How to take communion in church for the first time as an adult. What days can you take communion in church? But, unfortunately, most people during communion are like children playing with precious stones and not understanding their value.

In the Orthodox Church there is such a thing as the sacrament of communion, it also has the name of the Eucharist. Communion is the blessing of the Lord for the remission of sins and filling Christians with their grace. If you have decided to visit the temple for this purpose, then our article will explain to you all the related questions.

The main thing in the article

What is the sacrament of communion in the Orthodox Church: what does it give and what is it for?

Not every person who wears a pectoral cross and who has been baptized in the Orthodox Church can call himself a Christian. A person becomes a believer when he begins to participate in the life of the church, to observe all its canons. . In other words, he is in spiritual union with God.

For our ancestors, who professed the Orthodox faith, it was unthinkable to call themselves Christians and not observe the sacrament.

The Sacrament of Communion was established by Jesus Christ even before he was betrayed and sent to torment. At the Last Supper, the Savior instituted the sacrament of communion among his disciples. He blessed his daily bread and wine as his own flesh and blood, thereby commanding his apostles, and through them to their other successors, to do this good deed.

By performing the sacrament of communion, a person gets the opportunity to be cleansed of sin and receive healing of the soul. There is an opportunity to correct your life for the better, to transform your human essence.

How is communion in church?

If you are a real believer, then should properly prepare for the sacrament (read more about this below). By doing this, you express gratitude and respect to the Lord. You need to come to the decision to take communion not because of a sense of duty, your soul must consciously strive for this.

The concepts of confession and Holy Communion are inseparable . You will not be able to take communion if you do not confess first.

Confession is repentance before the Lord God about the sins committed, denial of committing further sins. You, a servant of God, in the presence of a priest, voice all the sins for which you ask God for forgiveness. In turn, the priest helps you cleanse yourself of sins with the help of prayer. You also need to prepare for confession:

• Early think about the possible sins you have committed. First of all, pay attention to those perfect deeds that bother you, prevent you from living. But do not forget about other disobediences to the faith, which, at first glance, seem less significant (check out the list).

If it is difficult for you to voice your sins out loud, then you can write a note and give it to the priest, he will do it for you. Only at the moment of confession you need to sincerely realize your mistakes - you will not hide anything before God.

After preparing for communion and confession, the priest gives a blessing to pass communion.

As a rule, a sacred action occurs in this way:

• In the morning, a person comes to confession, after which the service begins in the church.
• Then the priest takes out a cup of red wine, symbolizing the blood of the Savior.
• Then, one by one, without pushing, people come up to the priest to take a little wine from a spoon.
• After taking red wine, the Orthodox Christian steps aside, where the ministers of the church give him a piece of prosphora with holy water, denoting the flesh of Christ.
• Children are allowed to take communion first, until they are seven years old they may not prepare for communion.
• On this, the procedure for accepting the sacrament of communion is considered completed.

What are the days of communion in the church?

You can go through the sacrament of the sacrament on any day when a church service takes place. This Christian worship is called - liturgy. In order not to be mistaken, talk in advance with the priest or with the ministers of the church about the exact day of communion. As a rule, the service in the church must be corrected on Saturday and Sunday.

The exception is Great Lent before Easter until Holy Week. During this period there is a special calendar (schedule) of services.

Great Lent is intended to prepare the Christian people for the great celebration of Easter. Divine services during this period are distinguished by prayers for the remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, his repentance.

An Orthodox Christian should take communion as often as possible, once or twice a month. But this is very individual, you yourself should feel the desire for repentance, and not adhere to the standards. It would not be superfluous to discuss with the priest all the questions of spiritual life that concern you.

What time does communion start in church on Saturday and Sunday?

The Sacrament of Communion begins at the end of the morning service in the church. Each temple has its own - individual start time for the morning service. Church services are divided into: morning, afternoon, evening. Communion is often held at the morning service (there are exceptions), it is also called the 1st hour. Usually the beginning of such a service is not earlier than seven, and not later than ten in the morning.

The duration of the service depends on:

• From the nature of the service (holiday, daily, evening, Lenten, etc.).
• From the speed of the performance of the service by both the holy father and the choir. In some churches this happens slowly, in others more quickly.
• From the number of people who want to confess before the start of the service and take communion after it, respectively.
• On whether a sermon will sound at the service.

On average, the morning service lasts 1 hour 20 minutes - 2 hours.

If you will take communion at the evening service, then it is better to consult with the holy father about the moments of preparation for it, since the action should take place on an empty stomach. Perhaps it is better to confess before the evening service, and take communion after the morning.

How long does communion last?

• The duration of the communion itself will depend on the number of those wishing to receive communion .
• After the end of the service, the priest takes out the Chalice with the Holy Gifts from behind the altar, and invites those who wish to take communion.
• At first, church ministers, monks take communion, and then let the children and everyone else pass.
• While waiting for your turn, you can’t arrange a farce and showdown, otherwise all repentance will not make any sense.
• It will take less than a minute to taste the Holy Gifts (“cahors”, prosphora, holy water or “warmth”).

How often can you take communion?

This is a rather ambiguous question. Rather, it is not the frequency that is important, but the “quality” of communion, the realization by the person himself of the importance of what is happening. If such awareness is always present, then you can take communion as often as possible, at least every week.

• Orthodox Christians it is recommended to learn the sacrament of communion two or three times a month.
• People who are preparing to dedicate their lives to the church can take communion more often, then mental and physical fasting can be slightly relaxed for one or two days.
• You can also do this before each post - four times a year.
• It is strictly forbidden to take communion twice in one day.

Thanks to the church, the spirituality of a person is revived. If you feel a burden on your soul, start attending just the liturgy for a start, without communion. Talk to the holy father, perhaps you will find answers and find peace. When your consciousness itself comes to the desire to confess and take communion, you will feel it.

How to take communion for the first time?

The first communion takes place a little after the baptism of the child.

Before First Communion you need to spiritually adjust and prepare both yourself and the child:

• It would be a good move if relatives and godparents after the christening will take communion with the child .
• The preparation before the sacrament includes all the same points that you read earlier.
• Say prayers for the child (see below), ask the Lord in your own words so that he endows the baptized baby with his grace, helps to raise a worthy Christian on the way to the salvation of his soul.
• Then bring the baby to the priest, put his head on his right hand, hold his hands so that he cannot accidentally knock over the Holy Chalice.
• Also need properly prepare clothes , the child should be comfortable so that he does not worry once again.

If you teach a child to take communion as often as possible, then he will grow up, being in spiritual balance with himself.

It happens that a person receives baptism and the first communion already in adulthood. Then do not be afraid to make a mistake - the first communion, like all subsequent ones, is almost the same. Feel free to ask questions to your spiritual mentor, he will be able to prepare you.

Preparing for Communion

The most important preparation for communion is to become aware of the process itself. You must go to church to get closer to God, to realize and repent of your sins. You should feel a bright attitude before going to church, and not the heavy burden of being forced.

• Further, no later than three days, need to fast- do not eat food of animal origin. The sacrament itself must be taken on an empty stomach.
• Also three days before communion, you must refrain from sexual contact , and even try to get rid of your thoughts from this. The end of bodily abstinence ends on the day following the day of communion itself.
• It is required to give up worldly pleasures, celebrations.
• If there are no life obstacles, then you need to cleanse your body, entering the church dirty is a sin. For this wash yourself early in the morning before going to the temple.
• Next, you need confession- repentance before God for all your sins.
• Having gone through confession, having attended a church service, you can be blessed for communion by a priest.

What prayers to read before communion?

How to behave at the sacrament in church, what should be said?

A Christian cannot be admitted to communion if:

• He did not go to confession (except for children under seven years of age).
• He is excommunicated from the Holy Mysteries.
• Lost his mind, is not in himself. Belief is not forced.
• Spouses who have had sexual intercourse the day before.
• Woman during menstruation.
• Does not wear a pectoral cross.
• Other moments, they make a reservation with the priest.

1. You must arrive at church before the service begins. , if you are late, confession and communion are postponed.
2. After the prayer “I believe, Lord, and I confess…”, the priest takes out the Chalice with the Gifts, while need to bow low .
3. At the opening of the royal gates you need to cross yourself, fold your hands in a cross on your chest (right top) . In this position, you need to receive the sacrament of communion.
4. You need to approach the Chalice from the right side of the church, not ahead of other parishioners.
5. Women are encouraged to take communion without make-up. (at least without lipstick).
6. Being near the father, you need to clearly say your name, accept the Holy Gifts, kiss the Chalice (like the rib of Christ) . You can't touch or kiss anything else.
7. Having departed, receive from the ministers of the church a prosphora and a drink - holy water or warmth.
8. If there are several Cups, then you can receive Gifts from only one.
9. Next, read the prayers for Holy Communion or listen to them in the church.

What do you need to take communion in a child's church?

Basic Rules for Communion in the Orthodox Church

According to church law, there are certain rules that every Christian must follow. There are also nuances in the passage of the sacrament of communion. Let's figure out which ones.

Is it possible to take communion at the evening service?

You can definitely take communion at the evening service on the day of the Last Supper. Jesus Christ Himself laid down this rule by giving communion to His disciples, by giving them His flesh and blood.

As for evening communion on other days, the answer to this question is rather ambiguous. The vast majority of communion takes place in the morning, on an empty stomach. It is not very convenient to observe such a rule throughout the day, and not everyone can withstand it. At the same time, it is desirable to be present at the evening service, you can also confess at it, or you can in the morning. Therefore, this question should be asked to the holy father of the church where you are going to receive the sacrament of communion.

Is it possible to take communion during menstruation?

Not, don't take communion during menstruation , such an act will be considered insolence and a great sin. Touching the Holy Chalice during this period is a great disrespect for the Lord God. Furthermore, a woman who is menstruating cannot enter the temple at all. The explanation for this is that menstruation is a missed pregnancy, and the woman should be held responsible for this. A woman is considered "unclean" because of her bloody discharge, which defiles the church when she enters it.

It is a completely different matter if bleeding accompanies a woman for a long time - this is no longer a cleansing, but an ailment. Then ask your spiritual mentor for advice, and repent at confession. The priest must admit you to communion, perhaps after passing it, you will receive healing.

Can pregnant women take communion?

Yes, you can, and the more often the better. This is a special period, even before the birth of a child, a woman must realize the importance of redemption, and after birth, she must involve her child in this process.

The church is indulgent for pregnant women - it is allowed to simplify the fast as you feel better. If the state of health allows, fasting and prayers are prepared according to general rules. Preparation by prayers and service in the church can be performed while sitting on a pew.

Is it possible to take communion if you have not fasted?

• There are different cases sometimes a fast can be broken by a small oversight (accidental eating of fast food, for example).
• Either the person due to health reasons, he cannot come to communion hungry or without drinking water. Such moments are negotiated with the priest, and at confession you need to repent for this.

You need to understand that fasting is good, but the purpose of the sacrament is the remission of sins and unity with God. If there are good reasons why the fast was broken, there are no barriers to passing the sacrament.

• If a it is a violation of physical abstinence by spouses - it is better to skip communion once, and take this moment into account at the subsequent confession.

Is it possible to take communion on an empty stomach?

Yes, but only for children under 7. Moreover, the eating of food should not take place immediately before communion, but in advance. Children should be prepared from a very young age for communion on an empty stomach.

This rule also applies to people who are ill if they cannot do without food in the morning.

Is it possible to receive communion without preparation?

No, you can't do that . It turns out that you will do it just "for show". Just look at this situation from two sides:

• You take communion several times a year, in general, just like you attend the church itself. In this case, you must strictly observe fasting, go through confession, read all the canons and prayers.
• You live according to church canons, observe all fasts, that is, preparing for communion is your way of life. Then you can simply come to the sacrament of communion on an empty stomach, read the necessary prayers.
• As already mentioned, children under the age of seven may not qualify.

Is it possible to receive communion without confession?

This rule also applies to children under seven years of age. In some churches, exceptions are made for regular parishioners if they receive the sacrament of communion frequently.

Is it possible to receive communion if I had an abortion?

The Lord God is all-merciful, he is able to forgive any sin if you really sincerely repent of it. Infanticide is one of the worst sins of mankind. The purpose of realizing this godlessness is not to commit such acts in the future. A spiritual mentor cannot refuse confession and communion if you want to atone for your guilt.

If a woman runs to the church after each abortion, then this is not welcomed by the church, the woman did not fully realize her guilt, since she continues to do this.

Is it possible to receive communion if you live in a civil marriage?

Many people confuse the concept of marriage, let's find out where the truth is:

• Church marriage - this is a marriage that received its blessing in the sacrament of the wedding.
• Civil marriage - This is a legally registered marriage by the state. His church recognizes and allows people who are in such a marriage to take communion, even if they are not married.

Do not confuse civil marriage with ordinary cohabitation , which in church terminology it's called fornication . If you live in fornication, then you may be denied the blessing of the sacrament of the sacrament.

Another thing is if you regret your act, and are going to legalize your marriage soon . According to Orthodox canons, you must either marry or end the relationship, then you can take communion.

Video: How is the sacrament in the church?

If you are interested in how the sacrament of the sacrament works in practice, then watch the following video:

Sacrament Communions established by the Lord Himself last supper- the last meal with the disciples on Easter night before His arrest and crucifixion.

“And while they were eating, Jesus took bread, and having blessed it, broke it, and giving it to the disciples, he said, Take, eat: this is my body. And, taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them and said: drink all of it from it, for this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:26-28), “…do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). In the Sacrament of the Flesh and Blood of the Lord ( Eucharist - Greek. “thanksgiving”), there is a restoration of that unity between the nature of the Creator and creation, which existed before the fall; this is our return to the lost paradise. It can be said that in Communion we receive, as it were, the germs of a future life in the Kingdom of Heaven. The mystical mystery of the Eucharist is rooted in the Sacrifice of the Cross of the Savior. Crucifying His Flesh on the Cross and shedding His Blood, the God-man Jesus brought the Sacrifice of Love for us to the Creator and restored the fallen human nature. Thus, the communion of the Body and Blood of the Savior becomes our participation in this restoration. « Christ is risen from the dead, death by death correcting, and bestowing life on those in the tombs; and gave us eternal life..

The partaking of the Flesh and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist is not a symbolic action (as Protestants believe), but quite real. Not everyone can accommodate this mystery.

« Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have life in you.”

Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

For My Flesh is truly food, and My Blood is truly drink.

Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him.

As the living Father sent me, and I live by the Father, so the one who eats me will live by me.

This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers ate manna and died: he who eats this bread will live forever.

…………………………………………

Many of His disciples, hearing this, said, What strange words! who can listen to it?

…………………………………………

From that time on, many of His disciples departed from Him and no longer walked with Him” (John 6:53-58, 60, 66).

Rationalists try to "get around" the mystery by reducing mysticism to a symbol. The proud perceive what is inaccessible to their minds as an insult: Leo Tolstoy blasphemously called the sacrament "cannibalism." For others, this is a wild superstition, for someone an anachronism. But the children of the Church of Christ know that in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, under the guise of bread and wine, they truly partake of the Body and Blood of Christ in Their essence. Indeed, it is not common for a person to eat raw flesh and blood, and therefore, at Communion, the Gifts of Christ are hidden under the image of bread and wine. Nevertheless, under the outer shell of corruptible matter, the imperishable substance of the Divine nature is hidden. Sometimes, by special permission, the Lord reveals this veil of mystery, and makes it possible for those who doubt to see the true nature of the Holy Gifts. In particular, in my personal practice there were two cases when the Lord wanted to let those who communicant see His Body and Blood in their true form. Both times these were first communions; in one case, psychics sent a person to the Church for their own reasons. In another, the reason for coming to the temple was a very superficial curiosity. After such a miraculous event, both became faithful children of the Orthodox Church.

How can we at least roughly understand the meaning of what is happening in the Sacrament of Communion? The nature of creation was created by the Creator to be related to Himself: not only permeable, but also, as it were, inseparable from the Creator. This is natural given the sanctity of the created nature - its initial state of free unity and submission to the Creator. In such a state are the angelic worlds. However, nature our of the world is distorted and perverted by the fall of its guardian and leader - man. Nevertheless, she did not lose the opportunity to reunite with the nature of the Creator: the clearest evidence of this is the incarnation of the Savior. But a person fell away from God voluntarily, and he can also reunite with Him only in free will (even the incarnation of Christ required the consent of a person - the Virgin Mary!). In the same time deification inanimate, free-willed nature, God can do in a natural way, arbitrarily . Thus, in the God-established Sacrament of Communion, the grace of the Holy Spirit at the established moment of worship (and also at the request of a person!) descends on the substance of bread and wine and proposes them into a substance of a different, higher nature: the Body and Blood of Christ. And now a person can accept these highest Gifts of Life only by demonstrating his free will! The Lord gives Himself to everyone, but those who believe in Him and love Him, the children of His Church, accept Him.

Thus, Communion is the gracious communion of the soul with the higher nature and in it with eternal life. Relegating this greatest mystery to the realm of an everyday image, we can compare Communion with the "nourishment" of the soul, which it must receive after its "birth" in the Sacrament of Baptism. And just as a person is born in the flesh once into the world, and then eats until the end of his life, so Baptism is a one-time event, and we must resort to Communion regularly, preferably at least once a month, possibly more often. Communion once a year is the minimum acceptable, but such a “hungry” regimen can put the soul on the brink of survival.

How is Communion in the Church?

To participate in the Eucharist, it is necessary to properly prepare. Meeting with God is an event that shakes the soul and transforms the body. Worthy communion requires a conscious and reverent attitude to this event. There must be a sincere faith in Christ and an understanding of the meaning of the Sacrament. We must have reverence for the Sacrifice of the Savior and awareness of our unworthiness to accept this great Gift (we accept Him not as a well-deserved reward, but as a manifestation of the mercy of a loving Father). There must be pacification of the soul: you need to sincerely forgive everyone in your heart who in one way or another “sad us” (remembering the words of the prayer “Our Father”: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”) and try, if possible, to reconcile with them ; even more so for those who, for one reason or another, consider themselves offended by us. Before Communion, one should read the prayers determined by the Church and compiled by the holy fathers, which are called: “Following to Holy Communion”; these prayer texts are present, as a rule, in all editions of Orthodox prayer books (collections of prayers). It is advisable to discuss the exact amount of reading of these texts with the priest to whom you turn for advice and who knows the specifics of your life. After the celebration of the Sacrament of Communion, it is necessary to read the "Prayers of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion." Finally, preparing to receive into oneself - into one's flesh and into one's soul - the Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, terrible in their grandeur, must be cleansed in body and soul. Fasting and confession serve this purpose.

Bodily fasting involves abstaining from eating fast food. The duration of fasting before Communion is usually up to three days. Directly on the eve of Communion, one should refrain from marital relations and from midnight it is not supposed to eat any food (in fact, do not eat or drink anything in the morning before the service). However, in specific cases, significant deviations from these norms are possible; they should be discussed, again, individually.

Communion in the Church

The Sacrament of Communion itself takes place in the Church at a divine service called liturgy . As a rule, the liturgy is performed in the first half of the day; the exact time of the beginning of the services and the days of their performance should be found out directly in the temple where you are going to go. Services usually begin between seven and ten in the morning; the duration of the liturgy, depending on the nature of the service and partly on the number of communicants, is from one and a half to four to five hours. In cathedrals and monasteries, liturgies are served daily; in parish churches on Sundays and church holidays. It is advisable for those preparing for Communion to be present at the service from its beginning (for this is a single spiritual action), and also to be at the evening service the day before, which is a prayerful preparation for the Liturgy and the Eucharist.

During the liturgy, you need to stay in the temple without a way out, prayerfully participating in the service until the priest leaves the altar with a cup and proclaims: “Come with the fear of God and faith.” Then the communicants line up one by one in front of the pulpit (first the children and the infirm, then the men and then the women). Hands should be folded crosswise on the chest; it is not supposed to be baptized in front of the cup. When the turn comes, you need to stand in front of the priest, give your name and open your mouth so that you can put in a liar with a particle of the Body and Blood of Christ. The liar must be carefully licked with the lips, and after the lips are wet with the board, with reverence kiss the edge of the bowl. Then, without touching the icons and without talking, you need to move away from the pulpit and take a “drink” - St. water with wine and a particle of prosphora (in this way, the oral cavity is washed, so that the smallest particles of the Gifts are not accidentally expelled from oneself, for example, when sneezing). After communion, you need to read (or listen to in the Church) prayers of thanksgiving and in the future carefully keep your soul from sins and passions.

Repentance or confession is a sacrament in which a person who confesses his sins to a priest, through his forgiveness, is resolved from sins by the Lord Himself. The question of whether, father, is asked by many people who join church life. The preliminary confession prepares the soul of the penitent for the Great Meal - the Sacrament of Communion.

The essence of confession

The Holy Fathers call the Sacrament of Repentance the second baptism. In the first case, at Baptism, a person receives cleansing from the original sin of the forefathers Adam and Eve, and in the second, the penitent is washed away from his sins committed after baptism. However, because of the weakness of their human nature, people continue to sin, and these sins separate them from God, standing between them as a barrier. They cannot overcome this barrier on their own. But the Sacrament of Penance helps to be saved and acquire that unity with God acquired at Baptism.

The Gospel says about repentance that it is a necessary condition for the salvation of the soul. A person throughout his life must continuously struggle with his sins. And, despite all sorts of defeats and falls, he should not lose heart, despair and grumble, but repent all the time and continue to carry his life's cross, which the Lord Jesus Christ laid on him.

Consciousness of one's sins

In this matter, the main thing is to learn that in the Sacrament of Confession, a penitent person is forgiven all his sins, and the soul is freed from sinful bonds. The ten commandments received by Moses from God and the nine commandments received from the Lord Jesus Christ contain the entire moral and spiritual law of life.

Therefore, before confessing, it is necessary to turn to your conscience and remember all your sins from childhood in order to prepare a real confession. How it passes, not everyone knows, and even rejects, but a true Orthodox Christian, overcoming his pride and false shame, begins to spiritually crucify himself, honestly and sincerely admit his spiritual imperfection. And here it is important to understand that unconfessed sins will be defined for a person in eternal condemnation, and repentance will mean victory over oneself.

What is real confession? How does this sacrament work?

Before confessing to a priest, it is necessary to seriously prepare and realize the necessity of cleansing the soul from sins. To do this, you need to reconcile with all the offenders and those who were offended, refrain from gossip and condemnation, all kinds of obscene thoughts, watching numerous entertainment programs and reading lightweight literature. It is better to devote your free time to reading the Holy Scriptures and other spiritual literature. It is advisable to confess a little in advance at the evening service, so that during the morning Liturgy you will no longer be distracted from the service and devote time to prayerful preparation for Holy Communion. But already, as a last resort, you can confess in the morning (mostly everyone does this).

For the first time, not everyone knows how to confess correctly, what to say to the priest, etc. In this case, you need to warn the priest about this, and he will direct everything in the right direction. Confession, first of all, involves the ability to see and realize one's sins; at the moment of uttering them, the priest should not justify himself and shift the blame onto another.

Children under 7 years of age and all newly baptized communion on this day without confession, this should not be done only by women who are in purification (when they have their period or after childbirth until the 40th day). The text of the confession can be written on a piece of paper so as not to stray later and remember everything.

Confession order

A lot of people usually gather in the church for confession, and before approaching the priest, you need to turn your face to the people and say out loud: “Forgive me, a sinner,” and they will answer: “God will forgive, and we forgive.” And then it is necessary to go to the confessor. Approaching the lectern (high book stand), crossing yourself and bowing at the waist, without kissing the Cross and the Gospel, bowing your head, you can proceed to confession.

Previously confessed sins do not need to be repeated, because, as the Church teaches, they have already been forgiven, but if they are repeated again, then they must be repented of again. At the end of your confession, you must listen to the words of the priest, and when he finishes, cross yourself twice, bow at the waist, kiss the Cross and the Gospel, and then, again crossing and bowing, accept the blessing of your father and go to your place.

What to repent about

Summing up the topic “Confession. How does this sacrament go”, you need to familiarize yourself with the most common sins in our modern world.

Sins against God - pride, lack of faith or unbelief, renunciation of God and the Church, careless execution of the sign of the cross, not wearing a pectoral cross, violation of the commandments of God, mentioning the name of the Lord in vain, careless fulfillment of not attending church, prayer without diligence, talking and walking in the temple during services, belief in superstitions, turning to psychics and fortune tellers, thoughts of suicide, etc.

Sins against one's neighbor - upsetting parents, robbery and extortion, stinginess in almsgiving, hardness of heart, slander, bribery, resentment, barbs and cruel jokes, irritation, anger, gossip, gossip, greed, scandals, hysteria, resentment, betrayal, treason, etc. d.

Sins against oneself - vanity, arrogance, anxiety, envy, vindictiveness, striving for earthly glory and honors, addiction to money, gluttony, smoking, drunkenness, gambling, masturbation, fornication, excessive attention to one's flesh, despondency, longing, sadness etc.

God will forgive any sin, nothing is impossible for him, a person only needs to truly realize his sinful deeds and sincerely repent of them.

Participle

They usually confess in order to take communion, and for this you need to pray for several days, which means prayer and fasting, attending evening services and reading at home, in addition to evening and morning prayers, the canons: the Mother of God, the Guardian Angel, the Penitent One, for Communion, and, if possible, , or rather, at will - Akathist to Jesus the Sweetest. After midnight they no longer eat or drink, they proceed to the sacrament on an empty stomach. After receiving the Sacrament of Communion, one must read the prayers for Holy Communion.

Don't be afraid to go to confession. How is she going? You can read about this exact information in special brochures that are sold in every church, they describe everything in great detail. And then the main thing is to tune in to this true and saving deed, because an Orthodox Christian must always think about death so that it does not take him by surprise - without even taking communion.

Religion is a deeply personal topic for every person. Some make it their moral guide, others pay almost no attention to religious feelings. But the vast majority of our compatriots, and humanity as a whole, takes a position between these opinions, adhering to a moderately respectful view of faith and attending church only on major holidays. Probably, you also belong to this large group, since you are interested in communion in the church, but do not have a sufficiently deep knowledge of this rite. Meanwhile, the sacrament is one of the Seven Sacraments of the Christian Church and the basis of its worship.

Communion in church is a person's first step towards God, but not everyone can take it. This action must be conscious and voluntary. As a confirmation of the strength of his intention, the parishioner must mentally and by deeds prepare for communion, make certain efforts. Having shown purity of thoughts and true aspiration, you will receive the right to take communion in the church and unite with it. But this is always preceded by some preparation.

Preparing for Communion
Only small children up to 7 years old, due to their age and inner purity, do not need special purification before communion. Adults must prepare for the sacrament for several days, during which:

1. Observe physical and spiritual fasting. It can last from one to three days, depending on the state of your health. Before starting the fast, you need to make peace, ask for forgiveness from everyone who may be offended by you. Observe moderation in eating and drinking, refrain from eating immodest foods, which are meat, eggs, butter and dairy products. If fasting is strict, then fish should be excluded from the diet for this period. But the most important thing in fasting is “do not eat others and yourself”, that is, do not experience negative emotions, longing and anger, do not show aggression, behave kindly and help others. Be stricter with yourself, do not allow swearing and foul language, notice all your misconduct and correct them. Give up tobacco and alcohol, as well as intimacy. Do not visit entertainment establishments, replace watching TV with reading books.
   
2. Pray at home in the morning and evening. Prayer books contain a special rule for preparing for communion: the canon of repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ, the prayer canon to the Most Holy Theotokos, the canon to the Guardian Angel, they are read for several days. The Canon of the Follow-up to Holy Communion is read separately on the eve of Communion. You should also read morning and evening prayers.
   
3. Read spiritual literature, Gospel.
   
4. Attend worship services, including evening, on the eve of Communion and Divine Liturgy, immediately before or after which (in different churches in different ways) the rite of communion takes place.
   
5. Confessions before the Liturgy. You need to find out when the priest takes confession in your church. First think about what you will repent of, comprehend your life and actions. In order not to forget your sins at an exciting moment, you can write them down on paper and read them to the priest from a sheet. You will definitely feel that sincere confession not only allows you to take communion, but also makes you purer, inwardly lighter and freer. If you have to confess for the first time in your life, then it will be enough to realize your misdeeds, sincerely regret them and cleanse your conscience with repentance.
   

How does communion work in church?
On the day on which your communion is scheduled, do not have breakfast, come to church early, feel its atmosphere and tune in the right way. Then confess and expect communion during the service (this can be both mass and liturgy):

1. Shortly before its end, the Lord's Prayer will be sung, the Royal Doors of the iconostasis will open, and a sacred relic, the Chalice with the Body and Blood of the Savior, will be brought out to the parishioners. It contains consecrated cahors and bread, they are called Wine and Bread. The chalice is placed on an elevation called an ambo, while the priest at this time reads a special prayer, “I believe, Lord, and I confess that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
   
2. To each of those present in the temple who approaches the Chalice, the priest gives Communion from a spoon. Walk up to him, fold your arms over your chest and say your name. Then kiss the base of the Chalice.
   
3. People who are far from the church and rarely visit the temple are often embarrassed, if necessary, to taste Wine and Bread from a common spoon for all those present. If you have already made a truly firm decision to take communion, then faith should relieve you of this fear and, moreover, disgust. Perhaps you will be reassured by the fact that not a single case is known when someone became infected from Communion, even in hospital churches. Moreover, those Gifts that remain in the Chalice after the Communion of believers are consumed by the ministers of the church, and they are not afraid to get sick, even during epidemics. Thus, every believer must subdue his squeamishness, and with it pride, in order to accept the Holy Gifts.
   
4. Before leaving the walls of the temple, wait until the end of the Divine Liturgy and kiss the cross. All these actions bring you closer to Christ, give your soul happiness and salvation. It is important not to lose these priceless gifts, but to keep them in the heart and outside the church.
   
5. Having received communion in church in the morning or afternoon, devote the rest of the day to calm and wise thoughts about God and your life, pray, do good deeds and preserve the inner harmony found in the temple.
   

The frequency and number of acts of communion in the life of each person is not regulated or limited in any way. In a general sense, you need to take communion when your soul asks for it, when an invisible inner force pulls you to church. More specific instructions can be given by a clergyman. But since Communion, that is, communion with the Holy Mysteries of Christ, is the highest grace, then try not to miss this opportunity when visiting the temple. Most parishioners receive communion once or twice a month. There are also special occasions: weddings, baptisms, name days, great holidays, when communion is indispensable. However, it is forbidden to take communion more than once in one day. And even if during the service the Gifts are distributed from two cups, they can only be tasted from one of them.

Lent is the best time for repentance and prayer. Repentance (confession) and Communion during this period should bring you joy and grace. But, if you plan to take communion during Great Lent, then remember that you can do this on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. During the rest of the year, Communion of believers takes place on any day of the week. But the most important thing in this Sacrament, and every Christian should understand this, is not the date or time, nor the act of Communion itself, but the feelings and thoughts that appear in you during the preparation and acceptance of the Communion.

After the release of the Jews from Egyptian slavery, the Lord gave the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai and ordered Moses to build a tabernacle from expensive materials, a kind of portable temple, one of the first schools of piety. “When Moses entered the tabernacle, then a pillar of cloud descended and stood at the entrance to the tabernacle, and [the Lord] spoke to Moses. And all the people saw a pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tabernacle; and all the people stood up, and each one worshiped at the entrance to his tent. And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Ex. 33:9-11).

Thus the Lord determined the place of His special presence. Later, at the command of God, the wise King Solomon built a majestic stone temple in Jerusalem. At this temple, the Most Holy Theotokos was brought up, and then our Lord Jesus Christ Himself entered this temple. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the majority of the Jews did not accept the Savior and crucified Him, the temple, like the whole city, was destroyed during the Jewish uprising in 70 AD. From this temple, only part of the wall remains, which is now called the Wailing Wall.

Now, following the example of the Temple in Jerusalem, many majestic and beautiful Christian churches have been built all over the world, and we, like the ancient Jews, believe that they have a special place for the presence of God. All our Orthodox churches are modeled on the ancient tabernacle, that is, they consist of three parts: the Holy of Holies - the altar, the main part where the people stand, and the vestibule ...

- Father, how does our Orthodox church differ from the Old Testament one?

Perhaps the most significant difference is that in an Orthodox church, unlike the Old Testament, where innocent animals were sacrificed, a bloodless sacrifice is made - the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is performed, when simple bread and wine, through the prayers of the upcoming priest and people, are transformed by the power of the grace of the Holy Spirit into the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we come to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ with faith, we invisibly unite with God Himself.

Many people on a subconscious level are drawn to the temple, they feel that the Lord is here, and they try to go in and at least light a candle and briefly pray for themselves and their loved ones, but they are limited only to this. How important is it also to participate in the Sacraments that are performed here?

If a person with tears of repentance and a prayer came to the temple and limited himself only to putting a candle, then no one has the right to condemn such a person for not staying here for a longer time, not proceeding to the Sacraments. Perhaps this is his first small experience of familiarization with the spiritual life. Some time will pass, and this person will have a need to deepen their relationship with God.

But such a need may not appear! It is no secret that today, despite the abundance of necessary information, many people have no idea about the Church Sacraments, no one told them about it either in the family or at school.

Yes, now most people are baptized in the Orthodox faith, but they are not enlightened, that is, they do not have elementary knowledge about faith, and even more so about the Church Sacraments. But when a person does not participate in the sacraments of the Church, it is very difficult or, it would not be an exaggeration to say, impossible for him to resist those temptations and temptations into which worldly fuss constantly plunges him.

For people who live in the world, although they constantly step on the same rake, this is not obvious. Can you give any specific example?

For example, a person is married. At first, everything went well, there was love and harmony, but as they got to know each other more deeply, the relationship in marriage began to get upset and ended up on the verge of a complete break. What to do? In most cases, as official statistics show, such a marriage breaks up, because in a heated conflict, usually each of the parties blames the other side and there is no end to these mutual accusations. If, however, faith in God is at least a little warm in a person’s heart and he tries to constantly support and ignite it through prayer, confession and communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, then in the light of faith he sees the cause of the conflict not in another person, but first of all in himself. and tries to do everything, to make any sacrifices and concessions, so that the conflict exhausts itself. No one can do this without faith and without participation in the Sacraments. Or take another example: someone has a very harsh and picky boss who is not easy to tolerate. And so the constant squabbles and scandals begin. If a person has faith, then he is calm, for he is not afraid of a stern boss, but of God and tries to do everything in the best way in order to please Him first of all.

However, there are many cases when people regularly go to church, go to confession, take communion, but do not become better or become even worse than they were. Why does it happen?

Perhaps the main reason for the lack of change is not the ineffectiveness of the Sacraments, but the wrong attitude towards them. Often people, approaching Communion, are looking for some special sensations and delights. It happens that they even brag to each other about their feelings after receiving the Sacrament, but at the same time they forget about its main essence. The essence of the Sacrament is not to experience delight, but to overcome oneself, one's sins and passions with God's help and become closer to the Lord and other people.

- Really after the Communion there should not be any sensations at all?

There can be only one feeling - the realization of one's unworthiness before God. This is stated in the prayer before Holy Communion: “I believe, Lord, and I confess that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who came into the world to save sinners, but from them I am the first.” Sometimes even from the feeling of their unworthiness, tears appear in the eyes of people. I know some priests and laity who never take communion without tears. But the main thing during Communion, I repeat, is not special feelings, but spiritual closeness with the Lord and with other people.

But can't Communion have a beneficial effect not only on the soul, but also on the body of a person, heal him of illnesses?

Yes, in the prayer before Communion there are the words: “Let communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ be not for judgment or condemnation, but for the healing of soul and body.” This means that Communion can also bestow bodily health. It is no coincidence that believers in the event of a serious illness, and especially before an operation, try to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Many cases are known when Communion acted beneficially, when doctors have long since lost all hope.

- Why do believers take communion from one cup and one spoon (spoon)?

The essential aspect of Communion is the unity of all people in Christ. In the ancient Christian monument Didache (the teaching of the twelve apostles), the Eucharistic prayer is given, in which there are such words: “As this broken bread was scattered over the hills and, gathered together, became one, so may Thy Church be gathered from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom, for yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever” (9:4). Through Communion, a crowd of people, where everyone worries only about themselves, turns into a Church, where all people become close and dear, ready to perceive someone else's pain as their own, other people's joys as their own. And just as everything in a family is common and people often do not disdain to eat from one dish, so during Communion we become one great family, and therefore we partake of one cup and one spoon.

How often do you need to take communion? In the 19th century, according to the Catechism of St. Philaret (Drozdov), the laity were recommended to take communion 4 times a year, that is, during the Great, Petrov, Assumption and Christmas fasts. And now we see that some people take communion at every liturgy. How to find the golden mean?

I think that in the 19th century such a recommendation - to take communion four times a year - was dictated by force, because of the impoverishment of faith and piety among part of the intelligentsia and the people. Almost all the pastors of that period testify to this in their sermons and publicistic speeches. At that time, many people completely stopped going to church and taking communion. Hence the recommendation in the Catechism: better rarely than never. But now the situation is different. Today, we priests recommend that people take communion at least once a month, and always on the Twelfth Feasts. For those who want to receive communion more often, such as seminary students, novices, monks, or people who go to church more than once a week and try to lead an active spiritual life, we do not prohibit this. On the contrary, it is joyful that in our time there are still people who, first of all, try not to please themselves, not their bliss, relaxation and passions, but God.

Now people travel a lot and end up in places where there are no Orthodox churches. Can they take communion in a Catholic or schismatic church?

It is better not to do this, because these religious meetings, although they preserve the ancient rites, have lost their essence. This is a topic for a separate discussion. The most terrible thing is that they have fallen away from the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, which we confess with the whole temple at every divine service in the Creed. And a branch on a tree that has broken off can retain its beautiful greenery and fragrance only for the time being, but later, without moisture, it completely dries up.