Crossing arms during the Eucharist

[rainbowbright]

I heard it was to keep anything evil from entering our hearts while we are in the communion line

 

[RobNJ]

Just to be clear, we normally only carry the usual small candles that you would light in prayer, not the big ones that you get for a baptism or a wedding (that could prove expensive). Afterwards the candle always seems (and I've never asked if this is what you're supposed to do, but nobody ever seems to do any different) to be put in with the candles for prayers for the living. I've never yet seen anyone put one in amongst those for the dead. I'm guessing that's significant, but I really ought to ask.

James

They have seperate areas? I 've never been aware of that. Then again, being that the churches building wasn't originally intended to be the church.. we don't even have room to burn candle in the Narthax.

 

[Matrona]

If your right arm was over your left then your crossing arm is unrestrained. Which is why my Priest is convinced that it should be left over right.

That's my practice, left over right, and the reason being for not knocking over the chalice. Although being such a klutz I'm convinced I'm going to do that one day anyway.

 

[Matrona]

They have seperate areas? I 've never been aware of that.

They probably do have separate areas in some places, but they don't in mine.

 

[Momzilla]

We do it right over left (and are constantly reminding the bazillion kids in the parish how to do it). We also kiss the chalice after partaking.

Do y'all have your lips wiped before you kiss the chalice?

 

[Dewi Sant]

In my parish, everyone who has prepared themselves (ie, fasted the previous day and ate nill since midnight) stands in line for the Eucharist.

They cross their arms, right over left.

The Eucharist is distributed using a single chalice, and a single gold spoon with a long handle. A red cloth is placed below the persons mouth, so as to catch any of the spilt Eucharist.

The Priest would sort of thrust the spoon into the already open mouth, so as not to let the spoon touch the communicant.

Afterwards, they used to kiss the chalice*.

Then they go to receive the antidoran.


My parish is Greek Orthodox.







*the reason why we don't kiss the chalice anymore is because Father made it quite clear that once you have received the body and blood of our Christ, you need no further blessing. Plus, I heard it said on Ancient Faith Radio that some priests don't like it because it could result in the spilling of the Eucharist.

 

[Ioan cel Nou]

They have seperate areas? I 've never been aware of that. Then again, being that the churches building wasn't originally intended to be the church.. we don't even have room to burn candle in the Narthax.

That's odd. I wasn't aware that it wasn't the same for everyone. I thought I recalled separate stands in the Greek church we used to go to, but now I'm not so sure. Anyway, every Romanian church I've ever been in has two (sometimes more) stands labeled either 'For the living' or 'For the dead'. Usually they're filled with sand only, but sometimes they have water in them (that's the case in some monasteries I've been to). They're not in separate areas of the church - they're right next to each other - but what I meant was that I've never seen anyone put the candle held whilst taking the Eucharist in the stand labeled 'For the dead'. Hope that all makes sense and you can picture what I mean even if it's different in your traditions.

James

 

[Momzilla]

We don't have such stands in our church. We have candelabras--stands with spaces for beeswax candles, probably about 20 candles per stand--by each of the icons, and people put their candles where they choose.

 

[Oblio]

Anyway, every Romanian church I've ever been in has two (sometimes more) stands labeled either 'For the living' or 'For the dead'.

We are considering doing this at our parish. We have a significant Romanian/Moldovan membership, and there have been several drive by 'Eastern' Orthodox who have asked where they are.

 

[Ioan cel Nou]

We don't have such stands in our church. We have candelabras--stands with spaces for beeswax candles, probably about 20 candles per stand--by each of the icons, and people put their candles where they choose.

Oh, OK. Ours are generally either round or rectangular wooden containers, raised up on legs or some such and filled to depth of an inch or two with sand. As I said, I've seen them filled with sand and water in some monasteries, probably because that way they extinguish themselves more safely when they burn down. We just push the base of the lit candle (long thin, orangey beeswax ones - I guess you mean the same) into the sand to make them stand up.

James

 

[PrincessMommy]

Do y'all have your lips wiped before you kiss the chalice?

Yes, we do.

I have head that some parishes do not allow you to kiss the chalice as there is some concern about accidents. In other parishes only those going up for a blessing (and not to partake) from the Priest approach the chalice with arms crossed. Each parish and/or jurisdiction has its own way of approaching this and it is interesting to hear about the differences.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

We cross our arms - left over right (I was told it was for restraining purposes) - and kiss the chalice afterwards.

Mary

 

[Akathist]

They have seperate areas? I 've never been aware of that. Then again, being that the churches building wasn't originally intended to be the church.. we don't even have room to burn candle in the Narthax.

We have one candle stand over by the tomb of Christ that is for prayers for the "reposed" or the ones "fallen asleep in the Lord". The rest of the stands are all for the living. Our candle stands are spread out around the Narthex (room where we all stand/sit in for the service). I have seen many parishes with candle stands in the "porch" or area just inside the entryway or just outside of the Narthex. Our church has one candle stand just inside the doorway of the Narthex and we call that area our "porch". Latecomers tend to put candles on that stand.

We do it right over left (and are constantly reminding the bazillion kids in the parish how to do it). We also kiss the chalice after partaking.

Do y'all have your lips wiped before you kiss the chalice?

We have our lips wiped with the red cloth although there is never anything to wipe for me anyway. We lightly kiss the base of the chalice, but this is not something everyone does.

 

[Xpycoctomos]

I had never heard of the leftover right tradition. Neat.

At my (MP) Parish we all do it right over left. If they don't we know they are visitors and from a different jurisdiction (usually Greek). I was told to do it also for submission, sign of the cross and for the practical concern of not having arms waving around near the chalice (however, I woudl wonder if such as ever been a problem at a Greek Church... my guess off hand would be no???). I like it... it reminds my body what I am going up for... that I am not just standing in a line... I am preparing myself for something special.

We also get our lips wiped with a cloth (this is VERY important to my priest and if they start to walk away not realizing they were supposed to he asks them to come back). then you always kiss the chalice.

Is that true for all Slavic Churches?

What about OCA? I would imagine that is all the norm in a lot of OCA parishes since their background is Slavic... but I would imagine there are exceptions to that???

neat thread.

John

 

[Shubunkin]

Our parish does it right over left, and most communicants do it. It is Antiochian.

 

[JasonV]

Ok, so someone mentioned that it was proscribed by a canon. Which Canon? Can you cite it?

Thanks.

 

[theoforos]

It's interesting to read about different traditions. Especially the Romanian ones are something I wasn't aware of. We (in Finland) usually do the following:

-Approach the chalice with arms crossed right over left. It seems like many people cross themselves before crossing their arms.
-Receive the communion with the arms tightly against the body (crossing ourselves is "strictly forbidden"), and there's usually someone holding a cloth under your chin, and the same cloth is used to wipe your mouth.
-Kiss either the side or the foot of the chalice.
-Cross ourselves in front of the icon of the Theotokos.
-Proceed to the table with the post-communion bread and wine. Some people keep their arms crossed all the way while walking to the table.

-Candles are put out well before the eucharist also if you've been chrismated during the liturgy.

-We have candelabras in front of most icons. And a separate table in front of the "Golgotha", i.e. the crucifiction, for the departed.

 

[zhilan]

I go to an Antiochian parish and every single person who goes up for communion crosses their arms. But I haven't paid attention to which hand goes on top.

 

[Ilian]

Ok, so someone mentioned that it was proscribed by a canon. Which Canon? Can you cite it?

Thanks.

Canon 101 from the Sixth Ecumenical Council.

 

[Akathist]

It's interesting to read about different traditions. Especially the Romanian ones are something I wasn't aware of. We (in Finland) usually do the following:

-Approach the chalice with arms crossed right over left. It seems like many people cross themselves before crossing their arms.
-Receive the communion with the arms tightly against the body (crossing ourselves is "strictly forbidden"), and there's usually someone holding a cloth under your chin, and the same cloth is used to wipe your mouth.
-Kiss either the side or the foot of the chalice.
-Cross ourselves in front of the icon of the Theotokos.
-Proceed to the table with the post-communion bread and wine. Some people keep their arms crossed all the way while walking to the table.

-Candles are put out well before the eucharist also if you've been chrismated during the liturgy.

-We have candelabras in front of most icons. And a separate table in front of the "Golgotha", i.e. the crucifiction, for the departed.

That is almost exactly the procedure at my parish. Except that we all venerate an icon on a middle table before getting into line. (and as said before those Chrismated carry a lit candle but we usually only do Chrismation on Holy Saturday.)

We also have candelabras. I thought that was a very Russian thing. Our Parish really wants to get candle boxes with the sand as our candleabras are very worse for ware and really really hard to clean all the wax off.

I find these discussions of small traditional differences to be facinating. I can't visit other parishes as much as I would like to for financial reasons so this gives me a picture at least of the differences.

Does anyone else have the tradition of girls and women with long hair putting thier hair inside their shirt collars before receiving? This is something I have only seen in my parish. They said it was so that hair would not get in the way of the Eucharist, but except for some young girls, the women have scarves on too. I am growing my hair out and soon I need to decide if I will do this or not. I still can't see a reason to however.