not the case, then a person must resort to Christ.

Some people say:

- So you will take communion on Easter, and then you will go eat meat. You can not do it this way.

This opinion is directly condemned by Canon 2 of the Gangra Council. Anyone who considers meat to be unclean or to make a person unable to receive communion has fallen under the influence of the seducing spirits prophesied by the Apostle Paul (1 Tim. 4:3). He is excommunicated from the Holy Church. We must remember that at the Last Supper itself, Christ and the apostles ate lamb meat, and this did not prevent them from receiving communion. Yes, you can’t overeat to break your fast, you can’t sin with gluttony. But it does not follow from this that one should not receive communion. Quite the contrary. Out of respect for the shrine, we must be moderate, and in this way we will preserve both the purity of the soul and the health of the stomach.

Similarly, some priests say:

- You will overeat and get drunk, and then you may vomit, and in this way you will desecrate St. Participle. Therefore, it is better not to take communion.

But this logic actually declares sin to be inevitable. It turns out that we are being offered to exchange Christ the Savior for lawlessness, which obviously cannot be avoided. And the holiday seems to be pushing us towards this. But if this is so, then maybe it’s worth canceling the holiday altogether? What kind of holy day is this on which we move away from God and inevitably commit sin? It is obvious that God did not establish Easter for gluttony and drunkenness, so why do abominations on this day and not receive communion on this basis? I think that it would be much wiser to receive Holy Communion and then break the fast with moderation, taste a little wine and then not suffer in body or soul.

- Easter is a time of joy and therefore you cannot take communion.

We have already quoted the words of Rev. Nicodemus, who says that the true joy of Easter lies precisely in the Eucharistic union with Christ. Chrysostom also says that he who does not receive communion does not celebrate Easter. In fact, communion is especially appropriate at Easter due to the fact that, in accordance with the Liturgy, by performing the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we confess the resurrection of Christ and see the image of His rising from the dead (Eucharistic canon and prayer after consumption). But the most important thing is that Christ Himself promised to give joy to His disciples, then He Himself will return from the depths of death, and modern confessors exclude Christians from this joy.

Yes, if you think about it, then what will a non-communicant rejoice at Easter - prayers, but they tell us about communion with God, but he refused it, the Liturgy - but it is served for the sake of the communicants, singing - but the true Paschal Singer is Christ (Heb. 2:12 )? If the purpose of worship is lost, then greatest holiday All that remains is the “joy” of serving the womb. Lest we incur upon ourselves the bitter words of the Apostle Paul: “they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ, their end is destruction; their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame; they think about earthly things” (Phil. 3:18-19).

Another objection to Easter Communion is that There is such a fuss before the holiday that it is virtually impossible to properly prepare for St. Communion . But this is again an attempt to justify the violation of the commandment with “good goals.” The Lord said to one such bustling woman: “Martha! Marfa! You worry and fuss about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary chose the good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Matthew 10:40). Of course, this primarily applies to Easter. It is no coincidence that at the Liturgy of Great Saturday the words are sung: “Let all human flesh remain silent, and let it stand with fear and trembling, and let nothing earthly think within itself.” This is the correct spiritual dispensation before the holiday, which alone makes our soul capable of accepting grace. In Rus', all preparations for Easter were completed by the Great Four, and then they were in the temple. And this is very correct. And the current practice of postponing all cooking and cleaning to Holy Saturday is truly harmful to the soul. It deprives us of the opportunity to experience the services of the Passion of the Lord, and often our churches stand half-empty at the most beautiful Easter Vespers (Liturgy of Great Saturday), and Christians and Christian women on this day off, instead of worshiping the Reposed Lord, exhaust themselves in the kitchens. Then on Easter night, instead of rejoicing, they nod off. We should not give up Easter communion, but simply change the cleaning and cooking schedule. – Finish everything by the evening of Great Wednesday, fortunately almost everyone has a refrigerator, and take care of your soul during the saving Triday.

And finally, they claim that on Easter night there are a lot of strangers who are not ready for communion, and there is no time to confess them .

Yes it is. But what have the regular parishioners done wrong that because of those of little faith they are deprived of connection with the Creator? We must not deny Communion to everyone, but simply watch carefully those who are communicant, and remove those who are not ready. Otherwise, it will be impossible to give communion to anyone in large parishes. After all, there are always those who, out of ignorance, are eager to “take communion at the same time.”

But where did this practice come from, which contradicts both Scripture and St. canons and the teachings of saints? After all, many, out of ignorance, consider it almost part of the sacred Tradition. We know young pastors who say that the Church forbids communion on Easter! Its origin lies in the dark years of persecution of Christians in the USSR. If in Stalin's time they wanted to physically destroy the Church, then later, during the Khrushchev persecutions, the atheists decided to destroy it from the inside. A number of secret resolutions of the CPSU Central Committee were adopted to weaken the influence of the Church. In particular, it was proposed to ban communion on Easter. The goal of this was the complete destruction of Christianity in the USSR by 1980. Unfortunately, many priests and bishops succumbed to pressure from religious affairs commissioners and stopped administering communion on Easter. But the most amazing thing is that this insane, anti-canonical practice, designed to destroy the Church, has survived to this day, and moreover, some unfortunate zealots present it as a model of piety. Risen God! Rather, overthrow this evil custom, so that Your children can be participants in Your Cup on the most holy night of Easter.

Is it necessary to receive communion on Easter, fast on Easter, and how to regulate your diet during Holy Week? Bishop Clement of Irpen shares his experience (Evenings).

— How do you feel about the phenomenon that some people do not receive communion on Easter? This often happens because the parish priest does not advise receiving communion on Easter.

— The not very good tradition observed in some parishes of not giving communion on Easter is rooted in our totalitarian past. Soviet authority made a lot of efforts to ensure that people did not come to church on Easter, did not receive communion, etc. Special groups were organized that cordoned off churches (there weren’t many open churches then) and tried not to let people into the church for the holiday. Particular attention was paid to preventing youth from visiting churches as much as possible.

Active explanatory work was also carried out among priests regarding the ban on giving communion to people on Easter.

Today you can often hear “pious reasons” for refusing communion on Easter night. One of them: since after the Easter service and Communion people celebrate the end of Lent and Easter itself too vigorously and do not behave piously, then it is not worth taking communion on this day.

If we delve into church tradition, into the deep meaning of the Easter holiday in particular and the Divine Liturgy in general, we will understand that everyone religious holiday is such only in the context of its Eucharistic understanding.

Therefore, Easter of Christ - the Feast of Feasts - can be experienced by a Christian only if he celebrates It by communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

Participants of the plenum of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church, held in February of this year, drew special attention of the clergy to the fact that no pious pretexts can justify the ban on Christians receiving communion on Holy Easter night.

— What about Bright Week? How should those who are going to receive communion fast on these days, and is it even possible to receive communion on these days?

— During Bright Week, the church charter prohibits fasting. Therefore, many people have a question: how to receive communion during this period, and is it not forbidden to receive communion on days when fasting is prohibited by the church canons of the Orthodox Church? Having carefully studied the traditions and practices that currently exist in the Orthodox Church, the bishops agreed that Communion during Bright Week should be performed on the advice of the confessor.

If a person leads a pious life, has observed fasting during Great Lent and reverently treats the Eucharist, then, according to the reasoning of the confessor, he can begin Communion during Holy Week without fasting. Because such a person, without abstaining from food, can abstain spiritually. And in this case, the spiritual attitude of a Christian will correspond to the state in which a person should approach the reception of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

— Vladyka, let’s return to Holy Week. During Holy Week, the canon prescribes strict fasting. What to do for people who are busy physical labor or they are on the road all the time and cannot regulate their diet. To what extent can you violate the food regulations? What should you do in such cases?

— In spiritual life you should always be guided by your conscience. If we can observe fasting, but do not do this, if our conscience denounces us for this, we need to reproach ourselves, confess it and correct ourselves. If circumstances develop in such a way that it is not possible to observe the full severity of fasting as prescribed by the canon, we must humbly accept the circumstances in which we find ourselves by God’s providence.

— Regarding visiting cemeteries after Easter: is it possible to visit the graves of your loved ones on Bright Week?

— The liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church prescribes special commemorations of all the departed on Tuesday after Bright Week. This day is called Radonitsa.

The word "Radonitsa" has Slavic roots. And this day is named so because we rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ together with our departed ones. From Holy Scripture we know that with God there are no dead, with Him all are alive (Luke 20:38). And those who are in eternity, of course, also participate in the Bright Feast of Easter and feel it with even greater clarity than we do.

Radonitsa - the day of remembrance of the dead - our co-celebration of Easter, mysteriously unites the earthly Church with the Heavenly Church.

And on Bright Week they come to the cemetery in order to pray for the repose of the souls of our departed loved ones. However, the Liturgical tradition does not prescribe commemorating the dead on these days. The canons of the Orthodox Church cancel funeral services during Bright Week. And the first funeral service, according to the charter, is performed precisely on Radonitsa.

The question of Communion of the laity throughout the year and especially on Easter, Bright Week and during the period of Pentecost seems controversial to many. If no one doubts that on the day of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ on Holy Thursday we all receive communion, then there is information about Communion on Easter different points vision. Supporters and opponents find confirmation of their arguments in various fathers and teachers of the Church, and indicate their pros and cons.

The practice of Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ in the fifteen Local Orthodox Churches varies in time and space. The fact is that this practice is not an article of faith. Opinions of individual Church fathers and teachers different countries and eras are perceived as theologomene, that is, as a private point of view, therefore, at the level of individual parishes, communities and monasteries, a lot depends on the specific abbot, abbot or confessor. There are also direct resolutions of the Ecumenical Councils on this subject.

During fasting, no questions arise: we all receive communion, purely preparing ourselves through fasting, prayer, and acts of repentance; that’s why we tithe the yearly circle of time—Lent. But how to receive communion on Holy Week and during the period of Pentecost?
Let's turn to practice ancient Church. “They continued constantly in the teaching of the Apostles, in fellowship and in the breaking of bread and in prayer” (Acts 2:42), that is, they constantly received communion. And the entire book of Acts says that the first Christians of the apostolic age received communion constantly. Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ was for them a symbol of life in Christ and an essential moment of salvation, the most important thing in this fast-flowing life. Communion was everything to them. This is what the Apostle Paul says: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Constantly partaking of the Holy Body and Blood, Christians of the early centuries were ready both to live in Christ and to die for the sake of Christ, as evidenced by acts of martyrdom.

Naturally, all Christians gathered around the common Eucharistic Cup on Easter. But it should be noted that at first there was no fasting before Communion at all; first there was a common meal, prayer, and sermon. We read about this in the letters of the Apostle Paul and in Acts.

The Four Gospels do not regulate sacramental discipline. The evangelical weather forecasters talk not only about the Eucharist celebrated at the Last Supper in the Upper Room of Zion, but also about those events that were prototypes of the Eucharist. On the way to Emmaus, on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, during a miraculous catch of fish... In particular, when multiplying the loaves, Jesus says: “But I do not want to send them away without eating, lest they weaken on the way” (Matthew 15:32). Which road? Not only leading home, but also on life path. I don’t want to leave them without Communion - that’s what the Savior’s words are about. We sometimes think: “This person is not pure enough, he cannot receive communion.” But it is to him, according to the Gospel, that the Lord offers Himself in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, so that this person does not weaken on the road. We need the Body and Blood of Christ. Without this we will be much worse off.

Evangelist Mark, speaking about the multiplication of the loaves, emphasized that Jesus, when he came out, saw a multitude of people and took pity (Mark 6:34). The Lord took pity on us because we were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus, multiplying the loaves, acts as good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. And the Apostle Paul reminds us that every time we eat the Eucharistic Bread, we proclaim the death of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:26). It was the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John, the chapter about the good shepherd, that was the ancient Easter reading when everyone received communion in the temple. But the Gospel does not say how often one should receive communion.

Fast requirements appeared only from the 4th–5th centuries. Modern church practice is based on Church Tradition.

What is Communion? A reward for good behavior, for fasting or praying? No. Communion is That Body, that Blood of the Lord, without Which you, if you perish, you will perish completely.
Basil the Great responds in one of his letters to a woman named Caesarea Patricia: “It is good and beneficial to commune every day and partake of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ, since [the Lord] Himself clearly says: “He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood, has eternal life." Who doubts that to continually partake of life is nothing other than to live diversified?” (that is, to live with all mental and physical forces and feelings). Thus, Basil the Great, to whom we often attribute many penances excommunicating from Communion for sins, very highly valued worthy Communion every day.

John Chrysostom also allowed frequent Communion, especially on Easter and Bright Week. He writes that we should constantly resort to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, receive communion with due preparation, and then we can enjoy what we desire. After all, the true Easter and the true holiday of the soul is Christ, Who is sacrificed in the Sacrament. Lent, that is, Great Lent, occurs once a year, and Easter three times a week, when you receive communion. And sometimes four, or rather, as many times as we want, for Easter is not fasting, but Communion. Preparation does not consist in reading three canons for a week or forty days of fasting, but in cleansing the conscience.

The prudent thief needed a few seconds on the cross to clear his conscience, recognize the Crucified Messiah and be the first to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. For some, it takes a year or more, sometimes their whole life, like Mary of Egypt, to partake of the Most Pure Body and Blood. If the heart requires Communion, then it should receive communion both on Holy Thursday, and on Holy Saturday, on which the Annunciation falls this year, and on Easter. One confession the day before is enough, unless the person has committed a sin that needs to be confessed.

“Whom should we praise,” says John Chrysostom, “those who receive communion once a year, those who receive communion often, or those who rarely? No, let us praise those who begin with a clear conscience, with with a pure heart, with an impeccable life."
And confirmation that Communion is possible on Bright Week is in all the most ancient anaphoras. In the prayer before Communion it is said: “Grant by Thy sovereign hand to give us Thy Most Pure Body and Honest Blood, and to us to all people.” We also read these words at the Easter Liturgy of John Chrysostom, which testifies to the general Communion of the laity. After Communion, the priest and people thank God for this great grace with which they are awarded.

The issue of sacramental discipline became controversial only in the Middle Ages. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Greek Church experienced a deep decline in theological education. From 2nd half of the XVIII century, the revival of spiritual life in Greece begins.

The question of when and how often one should take communion was raised by the so-called Kolivadas, monks from Mount Athos. They received their nickname due to their opposition to performing a memorial service over the Koliv in Sundays. Now, 250 years later, when the first Kolyvads, such as Macarius of Corinth, Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, Athanasius of Paria, became glorified saints, this nickname sounds very worthy. “The memorial service,” they said, “distorts the joyful character of Sunday, on which Christians should receive communion, and not remember the dead.” The dispute over the koliva lasted for more than 60 years, many kolivads suffered severe persecution, some were removed from Mount Athos and deprived of the priesthood. However, this dispute served as the beginning of a theological discussion on Mount Athos. The Kolivadas were universally recognized as traditionalists, and the actions of their opponents looked like attempts to adapt the Tradition of the Church to the needs of the time. They, for example, argued that only clergy could receive communion on Bright Week. It is noteworthy that Saint John of Kronstadt, also a defender of frequent Communion, wrote that the priest who receives communion on Easter and Bright Week alone, and does not give communion to his parishioners, is like a shepherd who shepherds only himself.

You should not refer to some Greek books of hours, which indicate that Christians should receive communion 3 times a year. A similar prescription migrated to Russia, and until the beginning of the twentieth century, communion was rarely received in our country, mainly during Lent, sometimes on Angel’s Day, but no more than 5 times a year. However, this instruction in Greece was related to the penances imposed, and not to the prohibition of frequent Communion.

If you want to receive Communion on Bright Week, you need to understand that worthy Communion is connected with the condition of the heart, not the stomach. Fasting is a preparation, but by no means a condition that can interfere with Communion. The main thing is that the heart is cleansed. And then you can take communion on Bright Week, trying not to overeat the day before and abstain from fast food for at least one day.

Nowadays, many sick people are prohibited from fasting at all, and people who suffer from diabetes are allowed to eat even before Communion, not to mention those who vitally need to take medicine in the morning. The essential condition of fasting is life in Christ. When a person wants to receive Communion, let him know that no matter how he prepares, he is not worthy of Communion, but the Lord wants, desires and gives Himself as a Sacrifice, so that the person becomes a partaker of the Divine nature, so that he is converted and saved.

Questions about the Sacrament of Communion

Hwhat is Communion?

This is the Sacrament in which, under the guise of bread and wine, an Orthodox Christian partakes (partakes) of the very Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, and through this is mysteriously united with Him, becoming a partaker of eternal life. Comprehension of this Sacrament surpasses human understanding.

This Sacrament is calledEvharistia, which means “thanksgiving.”

TOHow and why was the Sacrament of Communion established?

The Sacrament of Communion was established by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself at the Last Supper with the Apostles on the eve of His suffering. He took bread into His Most Pure hands, blessed it, broke it and divided it to His disciples, saying: “Come, eat: this is My Body” (Matthew 26:26). Then he took a cup of wine, blessed it and, giving it to the disciples, 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” (Matthew 26:27-28). Then the Savior gave the apostles, and through them all believers, the commandment to perform this Sacrament until the end of the world in remembrance of His suffering, death and Resurrection for the unity of believers with Him. He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

PWhy is it necessary to take communion?

The Lord Himself speaks about the obligatory nature of communion for all who believe in Him: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have 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 Flesh is truly food, and My Blood is truly drink. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:53-56).

He who does not partake of the Holy Mysteries deprives himself of the source of life - Christ, and places himself outside of Him. A person who seeks union with God in his life can hope that he will be with Him in eternity.

TOHow to prepare for Communion?

Anyone who wishes to receive communion must have heartfelt repentance, humility, and a firm intention to improve. It takes several days to prepare for the Sacrament of Communion. These days they prepare for Confession, try to pray more and more diligently at home, and abstain from amusements and idle pastimes. Fasting is combined with prayer - bodily abstinence from modest food and marital relations.

On the eve of the day of Communion or in the morning before the Liturgy, you must go to confession and attend the evening service. After midnight, do not eat or drink.

The duration of preparation, the measure of fasting and prayer rules are discussed with the priest. However, no matter how much we prepare for Communion, we cannot adequately prepare. And only looking at the contrite and humble heart, the Lord, out of His love, accepts us into His fellowship.

TOWhat prayers should one use to prepare for Communion?

For prayerful preparation for Communion, there is a usual rule, which is in Orthodox prayer books. It consists of reading three canons: the canon of repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ, the canon of prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, the canon to the Guardian Angel and the Follow-up to Holy Communion, which consists of the canon and prayers. In the evening you should also read prayers for the coming sleep, and in the morning - morning prayers.

With the blessing of the confessor, this prayer rule before Communion can be reduced, increased, or replaced by another.

TOHow to approach Communion?

Before the start of Communion, those receiving communion come closer to the pulpit in advance, so as not to rush later and not create inconvenience to other worshipers. In this case, it is necessary to let the children who receive communion first go ahead. When the Royal Doors open and the deacon comes out with the Holy Chalice with the exclamation: “Come with the fear of God and faith,” you should, if possible, bow to the ground and fold your arms crosswise on your chest (right over left). When approaching the Holy Chalice and in front of the Chalice, do not cross yourself, so as not to accidentally push It. One must approach the Holy Chalice with the fear of God and reverence. Approaching the Chalice, you should clearly pronounce your Christian name given at Baptism, open your lips wide, reverently, with the consciousness of the holiness of the Great Sacrament, accept the Holy Gifts and immediately swallow. Then kiss the base of the Chalice, like the rib of Christ Himself. You cannot touch the Chalice with your hands and kiss the priest’s hand. Then you should go to the table with warmth and wash down Communion so that the holy thing does not remain in your mouth.

TOHow often should you take communion?

Many holy fathers call for communion as often as possible.

Usually believers confess and receive communion during all four multi-day fasts church year, on twelve, great and temple holidays, on Sundays, on their name days and births, spouses - on their wedding day.

The frequency of a Christian's participation in the Sacrament of Communion is determined individually with the blessing of the confessor. More commonly - at least twice a month.

D Are we, sinners, worthy of receiving communion often?

Some Christians receive communion extremely rarely, citing their unworthiness as the reason. There is not a single person on earth worthy of Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. No matter how much a person tries to purify himself before God, he will still not be worthy of accepting such a greatest Shrine as the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. God gave people the Holy Mysteries of Christ not according to their dignity, but out of His great mercy and love for His fallen creation. “It is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick” (Luke 5:31). A Christian should accept the Holy Gifts not as a reward for his spiritual deeds, but as a Gift Loving Father Heavenly, as a saving means of sanctifying the soul and body.

Is it possible to take communion several times on one day?

Under no circumstances should anyone receive Communion twice on the same day. If the Holy Gifts are given from several Chalice, they can only be received from one.

Everyone receives communion from the same spoon, is it possible to get sick?

There has never been a single case of someone becoming infected through Communion: even when people receive communion in hospital churches, no one ever gets sick. After Communion of believers, the remaining Holy Gifts are consumed by a priest or deacon, but even during epidemics they do not get sick. This is the greatest Sacrament of the Church, given, among other things, for the healing of soul and body.

Is it possible to kiss the cross after Communion?

After the Liturgy, all those praying venerate the cross: both those who received communion and those who did not.

Is it possible to kiss icons and the priest’s hand after Communion and bow to the ground?

After Communion, before drinking, you should refrain from kissing icons and the priest’s hand, but there is no rule that those receiving communion should not kiss icons or the priest’s hand on this day and not bow to the ground. It is important to keep your tongue, thoughts and heart from all evil.

How to behave on the day of Communion?

The Day of Communion is a special day in the life of a Christian when he is mysteriously united with Christ. On the day of Holy Communion, one should behave reverently and decorously, so as not to offend the shrine with one’s actions. Thank the Lord for the great blessing. These days should be spent as great holidays, devoting them as much as possible to concentration and spiritual work.

Can you take communion on any day?

Communion is always given on Sunday morning, as well as on other days when the Divine Liturgy is served. Check the schedule of services at your church. In our church, the Liturgy is served every day, except during Lent.

During the period of Great Lent, on some weekdays, as well as on Wednesday and Friday at Maslenitsa, there is no Liturgy

Is Communion paid for?

No, in all churches the Sacrament of Communion is always performed free of charge.

Is it possible to receive communion after Unction without Confession?

Unction does not cancel Confession. Confession is needed. Sins that a person is aware of must necessarily be confessed.

Is it possible to replace Communion by drinking Epiphany water with artos (or antidor)?

This erroneous opinion about the possibility of replacing Communion with Epiphany water with artos (or antidor) arose, perhaps, due to the fact that people who have canonical or other obstacles to Communion of the Holy Mysteries are allowed to use for consolation Epiphany water with antidor. However, this cannot be understood as an equivalent replacement. Communion cannot be replaced by anything.

Can an Orthodox Christian take communion in any non-Orthodox church?

No, only in the Orthodox Church.

How to give communion to a one-year-old child?

If the child is not able to remain calmly in the church for the entire service, then he can be brought to the time of Communion.

Is it possible for a child under 7 years old to eat before Communion? Is it possible for sick people to receive communion without an empty stomach?

This issue is resolved individually in consultation with a priest.

Before Communion, small children are given food and drink as needed so as not to harm their nervous system and bodily health. Older children, from the age of 4-5, are gradually taught to take communion on an empty stomach. Children from the age of 7 are taught, in addition to taking communion on an empty stomach, also to preparee to communion through prayer, fasting and confession, but of course in a very simplified version.

In some exceptional cases, adults are blessed to receive communion without an empty stomach.

Can children under 14 years of age receive communion without Confession?

Only children under 7 years old can receive communion without Confession. From the age of 7, children receive communion after Confession.

Is it possible for a pregnant woman to receive communion?

Can. It is advisable for pregnant women to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ more often, preparing for Communion through repentance, confession, prayer and fasting, which is weakened for pregnant women.

It is advisable to begin the churching of a child from the moment the parents find out that they will have a child. Even in the womb, the child perceives everything that happens to the mother and around her. At this time, participation in the Sacraments and prayer of parents is very important.

How to give communion to a sick person at home?

The patient's relatives must first agree with the priest about the time of Communion and consult on how to prepare the patient for this Sacrament.

When can you receive communion during the week of Lent?

During Lent, children receive communion on Saturdays and Sundays. Adults, in addition to Saturday and Sunday, can receive communion on Wednesdays and Fridays, when the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served. There is no Liturgy on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday during Lent, with the exception of the days of great church holidays.

Why are infants not given communion at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts?

At the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the Chalice contains only blessed wine, and the particles of the Lamb (the Bread transposed into the Body of Christ) are pre-saturated with the Blood of Christ. Since infants, due to their physiology, cannot be given communion with a part of the Body, and there is no Blood in the Chalice, they are not given communion during the Presanctified Liturgy.

Can the laity receive communion during the continuous week? How should they prepare for communion at this time? Can a priest prohibit communion on Easter?

In preparation for communion during the continuous week, it is allowed to eat fast food. At this time, preparation for communion consists of repentance, reconciliation with neighbors and reading the prayer rule for Communion.

Communion on Easter is a goal and joy for everyone Orthodox Christian. The entire Holy Pentecost prepares us for communion on Easter night: “let us be led to repentance, and let us purify our feelings, against which we fight, creating the entrance to fasting: the heart is aware of the hope of grace, not worthless, not walking in them. And the Lamb of God will be carried away by us, in the sacred and luminous night of the Resurrection, for our sake the slaughter brought, the disciple received on the evening of the sacrament, and the darkness destroying ignorance with the light of his resurrection” (stichera on the verse, on the Meat Week in the evening).

Rev. Nicodemus the Holy Mountain says: “those who, although they fast before Easter, do not receive communion on Easter, such people do not celebrate Easter... because these people do not have in themselves the reason and occasion for the holiday, which is the Sweetest Jesus Christ, and do not have that spiritual joy that is born from Divine Communion."

When Christians began to shy away from communion on Holy Week, the fathers of the Trullo Council (the so-called Fifth-Sixth Council) with the 66th canon testified to the original tradition: “from the holy day of the Resurrection of Christ our God until the new week, throughout the entire week, the faithful must holy churches to continually practice psalms and chants and spiritual songs, rejoicing and triumphant in Christ, and listening to the reading of the Divine Scriptures, and enjoying the holy mysteries. For in this way we will be resurrected together with Christ and ascended.”

Thus, communion on Easter, on Holy Week, and in general on continuous weeks is not forbidden to any Orthodox Christian who may be admitted to Holy Communion on other days of the church year.

What are the rules for prayerful preparation for communion?

Volume prayer rule before communion, the canons of the Church are not regulated. For the children of the Russian Orthodox Church, it should be no less than the Rule for Holy Communion available in our prayer books, which includes three psalms, a canon and prayers before communion.

There is, in addition, a pious tradition of reading three canons and an akathist before receiving the Holy Mysteries of Christ: the canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ, the canon to the Mother of God, the canon to the Guardian Angel.

Is confession necessary before every communion?

Mandatory confession before communion is not regulated by the canons of the Church. Confession before each communion is a Russian tradition, caused by the extremely rare communion of Christians during the synodal period of the history of the Russian Church.

For those who came for the first time or with grave sins, for new Christians, confession before communion is mandatory, since for them frequent confession and the instructions of the priest have important catechetical and pastoral significance.

At present, “regular confession should be encouraged, but not every believer should be required to confess without fail before every communion. By agreement with the confessor, for persons who regularly confess and receive communion, observe church rules and fasts established by the Church, an individual rhythm of confession and communion can be established” (Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev)).

I have been asked the following question several times:

Can we receive communion on Easter? And on Bright Week? To receive communion, do we need to continue fasting?

Good question. However, it betrays a lack of clear understanding of things. On Easter it is not only possible, but even necessary to receive communion. In favor of this statement, I would like to summarize a number of arguments:

1. In the first centuries of the history of the Church, as we see in the canons and patristic works, participation in the Liturgy without communion of the Holy Mysteries was simply unthinkable. (I advise you to read the article about this: " When and how should we receive communion" .) However, over time, especially in our area, the level of piety and understanding among Christians began to fall, and the rules for preparing for communion became stricter, in some places even excessive (including double standards for clergy and laity). Despite this, communion on Easter was a common practice, continuing to this day in all Orthodox countries. However, some put off communion until Easter itself, as if someone is stopping them from taking the Chalice every Sunday of Lent and throughout the year. Thus, ideally, we should receive communion at every liturgy, especially on Maundy Thursday, when the Eucharist was instituted, on Easter, and on Pentecost, when the Church was born.

2. For those who are entrusted with penance due to some serious sin, some confessors allow them to receive communion (only) on Easter, after which, for some time, they continue to bear their penance. This practice, which, however, is not and should not be generally accepted, took place in ancient times, to help penitents, to strengthen them spiritually, allowing them to join in the joy of the holiday. On the other hand, allowing penitents to receive communion on Easter indicates that the mere passage of time and even the personal efforts of the penitent are not enough to save a person from sin and death. Indeed, for this it is necessary that the risen Christ Himself send light and strength to the soul of the repentant (just as Reverend Mary Egyptian, who led a dissolute lifestyle until the last day during her stay in the world, she was able to take the path of repentance in the desert only after communion with Christ). This is where the erroneous idea arose and spread in some places that only robbers and fornicators receive communion on Easter. But does the Church have a separate communion for robbers and fornicators, and another for those who lead a Christian life? Isn't Christ the same at every liturgy throughout the year? Doesn’t everyone commune with Him - priests, kings, beggars, robbers, and children? By the way, the word of St. John Chrysostom (at the end of Easter Matins) calls everyone without division to communion with Christ. His call "Those who fasted and those who did not fast, rejoice now! The meal is plentiful: be satisfied, everyone! Taurus is big and well-fed: no one will leave hungry!” clearly refers to the communion of the Holy Mysteries. It is surprising that some read or listen to this word without realizing that we are not called to a table with meat dishes, but to communion with Christ.

3. The dogmatic aspect of this problem is also extremely important. People are jostling in lines to buy and eat lamb for Easter - for some, this is the only “biblical commandment” that they observe in their lives (since the other commandments do not suit them!). However, when the book of Exodus speaks of the slaughter of the Passover lamb, it refers to the Jewish Passover, where the lamb was a type of Christ the Lamb slain for us. Therefore, eating the Passover lamb without communion with Christ means a return to the Old Testament and a refusal to acknowledge Christ."The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). In addition, people bake all kinds of Easter cakes or other dishes, which we call "Passover". But don't we know that "Our Easter is Christ"(1 Cor 5:7)? Therefore, all these Easter dishes should be a continuation, but not a replacement, for the sacrament of the Holy Mysteries. This is not particularly talked about in churches, but we should all know that Easter is, first of all, Liturgy and communion with the Risen Christ.

4. Some also say that you cannot take communion on Easter, because then you will eat the savory meal. But doesn't the priest do the same thing? Why then is the Easter Liturgy celebrated, and after it it is blessed to eat dairy and meat? Isn’t it clear that after communion you can eat everything? Or maybe someone perceives the Liturgy as a theatrical performance, and not as a call to communion with Christ? If eating the humble meal were incompatible with communion, then the Liturgy would not be celebrated on Easter and Christmas, or there would be no breaking of the fast. Moreover, this applies to the entire liturgical year.

5. And now about communion on Holy Week. Canon 66 of the Council of Trullo (691) stipulates that Christians" enjoyed the Holy Mysteries"during the entire Holy Week, despite the fact that it is continuous. Thus, they begin communion without fasting. Otherwise there would be no liturgy, or fasting would continue. The idea of ​​the need to fast before communion concerns, first of all, the Eucharistic fast before receiving the Holy Mysteries. Such a strict Eucharistic fast is prescribed for at least six, or even nine hours (not like Catholics, who receive communion an hour after the meal). If we are talking about a multi-day fast, then the seven-week fast that we kept is quite enough, and there is no need - moreover, it is even forbidden - to continue fasting. At the end of Bright Week, we will fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as during three other multi-day fasts. After all, priests do not fast on Holy Week before communion, and then it is unclear where the idea came from that the laity should fast on these days! However, in my opinion, only those who have observed the entire Great Lent, who lead an integral, balanced Christian life, always strive for Christ (and not just through fasting) and perceive Communion not as a reward for their works, but as a cure for spiritual illnesses.

Thus, every Christian is called to prepare for communion and ask the priest for it, especially at Easter. If the priest refuses without any reason (in the event that the person does not have such sins for which penance is imposed), but uses various kinds of excuses, then, in my opinion, the believer can go to another temple, to another priest ( only if the reason for leaving for another parish is valid and is not deceit). This state of affairs, which is especially widespread in the Republic of Moldova, needs to be corrected as soon as possible, especially since the highest hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church has given clear instructions to priests not to deny the faithful communion without obvious canonical grounds (see Resolutions of the Councils of Bishops 2011 and 2013 ). Thus, we should look for wise confessors, and if we have found them, we must obey them and, under their guidance, receive communion as often as possible. You shouldn't entrust your soul to just anyone.

There have been cases when some Christians began to take communion on Easter, and the priest laughed at them in front of the entire church meeting, saying: “Wasn’t seven weeks enough for you to take communion? Why are you violating the customs of the village?” I would like to ask such a priest: “Wasn’t four or five years of study at a religious institution enough for you to decide: either you will become a serious priest, or you will go to herd cows, because you are “stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor 4:1) They can’t say such nonsense...” And we must talk about this not for the sake of ridicule, but with pain about the Church of Christ, in which such incompetent people serve. A real priest not only does not forbid people to receive communion, but also encourages them to do so and teaches them to live so that they can approach the Chalice at every liturgy. And then the priest himself rejoices at how different the Christian life of his flock becomes. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!".

Therefore, “with the fear of God, faith and love, let us approach” Christ in order to better understand what “Christ has risen!” means! and “Truly he is risen!” After all, He Himself says: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day"(John 6:53-54).

Translation by Elena-Alina Patrakova