How to avoid taking non-Orthodox Communion?

Not David · Dec 17, 2021

Howdy! So I will be visiting family after my graduation this weekend. I will try to go to an Orthodox Church there, but my priest told me to go to my family's church if it is causing trouble just avoid taking communion.

I know if I take Communion there I will be excommunicated so what should I say if they ask me why I did not take Communion? I don't want to cause trouble

ArmyMatt · Dec 17, 2021

say because you are Orthodox, and you can only take communion with those with whom you are in communion.

GreekOrthodox · Dec 17, 2021

If your family doesn't know that you are Orthodox, it may be time to talk to them. As for attending, see what services are available and maybe attend one. So for Christmas Eve, we have the Great Hours at 10am and then Vespers at 6pm. Christmas day is the Festival Liturgy. So maybe you can attend Great Hours at your local Orthodox church while spending the evening with your family?

sandman · Dec 17, 2021

Error

ArmyMatt · Dec 17, 2021

sandman said:
I think that is up to you …

I know what I would be thinking…Is that really God’s heart, excommunicating someone for partaking in the Lords Supper?

But then again, I am not under any religious rules… I abide by the written Word.

this is the Orthodox subforum, please read and abide by our rules.

sandman · Dec 17, 2021

ArmyMatt said:
this is the Orthodox subforum, please read and abide by our rules.

Sorry ...I always forget to look

ArmyMatt · Dec 17, 2021

sandman said:
Sorry ...I always forget to look

you’re good, it happens

public hermit · Dec 17, 2021

Not David said:
So I will be visiting family after my graduation this weekend.

Congratulations! Good job!

Not David · Dec 17, 2021

public hermit said:
Congratulations! Good job!

Thank you!

Not David · Dec 17, 2021

ArmyMatt said:
say because you are Orthodox, and you can only take communion with those with whom you are in communion.

What if they ask me why?

Not David · Dec 17, 2021

GreekOrthodox said:
If your family doesn't know that you are Orthodox, it may be time to talk to them. As for attending, see what services are available and maybe attend one. So for Christmas Eve, we have the Great Hours at 10am and then Vespers at 6pm. Christmas day is the Festival Liturgy. So maybe you can attend Great Hours at your local Orthodox church while spending the evening with your family?

I thought Liturgy was the 24th during the evening.

Lukaris · Dec 17, 2021

Not David said:
I thought Liturgy was the 24th during the evening.

Schedules must vary, here is the schedule for our parish on and around Holy Nativity:

Please remember that we will be celebrating the Nativity of our Lord with the following Christmas Eve Service Schedule:
Royal Hours beginning at 9 a.m.
Festal Matins beginning at 6 p.m.followed by the Feast Day Liturgy at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 24th, Christmas Eve.
There will be NO Vespers Christmas Day.
Sunday, December 26th, we will be celebrating services at our usual time

ArmyMatt · Dec 17, 2021

Not David said:
What if they ask me why?

say it’s out of respect for the difference

All4Christ · Dec 17, 2021

Not David said:
What if they ask me why?

In addition to what Fr Matt said - I’ve told my family that partaking of communion also signifies that you are in agreement with the teachings of the Eucharist and signifies unity of faith.

This is from the LCMS, but it is a good explanation.

As there is but one bread, one loaf, from which we eat, so we who are eating of this loaf are one body. The eating of one and the same loaf of bread unifies us to one body. Our participation in the Lord’s Supper is a public profession on our part that we are not only in fellowship with Christ, but that we also are in fellowship with those with whom we commune at the Lord’s Table. We all eat the same bread, the body of Christ. Through that act we indicate that we belong together. All of us Christians who in the Lord’s Supper eat the body of Christ and drink His blood present ourselves as one spiritual family. What we eat and drink together, Christ’s body and blood, ties us together more closely than the bonds of blood.We declare ourselves to be brothers and sisters in Christ.
https://www.lcms.org/document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=1097

gurneyhalleck1 · Dec 18, 2021

Holy Communion isn't just some minor experience where we all come together to love Jesus. It is a theological experience just as much as a metaphysical one. Indeed, the Eucharist is a sign of unity of one Truth. Orthodoxy, we know 100% to be the absolute undisputed legitimate original Faith of Christ. It is the Rock. It is the foundation. It is the permanent Body of Christ. The Eucharistic Body of Christ can only be had within the confines of the ecclesiastical Body---the Orthodox Church. While somehow the holy communion taken in an Anglican or Lutheran Church "might" have grace or spiritual benefits (we don't know!), it is by no means theologically and ecclesiastically in line with the faith of the ancients. Father Matt is spot-on.

ArmyMatt · Dec 18, 2021

gurneyhalleck1 said:
Holy Communion isn't just some minor experience where we all come together to love Jesus. It is a theological experience just as much as a metaphysical one. Indeed, the Eucharist is a sign of unity of one Truth. Orthodoxy, we know 100% to be the absolute undisputed legitimate original Faith of Christ. It is the Rock. It is the foundation. It is the permanent Body of Christ. The Eucharistic Body of Christ can only be had within the confines of the ecclesiastical Body---the Orthodox Church. While somehow the holy communion taken in an Anglican or Lutheran Church "might" have grace or spiritual benefits (we don't know!), it is by no means theologically and ecclesiastically in line with the faith of the ancients. Father Matt is spot-on.

well spoken, sir. especially that last sentence.

gurneyhalleck1 · Dec 18, 2021

Voracious. Contagious. Salacious. Courageous. Outrageous! ^_^

ArmyMatt said:
well spoken, sir. especially that last sentence.

ArmyMatt · Dec 18, 2021

gurneyhalleck1 said:
Voracious. Contagious. Salacious. Courageous. Outrageous!

delicious! scrumptious! outstanding!

Andrei D · Dec 19, 2021

I was going to say something, but @gurneyhalleck1 said it all.

Not David · Dec 19, 2021

I went today and they did not have Communion so there wasn't any problem.

How to avoid taking non-Orthodox Communion?

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