For the Orthodox Christian, the sacrament of communion is vital. It is recommended that the Christian proceed with this great shrine as often as possible. At the same time, one should not forget about all the greatness of the sacrament and the rules of preparation for it.
According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, in the sacrament of communion, a believer, under the guise of bread and wine, receives the Body and Blood of Christ the Savior. In this way, the Christian is united with God. The preparation for the sacrament has several distinctive features.
The main criterion for admission to the sacrament is the internal state of man. You cannot proceed to the holy chalice if anger or hatred towards your neighbor is hidden in your heart. You must first try to reconcile with everyone, forgive yourself all the insults, and only then begin to prepare for the sacrament.
Before the sacrament of communion, a Christian must hold a three-day fast. Depending on the season, it can be different in severity. So, for example, during the days of Great Lent, the Orthodox can not eat fish, and if there is no prolonged fasting, then fish is allowed.
In preparation for the sacrament (singing), a person needs to think about his life. Try to remember all the sins committed by him. The church calls for a person to fulfill the prayer rule before the sacrament, which consists in reciting morning and evening prayers, as well as the three canons (the penitent to the Lord, the prayer for the Most Holy Theotokos and the guardian angel) and follow for the sacrament.
A prerequisite for admission to the sacrament is confession. On the eve of the sacrament, a believer should be present at the evening service, and then at the confession. After that, already at home, read out evening prayers, the three canons. In the morning, you need to read the morning prayers and the followings of the sacrament and go to worship.
It is very important to remember that with the onset of the Communion Day from 12 a.m. you can’t eat or drink anything. It is advisable only to brush your teeth, rinse them with water (without swallowing) and go to the temple. An exception is patients who need to take medicines in the morning. In such a situation, it is allowed to drink pills and drink them with water, but no more.
During the liturgy, you must be careful, try to direct your thoughts to the upcoming meeting with God in the holy sacrament.
Separately, it should be noted that a woman on critical days is forbidden to begin the sacrament. People who smoke need to refrain from smoking from the moment they confess to communion.
Women's clothing must fit the place, however, as in men. In the temple, a woman should have a scarf and a skirt that does not expose her hips.
