Communion is the grace-filled communion of the soul with eternal life. Communion in the church - what is it and how does it work

14.10.2019

The first inhabitants of the Earth, the forefathers Adam and Eve, lived in Paradise, not knowing the need for anything. According to the persuasion of the crafty Serpent, they tasted the forbidden fruit - they sinned and were expelled to Earth. Modern man succumbs to other temptations, like Adam and Eve, by his deeds he becomes ineligible for Paradise. It is never too late to ask God for forgiveness, being in earthly life, one must have a firm desire not to sin - to confess and take communion. What is communion in the church and how it is performed - requires clarification, because not everyone knows about it.

What does it mean to take communion in church?

Awareness of one's own sinfulness entails a desire to repent, that is, to admit a wrong deed and the intention not to commit such a thing in the future. To ask for forgiveness for the sins committed - to confess, and to reunite with him in soul - to take communion in the church, to feel like a part of God's great grace. Communion is prepared from bread and wine, which are the blood and flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How is the sacrament?

The main condition for taking communion is confession with a priest, spiritual rebirth, in which a person admits his mistakes, sincerely asks for forgiveness not from a priest, but from God himself. During the service in the church, bread and wine invisibly turn into church communion. Taking communion is a sacrament, through which a person becomes an heir to the kingdom of God, an inhabitant of paradise.

What is communion for?

For a believer, communion gives deliverance from bad thoughts, helps to fight the attacks of evil in everyday affairs, serves as spiritual reinforcement, and leads to inner spiritual rebirth. The unequivocal answer regarding reflections on whether it is necessary to take communion is yes. The human soul is the creation of the Lord, his spiritual child. Every person, coming to an earthly parent, rejoices if he has not seen him for a long time, so every soul rejoices, coming to God, the heavenly father, through this ritual.

What days can you take communion in church?

They accept it on the days when the Divine Service is taking place in the church. A person decides how often he can receive communion on his own. The Church recommends that in every fast, and there are 4 fasts, to come to confession and receive communion, preferably annually. If a person has not come to church for a long time - he has not taken communion, and the soul requires repentance, there is no need to be afraid of condemnation from the priest, it is better to come to confession right away.

How to take communion in church?

It is customary to follow the rules indicating. After confession, the priest blesses for the acceptance of Holy Communion, which is performed on the same day. At the liturgy, after the prayer "Our Father", the communicants approach the steps leading to the altar and wait for the priest to take out the Chalice. It is not appropriate to be baptized in front of the chalice; one must carefully listen to the prayer.

At such a moment, there is no need to fuss, create a crowd - slowly approach communion, letting children and the elderly go ahead. In front of the Holy Chalice, cross your arms over your chest, say your name, open your mouth and swallow a piece, kiss the edge of the bowl, then go to the table with warm tea and prosphora, drink the sacrament. After such actions, it is allowed to kiss the icons, to talk. It is forbidden to receive communion twice on the same day.

How to Prepare for Communion?

Preparation for the communion of an adult is to endure fasting, reconcile with enemies, not harbor feelings of hatred or anger, realize sinful offenses, regret what was done wrong, refrain from bodily pleasures for several days, make penitential prayers, confess. The decision to receive communion for the seriously ill is made by the priest without much preparation.

People who are in mortal danger, if they do not have the opportunity to prepare for the reception of the Holy Mysteries, are not deprived of the opportunity to receive communion. Baptized children under 7 years of age are allowed to take communion without confession and fasting. infants after the Sacrament of Baptism, they can receive communion very often, they are given a small particle - a drop under the guise of Blood.

Fasting before communion

Before communion, it is customary to fast, to refrain from taking meat, dairy, fish products for 3-7 days, if the same fast established by the church for everyone does not fall on this period, for example, Christmas, Great. It is necessary to make a decision whether it is possible to take communion if one has not fasted due to the physical state of a person’s health, only on the advice of a clergyman. An exception to the rule is children under the age of seven and people whose health does not allow adherence to such a nutrition system.

The answer to the question of whether it is possible for a repentant person to receive communion without confession is no. The priest listens to the sins of the penitent not out of curiosity, he is a mediator who testifies to God that a person who repented came to church, regretted, expressed a desire to start life from a new leaf. The priest who confesses a person makes a decision on admission to communion, gives a blessing based on specific rules, and not personal motives.

Prayers Before Communion

On the day preceding communion, from the evening until the very acceptance of the Sacraments, they refuse to eat and drink water, do not smoke cigarettes, and do not allow intimate relationships. You should first read - appeals to God, in which he expresses his sinfulness in words and asks for forgiveness. Before confessing, they read penitential prayers called canons:

canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ;
prayer canon to the Most Holy Theotokos;
canon to the Guardian Angel;
adherence to Holy Communion.

It is difficult to read the prayers set before communion in one evening; it is allowed to divide the reading of their rules into 2-3 days. The Canon for Communion (the Rule for Communion) is read the evening before, after which there are prayers for the coming dream. Prayers before Communion (the Rule for Communion) are read in the morning on the day of Communion, after morning prayers.

Is it possible to take communion during menstruation?

It is impossible to take church communion if a woman has her period. Communion among Orthodox Christians is a celebration of the triumph of the soul, it is customary to prepare for it in advance, not to postpone the possibility of repentance until later. Coming to the temple, a person brings the soul to a living source - by taking communion, he renews mental strength and through the healed soul, bodily weaknesses are healed.

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 was brought up Holy Mother of God 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 one, where innocent animals were sacrificed, bloodless sacrifice- The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is performed, when simple bread and wine, through the prayers of the upcoming priest and people, by the power of the grace of the Holy Spirit, are transformed 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 the 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 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 vanity constantly plunges him.

For people who live in the world, although they constantly step on the same rake, this is not obvious. Can you bring 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 the 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 harsh boss, but of God and tries to do everything the best way to please Him first.

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, main reason the lack of change is not in the ineffectiveness of the Sacraments, but in 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 God's help conquer yourself, your sins and passions 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 I am the first from them.” 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 in a family everything is in common and they often do not disdain to eat from the same 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 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 worst thing is that they fell away from the single Holy Cathedral 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 only for the time being retain its beautiful greenery and fragrance, but later, without moisture, it dries completely.

Fasting and Prayer Before Communion

Until this year, I confessed and took communion only once in my life, in adolescence. Recently I decided to take communion again, but I forgot about fasting, prayers, confession... What should I do now?

According to the canons of the Church, before communion, it is obligatory to abstain from intimate life and communion on an empty stomach. All the canons, prayers, fasting are simply means to set oneself up for prayer, repentance and the desire to improve. Even confession, strictly speaking, is not obligatory before communion, but this is the case if a person regularly confesses to one priest, if he does not have canonical obstacles to communion (abortion, murder, going to fortune-tellers and psychics ...) and there is the blessing of the confessor is not always necessary to confess before communion (for example, Bright Week). So in your case, nothing particularly terrible happened, and in the future you can use all these means of preparing for communion.

How long to fast before communion?

Strictly speaking, the "Typicon" (charter) says that those who wish to receive communion must fast during the week. But, firstly, this is a monastic charter, and the "Book of Rules" (canons) contains only two necessary conditions for those wishing to take communion: 1) the absence of intimate marital relations (not to mention prodigal ones) on the eve of communion; 2) Communion must be taken on an empty stomach. Thus, it turns out that fasting before communion, reading canons and prayers, confession are recommended for those preparing for communion in order to more fully evoke a repentant mood. Nowadays, at round tables devoted to the topic of the sacrament, priests have come to the conclusion that if a person observes all four major fasts during the year, fasts on Wednesday and Friday (and this time takes at least six months a year), then for such a person it is enough Eucharistic fasting, i.e. communion on an empty stomach. But if a person has not gone to church for 10 years and decided to take communion, then he will need a completely different format for preparing for communion. All these nuances must be coordinated with your confessor.

Is it possible for me to continue preparing for communion if I had to break the fast on Friday: they asked me to remember the person and gave non-fast food?

You can say this in confession, but this should not be an obstacle to communion. For breaking the fast was forced and justified in this situation.

Why are kakons written in Church Slavonic? Because they are so hard to read. My husband doesn't understand anything he reads and gets angry. Maybe I should read aloud?

It is customary in the Church to hold services on Church Slavonic. We also pray in the same language at home. This is not Russian, not Ukrainian, and no other. This is the language of the Church. There are no obscenities, swear words in this language, and in fact, you can learn to understand it in just a few days. After all, he has Slavic roots. This is the question of why we use this particular language. If your husband is more comfortable listening while you read, you can do so. The main thing is that he listens carefully. I advise you to sit down in your free time and parse the text with the Church Slavonic dictionary in order to better understand the meaning of the prayers.

My husband believes in God, but somehow in his own way. He believes that it is not necessary to read prayers before confession and communion, it is enough to recognize sins in oneself and repent. Isn't this a sin?

If a person considers himself so perfect, almost holy, that he does not need any help in preparing for communion, and prayers are such help, then let him take communion. But he remembers the words of the Holy Fathers that we then partake worthily when we consider ourselves unworthy. And if a person denies the need for prayers before communion, it turns out that he already considers himself worthy. Let your husband think about all this and with heartfelt attention, reading the prayers for communion, prepare to receive the holy Mysteries of Christ.

Is it possible to be in the evening service in one church, and in the morning for communion in another?

There are no canonical prohibitions against such practice.

Is it possible to read the canons and the following to the sacrament during the week?

It is better with attention, thinking about the meaning of what is being read, so that it is really a prayer, to distribute the recommended rule for communion for a week, starting with the canons and ending with prayers for communion on the eve of receiving the Mysteries of Christ, than to subtract thoughtlessly in one day.

How to fast and prepare for communion while living in a 1-room apartment with unbelievers?

The Holy Fathers teach that one can live in the desert and have a noisy city in one's heart. And you can live in a noisy city, but there will be peace and quiet in your heart. So, if we want to pray, we will pray in any conditions. People prayed both in sinking ships and in the trenches under bombardment, and this was the most pleasing prayer to God. Who seeks, he finds opportunities.

Communion of children

When to Communion a Baby?

If in churches the Blood of Christ is left in a special chalice, then such babies can be communed at any moment, at any time, as long as there is a priest. This is especially practiced in big cities. If there is no such practice, then a child can be communed only when a liturgy is performed in the temple, as a rule, on Sunday and on major holidays. With babies, you can come to the end of the service and take communion in the general order. If you come with babies to the beginning of the service, they will begin to cry and thus interfere with the prayers of the rest of the believers, who will grumble and be indignant at unreasonable parents. Drinking in small quantities can be given to an infant of any age. Antidor, prosphora is given when the child is able to use it. As a rule, babies are not communed on an empty stomach until they are 3-4 years old, and then they are taught to take communion on an empty stomach. But if a 5-6-year-old child, out of forgetfulness, drank or ate something, then he can also be communed.

The daughter from the year partakes of the Body and Blood of Christ. Now she is almost three, we have moved, and in the new temple the priest gives her only Blood. At my request to give her a piece, he made a remark about the lack of humility. Reconcile?

At the level of custom, indeed, in our Church, a baby up to 7 years old is communed only with the Blood of Christ. But if a child is accustomed to communion from the very cradle, the priest, seeing the adequacy of the baby when he grows up, can already give the Body of Christ. But you need to be very careful and control so that the child does not spit out a particle. Usually, full Communion is given to infants when the father and the baby get used to each other, and the priest is sure that the child will fully consume Communion. Try once to talk with the priest on this topic, motivating your request by the fact that the child is already accustomed to partaking of both the Body and the Blood of Christ, and then humbly accept any reaction from the priest.

What to do with clothes that a child vomited on after communion?

The part of the garment that has come into contact with the sacrament is cut out and burned. We patch the hole with some kind of decorative patch.

My daughter is seven years old and she will have to go to confession before taking communion. How can I prepare her for this? What prayers should she read before communion, what about a three-day fast?

The main rule in preparing for the reception of the Holy Mysteries in relation to young children can be concluded in two words: do no harm. Therefore, parents, especially mothers, must explain to the child why confess, for what purpose to take communion. And the prescribed prayers and canons are gradually, not immediately, perhaps even read with the child. Start with one prayer, so that the child does not overwork, so that it does not become a burden for him, so that this coercion does not push him away. Similarly, with regard to fasting, limit both the time and the list of prohibited foods, for example, give up only meat. In general, at first it is necessary that the mother understands the meaning of preparation, and then, without fanaticism, she gradually teaches her child step by step.

The child has been vaccinated against rabies. He can't drink alcohol for a whole year. What to do with the sacrament?

Believing that the sacrament is the most the best medicine in the universe, when we approach it, we forget about all the limitations. And according to our faith, we will heal both the soul and the body.

The child was prescribed a gluten-free diet (bread is not allowed). I understand that we eat the Blood and Body of Christ, but the physical characteristics of the products remain wine and bread. Is Communion possible without partaking of the Body? What is in wine?

Once again, the sacrament is the best medicine in the world. But, given the age of your child, you can, of course, ask to receive communion only with the Blood of Christ. The wine used for communion may be real wine made from grapes with added sugar for strength, or it may be a wine product made from grapes with alcohol added. What kind of wine is used in the temple where you take communion, you can ask the priest.

Every Sunday the child was communed, but the last time when he approached the Chalice, he began to have a terrible hysteria. The next time it happened in another temple. I'm desperate.

In order not to aggravate the negative reaction of the child to the sacrament, you can try to simply go to the temple without taking communion. You can try to introduce the child to the priest, so that this communication will smooth out the child’s fear, and over time, he will again begin to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Communion for Easter, Bright Week

Is it necessary to observe a three-day fast, subtract the canons and the following in order to take communion for Bright Week?

Starting with the night liturgy and throughout all days Bright Week the sacrament is not only permitted, but also commanded by the 66th rule of the sixth Ecumenical Council. Preparation these days consists in reading the Paschal canon and following Holy Communion. Starting from the week of Antipascha, communion is prepared as throughout the year (three canons and a follow-up).

How to prepare for communion in continuous weeks?

The Church, as a loving mother, cares not only for our souls, but also for our bodies. Therefore, on the eve of, for example, a rather difficult Great Lent, it gives us some relief in food through a continuous week. But this does not mean that we are forced to eat more fast food these days. That is, we have a right, but not an obligation. So how you want to prepare for communion, so prepare. But remember the main thing: first of all, we prepare our soul and heart, cleansing them with repentance, prayer, reconciliation, and the stomach comes last.

I heard that on Easter you can take communion, even if he did not fast. Is it true?

some special rule, allowing to receive communion precisely on Easter without fasting and without preparation, no. On this issue, the answer must be given by the priest after direct communication with the person.

I want to take communion on Easter, but I ate soup on non-fasting broth. Now I'm afraid that I can't take communion. What do you think?

Remembering the words of John Chrysostom, which are read on Easter night, that those who fast do not condemn those who do not fast, but we all rejoice, you can boldly approach the sacrament of communion on Easter night, deeply and sincerely realizing your unworthiness. And most importantly, bring to God not the contents of your stomach, but the contents of your heart. And for the future, of course, we must strive to fulfill the commandments of the Church, including fasting.

During communion, the priest in our church reprimanded me for not coming to communion during fasting days, but coming at Easter. What is the difference between communion in the Easter service and "simple" Sunday?

You need to ask your father for this. For even the canons of the Church welcome Communion not only at Pascha, but throughout the entire Bright Week. No priest has the right to forbid a person to take communion at any liturgy, if there are no canonical obstacles to doing so.

Communion of the elderly and sick people, pregnant women, nursing mothers

How to Approach Communion for the Elderly at Home?

It is advisable to invite a priest to sick people at least in great post. Will not interfere with other posts. Necessarily during an exacerbation of the disease, especially if it is clear that the case is coming to an end, without waiting for the patient to fall into unconsciousness, his swallowing reflex will disappear or he will vomit. He must be in a sober mind and memory.

My mother-in-law recently passed away. I offered to invite the priest home for confession and communion. Something was stopping her. Now she is not always conscious. Please advise what to do.

The Church accepts the conscious choice of a person, without violating his will. If a person, being in memory, wanted to start the sacraments of the Church, but for some reason did not do this, then in case of clouding of the mind, remembering his desire and consent, you can still make such a compromise as communion and unction (this is how we commune infants or insane). But if a person, being in his right mind, did not want to accept the sacraments of the Church, then even in the event of a loss of consciousness, the Church does not force the choice of this person and cannot receive communion or unction. Alas, it is his choice. Such cases are considered by the confessor, directly communicating with the patient and his relatives, after which the final decision is made. In general, of course, it is best to find out your relationship with God in a conscious and adequate state.

I am diabetic. Can I take communion if I take a pill in the morning and eat?

In principle, it is possible, but if you wish, you can limit yourself to a pill, take communion at the first services, which end in the early morning. Then eat healthy. If it’s impossible without food for health reasons, then stipulate this at confession and take communion.

I have a thyroid disease, I can't go to church without drinking water and eating. If I go on an empty stomach, it will become bad. I live in the provinces, the priests are strict. Does that mean I can't take communion?

If it is required for medical reasons, there are no prohibitions. In the end, the Lord does not look into the stomach, but into the heart of a person, and any literate, sane priest should understand this very well.

For several weeks now I have not been able to take communion due to bleeding. What to do?

This period can no longer be called normal. female cycle. Therefore, it is already a disease. And there are women who have similar phenomena for months. In addition, and not necessarily for this reason, but for some other reason, during such a phenomenon, the death of a woman may also occur. Therefore, even the rule of Timothy of Alexandria, which forbids a woman from communion during "women's days", nevertheless, for the sake of fear of a mortal (threat to life), allows communion. There is such an episode in the Gospel when a woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years, desiring healing, touched the robes of Christ. The Lord did not condemn her, but on the contrary, she received recovery. Considering all of the above, a wise confessor will bless you to take communion. It is quite possible that after such a Medicine you will be healed of a bodily ailment.

Does the preparation for confession and communion differ for pregnant women?

For military people participating in hostilities, the service life is considered as a year for three. And during the Great Patriotic War in Soviet army soldiers were even given front-line 100 grams, although in peacetime vodka and the army were incompatible. For a pregnant woman, the time of bearing a child is also “time of war”, and the Holy Fathers understood this very well when they allowed pregnant and lactating women to relax in fasting and prayer. Pregnant women can still be compared with sick women - toxicosis, etc. And the rules of the church (the 29th canon of the holy apostles) for the sick are also allowed to relax the fast, up to its complete abolition. In general, every pregnant woman, according to her own conscience, based on the state of her health, determines the measure of fasting and prayer herself. I would recommend taking communion as often as possible during pregnancy. The prayer rule for communion can also be performed while sitting. You can also sit in the temple, you can not come to the beginning of the service.

General questions about the sacrament

In recent years, after the Sunday Liturgy, I begin to have severe headaches, especially on the days of Communion. With what it can be connected?

Such cases in various variations are quite common. Look at all this as a temptation in a good deed and, of course, continue to go to church for services without succumbing to these temptations.

How often can you take communion? Is it necessary to read all the canons before communion, observe fasting and go to confession?

The purpose of the Divine Liturgy is the communion of believers, that is, bread and wine are turned into the Body and Blood of Christ in order to be eaten by people, and not just by the serving priest. In ancient times, a person who was at the liturgy and did not take communion was then obliged to give an explanation to the priest why he did not. At the end of each liturgy, the priest, appearing in Royal Doors ah with the Chalice, says: "Come with the fear of God and faith." If a person takes communion once a year, then he needs both a preliminary weekly fast in food and canons with prayers, and if a person observes all four major fasts, fasts every Wednesday and Friday, then he can take communion without an additional fast, fasting with the so-called Eucharistic fast , i.e. take communion on an empty stomach. As for the rule for communion, we must realize that it is given in order to arouse repentant feelings in us. If we often take communion and we have this feeling of repentance and it is difficult for us to read the rule before each communion, then we can omit the canons, but it is advisable to read the prayers for communion after all. At the same time, one must remember the words of St. Ephraim the Syrian: “I am afraid to take communion, realizing my unworthiness, but even more so - to be left without communion.”

Is it possible to receive communion on Sunday if you were not at the all-night vigil on Saturday because of obedience to your parents? Is it a sin not to go to the service on Sunday if relatives need help?

To such a question, the conscience of a person will give the best answer: was there really no other way out not to go to the service, or is this a reason to skip prayer on Sunday? In general, of course, Orthodox person it is desirable, according to the commandment of God, to be every Sunday at the service. Before Sunday afternoon, it is generally desirable to be at the Saturday evening service, and especially before Communion. But if for some reason it was not possible to be in the service, and the soul longs for communion, then, realizing one’s unworthiness, one can take communion with the blessing of the confessor.

Is it possible to take communion on a weekday, i.e., after communion go to work?

It is possible, at the same time, to protect the purity of your heart as much as possible.

How many days after communion do not bow and bow to the ground?

If the liturgical charter (during Great Lent) prescribes bowing to the ground, then starting from the evening service, they can and should be laid. And if the charter does not provide for bows, then on the day of communion only bows are performed from the waist.

I want to take communion, but the day of communion falls on the anniversary of the pope. How to congratulate the father, so as not to offend?

For the sake of peace and love, you can congratulate your father, but do not stay long at the holiday so as not to “spill” the grace of the sacrament.

Batiushka refused me communion because my eyes were tinted. Is he right?

Probably, the priest thought that you are already a mature enough Christian to realize that people go to church not to emphasize the beauty of their bodies, but to heal their souls. But if a beginner has come, then under such a pretext it is impossible to deprive him of communion, so as not to forever scare him away from the Church.

Is it possible, having received communion, to receive a blessing from God for some work? Successful job interview, IVF procedure...

People take communion for the healing of soul and body, expecting to receive some kind of help and God's blessing through the sacrament in good deeds. And IVF, according to church teaching, is a sinful and unacceptable business. Therefore, you can take communion, but this does not mean at all that this sacrament will help in the unpleasing work you have planned. The sacrament cannot automatically guarantee the fulfillment of our requests. But if we generally try to lead a Christian way of life, then, of course, the Lord will help us, including in earthly matters.

My husband and I go to confession and communion in different churches. How important is it for spouses to partake of the same Chalice?

In whatever Orthodox canonical church we take communion, it doesn’t matter, according to by and large, we all partake of the same Chalice, consuming the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. From this it follows that it is absolutely unimportant whether spouses commune in the same church or in different ones, for the Body and Blood of the Savior are the same everywhere.

Prohibitions for communion

Can I go to communion without reconciliation, for which I have neither the strength nor the desire?

In the prayers before communion there is a kind of announcement: “Although eat, man, the Body of the Lady, first reconcile thee to those who grieve.” That is, without reconciliation, a priest cannot allow a person to take communion, and if a person decides to take communion arbitrarily, then he will take communion in condemnation.

Is it possible to receive communion after desecration?

It is impossible, it is only allowed to taste the prosphora.

Can I take communion if I live in an unmarried civil marriage and confessed my sins on the eve of communion? I intend to continue such a relationship, I'm afraid, otherwise my beloved will not understand me.

It is important for a believer to be understood by God. And God will not understand us, seeing that the opinion of people is more important for us. God wrote to us that fornicators do not inherit the Kingdom of God, and according to the canons of the Church, such a sin excommunicates a person from communion for many years, even if he reforms. And the cohabitation of a man and a woman without a signature in the registry office is called fornication, this is not a marriage. People living in such "marriages" and taking advantage of the indulgence and kindness of the confessor, in fact, really set them up before God, because the priest has to take on their sin if he allows them to take communion. Unfortunately, such a promiscuous sex life has become the norm of our time, and the shepherds no longer know where to go, what to do with such flocks. Therefore, take pity on your fathers (this is an appeal to all such prodigal cohabitants) and legitimize your relationship at least in the registry office, and if you mature, then receive a blessing for marriage and through the sacrament of the wedding. You have to make a choice what is more important for you: the eternal destiny of your soul or temporary bodily comforts. After all, even confession without the intention to improve in advance is hypocritical and resembles a trip to the hospital without a desire to be treated. To admit you to communion or not, let your confessor decide.

The priest imposed a penance on me and excommunicated me from communion for three months, because I had an affair with a man. Can I confess to another priest and, with his permission, receive communion?

For fornication (intimacy outside of marriage), according to the rules of the Church, a person can be excommunicated from communion not for three months, but for several years. You do not have the right to cancel the penance imposed by another priest.

My aunt told fortunes on the nut, then she confessed. The priest forbade her to take communion for three years! How should she be?

According to the canons of the Church, for such actions (in fact, classes in the occult), a person is excommunicated from communion for several years. So everything that the priest you mentioned has done is within his competence. But, seeing sincere repentance and a desire not to repeat anything like this again, he has the right to shorten the period of penance (punishment).

I have not yet completely got rid of sympathy for Baptism, but I want to go to confession and take communion. Or wait until I am completely sure of the truth of Orthodoxy?

Whoever doubts the truth of Orthodoxy cannot proceed to the sacraments. So try to fully assert yourself. For the Gospel says that “according to your faith it will be given to you,” and not according to formal participation in the sacraments and rites of the church.

Communion and other sacraments of the Church

I was invited to be the godmother of the child. How long before baptism should I take communion?

These are not interconnected ordinances. In principle, you must take communion constantly. And before baptism, think more about how to be a worthy godmother, who cares about the Orthodox upbringing of the baptized.

Is it necessary to confess and receive communion before the unction?

In principle, these are unrelated sacraments. But since it is believed that unrecognized sins that are the cause of human illnesses are forgiven in unction, there is a tradition that we repent of those sins that we remember and know, and then we unify.

Superstitions about the sacrament of communion

Is it permissible to eat meat on the day of communion?

A person, when going to see a doctor, takes a shower, changes his underwear... Similarly, an Orthodox Christian, preparing for Communion, fasts, reads the rules, comes to Divine Services more often, and after Communion, if it is not a fast day, you can eat any food , including meat.

I heard that on the day of communion you can not spit anything and kiss anyone.

On the day of communion, any person takes food and does it with a spoon. That is, in fact, and, oddly enough, licking a spoon many times while eating, a person does not eat it with food :). Many are afraid to kiss the cross or icons after communion, but they “kiss” the spoon. I think you already understand that all the actions that you mentioned can be done after drinking the sacrament.

Recently, in one of the churches, the priest instructed confessors before communion: “Do not dare to come to communion, those who brushed their teeth or chewed gum this morning.”

I also brush my teeth before work. You don't really need to chew gum. When we brush our teeth, we take care not only of ourselves, but also that others around us do not hear an unpleasant smell from our breath.

I always go to communion with a bag. The temple worker told her to leave. I got annoyed, left my bag and, in a state of anger, took communion. Is it possible to approach the Chalice with a bag?

Probably the devil sent that grandmother. After all, the Lord does not care what we have in our hands when we approach the Holy Chalice, for He looks into the heart of a person. However, there was no point in getting angry. Repent of this in confession.

Is it possible to contract some kind of disease after communion? In the temple where I went, it was required not to lick the spoon, the priest himself threw a piece into his wide open mouth. In another temple, they corrected me that I was taking the sacrament incorrectly. But it's very dangerous!

At the end of the service, the priest or deacon consumes (finishes) the sacrament left in the Chalice. And this despite the fact that in the vast majority of cases (what you wrote, I generally hear for the first time that a priest “loads” the sacrament into his mouth, like an excavator), people take communion by taking the sacrament with their lips and touching a liar (spoon). I myself have been using the remaining Gifts for more than 30 years, and neither I nor any of the other priests have ever suffered from any infectious diseases after that. Going to the Cup, we must understand that this is a Sacrament, and not an ordinary plate of food from which many people eat. Communion is not ordinary food, it is the Body and Blood of Christ, which, in fact, cannot initially be sources of infection, just as icons and holy relics cannot be the same source.

My relative says that communion on the day of the feast of St. Sergius of Radonezh is equal to 40 communions. Can the Sacrament of Communion be stronger on one day than on another?

Communion for any Divine Liturgy has the same power and meaning. And in this case there can be no arithmetic. The one who receives the Mysteries of Christ should always be equally aware of his unworthiness and be grateful to God for allowing him to partake of communion.

How to properly spend the day after the Sacrament of Communion? Can anyone take communion, and how should one take communion during Great Lent? Archimandrite Sylvester (Stoichev) tells in detail.

– Father, is Communion a gift or a medicine?

- Communion is at the same time the greatest gift and, of course, a medicine, because, as it is said in the prayers, “for the healing of the soul and body.” The writings of the holy fathers often say that Communion is a medicine that is given to us so that we have grace-filled strength for life in Christ. Many Byzantine authors consider Holy Communion within the framework of the scheme: Baptism-Anointing-Communion, where Baptism is adoption in Christ, a new birth in Him; Confirmation is the receipt of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Eucharist is the strengthening of a renewed person. This is how, for example, Saint Nicholas Cabasilas thinks, although, of course, one must understand that the Eucharist is the "forming" Sacrament of the Church. One of the famous religious Russian philosophers, Aleksey Khomyakov, even once said that the Church is the walls erected around the Eucharistic chalice. Christians come together in worship to pray together.

– When and for whom was the Sacrament of Communion instituted?

– The Sacrament of Communion was established by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself during the Last Supper, the participants of which, according to the gospel text, were the apostles. The Eucharist is for all Christians for all time: "Do this in remembrance of me." On the basis of the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, we can say that already in those days there were recommendations for the correct approach to this Sacrament: “Let a man examine himself, and in this way let him eat from this bread and drink from this cup. For whoever eats and drinks unworthily, he eats and drinks condemnation to himself, not considering the Body of the Lord. Because of this, many of you are weak and sick, and many die” (1 Cor. 11:30).

– How often can you take communion?

– Complex issue. I must say that for a long time there was such a practice that it was necessary to take communion 4 times a year - every fast. We will not go into details of the historical factors that led to the emergence of such a practice, one thing is clear: Church life involves more frequent participation in the Sacraments.

In the 20th-21st century, a certain Eucharistic revival took place in our Church, and in most parishes the clergy say that we should take communion often: every Sunday or, as St. Seraphim of Sarov, every twelfth holiday.

“But doesn’t frequent communion cause a danger of cooling off towards the shrine?”

It depends on the person, confessor, parish. Everything is very individual. The life of an Orthodox Christian is impossible without constant communion. I am glad that most of our parishioners often take communion. In some Orthodox Churches, this is not observed, for example, in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, where parishioners rarely receive communion. My friend from Bulgaria told me that she visits a church where the priest recommends frequent communion, but he adopted this practice from the priests of the Russian Church he knew. But such a parish is the only one in their diocese.

– Can anyone take communion?

- No one can boldly say that he is worthy of the Sacrament of Communion. Everyone should understand that there are obstacles.

What are the major obstacles?

- Deadly sins. We are all sinners: every day we get irritated, offended, and fussy, but this is not a radical obstacle to Communion. If a person commits serious sins: murder, fornication, then he should not be allowed to the Chalice without going through a certain field, which the confessor will appoint him in the form of penance. According to the tradition of confessorship, the priest decides whether to bless the coming to Communion or not. Our confessors know all the subtleties of our soul. We must follow their advice.

– How should and can one take communion during Great Lent?

– Considering that Great Lent is a special time for repentance, communion should be every week, if there are no serious obstacles.

– How should one spend the day after the Sacrament of Communion? They say that you can not beat bows. Is it possible to kiss the hand of a priest, icons after Communion?

There are many myths associated with this. I even heard that you can't take a shower (smiles). Logic in such statements, of course, no. The time after Communion should be spent in chastity, silence, in reading spiritual literature. The day of the Lord must be dedicated to Him. Everyone has daily worries, but try to cope with things in advance or on the day of Communion to spend a minimum of time on them. Communion is a day of joy, spiritual celebration, and should not be exchanged for fussy everyday affairs.

As for the practice of not kissing a hand or an icon. After Communion, the Blood of Christ may remain on the lips. The priest who gives communion, or the deacons who hold the headscarf, keep an eye on it, but anything can happen. Until you have taken a drink, it is customary not to kiss either the cross, or the hand, or the icon, so that there is no temptation. Others pure practical advice no. On Sunday, bowing to the ground is not supposed by the charter.

– What would you advise a person before the first Communion?

– Much depends on the initial preparation of a person: one visits the Church for six months and only then comes to the Chalice, the other does not go to the temple, but decides to take communion in Clean Thursday because that's how it's done. You need to consult with the priest who confesses you. As a rule, for beginners, a detailed confession is needed, during which the depth of his intentions and the degree of churching are established. Also, the priest must explain how to fold his hands, how to approach the Chalice. A prayerful mood is very important: some are accustomed to doing morning and evening prayers and it will not be a burden for them to read 3 canons and the canon, and prayers for Communion, others can only say “Our Father” once a year. Such people should be divided prayer rule for a few days, so that they do not lose the desire to pray. It is customary to fast for several days before Communion. The sacrament must be received with reverence. If a person does not have reverence at the moment, then it is better to explain to him that Communion should be postponed so that there is no sin either on this person or on the priest, who, seeing such a state, nevertheless blessed to come to Communion.

Interviewed by Natalya Goroshkova

In the design of the material, fragments of the Eucharist mosaic from St. Sophia of Kyiv were used

We often hear questions: the sacrament in Orthodox Church- what is it, how to prepare for it, and why, in fact, it is needed. Since these questions are important and necessary, we decided to give a detailed explanation of this most important Sacrament to those who are interested in Orthodoxy and newcomers, based on Holy Scripture.

To maintain the life of the human body, nutrition is necessary: food, drink; as well as treatment if he is sick. The soul of a person, as a substance of a finer organization, needs to be reinforced with a special, life-giving spiritual food. As a loving mother never leaves her child, but cares and takes care of him; Moreover, the Lord does not leave His creation, but provides for man, sends him an abundance of earthly fruits for food and nourishes His faithful children with the most precious, immortal and incorruptible Food: by Himself - by His Most Pure Body and Blood, taught to us in the sacrament of Communion.

Communion is a sacrament in which Orthodox Christian under the guise of bread and wine, he partakes (participates) of the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and eternal life.

Through Communion, a person is most closely united with Christ, becomes a partaker of Christ for the renewal and strengthening of the spiritual and physical powers of a person and the inheritance of eternal life by him.

The Lord tells us about the sacrament of Communion :

“I am the Bread of Life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and died; The bread that comes down from heaven is such that whoever eats it will not die. I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; The bread that I will give is My Flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (Gospel of John, ch.6, st.:48-51). “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 true Flesh is Drinking. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him.” (Gospel of John: ch.6, st.:53-56).

Why you need to take communion

So, we see that in order to unite with God and have eternal life, we need to take communion. If a person has a blood poisoning, then, the only way to save his life is to give him a healthy blood transfusion. It is the same with the human soul, infected with sin, the only way to save it is the “transfusion” of healthy Blood, which only Christ Himself has. And, as the holy fathers of the church said, after partaking of Communion, "The blood of Christ flows in our veins," "we become co-corporeal with Christ." After all, a diseased and destroyed organ in the human body is replaced by a healthy one through transplantation, so that a person can live on.

So in the spiritual sense, the Body of Christ replaces with Itself the part of the human soul that is sick with passions and ulcers, nourishes it and gives life: “Because we are members of His Body, from His Flesh and from His Bones” (Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians: Ch. .5, art.30). Through Holy Communion, the Lord Himself enters into a person with His Most Pure Flesh, grants him peace, cleansing from sins, joy from the close presence of the Lord. In the sacrament of Communion, a Christian partakes of the “source of the immortal”, gains the ability to spiritually improve, to be one of the participants in a blessed and immortal life, which, for a person who reverently partakes of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, begins already here on earth, and is a guarantee of his resurrection and eternal life.

History of the Eucharist

The Sacrament of Communion is also called the Eucharist, which in Greek means "thanksgiving". The service at which the sacrament of Communion is performed is called the Liturgy (it is performed in the morning, and sometimes at night), which means "public service." The Holy Eucharist (the Sacrament of Communion) in the Orthodox Church is the "Sacrament of the Sacraments", the heart of the Church, its basis and foundation, because without it the existence of the Church itself is unthinkable.

The sacrament of the Eucharist was instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself at His last supper with His disciples, the Last Supper, on the eve of the Savior's Passion on the Cross.

He Himself performed this Sacrament: “And while they were eating, Jesus took bread, and having blessed it, broke it, and giving it to the disciples, said: Take, eat: this is My body. And taking the Cup and thanking (God the Father for His mercy to the human race), gave it to them (the disciples) and said: drink from it all; for this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Gospel of Matthew: ch.26, st.26-28)

The Holy Evangelist Luke supplements the narrative of the Evangelist Matthew - teaching the Holy Bread to the disciples, the Lord said to them: "... Do this in remembrance of Me." (Gospel of Luke: 22, st.: 19-20); the same is said in the Gospel of Mark: ch.14, st.22-24, in the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians: ch.11, st.:23-26.

After the Resurrection of the Savior, the disciples of Christ gathered on the “day of the sun” (now this day is called Sunday and in the church, as before, it is the first day of the week (week)) to “break bread”. Initially, it was a meal during which reading was carried out. Holy Scripture, the singing of psalms, a sermon was said, a prayer was carried out. Sometimes the meal lasted all night.

Gradually (with the passage of time the communities expanded), the Eucharist was transformed from supper into a divine service, which in our modern church also begins in the evening: the evening service is the first part of the Sunday (or festive) service, and the morning Liturgy is its second part, during which the holy sacrament Eucharist.

How often do you need to take communion?

The first Christians took communion every Sunday. In our time, unfortunately, not many people can approach this Sacrament so often for various reasons. On average, communion is recommended at least once a month. Well, or at least at least - every post, of which there are four in a calendar year, which means at least four times a year. But at least once a year is, so to speak, the “very minimum”.

Some people rarely take the sacrament of Communion, considering themselves unworthy of this holy Sacrament, for others, communion has generally turned into a formality: a tradition, “for show”, well, or something like that, when people without proper preparation, awareness of the great Holy and feelings of reverence, or in general, running past, “run in” to take communion.

Actually, a person is not completely worthy in view of the sinfulness of his nature of this great Sacrament, since all people are sinners, and the Eucharist was given to us by the Lord for this, in order to make us purer in heart and soul and, accordingly, more worthy of this Divine gift. Based on the foregoing, it is better to decide how often to take communion individually with your confessor or with the priest with whom the person confesses, based on his spiritual age (level).

How to prepare for the sacrament of Communion?

The Holy Fathers of the Church emphasized that those approaching this holy sacrament should be ready to meet Christ Himself - how could it be otherwise, because we partake of the Body and Blood of the Lord Himself!

Preparation for communion should not be limited only to reading some prayers and abstaining from any food - first of all, readiness for communion is due to purity of conscience, the absence of enmity against neighbors or resentment against anyone, peace in relations with people: “If you you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift ”(Heb. Matt., : ch.5, st.23-24). An obstacle to communion is committed by a person grave sins in which it is necessary to repent at confession.

Before receiving the Holy Mysteries, an Orthodox Christian tries to gather himself spiritually and concentrate. You need to prepare yourself for Communion by fasting, which consists in fasting, prayer, doing good deeds (which, however, a Christian must always do, because “faith without works is dead”). Before communion, a Christian must clear his conscience, and for this, according to the tradition of the Russian Church, he needs to come to confession to receive forgiveness for his sins.

Everyone who wants to begin the Sacrament of Communion must first be baptized in the Orthodox faith, since through baptism a person becomes a member of the Church and receives the right to receive communion. Secondly, he must cleanse his conscience, which is facilitated by fasting and prayer. “Let a man examine himself, and thus let him eat from this bread and drink from this cup. For whoever eats and drinks unworthily, he eats and drinks condemnation to himself, not considering the Body of the Lord.” (1st Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians: ch.11, st.: 28-29).

That is, a person must be aware that in front of him in the holy Chalice is not ordinary food, not ordinary bread and wine, but the immortal Meal of the Lord - the Most Pure Body and Blood of the Lord Himself, the Lord Himself, which one should commune with the fear of God, reverence and faith. The irreverent attitude of a person to the Sacrament subjects him to judgment and condemnation. One of the teachers of the Orthodox Church wrote:

“Bread and wine are seen in the cup, and bread and wine are smelled, but the Holy Mysteries are revealed and appear through their action. This is how God, covered by humanity, was revealed.

This is due to the Lord's boundless love for us, and his boundless mercy, indulgence to
weak human nature we taste bread and wine.

It must be said that when, feeling his sinfulness, a person does not take Holy Communion by his own decision, this is an act of pride, since only a priest can prevent him from taking Communion. Contrition from the realization of one's sinfulness is not an obstacle for a Christian to perceive the Eucharist as a holiday and joy from union with the Lord, because our sins are washed away by the Divine Blood, and our sinful ulcers are healed.

And so, we have examined what the spiritual preparation for the Holy Mystery consists of. Now consider the physical side of this preparation.

When we are waiting for a visit of a very important and authoritative person for us, we clean our house: we sweep, wash, polish. Similarly, but only many times more carefully, we must prepare our dwelling - the body for the acceptance of the Lord Himself. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians says:

“…Don’t you know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (St. Apostle Paul, 1st epistle to Cor.: 6, 18-19)

The holy apostle likens the body of a person to a temple - how responsible is this, and how can one not prepare one's body for Communion?

Before Communion you must:

. If this is not one of the four fasts of the calendar year, then it is recommended to fast an average of three days, where seven days are recommended, and for some - at least one day. It is better to decide in advance individually with the priest. During fasting, they do not eat food of animal origin, and during strict fasting, they also eat fish - this can also be discussed with the priest. During fasting, they abstain from conjugal intimate relationships.
On the eve of Communion it is necessary to be at the evening service. In different churches, it starts at different times, usually it starts: where at 2 pm, where at 3 pm, at 4 pm, at 5 pm - you need to find out in advance in the church where you plan to go to the evening service.
In the evening, on the eve of Communion, you need to read (in the sense not just “subtract” - as they sometimes say, but, while reading, delve into the meaning of what is being read - praying): evening prayers (“Prayers for the dream to come”) and three canons: “The canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ”, “Canon of Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos” and “Canon to the Guardian Angel”. The Canon for Communion is also read (It is contained in the "Following to Holy Communion").
After midnight (after 24 hours) they no longer eat or drink anything, as it is customary to start the Sacrament of Communion on an empty stomach.
In the morning, after the Morning Prayers, it is read that they did not have time in the evening. (It happens that in the evening they do not read the Canon from the "Following to Holy Communion", and in the morning, after morning prayers, they read the entire "Following to Holy Communion").
obligatory, which in some churches is held in the evening after (during) the evening service, in others - in the morning before (during) the liturgy. This is also desirable to clarify in advance. In what part of the temple is confession - you can also ask the servants of the temple.

During Communion

After confession, all believers line up (in line for the Chalice, one should not talk, but pray) to the salt (the elevation on which the iconostasis stands, protruding significantly forward), to the center of the salt - to the pulpit (at the level of the Royal Doors, with steps).
When they take out the Chalice with Gifts - immediately do three in front of the Chalice bow to the ground(touching the forehead with the floor), but do not do it in front of the bowl itself, so as not to overturn it, but at a distance from it, stand in turn, fold your arms crosswise on your chest ( right hand on top of the left) as a sign of his humility before the Lord.
When your turn has come - go to the Chalice, no longer crossing yourself and bowing (so as not to catch the Chalice), name your full name(Ivan, not Vanya; Natalya, not Natasha, etc.), open your mouth wide and, having received Communion, immediately swallow it and kiss the edge of the cup.

Then, without speaking, go to the table, on which are cups with “warmth” (warm water for drinking Communion, to which a little wine can sometimes be added) and eat with a piece of prosphora lying on a plate on the same table. Step aside so as not to interfere with other communicants.

After communion, you need to be before the end of the liturgy and, only in extremely urgent circumstances, leave the church before the end of the liturgy (to venerate the cross made by the priest (kiss the cross) and leave the church after the closing of the Royal Doors.

After Communion

After communion, you must:

1) Read the "Prayers of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion" (all the above prayers and canons are in almost any book of the "Prayer Book").
2) On the day of communion, refrain from marital intimate relationships.

In the Eucharist, the Lord cleanses, sanctifies and deifies a person. In this Holy Mystery, the grace of the Holy Spirit transmutes bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ and transforms the partaking person from a person clouded by sins into a person enlightened by Divine light and free from the heavy burden of sins. Having accepted the Mysteries of Christ, we already carry Christ Himself within ourselves. It is as if we are carrying a cup filled to the brim with Divine grace - if we are not careful, we will spill the contents of the cup, and if we stumble and fall, we will lose all its contents. From the moment of Communion, preparations for the next Eucharist should begin, and you need to monitor your spiritual state, protect it from sin. And if by weakness human nature or because of our negligence, we stumbled, fell, sinned again - do not hesitate, hurry to the doctor of our souls: repent and confess, receive the sacrament of Holy Communion for the salvation of the soul and eternal life.

It would be more correct if you, dear Masha, yourself approach the clergyman of the church where you plan to go for Communion (or at least to the clergyman of another Orthodox church) and how he will bless (i.e. say, allow) you to do - so do it. He will tell you how many prayers to read from the Rule for Communion - sometimes beginners are allowed to read only part of the rule, because. it is not short and may be difficult to read in its entirety at first. But all this is best done with the blessing of the clergyman.
After 24 hours on the night before Communion, you should not eat or drink anything until you take Communion.

How to fast before communion, can you explain in more detail?

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