COVID-19, the Eucharist, and Celiac Disease

[trulytheone]

I understand that you believe the Eucharist cannot transmit disease such as Covid-19. But, are you allowed to believe that the physical properties of the Eucharist can have negative effects on people with celiac disease or with alcoholic addiction?

 

[prodromos]

The sister of one of my dear friends has Celiac disease, and she receives without any harm. I know of two priests who were stopped for random breath testing after they had consumed the rest of the gifts at the Liturgies they had served in shortly before and they both blew zero.

 

[trulytheone]

The sister of one of my dear friends has Celiac disease, and she receives without any harm. I know of two priests who were stopped for random breath testing after they had consumed the rest of the gifts at the Liturgies they had served in shortly before and they both blew zero.

I believe you. But when I have just searched about this topic, I found an old exchange about a EO woman whose young son physically reacted negatively after taking communion because of celiac disease (I want to post the link, but I might end up violating this forum's rules). So if that's the case, is it allowable for Eastern Orthodox to believe that such incidents happen.

 

[ArmyMatt]

you can post the link I think because it's just for information.

but I have a godsister with celiac disease, she always communes, and nothing happens.

now, just a thought, but did the kid have prosphora or Litya bread? because neither of those are the Eucharist.

 

[trulytheone]

you can post the link I think because it's just for information.

but I have a godsister with celiac disease, she always communes, and nothing happens.

now, just a thought, but did the kid have prosphora or Litya bread? because neither of those are the Eucharist.

Sure here it is Orthodox Communion and Celiac Disease ?. The one who posted last in the last page of this discussion is the woman I am talking about.

 

[trulytheone]

you can post the link I think because it's just for information.

but I have a godsister with celiac disease, she always communes, and nothing happens.

now, just a thought, but did the kid have prosphora or Litya bread? because neither of those are the Eucharist.

And yes, it is specifically about communion.

 

[ArmyMatt]

if it's the one at the bottom, she does say her son can tolerate it.

 

[trulytheone]

The sister of one of my dear friends has Celiac disease, and she receives without any harm. I know of two priests who were stopped for random breath testing after they had consumed the rest of the gifts at the Liturgies they had served in shortly before and they both blew zero.

Was her case serious enough that a little gluten would cause her to have serious physical reaction?

 

[trulytheone]

if it's the one at the bottom, she does say her son can tolerate it.

Yes. But in her first posts in the first few pages of the discussion, she had said that her son had reacted very negatively to communion when he was younger.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Yes. But in her first posts in the first few pages of the discussion, she had said that her son had reacted very negatively to communion when he was younger.

well, I can't speak to that, only that no one I have ever met with celiac or alcoholism has ever had a negative reaction.

 

[prodromos]

Was her case serious enough that a little gluten would cause her to have serious physical reaction?

I don't know any other details. My friend lived in Greece and her sister lived in the UK.

 

[Euodius]

There are several people I know who have celiac disease that eat the blessed bread and do not get a reaction from it, but who do react severely from any other gluten bread.

 

[trulytheone]

I have another question: Is the belief that the Eucharist cannot spread harmful diseases universal in the Eastern Orthodox Church? Or is there dissent among some of the clergy?

 

[ArmyMatt]

if it's not universal it should be. you can't say the medicine of immortality spreads deadly disease.

 

[trulytheone]

if it's not universal it should be. you can't say the medicine of immortality spreads deadly disease.

I asked because the Russian Orthodox Church doesn’t seem to believe it. The very first instruction apparently suggests that.

Instructions to rectors of parishes and monasteries’ town churches, abbots and abbesses of the monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church over the threat of spreading coronavirus infection / Official documents / Patriarchate.ru

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

I understand that you believe the Eucharist cannot transmit disease such as Covid-19. But, are you allowed to believe that the physical properties of the Eucharist can have negative effects on people with celiac disease or with alcoholic addiction?

If The Eucharist did not affect people with celiac disease it would be repeatable miracle that defied the laws of nature as we understand it.

Now maybe someone would have made a bigger case out if it then the usual “my grandma tolerates it just fine” ?

Same with this

if it's not universal it should be. you can't say the medicine of immortality spreads deadly disease.

Of course it can spread the virus. Food just is not very efficient vector for the virus apparently.

If the virus died immediately after touching Eucharist or something don’t you think someone would have made news out of it.

Repeatable miracle. It would be the greatest news of the century. Far bigger than the virus itself.

But we have no news like that do we ?

 

[buzuxi02]

What the heck is celiac disease and why would a tiny morsel of what has been a staple diet of western man forever kill you?

 

[ArmyMatt]

I asked because the Russian Orthodox Church doesn’t seem to believe it. The very first instruction apparently suggests that.

Instructions to rectors of parishes and monasteries’ town churches, abbots and abbesses of the monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church over the threat of spreading coronavirus infection / Official documents / Patriarchate.ru

there is a difference between the Eucharist itself, which cannot transmit disease, and the spoon which might be able to.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Of course it can spread the virus. Food just is not very efficient vector for the virus apparently.

If the virus died immediately after touching Eucharist or something don’t you think someone would have made news out of it.

Repeatable miracle. It would be the greatest news of the century. Far bigger than the virus itself.

But we have no news like that do we ?

well, I can say that I have consumed the chalice after communing sick people, and have never gotten sick.

we don't need to make news, when it's that common place in Orthodox Churches. it's actually pretty much expected.

plus, since you're not Orthodox, you don't really shouldn't speak concerning OUR Eucharistic theology.

and, as I have said on other threads, I have a Godsister who is celiac. she has never had a negative issue with the Eucharist.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

What the heck is celiac disease and why would a tiny morsel of what has been a staple diet of western man forever kill you?

Coeliac disease - Wikipedia

It does not kill you. Just makes you ill with varying decree of hardship depending how bad your coeliac disease is.

Covid19 might. That is the virus we are talking about.

Two different diseases.

we don't need to make news, when it's that common place in Orthodox Churches. it's actually pretty much expected.

Repeatable miracle that could be verified and you think some bishop would not have tested it to announce to the world that this was the sign of true faith......?

Or some curious Orthodox scientist ?

Nobody ever ? Honestly how likely is that ?

Instead we have sites like

https://www.celiac.ca/pdfs/GF_Communion.pdf

Which clearly demonstrate that there is a need for gluten free or low gluten products when partaking Eucharist.

Anyway can you link Holy Synod or something official to confirm this or is it more of custom that should not be questioned or talked about ?