Abstaining from the Holy Eucharist or Divine Liturgy due to Menstruation

[truthseeker32]

I recently found out that it was once a common practice in Orthodoxy for women to abstain from the Eucharist and even Divine Liturgy during Menstruation. I was curious to see how widely this tradition is still practiced, and if it is still followed in your parishes.

 

[Dewi Sant]

I wrote a 5000 word essay about this exact question a year ago for my Orthodox Studies MTh. Perhaps you may like a copy if I can find it

 

[truthseeker32]

I wrote a 5000 word essay about this exact question a year ago for my Orthodox Studies MTh. Perhaps you may like a copy if I can find it

Absolutely. That would be very interesting.

 

[Dewi Sant]

The Earth Trembled


Apologies for the abysmal formatting, it was copied from a marked essay and as such the highlighted sections need editing. It is very late in the UK but I will re-post it to the blog when I have time.

 

[Mariya116]

Since when is this a once a common practice? It is a standing rule.

 

[truthseeker32]

Since when is this a once a common practice? It is a standing rule.

The OCA and the Antiochian parish nearest to me no longer enforce this rule. I don't think the Greek parishes do either. The Serbian and Russian parishes might. I have not spoken with their priests.

 

[gracefullamb]

/

 

[Mariya116]

No it isn't, It is a matter between the woman and her priest. I know several priests and some bishops that have stated a woman should not be barred from communion if she approaches the chalice nor made to feel ashamed by her priest or any member of the congregation, during menstruation. The same individuals have also stated she shouldn't feel she is somehow more pious if she decides to refrain from communion and make others feel ashamed because they do commune. Both choices are in fact acceptable if the woman's priest allows it. There are some archdioceses that you are not supposed to do so and others that do not have a problem if you commune. The important thing in either case (and this applies to men too) is you don't approach the chalice with a feeling of entitlement and you do obey what your priest has told you.

I just obey the rule. The priests and bishops can sort it out with each other later.

 

[choirfiend]

It is based in the belief that one would lose the Eucharist through menstruation, or any bleeding. In most places, it is not enforced though it might be individual tradition. In some places, it's actively disallowed since we know menstruation is not active bleeding like a cut is. It's not a rule in most churches in the US; usually those who follow it are closer to old country traditions.

 

[gracefullamb]

.

 

[gracefullamb]

.

 

[truthseeker32]

If the original purpose for the rule is no longer an issue, why do some churches still practice it?

 

[Mariya116]

Please don't think I was trying to convince you to do other than what you have been told to do, I am not, I was just explaining that what you said was not necessarily true in every parish. You should follow the rule your priest has put in place, like I stated one should follow what their priest tells them. My priest has said to never refrain from taking communion, if I have properly prepared, unless he says to do so and I follow that. If I was in your parish or another where the priest told me not approach the chalice during my menstruation I would follow that as well.

Well, I think it's a pretty gross topic to be discussing on a public forum to begin with, but since we already started, I don't discuss such matters with priests or with any males. I follow what I know to be the rule, that's all.

 

[ArmyMatt]

If the original purpose for the rule is no longer an issue, why do some churches still practice it?

for piety I would say. I know some that do practice this as a personal rule (at least two I know of who told me), I know some that don't. as stated before, something like this is between a woman and her priest.

 

[truthseeker32]

for piety I would say. I know some that do practice this as a personal rule (at least two I know of who told me), I know some that don't. as stated before, something like this is between a woman and her priest.

I suppose it is difficult for me to see something as pious if I can't see the purpose of it. It seems like fideism, but perhaps those who practice it see something I dont.

 

[buzuxi02]

The women in my family still observe this rule. Its not something parishes or priests take a stand on nor do they concern themselves with it. Its something that has been handed down from mother to daughter for centuries.

 

[Trying_to_be_Orthodox]

@truthseeker32

There is same in Russia. Moreover, woman cant go in Church, only stay in lobby. I was asked to communion small babies by their mothers due this reason.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I suppose it is difficult for me to see something as pious if I can't see the purpose of it. It seems like fideism, but perhaps those who practice it see something I dont.

they might see something, and it might be fideism. but being a dude, ain't nuthin you gotta be fretting over. it could also be for obedience to lead to humility, which is one of the tougher virtues to attain.

 

[Mariya116]

being a dude, ain't nuthin you gotta be fretting over.

Um, that's what I was gonna say.

 

[Cappadocious]

If the original purpose for the rule is no longer an issue, why do some churches still practice it?

Judaizing, superstition, stoicism, etc.

Sort of like how in the backwoods you can find someone who will direct you to a witch to cure your toe fungus.

Pre-Christian Semitic (not Jewish, mind you, but general Semitic) practices tend toward these sort of ritual superstitions. I would assume there was something similar in the Greco-slavic world.

Practicing it as a personal discipline would be fine (although the motivations seem suspect to me), but to teach it as a necessity is just superstition or crypto-stoic aversion to women.

Here's a letter on the subject by St. Gregory Diologos:

http://jbburnett.com/resources/gregory-grt_menstru.pdf