Small church books are sold in every church shop - prayer books with the rule of Communion. In addition to morning and evening prayers, they contain canons, the reading of which is part of the preparation for the great Sacrament of the Orthodox Church - the Communion (Eucharist).
Instruction manual
1
According to the Apostle Paul: "One bread, and many of us - one body, for we all partake of one bread." The Holy Gifts are the Flesh and Blood of Christ, which according to the New Testament believers ate for their salvation under the guise of bread and wine. During the Lord's Supper, the soul of man is united with Christ and is filled with God's grace. The implementation of the Holy Gifts takes place under the singing of the choir "We Sing, We Bless You
."when the priest says secret prayers for the sending of the Holy Spirit to the Chalice with the Gifts.
2
All Orthodox Christians who wish to partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ must first tune in a repentant mood. Special prayers addressed to the Lord, the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel help the believers in this. The totality of these prayers is called the canon. Some prayer books place one common canon, and some have three separate ones. Their reading can be started a few days before the service, and on the eve of the Liturgy, attend the Evening Service and read the follow-up to Communion. The follow-up consists of two parts: the canon and the cycle of prayers, ending with brief prayers.
3
In the introduction of the canon are prayers, which usually begin the morning and evening rule. Then psalms, laudatory troparia and songs, in the chorus of which are used the lines from the repentant psalm of David. After this, prayers are given (usually 10) of the Holy Fathers: Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, Simeon Metafrast and others. Further poems and troparia, which it is useful to repeat to oneself directly in front of the Chalice.
4
Preparing for the sacrament involves both spiritual and bodily purification. Therefore, three days before the Sacrament, the believer needs to fast - not to eat the fast food, and after midnight before the service, eat nothing and drink, and also do not smoke. The church charter is supposed to refrain from marital intimacy these days.
5
At evening service, one should confess one's sins. At the request of the parishioners, the priests confess in the morning, but in this case it is difficult for a person to go from repentance right away to solemnity, which is especially inherent in the Divine Liturgy. In the evening, try to maintain a peaceful spirit, dodge evil and unclean thoughts. It is necessary to abstain not only from food, but also from talkativeness, irritation and condemnation.
6
Prayer is comparable to a river, where the canons are the banks that direct its course. Read each prayer with great attention, passing its meaning through yourself. Only in this way will worship benefit you and bear spiritual fruit.
- How to prepare for Holy Communion
- Communion
