Holy Communion

Welcome to all our visitors!

Everyone is welcome in the OrthodoxChurch and may receive the blessed bread (antidoron) at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Sadly, the divisions in the churchprompt us all to work towards reunited Christianity. The culmination of this reunion will be the ability of all Christians to receive the Eucharist together. Until that blessed day arrives, Orthodox Christians who are in good sacramental order are only permitted to receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church. If you have any questions or concerns please speak with Father Chris.

Who May Receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church?

Orthodox Christians fully participate in the celebration of the Liturgy when they receive the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus in Holy Communion, as the Lord Himself commands (John 6:53). To receive Communion in the Orthodox Church, one must be a practicing Orthodox Christian. This means that you must be baptized and/or chrismated in the Orthodox Church and if you are married your marriage has been blessed in the Orthodox Church, furthermore your beliefs and lifestyle are in accordance with the teachings ofthe Church.

In order to be properly prepared for this encounter with Christ, those seeking to receive Communion should not be conscious of grave sin, having opened their hearts with prayer, fasted appropriately and lived with charity and love towards their neighbors. Because, as the Apostle Paul teaches, it is possible to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord "in an unworthy manner" and actually be "sinning against the Body and Blood of the Lord".

(1 Corinthians 11:27-30), those who are aware of grave sin in theirlives should confess their sins and be reconciled to Christ and His Church by participating in the Sacrament of Confession before approaching the Chalice to receive Communion. Frequent reception of the Body and Blood of Christ - at every Liturgy, if possible - is encouraged for all Orthodox Christians.

We welcome those Christians not fully united with us in faith and life to this celebration of the Liturgy. Unfortunately, the guidelines offered above exclude those who are not of the Orthodox Faith from the reception of Communion. This is a sad and painful consequence of the divisions that exist within Christianity. Because we believe the reception of Communion to be an action of the celebrating community that signifies a oneness of faith, life and worship, the reception of Communion by Christians not fully united with us would imply a unity that does not yet exist in reality. We pray that these divisions will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer for His disciples "that they may all be one" (John 17:21).

We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesusas Christ and Lord. While we cannot extend an invitation to receive Communion, we do invite you to pray with us for peace and unity within the human familyand hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Scriptural Teaching on the Meaning of Holy Communion

The Lord Jesus said: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, they will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh. Amen, amen, I say to you: unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood have eternal life and I will raise them up on the last day. For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood abide in Me and I in them. Just as the living Father sent Me and Ilive because of the Father, so whoever eats Me will live because of Me." - John 6:35, 51, 53-57

The Apostle Paul said: "The cup of blessing which we bless: is it not aparticipation in the Blood or Christ? The bread which we break: is it not a participation in the Body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the same loaf." - 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17.