Communion
The Eucharist is the very center of Orthodox piety, worship and theology. “The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him” (John 6:56). We are spiritually fed by receiving in Holy Communion the very Body and Blood of Christ. Christ instituted this Sacrament at His Last Supper to show the new relationship that exists between God and His Church. The Eucharist is the central mystery of the Church. When we receive the precious Body and Blood of Christ, we become filled with the saving presence of God. An Orthodox Christian should try to receive Holy Communion as often as possible, preferably once a week. After all, with the reception of Holy Communion faithful men and women become one with Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Members of the Annunciation Church family should strive to prepare themselves spiritually in order to receive Holy Communion on Sundays as well as during Great Feast days, when the Church commemorates events that brought about our salvation.
Because of the deplorable state of division that exists within Christianity, Orthodox Christians are not permitted to receive Holy Communion or participate in the sacraments of any other Christian denomination other than Orthodox. Likewise, non-Orthodox Christians are not able to receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church. Reception of the Eucharist is a sacred privilege reserved for the baptized or chrismated members of the Orthodox Church. It remains the constant prayer of the Orthodox Church that one day all of Christianity will be reunited and all men and women in oneness of faith will be able to approach the common chalice.
To prepare for receiving Holy Communion, self-examination and fasting are required. It is expected that Orthodox Christians will genuinely seek to prepare their heart and soul for this great Gift of Christ with prayer and fasting during the week in anticipation of receiving the Eucharist. This means that at the very least, Orthodox men and women will not only follow a prayer rule during the course of the week, strive to study Scripture and genuinely strive to avoid sinning, but on Wednesdays and Fridays we will not consume meat or dairy. On the day we intend to receive the Sacrament, nothing can be eaten or drunk after waking in the morning (unless medically required) and we must attend the Divine Liturgy from the beginning of the service. For an evening Divine Liturgy or Presanctified Liturgy, it is suggested that we adhere to the strict fast for at least six hours prior.
Approaching the Chalice
- After having first prepared oneself spiritually and physically as indicated above, having heard the Gospel Reading and participated in the Divine Liturgy, the Orthodox Christian approaches the Chalice quietly, reverently and with humility. Prior to getting in line, such items as lipstick should be removed.
- When it is our turn to receive: an Orthodox Christian makes the sign of the cross and repeats unto themselves silently the Jesus Prayer (“Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”), announces their name clearly and loudly, and then places the red cloth under their chin in order to receive the Holy Gifts.
- The Orthodox Christian should close their mouth around the Communion spoon and carefully make sure all its contents have been removed so as to insure Our Lord’s Body and Blood does not accidentally spill or fall to the floor.
- One then carefully dabs their lips with the red cloth in case a small crumb or drop of wine remains.
- Subsequently, the Orthodox Christian takes a piece of blessed bread and returns to their pew, or in the case of Sunday School students, proceeds directly to their classroom.
- Upon returning to their seat, an Orthodox Christian should read to themselves the prayers of Thanksgiving from the Divine Liturgy book.
Note: When small children and babies are to receive Communion, an adult should hold the child over their right arm (head resting on parent’s right shoulder) in order to facilitate the logistics of offering Communion.
There is not a fixed date for the Saturday of Souls but their place in the liturgical calendar will be noted in the Sunday Bulletin as well as in The Promise, our monthly publication.
