Questions to the priest. What can and cannot be done before communion? Add your price to the base Comment

Many Orthodox believers ask the priests in person, via the Internet, or ask their relatives: is it possible to brush your teeth before communion? But this is far from the only thing that not only beginners can ask. A lot of questions arise from the church-goers. It is worth noting that there are a huge number of near-church myths and misconceptions. This article summarizes the answers of experienced and pious priests, gives recommendations and useful tips for beginners.

What is Communion?

How does Christ speak in the Gospel about Communion? On the eve of a terrible death on the cross, He gathers His disciples together and prepares a meal. There is bread and wine on the table. Christ says that in memory of Him they will drink wine and eat bread, since these are symbols of His blood and body.

To this day, liturgy is celebrated in churches and Holy Communion is prepared using bread and wine. The priests pray together with the parishioners with the words "Let us pray to the Lord for the offered Honest Gifts."

What is actually meant by the bread and wine in the Holy Chalice? Prayers read before Communion at home are just as necessary for a Christian as church prayers. Why is prayer needed? Because the Lord unites with the very person who calls him to himself.

What is Communion?

There are several testimonies about how Communion is actually prepared and what is hidden from human eyes under it. One day a man entered the temple. were opened in the temple. The priests stood at the altar. Suddenly, a man who came in saw the priest pierce the baby with a spear. He shouted to the whole temple: “Why are you killing a baby?” All the people standing in the temple turned around. No one could understand what kind of baby they were talking about. In fact, the priest had a prosphora in his hands (a small bread made from wheat flour and water).

The Lord invisibly and endlessly sacrifices himself for the sake of people, but not materially, but spiritually. His crucifixion was actually seen almost 2,000 years ago at Golgotha in Jerusalem.

Let's return to the Gospel and to those lines where the Lord is at the Last Supper. He said: "From now on you will drink my blood (wine) and eat my body (bread) in memory of Me." But how this would happen, even the apostles did not know. Moreover, it is not given to us to know. This is a divine secret. We can only take it seriously, and as it is, therefore, the prayers read before Communion are very necessary, first of all for the communicant himself.

Another living testimony

In the city of Lanciano (Italy) to this day there is a true proof that the Eucharist is not just bread and wine. In the Catholic Church of Saint-Legotius in the 8th century, one priest doubted that Communion was a miracle. When he picked up a piece of bread, he saw something similar to muscle tissue. He looked into the Chalice and saw that instead of wine there was blood. The priest screamed in horror. Then he realized that there was no doubt. The Lord proved to him that everything was real. To this day, this miracle is in Lanciano. Many pilgrims come to pray near such a shrine.

What does a Christian need before Communion? Of course, first of all, the belief that he will be given to taste not just bread and wine, but the body of Christ. Of course, such a meal is a miracle. The Lord gives a piece of himself to a sinful person. Therefore, Communion must be approached not only with fear, but also with faith. You can't just partake like that.

How to treat?

Above we have considered two testimonies of the miracle of God. It is worth noting that not only Jesus Christ is in the altar during the Liturgy, but also the Mother of God, the Archangels, and saints.

No wonder the holy fathers said that angels grieve because they do not receive communion. Because they have no body, no need. They are with God. And the Lord gave man such a great gift - to unite with Himself during Communion. Let it be invisible.

canon repentant to the Savior;
prayer canon of the Mother of God;
canon to the Guardian Angel;
adherence to Holy Communion.

It is all these prayers, chants, and kontakia that will help you prepare correctly to receive the Holy Gifts in the right way.

Posts and confession

Priests say that you need to fast for at least 3 days. If a person is unchurched, rarely visits the temple, sins, then he needs to prepare for almost a week. That is why the best option for such people is Veliky, as well as Petrov and Uspensky. But that is why it is not necessary to choose periods of many days of fasting. After all, more important is reconciliation with God, and not convenience.

What to do before Communion to someone who rarely goes to church? First, be sure to go to the priest for confession. When the priest receives the penitents, you can find out in the church that is closer to your home or which you want to visit. Be prepared for the fact that the priest after confession may not allow you to take Communion. There could be many reasons for this. Often, in order to be admitted to communion, you need to fast, repent, visit the temple many times. Be sure to ask the priest after confession whether he blesses the approach to the Holy Chalice or not. Often the priests themselves insist that the confessor take communion. You need to take this advice.

What is the post before communion?

If you are a beginner or have not been to the temple for a long time, then be sure to go to the priest for confession. Usually, during this sacrament, many spiritual issues are resolved. The priest will explain to you what to do, what to beware of, when you can take communion.

What is meant by post? Meat, milk can not be eaten, eggs too. In addition, dishes, products, drinks that contain the above products are not consumed. Remember that fasting should be spiritual in nature. Eat little food. For example, for breakfast - tea with oatmeal cookies or oatmeal porridge on the water, for lunch - soup on vegetable broth, for dinner - vegetable salad and rice / potatoes.

Drinking before communion, as well as during fasting, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. It is also recommended to refuse coffee. After all, the body should be a temple of the soul, a calm "home", sober and vigorous. (not Lenten), coffee and alcohol cannot in any way set you up for prayers.

spiritual side

Let's continue our conversation about fasting. We've dealt with food. As for entertainment, watching movies, you need to postpone all this. Any unimportant things should be replaced with prayers to God, the Most Holy Theotokos, your Guardian Angel and the saints.

Let's talk about what to read before Communion. Above we mentioned the canons and the following to Holy Communion. In addition to them, it is advised to read the Gospel, the holy fathers. Beware of taking near-church literature or that which belongs to false Christian.

No need to fuss while fasting. If possible, postpone things for later. They can wait. After all, earthly life is fleeting, and a fasting person needs to think about eternity.

Why such restrictions?

During the Liturgy, before the removal of the Holy Chalice, the choir sings that we (parishioners) are leaving all earthly fuss. Not every (especially modern) person understands that sooner or later earthly life will end and everything that he worked so hard for will go into oblivion. After all, he will not be able to take his passport or his favorite job, bank accounts or a computer with valuable information with him into the afterlife. He will appear before God with his conscience, with sins and virtues. The Lord will not ask if you were a CEO, He will ask you to answer for offending a client grandmother. God doesn't care if you had a Lexus. He will ask if you brought the weak, the weak, without taking money from them.

Why restrictions in fasting in relation to entertainment? The time has come to sit down at the table or stand in front of the icons and think: what have you done wrong in your whole life, for this period. Is the conscience clear? It is more important for a Christian to know not about, for example, whether it is possible to brush one's teeth before Communion, but about what sins really are and what repentance is, how not to sin. The Lord is grieved when a person commits a sin even mentally. Just think: you are mentally angry, even your heart is numb. This is also a sin. You need to repent sincerely.

When is communion not allowed?

Do you know that you need to get rid of your sins? If you have repented, you should try to avoid transgressions. In order for the priest to allow Communion, you need to attend the evening service every Saturday, then in the morning at the Liturgy. The same should be done on major church holidays. It is necessary to read the morning prayers and according to the Prayer Book at home. Of course, it takes 20-30 minutes. If you do not have time, then you can read the Seraphim's rule: three times "Our Father", three times "Theotokos ..." and once "The Creed". But at the same time, during the day, you need to silently pray to God, to the saints. These are the most important rules.

They may not be allowed to receive Communion in such cases, for example:

murder, abortion;
divination, divination, extrasensory perception, spiritualism, astrology;
other faith, heretical views;
cohabitation outside of marriage, debauchery, homosexuality, drug addiction and alcoholism, and so on.

The priest needs to tell the whole truth during confession, not to hide any sin. The Lord stands by invisibly, He knows everything, only awaits repentance of the heart. If you hide something, it will be an even greater sin. You need to completely cleanse your soul before Communion. What do the holy fathers and priests say? The human soul must be pure, bright, with the hope of correction and change of life for the better. You should not go to the Chalice if you are not sure that you want to live with God.

If the father blessed

When a priest gives a blessing, one should take it seriously. You should read not only the canon to the Mother of God before Communion, but also the canons to the Savior, the Guardian Angel, as well as the Follow-up. All this is in the Orthodox prayer books.

The reading space is very large. Therefore, the canons can be read 2-3 days before communion, but the Follow-up is read only the night before, after coming from the church from the evening service.

You need to make sure that no one distracts you. If you take communion with your family, friends, pilgrims, then read in turn, pray.

Morning before Communion

As you know, Orthodox Christians cannot eat anything in the morning before Communion. Even medicines are not allowed. But can you brush your teeth before Communion? There is no ban on this. If you are sure that you do not accidentally swallow water or paste, you can brush your teeth.

If the stomach is sick, it is not possible to wait a long time until noon, then it is better to go to the early service. In small towns and villages, the Liturgy is served early, and in megacities - at 7 in the morning or at 9-10 o'clock.

For the sake of union with God, you can endure. It is worth reading prayers to yourself.

The morning before Communion is always exciting. You need to mentally prepare. After reading the morning rule, go to the church at least half an hour before the Liturgy to calmly submit notes, light candles, and go to your favorite saints.

Before the Communion

At the service, you should carefully listen to prayers. When the priests prepare the Communion, pray that you will receive the Blood and Body of Christ worthily. At the same time, a pious person should sincerely consider himself unworthy of such a Gift.

Remember the Canon of the Theotokos before Communion: you need to pray that the Mother of God will intercede for us sinners. And what does the canon of Jesus Christ say? We repent to the Lord of our sins. Keep this in mind when you wait for Communion.

The Moment of Communion

Many people ask: “Can I eat before Communion?” Do you know why the answer is no? Because the Lord must enter the body of a Christian first. After all, God is more important to us than food.

So we talked about whether it is possible to brush your teeth before Communion, how to prepare, what to read, gave examples of testimonies of true faith. We must remember that God needs our prayers and repentance, and not earthly vanity.

This article summarizes the answers of experienced and pious priests, gives recommendations and useful tips for beginners.

What is Communion?

There are several testimonies about how Communion is actually prepared and what is hidden from human eyes under it. One day a man entered the temple. The royal gates in the temple were open. The priests stood at the altar. Suddenly, a man who came in saw the priest pierce the baby with a spear. He shouted to the whole temple: “Why are you killing a baby?” All the people standing in the temple turned around. No one could understand what kind of baby they were talking about. In fact, the priest had a prosphora in his hands (a small bread made from wheat flour and water).

The Lord invisibly and endlessly sacrifices himself for the sake of people, but not materially, but spiritually. His crucifixion was actually seen almost 2,000 years ago at Golgotha in Jerusalem.

Let's return to the Gospel and to those lines where the Lord is at the Last Supper. He said: "From now on you will drink my blood (wine) and eat my body (bread) in memory of Me." But how this would happen, even the apostles did not know. Moreover, it is not given to us to know. This is a divine secret. We can only take it seriously, and as it is, without a doubt. Therefore, the prayers read before Communion are very necessary, first of all for the one who takes communion.

Another living testimony:

What does a Christian need before Communion?

Of course, first of all, the belief that he will be given to taste not just bread and wine, but the body of Christ. Of course, such a meal is a miracle. The Lord gives a piece of himself to a sinful person. Therefore, Communion must be approached not only with fear, but also with faith. You can't just partake like that.

How to treat?

*canon repentant to the Savior;

* canon of the prayer of the Mother of God;

* canon to the Guardian Angel;

*Adherence to Holy Communion.

It is all these prayers, chants, and kontakia that will help you prepare correctly to receive the Holy Gifts in the right way.

Posts and confessions:

Priests say that you need to fast for at least 3 days. If a person is not churched, rarely visits the temple, sins, then he needs to prepare for almost a week. That is why the best option for such people is the Great, Christmas Lent, as well as Petrov and Uspensky. But that is why it is not necessary to choose periods of many days of fasting. After all, more important is reconciliation with God, and not convenience.

What to do before Communion to someone who rarely goes to church?

Firstly, Be sure to go to the priest for confession. When the priest receives the penitents, you can find out in the church that is closer to your home or which you want to visit. Be prepared for the fact that the priest after confession may not allow you to take Communion. There could be many reasons for this. Often, in order to be admitted to communion, you need to fast, repent, visit the temple many times. Be sure to ask the priest after confession whether he blesses the approach to the Holy Chalice or not. Often the priests themselves insist that the confessor take communion. You need to take this advice.

What is the post before communion?

What is meant by post?

Meat, milk can not be eaten, eggs too. In addition, dishes, products, drinks that contain the above products are not consumed. Remember that fasting should be spiritual in nature. Eat little food. For example, for breakfast - tea with oatmeal cookies or oatmeal porridge on the water, for lunch - soup on vegetable broth, for dinner - vegetable salad and rice / potatoes.

Drinking before communion, as well as during fasting, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. It is also recommended to refuse coffee. After all, the body should be a temple of the soul, a calm "home", sober and vigorous. The food is modest (not fasting), coffee and alcohol cannot in any way set you up for prayers.

Spiritual side:

No need to fuss while fasting. If possible, postpone things for later. They can wait. After all, earthly life is fleeting, and a fasting person needs to think about eternity.

Why such restrictions?

Why restrictions in fasting in relation to entertainment?

The time has come to sit down at the table or stand in front of the icons and think: what have you done wrong in your whole life, for this period.

Is the conscience clear?

It is more important for a Christian to know not about, for example, whether it is possible to brush one's teeth before Communion, but about what sins really are and what repentance is, how not to sin. The Lord is grieved when a person commits a sin even mentally. Just think: you are mentally angry, even your heart is numb. This is also a sin. You need to repent sincerely.

When is communion not allowed?

Do you know that you need to get rid of your sins? If you have repented, you should try to avoid transgressions. In order for the priest to allow Communion, you need to attend the evening service every Saturday, then in the morning at the Liturgy. The same should be done on major church holidays. It is necessary to read morning and evening prayers according to the Prayer Book at home. Of course, it takes 20-30 minutes. If you do not have time, then you can read the Seraphim's rule: three times "Our Father", three times "Theotokos ..." and once "The Creed". But at the same time, during the day, you need to silently pray to God, to the saints. These are the most important rules.

They may not be allowed to receive Communion in such cases, for example:

*murder, abortion; divination, divination, extrasensory perception, spiritualism, astrology;

*other faith, heretical views;

* cohabitation outside of marriage, debauchery, homosexuality, drug addiction and alcoholism, and so on.

What do the holy fathers and priests say?

The human soul must be pure, bright, with the hope of correction and change of life for the better. You should not go to the Chalice if you are not sure that you want to live with God.

If the father blessed:

The reading space is very large. Therefore, the canons can be read 2-3 days before communion, but the Follow-up is read only the night before, after coming from the church from the evening service.

You need to make sure that no one distracts you. If you take communion with your family, friends, pilgrims, then read in turn, pray.

Morning before Communion:

As you know, Orthodox Christians cannot eat anything in the morning before Communion. Even medicines are not allowed.

But can you brush your teeth before Communion?

There is no ban on this. If you are sure that you do not accidentally swallow water or paste, you can brush your teeth.

For the sake of union with God, you can endure. It is worth reading prayers to yourself.

Before Communion itself:

The very moment of Communion:

When the Royal Doors open and the priest comes out with the Chalice, you need to bow to the ground. Then stand in line with your arms crossed over your chest. When you approach the Chalice, you need to tell the priest your Orthodox name and open your mouth wide. The sacrament should be swallowed immediately so that the particle does not get stuck in the teeth. Accept warmth and prosphora. Many people ask: “Can I eat before Communion?” Do you know why the answer is no? Because the Lord must enter the body of a Christian first. After all, God is more important to us than food.

WHAT TO SAY IN CONFESSION?

Quite often, those who decide to go to church for this sacrament for the first time think about what they need to say in confession.

It is important to understand that confession is not just a sincere conversation with a priest, but a religious ceremony aimed primarily at repentance.

In confession, it is important to be completely determined to correct your life. The realization that it has become difficult for you to live because of the commission of some sin or even several is the first step towards correction. Only after this understanding is complete should one sign up for confession.

In some situations, not only repentance after committing a sin can be a reason to go to confession. If it is difficult for you to distinguish good from bad, or life seems useless and painful, you can also come to confession, because the church is always open for those who need it.

What sins to talk about in confession:

One of the main mistakes of people who come to confession is to list all their sins in their entire lives. It is extremely important to highlight exactly why you came. Sin is an act against the church, God. This is a kind of violation of morality - one's own, someone else's, public. In Christianity, there are eight deadly sins, the fulfillment of which has serious consequences for a person - anger, sadness, gluttony, fornication, despondency, vanity, pride and avarice. In addition, there are personal sins - these are various actions against conscience and God. As a rule, a person can determine some sins only by himself; they are not spelled out in any sacred book. A sin can be that act that in every possible way burdens your life.

It doesn't matter what you bring to church. In confession, the main thing is complete repentance and an inner understanding of the deed.

What to say to a priest in confession:

Confession in Orthodoxy, as in most other religions, is a conversation with God about your misdeeds, a request for help. The priest serves only as a witness to this conversation, God's helper on earth.

Therefore, in confession, it is important to be extremely frank and not hide anything about what is bothering you. It is especially important to tell what is most bothering you at the moment, not forgetting the small things and details of the offense for which you want to repent.

You can trust a priest with your biggest secrets, because he has no right to tell anyone about your confession. Remember that you do not need to be afraid of condemnation from the church, the very fact that you have come to repentance is already a worthy deed of a believer.

Important to remember that it is not necessary to speak at confession about a sin for which you have already confessed, if it has not been committed again. And, often, confession alone will not be enough. You need to ask God in prayers for forgiveness, come to church as soon as you feel like it, honor traditions and rituals.

The Church advises that confession, like communion, should be regular. Your confessor will be able to tell you about the frequency of confession. Remember that it is the clergyman who will be your main assistant in observing church rites.

As you can see, confession is a very complex sacrament. Not everyone is ready for it. If you decide to confess, then you need to weigh the pros and cons for yourself, and your soul will tell you what to say in confession. Remember that repentance and freeing yourself from the sin you have committed is a long process that will require a lot of strength and patience from you.

INTERNAL CONFESSION.

Diseases and other troubles do not fall on a person just like that. Man is a cosmic being and develops according to the laws of not only the material, but also the spiritual world. If he violates these laws, there is an illness or some tragic circumstances that endanger life.

It is enough to eliminate these violations, and everything in your life will return to normal. This is what inner confession helps to do.

The confession has two parts:

Part one: you must remember all the times when someone greatly offended or insulted you. After all, resentment is a source of continuous flow of negative psychic energy.

Calmly remember your past life from the age of 12 (it is from this age that a person begins to bear karmic responsibility for his actions). The offender (even if this person has died) must be mentally imagined, and then hugged and kissed tightly!

Sometimes resentment reaches such strength that hugging and kissing, even mentally, does not work. In such cases, the "enemy" can be imagined as an unintelligent child of 2-3 years old. But it is necessary to hug and kiss - this is an indispensable condition of the Rescue Mechanism!

The second part: not only do you have enemies, someone, perhaps, considers you their enemy. It is possible that you yourself were a violator of moral truths.

In this case, imagine that you are on the court, and the judge is your own heart. Get on your knees before him and tell all your bad deeds, mistakes, vices from the age of 12. Speak everything you remember - giving an account that you will not do it again.

After all, by repenting, you remove all the negativity that has accumulated over the years. If the inner confession was carried out correctly and sincerely, then recovery and deliverance from troubles will come in a hundred cases out of a hundred, regardless of the severity of the illness or the scale of the misfortune that has fallen on you. It's only a matter of time.

After an inner confession, try not to repeat the same mistakes - otherwise misfortunes will return in double volume.

The Unified Prayer, which any person can do, regardless of their religious beliefs, will help you avoid this. This prayer, as practice shows, is able to reduce the temperature in a matter of minutes, relieve any pain.

Prayer must be done in solitude, with a lit candle, kneeling:

"God! Good God!
May Your Name be hallowed in Heaven and on Earth.
From end to end of the universe!
God! Strengthen your strength in resisting the forces of darkness, so as not only to resist it, but also to cleanse Mother Earth from this garbage.
Teach me to separate good from evil and to remain in peace and firmness of spirit, in order to worthily do Thy Will among people.
Strengthen the strength of my brothers and sisters - both close and unknown to me.
May they see Your true glory and be filled with love in their hearts.
And they will overcome the dark barriers in the movement along the Path to the Light.
And let them stretch out their hands to each other and give the immeasurable warmth of the soul.
God! May Your Will be done! And there will be One People on Earth.
Loving his Mother - Nature, reunited with You by his love and walking along the Path of True Spiritual Development, relying on Your Last Testament.

IN THE MORNING: “Bless, Lord, on the deeds of the coming day, and may its difficulties be met as it befits those who walk under Your Light.”

IN THE EVENING: "Fill up, Lord, the lost strength for the good, in order to prepare for the meeting of the day of the future."

“I go to bed, I have the Cross seal on me. Guardian Angels! Save my Soul from evening until midnight, and from midnight until morning.

And the prayer "Our Father" three times.

Prayer is the most powerful force in the universe! The Bible says:

"Whatever you ask in prayer WITH FAITH, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)"ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH LET IT BE TO YOU" (Mat. 9:29).

How to behave before Holy Communion? Can I brush my teeth and take medicine in the morning? What can not be done after the Eucharist? Should I continue to fast? Why not lay down prostrations? Is kissing icons allowed? Is there a ban on foods with bones? Read the answers to the questions in the article.

Mystery connecting man to God

Communion (Eucharist) is the central Sacrament of the Church. Thanks to him, a person on earth can unite with Christ. After all, approaching the cup, we do not eat bread and wine, but the Body and Blood of Christ, thus accepting the Savior in our hearts.

And this is not some symbolic action, but a reality. So that people are not literally afraid when they see Flesh and Blood in the cup, the Lord vouchsafes us to partake of the Holy Gifts under the guise of bread and wine. But in the history of Christianity one can find many cases when those who approached the cup with doubts at some point were horrified. They saw the bloody liquid with their own eyes and even tasted the flesh in their mouths. Anyone can get acquainted with such examples in Christian literature, many cases are described in the book of Archpriest Vyacheslav Tulupov "The Miracle of Holy Communion".

But we would like to draw the reader's attention to a slightly different topic - how to behave on the day of Communion - and talk about some myths.

We have already written about the preparation for the Eucharist in the article “Communion for the first time - how to prepare?” . Here you can learn in detail how to fast, what prayer rules to read, and in general how to behave the day before.

How to behave in the morning before the Sacrament of the Eucharist?

On the day of Communion, one should not just “read” the morning rule and “finish” the following. First of all, it is worth praying carefully so that the Lord will vouchsafe us to take communion. We are all unworthy of the Body and Blood of the Savior, so we must gratefully accept this life-giving gift.

Do you brush your teeth?

The question is often asked: is it possible to brush your teeth in the morning? Some "orthodox" believe that it is impossible. But many priests answer: you can. Why?

If it is unpleasant for a person to go to work, communicate with people because of an uncomfortable smell from the mouth, then how can he approach the Chalice in such a form and with such a feeling? We must come to Christ with a pure heart and a pure mouth. In all senses.

Communion and medication

Another problematic question: how to take communion if you have to take pills in the morning?

Bishop Mark Golovkov says that pills are not food, but medicine. If you have serious health problems and it is dangerous for you to interrupt the course of some drug, then you should not give up both pills and Holy Communion.

If you are taking some kind of vitamins or nutritional supplements, and nothing serious will happen when you drink them not in the morning, but in the afternoon, then why panic? You can safely take communion, and when you come home, take vitamins or medicines.

If everything is more or less clear with behavior before Communion, then many questions remain about what is possible and impossible after receiving the Holy Gifts.

What is possible and what is not possible after Holy Communion?

Whether to beat earthly bows? Is it possible to spit? Is it possible to kiss on this day? Do you brush your teeth in the evening? Many of these questions will seem ridiculous, but nevertheless, they often worry the communicants.

You can't sin

If you ask a priest what not to do after Communion, he will surely answer with one word: "Sin."
Why? Because you have accepted Christ into your heart. And God is sinless. It cannot be combined with sin. Therefore, if we begin to transgress the commandments, then we literally drive the Savior out of our hearts.

That is why, after the Sacrament of the Eucharist, it is advised to be especially careful not to lose the grace received. It is believed that one should speak little, pray more, thank God, if possible, avoid empty conversations and companies.
After all, if the demon cannot tempt us directly, then he will try to do this through relatives and friends, or even random people.

Always give thanks

If a person does something good or pleasant for us, we just want to thank him. But how can we thank the Lord, who, for the sake of our salvation, accepted death on the cross and gave us the opportunity to unite with him in the sacrament of the Eucharist? No earthly words will suffice. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't even try.

To bow or not to bow?

It is believed that on the day of Holy Communion one should not bow to the ground. Why?

Kneeling is a sign of repentance, weeping for sins. And the person who takes communion rejoices, and does not cry and mourn. He received Christ into his heart.

Should I continue to fast?

Some confessors bless their spiritual children throughout the day to abstain from fast food and wine. Needless to say, there are no such rules. Where, then, did this custom come from?

After Holy Communion it is very easy to scatter grace. And a hearty meal can help. You had a good lunch, then you wanted to sleep. Thoughts about prayer and the meaning of the Sacrament receded into the background. Because of this, some priests do not bless eating heavy fatty foods and drinking wine.

But a moderate meal, even if it includes meat, dairy products and wine, does not hurt. So the main focus in this matter is moderation.

Is it possible to spit and eat berries with seeds?

Surely you have heard from believers or even priests that after the Sacrament of the Eucharist nothing should be spit out. How to understand this and is it worth adhering to this rule?

This prohibition is connected with pious fear, so as not to accidentally spit out a piece of the Holy Gifts. But in order to minimize this risk, after Communion we always take a drink - holy water or diluted wine and pieces of prosphora.

Moreover: during Holy Communion, it is advised to swallow a particle completely, without chewing it. Then you will not have fear - what if I accidentally spit out a particle along with food, while brushing my teeth in the evening.

Some priests, nevertheless, for insurance, advise not to use certain foods, because of which we will have to “spit”: fish with bones, berries with stones, and so on. If you had to use them, then it is often advised to carefully collect the bones and burn them.

In general, the opinions of the priests differ on this issue: some say that there is a point in such actions, while others urge not to strain the mosquito.

What should you do? Either consult with the priest you are confessing to, or act according to your conscience or avoid possible situations altogether. It is not necessary to eat foods with bones on the day of Holy Communion.

Is it possible to brush your teeth, kiss icons and relatives?

If you have taken Communion by swallowing a particle without chewing, then there is hardly any need to worry that you will inadvertently clean out a particle of the Holy Gifts. If there are still some fears, then it may be worth refraining from evening dental care.

And the last question from this category: is it possible to venerate icons and kiss relatives?

The ban on kissing the cross and icons looks like a manifestation of excessive piety. After the Sacrament of the Eucharist, one can and should venerate holy things.

There are no specific prohibitions on kissing relatives, marital kisses. But the one who takes communion should, as far as possible, refrain from sensual experiences and devote more time to prayer. In general, this is purely individual.

Priest Maxim Kaskun also talks about what not to do after Communion:

Take it, tell your friends!

Is it possible to brush your teeth, wash, wash, take a shower before Communion in church?

Previously, even during the persecution of the church, grandmothers still visited churches and took their children to the liturgy, and then their grandchildren. But, if we talk about Orthodox literacy, then it was almost non-existent. Everyone acted as he saw fit, because people were afraid not only to ask, but also to carry on any conversations about God or the church.

Now these children and grandchildren have grown up, but they still continue to attend the temple. They often have a question: is it possible to brush your teeth, wash, wash, take a shower before Communion in church, because grandmothers taught one rule, and the canons of the church imply something completely different.

A visit to the temple is a special event, because we meet with God, becoming partakers of the holy Eucharist, we receive the true Body and Blood of Christ in bread and wine.
A person should be aware that this is a holiday. Therefore, you need to brush your teeth, wash, wash and take a shower NECESSARILY. It is written in the rules of the church that if a person brushes his teeth and takes a sip of water or pasta, then it is not considered that he drank water or ate. You need to really look at the situation, using the wisdom and your mind that God has given us.
It is also necessary to wear clean and beautiful clothes. The Divine Liturgy is a celebration, a meeting with God, a life of prayer. This must be remembered, and then questions will not arise whether it is possible to wash and how to dress.

The temple should occupy a special place in the life of every Christian. This is the house of God, where we must come without sorrow and despondency.

How many hours before Communion is it forbidden to eat?

Strict fasting begins before Communion begins after 12 night of the previous day. This means that you can not eat or drink anything. Liturgy usually begins at 8 am, communion begins after 1.5-2 hours. Therefore, it turns out that 9-10 hours before Communion, one cannot eat and drink.

Is it possible to eat fish on the eve of Communion?

3 days before Communion, you need to fast. All meat and dairy products are prohibited, but you can eat cereals, vegetables, nuts. Is it possible to eat fish on the eve of Communion? Fish is allowed, but, like other dishes, before the start of strict fasting before the Eucharist, that is, until 12 am.

Important: Limit sweets for the three days before communion. You can only dry fruits. Don't overeat. Observe a fast in which not human needs are important, but prayer.

Is it possible to drink, use kvass, water, coffee before Communion?

During the three-day fast before Communion, it is important to read prayers: the canon of repentance to the Savior, the canon of prayer to the Mother of God, the canon to the Guardian Angel, the following to Holy Communion. These kontakia and hymns will help you prepare properly if you want to receive the Holy Gifts correctly.

During the fast before Communion, it is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages, drink kvass, and coffee. During these three days, the human body is a temple of the soul, where it should be calm, and coffee, yeast-leavened kvass and alcoholic drinks cannot properly tune in to prayers. You can drink water, but before the start of strict fasting - until 12 o'clock at night.

Can I feed my baby before Communion?

It is difficult for a small child to endure for a long time without food, and the Eucharist usually does not begin until 10:00 o'clock. Therefore, many parents ask the question: is it possible to feed a child before Communion?

Children under 3 years old can be fed 2 hours before receiving the Holy Gifts.
Particular attention should be paid to the feeding of infants. If you feed a baby, and then bring it to Communion, then he can burp, and this is unacceptable. Therefore, a small child up to a year also needs to be kept without food for at least 2 hours before the start of the Eucharist.

Important: The best solution in this case would be to attend the early liturgy, which is usually performed in large churches. Communion is already taking place in these churches at 8 o'clock.

Is it possible for sick people and pregnant women to eat before Communion?

Fasting is necessary for a person to curb the body, and when it is weak, it does not need it. A sick body needs help to heal and recover. So it is written in the church rules. Therefore, before Communion, sick people can eat, but you need to try to do it as early as possible, so as not before the very process of receiving the Holy Gifts.

Pregnant women are also relaxed in fasting. But you need to discuss everything with the priest during the evening confession. He will advise how to act correctly according to the Laws of God.

Important: Be sure to ask the priest for blessings about any of your doubts regarding any church activities or even life situations.

Can I take medicine before Communion?

There are diseases when medicines need to be taken constantly at intervals of 2-3 hours (asthma, diabetes, various inflammations, and so on). People with such diseases ask themselves the question: is it possible to drink medicines before Communion?

If the medicine is vital, then it must be taken without fail.
If it is possible to refrain from taking medications, then it is better to do so.
If you have any doubts about this, you need to turn to the priest, who will decide whether you are allowed to attend the Sacrament of the Eucharist or not. Ask your father for blessings.

So that you have no doubts, discuss this issue with the priest in advance. Then you will be able to prepare for confession and Communion with peace of mind.

Can I donate blood for sugar before Communion?

For people with diabetes, it is vital to know the level of glucose in the blood. Therefore, before communion, you can donate blood for sugar and take the necessary medicines.

Can I watch TV before Communion?

Preparation in church practice for Communion is called fasting. It lasts three days until the Eucharist, and concerns both the bodily and spiritual life of a person. The body refrains from eating meat and dairy food, and the mind should not be distracted by worldly trifles and amuse itself. Therefore, before Communion, it is unacceptable to watch TV, go to noisy companies. You need to spend time at home - in silence and prayer.

After Communion: when and what can you eat, can you eat meat?

Fasting is established only before Communion, as a feat of abstinence from earthly goods. This is necessary in order for a person to acquire a reverent attitude to receive the Holy Gifts. After Communion, you can eat everything, as well as dairy products, meat. But if there is no post on that day. If the church prescribed fasting on the occasion of some holiday or commemoration of the Saint, then it is necessary to refrain from eating meat, dairy products and fish.

Important: Often during fasting, on some church holidays, you can eat fish. On this day, even the one who takes communion can also eat it, but it is desirable that the fish be boneless so as not to spit them out.

Is it possible to drink alcohol, wine after Communion and on the day of Communion?

On the day of the Holy Eucharist and after it, there are no canonical obstacles to tasting alcoholic beverages. You can celebrate and drink wine after Communion and on this day itself, but in moderation, and not turn the feast into drunkenness and association. It is important that you do not feel sick on this day. Therefore, it is better to refuse vodka, and drink some good wine.

When can I brush my teeth, wash my face, wash my hair, wash my hair after Communion?

On the day of Communion, it is better not to spit, so you should refrain from brushing your teeth. There are no canonical prohibitions regarding washing the body and head after the Holy Eucharist. If you have a fear that you will wash, wash or wash your hair after Communion and involuntarily spit out water, then refrain from these procedures for one day.

Is it possible to sleep after Communion?

After Communion, many people want to come home and go to bed. Indeed, on this day, people usually wake up early in order to have time to get together for the liturgy and read all the necessary prayers. So is it possible to sleep after Communion? It is undesirable to do this, since only wakefulness will help to preserve the grace received. On this day, after church, it is better to read the Bible and think about the Lord in order to keep a bright feeling of joy in the soul longer.

Is it possible to make love after Communion?

Church rules prescribe on the day of the Holy Eucharist to keep the bodily frequency and occupy your mind only with thoughts of God and prayers. Therefore, making love after Communion is not necessary.

Can I go to work after Communion?

If you need to go to work after Communion, then there are no obstacles for this in the church. But, if there is an opportunity to postpone work, then do it, and spend at least half a day reading prayers and in peace of mind.

Many people argue that after Communion one should not kiss the icons, the cross, the hand of the priest, the child and other relatives. But any priest will say that this is superstition. According to church canons, only prostrations are not made on Sunday. If you kissed the cup after receiving the Holy Gifts, then this should in no way affect the further visible manifestation of your piety. Immediately after Communion, you need to take warmth (warm water mixed with wine) and then you can apply to the icons, the cross and the blessing hand of the priest.

Can you kneel after Communion?

As mentioned above, bowing to the ground after the Holy Eucharist is not necessary. But, if in the church during the service and prayer everyone knelt down, then you can do it too. But this is unlikely to happen, since after the end of the Communion, thanksgiving prayers to God are read and the service ends with a short sermon by the priest.

Is it possible to clean the house on the day of Communion?

Communion Day should be devoted to spiritual pursuits, and worldly affairs are best done later. It is not necessary to clean the house on the day of Communion out of a feeling of gratitude before the Holy Sacrament, and also in order to preserve this grace in oneself.

It should be remembered that a quarrel with a loved one is even worse than doing housework. Therefore, on the day of the Holy Eucharist, you need to think about the good, try not to talk to anyone, read prayers. But if you need to do housework for the sake of helping your neighbor, then this can be done, but with special spiritual discretion.

Why is it impossible to work in the ground after Communion?

Communion is a holiday to be spent with joy in the soul, enjoying every minute of the grace given from above. It is believed that after receiving the Holy Gifts it is impossible to work in the earth, so as not to lose grace. Someone says that the demon can drag away this grace. But this is superstition. If you want to do something or you need to do it after Communion, then consult with the priest. Most likely, he will answer that this day should be dedicated to God, read prayers and be at home in peace.

Is it possible to spit, spit out the seeds from the berries after Communion?

As mentioned above, it is impossible to spit after the Sacrament of Communion, and even more so, spit out the bones from the berries. Refrain from such food after accepting God's grace.

What else can not be done on the day of communion?

The life experience of many people says that it is easier to get than to keep. The same can be said about spiritual experience - it is important to be able to use the gift - this is the most difficult thing that awaits the recipient. What else can not be done on the day of communion? Here are some tips:

To sin, to be annoyed and to arrive in despondency.
Kissing animals, as well as hugging and talking to them.
You can cough and blow your nose, but in a handkerchief, and not spit on the ground.
Chewing gum.

There is such a legend that after Communion, the expelled evil spirits wander through the forests and fields, and having not found shelter, they think: “But why not go back to the house?”. She returns again to a person who is spiritually pure after Communion and calls with her 7 more spirits. Therefore, it often happens that after Communion a person begins to sin even more. It is important to preserve that state and grace given at the time of receiving the Holy Gifts. There is no need to dwell on superstition, it is necessary to read prayers and canons and live according to the commandments of the Lord.

Is it possible to get infected with something during Communion in church?

When we cross the threshold of the church, we find ourselves in God's house - this is already Heaven, not earth, and all worldly problems and thoughts should remain outside the threshold. Is it possible to get infected with something during Communion in church? Near the cup, people receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Here only Purity and Sterility. Believers should not even have the thought of contagious diseases. Besides, an Orthodox Christian should not think about it at all. Batiushka goes to give communion to sick people in hospitals, but no one has been infected yet.

Communion is one of the Great Sacraments. A person must receive the Holy Gifts in order to purify the soul. It is important that a person does not lose reverence, but with all his being feels the benefit of the Sacrament of Communion. Only true believers feed their souls all their lives with a unique contrast: between the anguish of a slave who kneels and prays (during confession), and the free flight of an eagle spreading its wings wide (after Communion).

Video: Where did the ban on food before Communion come from?

The Eucharistic tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church contains the concept of fasting before receiving the Holy Gifts. It is generally accepted that fasting begins at midnight and continues until the Sacrament itself. An exception is made for infants and seriously ill, dying people.
However, many people have a problem in carrying out such a fast due to the need to take medication on an empty stomach. How to be in such a situation? Is it possible to receive communion or is it better to leave the Sacrament until recovery? To answer these questions, we propose to touch on church history.

In the first centuries of the Christian Church, the so-called love suppers or agapes were an expression of love and Christian unity in faith. On them, members of the Church gathered to celebrate the Eucharist, prayer and a common meal. We are interested in the fact that at such meetings, Christians first ate food - a common dinner - and only then, at the end of the Meal, accepted the Holy Gifts.

That is, communion after dinner was common for Christians.
This practice would have continued even now if it were not for the frequent abuses by unscrupulous Christians. It so happened that the richer members of the community became greedy and avoided to treat the poor brethren. We find condemnation of this vice in St. The Apostle Paul, who says, "Don't you have houses to eat and drink?" ().

In the course of later history, abuses only intensified, and it was already difficult to maintain the purity of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Therefore, the sacrament was moved to the beginning of the agape, and lunch to the second place. Since that time, the Eucharistic fast has begun. Agaps soon disappeared from church use, and the Eucharist became an independent worship service. On this occasion, ecclesiastical canonical documents were published, which were devoted to the rationale for fasting before communion and the prohibition of agapes.

Thus, it becomes clear that the prohibition to eat before communion is not absolute.

From the photo album of priest Konstantin Parkhomenko

In modern church practice, according to the recently published regulation on the Eucharist, seriously ill people are allowed to take the necessary medicines before communion. Because drugs are not food.

Unfortunately, our illnesses often become chronic. We are constantly looking for sources of health and longevity for ourselves and our loved ones. Today, there are many treatment regimens, which are based on taking medicines on an empty stomach. It can be various herbal infusions or, for example, a proven Chinese way to purify the blood by taking a grated clove of garlic on an empty stomach.

Is it possible to receive communion for those who adhere to these treatment courses?
In my opinion, in a situation that does not require urgent administration of drugs into the body, one can refrain from preventive or restorative measures accompanying the treatment. Perhaps sometimes we can let the Lord visit and heal us. After all, we partake not only for the remission of sins, but also for healing. A rare parishioner has the opportunity to take communion often. I think it is worthwhile in these holy days of union with Christ to leave room for our faith and for God to visit us.

On the other hand, every Christian considers it his duty to take part of the holy prosphora and holy water every day. How to be with a combination of reception of medicines on an empty stomach?
In such a situation, it makes sense to separate the intake of medicines and holy prosphora and water in time.
In any case, it will be useful to consult a confessor about this, who will give individual advice and recommendations.

Priest Alexander Denisov

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Is it possible to spit and eat berries with seeds?

Is it possible to brush your teeth, kiss icons and relatives?

Is it possible to brush your teeth, wash, wash, take a shower before Communion in church?

Is it possible to eat fish on the eve of Communion?

Can I feed my baby before Communion?

Can I take medicine before Communion?

Can I watch TV before Communion?

After Communion: when and what can you eat, can you eat meat?

When can I brush my teeth, wash my face, wash my hair, wash my hair after Communion?

Is it possible to make love after Communion?

Can I go to work after Communion?

Can you kneel after Communion?

Why is it impossible to work in the ground after Communion?

What else can not be done on the day of communion?

Video: Where did the ban on food before Communion come from?

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