Can Orthodox Christians receive communion in other churches?

ProScribe said:

Can Orthodox Christians receive communion in other churches? . .

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"other churches" - If by this you mean Catholic, Protestant, Episcopal, etc, etc, no, Orthodox Christians cannot.

Orthodox Christians can only receive Communion in canonical Orthodox Christian Churches. So if you meant Orthodox Christians in an OCA church receiving Communion in, say, a ROCOR church, yes they can.

Assuming you mean outside of Orthodoxy, the answer is an emphatic "absolutely not."

you may but I believe that it is best that you do not partake in other Orthodox churches unless you have built some relationship with the priest, or you have the blessing of your parish priest/confessor to receive elsewhere. For example when I go to St. Hermans monastery I can receive because of the relationships my parish has with them their but if I was just passing through some random town and stopped for a DL I would probably abstain out of respect for the priest at that parish.

When I have traveled, I have found out which Orthodox church I would be attending and emailed the priest to let him know that I would be visiting and that I would like to receive Communion. That way, if I need to do confession with him, I can do so. Of course, I let my priest know also. In the email, I let him know which parish I attend and who my priest is. I usually go up to the priest at Vespers and introduce myself. However, I've always been advised to contact the priest beforehand so that he knows I will be visiting and would like to receive. I then follow that priest's guidelines for receiving Communion.

You aleady know an Orthodox Christian can't receive Communion in a heterodox church. Seems like just another pot stirring thread. Been a few the last few days.

Well I plan on taking communion (I want to receive the sacrament) at this Lutheran church because its the one my mom always attends ~ St. Peter's or St. Barbara's is 45 minutes away in Ft. Worth.

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and you know that you should not, because you are not Lutheran. you only take Communion with those that you are actually in Communion with.

You can't take communion at a Lutheran church.

Just because your mom communes there is no reason nor excuse for you to. Attend during your visit, sure...commune, no.

A lot of Lutherans practice closed communion anyway, so it may be a moot point.

My questions is that if you are an Orthodox Christian and you actually know what the Church teaches, then why would you want to recieve communion someplace else? Why would you want to recieve communion from a place that actually denies what you are taking is the body and blood of Christ? This is just one question of many.

What others said. You can't take communion in the Lutheran church because you are an Orthodox Christian, and not a member in communion with the Lutheran Church. That simple.

silouanathonite said:

My questions is that if you are an Orthodox Christian and you actually know what the Church teaches, then why would you want to recieve communion someplace else? Why would you want to recieve communion from a place that actually denies what you are taking is the body and blood of Christ? This is just one question of many.

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I've had some dealings, both pm and public, with someone claiming to be an Orthodox Christian and basically rejecting the authority of the Church. He talks about Orthodoxy this and that, but doesn't want to talk to his priest or anyone in the hierarchy - he doesn't like the answers he's already gotten and sees them as mistaken people. He doesn't refer to or quote anything official from the Church; just expounds on his own ideas. I try not to conflict with him, but it's hard when he comes out and says really un-Orthodox things. I don't know what to do, beyond telling him to ask the Church what it teaches and showing general audiences what the Church does teach.
I guess the question there would be how to correct false understandings without sinning against my brother? I've tried the private route and it didn't work, and I mostly try not to interact with him.

ProScribe said:

Well I plan on taking communion (I want to receive the sacrament) at this Lutheran church because its the one my mom always attends ~ St. Peter's or St. Barbara's is 45 minutes away in Ft. Worth.

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Open acts of disobedience to the teaching of the Orthodox Church really should be discussed with a priest.

silouanathonite said:

My questions is that if you are an Orthodox Christian and you actually know what the Church teaches, then why would you want to recieve communion someplace else? Why would you want to recieve communion from a place that actually denies what you are taking is the body and blood of Christ? This is just one question of many.

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One correction - that is not the case in a Lutheran Church, as we teach, believe, and confess that the body and blood of Christ is truly present in communion.

To the opening poster,as a Lutheran pastor, I urge you to follow the discipline of your church and not receive communion in one of our churches.

Yup, refer to post # 7

Michael the Iconographer said:

Open acts of disobedience to the teaching of the Orthodox Church really should be discussed with a priest.

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Seems that the only discussion to be had in such case would be confession...