Communion is one of the main Sacraments in the Orthodox Church. It is very important for every Christian to partake of the Holy Blood and the Body of Christ, because at the same time he is not symbolically, but really connected with God. All baptized Orthodox Christians can and should take communion after the preparation for fasting, prayers and Confession.
You will need
Orthodox Prayer Book, Gospel, Holy Canon
Instruction manual
1
Lent is the longest and most rigorous fast of the Orthodox Church. It provides not only abstinence from certain types of food. Fasting is an exercise of the soul. This is an opportunity to prove your love for God.
If you live an irregular church life (not often attending the temple), Lent is a time for prayers and repentance, a time for communion with the Sacraments, the key of which is the Communion. But in order to achieve this goal, you need to be prepared for some moral feat.
During Lent, you can partake of the communion on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; small children on Saturdays and Sundays.
First of all, you need to understand the meaning of fasting and abandon both physical temptations and spiritual ones. Without understanding his meaning of fasting, he can become harmful. As a result of an unreasonable passage of fasting, irritability, bitterness, impatience or vanity, conceit, and pride often appear. But the meaning of fasting is precisely the eradication of these sinful qualities.
2
Try to soften your heart, think about your soul, make your life more whole and virtuous. Pray more often (you must read the prayer rule daily), read soulful literature, the Gospel.
3
Another important step to Communion is the need to attend church services as often as possible, both on weekends and on weekdays. At least during Lent, discard some worldly affairs and concerns and try to become closer to God.
4
A prerequisite for Communion is the need for Confession. Repentance will purify your soul, and Communion will fill it with grace.
One must confess in the evening on the eve of Communion or in the morning before the Liturgy. Before Confession, reconcile with all those in a quarrel, ask everyone for forgiveness. On the eve of Communion Day, you should refrain from marital relations; after midnight, do not eat, drink or smoke.
5
If the priest accepts your repentance and permits you to Communion, take a seat at the altar and await the removal of the Holy Chalice. Approaching the Chalice, it is necessary to fold the arms crosswise on the chest (right over left).
Approaching the Chalice, clearly pronounce your Christian name, open your mouth wide and reverently accept the Holy Gifts. Then kiss the bottom of the Chalice, then move to the table with warmth and drink Communion.
6
During Lent, you need to try to confess and partake of communion at least once, but you should try to talk and take the holy Mysteries of Christ three times: on the first week of Fasting, on the fourth and on Holy Week, on Maundy Thursday.
note
You can not partake of those who do not wear a cross; who received the priest's ban to receive communion; women during the period of monthly cleansing.
Useful advice
It is especially necessary to protect oneself in the first hours after Communion: to beware of sinful thoughts and deeds.
It is important to keep the tongue, thoughts and heart from all evil.
On the day of Communion, one should eat moderately, not have fun, behave decently.
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