Communion is important- should we not eat before receiving?

[SeekingGloryOnThisJourney]

Communion- a sign of remembrance of the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
My former Sunday School teacher told us we shouldn’t eat before receiving as a small fast.
I do eat a little, though beforehand. Not a lot, just enough to keep my motion sickness steady.
Should I not? Sometimes I feel guilty. What do you do before communion?

 

[ArmyMatt]

unless you have been given a blessing to do so, you should not eat or drink from midnight til you partake of the Eucharist.

 

[Oldmantook]

unless you have been given a blessing to do so, you should not eat or drink from midnight til you partake of the Eucharist.

Just curious as to where does it state that in the Bible?

 

[SeekingGloryOnThisJourney]

unless you have been given a blessing to do so, you should not eat or drink from midnight til you partake of the Eucharist.

Well that is interesting- my Church has a social hour after Service is over and everyone eats. (Well, most people.) and most receive Communion.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Well that is interesting- my Church has a social hour after Service is over and everyone eats. (Well, most people.) and most receive Communion.

yeah, after is fine. you asked about beforehand.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Just curious as to where does it state that in the Bible?

it's how the Church has always understood the preparation lest we eat or drink condemnation upon ourselves as St Paul says.

 

[peregrinus2017]

Communion- a sign of remembrance of the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Your understanding of communion seems rather anemic compared to the Orthodox understanding of the Eucharist. If you don't believe what the Church teaches, for your own sake please refrain from partaking, and talk honestly to your priest about this.

 

[Oldmantook]

it's how the Church has always understood the preparation lest we eat or drink condemnation upon ourselves as St Paul says.

I may be commenting wrongly as this is the Eastern Orthodox forum so I apologize.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I may be commenting wrongly as this is the Eastern Orthodox forum so I apologize.

you're good, you were just asking. no harm.

 

[SeekingGloryOnThisJourney]

yeah, after is fine. you asked about beforehand.

Oh whoops, I read your post wrong. My bad. Thanks!

 

[ArmyMatt]

Oh whoops, I read your post wrong. My bad. Thanks!

no worries!

 

[WanderedHome]

Communion- a sign of remembrance of the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
My former Sunday School teacher told us we shouldn’t eat before receiving as a small fast.
I do eat a little, though beforehand. Not a lot, just enough to keep my motion sickness steady.
Should I not? Sometimes I feel guilty. What do you do before communion?

Most priests will give you a blessing to eat if you have a health issue or need medication or something, but don't just assume. Always ask about it.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Most priests will give you a blessing to eat if you have a health issue or need medication or something, but don't just assume. Always ask about it.

yep, and that goes for the fasting seasons as well.

 

[AMM]

it's how the Church has always understood the preparation lest we eat or drink condemnation upon ourselves as St Paul says.

isn't this a later development, Father? Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought in the earliest days, the Church partook of the Eucharist as part of a larger meal.

 

[ArmyMatt]

isn't this a later development, Father? Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought in the earliest days, the Church partook of the Eucharist as part of a larger meal.

as far as I can tell, yes, but the Eucharist always began I think. they still fasted until communion, and then everything else.

 

[AMM]

as far as I can tell, yes, but the Eucharist always began I think. they still fasted until communion, and then everything else.

interesting, I hadn't thought about it being at the start of the meal

 

[ArmyMatt]

interesting, I hadn't thought about it being at the start of the meal

I think what you are thinking of is the Agape meal, which happened after the Eucharist was consumed.

 

[dzheremi]

Do EO still hold an Agape meal after their liturgies? Just curious.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Do EO still hold an Agape meal after their liturgies? Just curious.

normally it's coffee hour. in my experience, the communal meal after Agape Vespers is called the Agape meal (at least, formally)

 

[dzheremi]

Interesting. Thank you, Father.