Guidelines for Receiving Holy Communion

The following are the requirements for communion for Russian Orthodox Christians, who adhere to them in many countries and cultures, in spiritual unity, across the world.

 

1. One must be a member of the Holy Eastern Orthodox Church, in unity of faith with, and prayerful and canonical communion with, all other Local Orthodox Churches.

 

2. One must be conscious, in the week before the Holy Communion, that one is preparing for reception of the Mystery. Thus, one must be watchful in prayers and preserve a spirit of repentance during this time. One ought to attend the Vigil (or Vespers) the evening before, if at all possible, but this is not a strict requirement.

 

3. One must have forgiven one’s enemies, and be at peace with everyone, and not harbor anger, exasperation, or hatred towards anyone.

 

4. One must fast from all food and liquid from midnight the night before Communion (for example, 12AM of the Sunday that a Divine Liturgy takes place). An exception is made for those who must take prescribed medication. Such medication may be taken without any qualms of conscience, and may be washed down with water without the fast being broken, according to the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. If you have health problems which require an adaptation, seek the blessing of the priest. In this way all of us can prepare humbly and in obedience, keeping a clear conscience.

 

If there are any questions or doubts about the strictness of the fast, please consult with the Priest. If you ate, drank, or took a medicine on the morning before Holy Communion without having consulted regarding doing so, you should tell the Priest about it at Confession.

 

5. One must go to confession and be absolved of one’s sins before Communion. The confession must have occurred in the week before the Holy Communion is received. In other words, if it has been two weeks since your last confession, you must go to confession again in order to receive Communion. Young children are not expected to come to Confession. According to the judgment of their parents and the parish priest, when children reach a certain level of maturity, they must begin to follow the same rules as adults.

 

6. One should read carefully the traditional prayers of preparation. These are also read at the church before Divine Liturgy.

 

7. One must pray attentively during the Hours read before Liturgy, as well as at the Liturgy itself. Those who arrive at Liturgy past the reading of the Gospel should not take Holy Communion at that Liturgy. 

 

8. Women should approach Holy Communion with their head covered, in accordance with the traditions of the Church.

 

9. Husbands and wives should abstain from one another the night before receiving Holy Communion.

 

10. If one is bleeding, one should not receive Holy Communion. This includes women who are at their time, or even if the priest should cut his finger preparing the Gifts and the bleeding does not stop in time for Liturgy. This rule stems from antiquity and may seem strange to modern Christians; still, let it be kept, as a universal Orthodox tradition. For men, if there has been a nocturnal emission, even if the man was not at fault, then he should not take Communion in the morning, but go to confession and wait for another day. These things may not necessarily be sins, but they are signs and indications of our fallen state, and just as we wear clean and modest clothing to church, as a symbol of our respect, we should observe these ancient traditions in respect, and not view Communion as some sort of “privilege” to which we are entitled.

 

11. One should not receive Holy Communion, no matter how well prepared, if one has severe nausea, such that there is a danger one could vomit forth the Body and Blood of Christ.

 

12. Those who are receiving Holy Communion should never cross themselves near the chalice. Instead, they cross the arms over the breast (in the shape of an X, right arm over left) and thus they make a continual “sign of the cross” and will not bump the chalice. Kiss the bottom edge of the chalice after receiving the Gifts, before leaving. There is no need to kiss the priest’s hand at this time.

 

13. Very young children can be difficult to commune, but keep in mind: (a) it is easier if they are lying on their backs in the mother’s arms; (b) if the cheeks are squeezed, the mouth opens quite widely; (c) the mother’s right arm can grasp the child’s left arm, and her left arm can grasp the child’s right arm. Thus there will be no sudden movement of the arms, which can knock the chalice out of the priest’s hands.

 

14. After taking communion, the communicant goes to a special small table, where he takes zapivka (blessed bread and some wine diluted with warm water). This is a canonical practice purely physiological in nature, done in order to ensure no pieces of the Holy Gifts remain in the mouth, from which a crumb could be ejected, for example.

 

15. The whole day after receiving Communion, one must continue in inward peace, prayer, gratitude, and reverence, instead of plunging back into worldly pursuits. Above all, one must strive not to repeat the sins from which one has just been cleansed.