Frequent communion

[~Anastasia~]

when? early to mid 20th century.
why? because Orthodox were struggling to stay together as a community, and too many didn't know the faith.
for how long? until folks came around and started teaching the need for the chalice, which began in the mid 20th century.

Wow. Thank you for the info, btw.

I'm trying to fit that in with the elderly folk (only a very few) who seem to distrust the idea of frequent communion.

So ... were the priests also not thinking frequent communion was a good thing?

The priest consecrated the gifts, then consumed it all himself? (I'm guessing since it must be consumed, right?)

So did they actually offer it a few times a year?

Forgive me if this is too many questions, and troublesome. I'm just kind of shocked, and it's something I knew nothing about, as far as how it happened in the US.

Thank you.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Wow. Thank you for the info, btw.

I'm trying to fit that in with the elderly folk (only a very few) who seem to distrust the idea of frequent communion.

So ... were the priests also not thinking frequent communion was a good thing?

The priest consecrated the gifts, then consumed it all himself? (I'm guessing since it must be consumed, right?)

So did they actually offer it a few times a year?

Forgive me if this is too many questions, and troublesome. I'm just kind of shocked, and it's something I knew nothing about, as far as how it happened in the US.

Thank you.

I dunno details since that was long before my time, but a priest must consume if he served else he gets defrocked

 

[~Anastasia~]

I dunno details since that was long before my time, but a priest must consume if he served else he gets defrocked

Thank you for the info. I might see what else I can track down. It just really surprises me ...

Thanks again!

 

[Lukaris]

I believe frequent communion is best for all of us. As an individual in regard to working out my salvation in fear & trembling, I am just cautious. Surely, I do not want to interfere in my neighbor’s salvation.

In a 1949 (1960 edition) catechism:

#138 Q. How often do we receive the Holy Communion?

A. The Church commands us all to confess our sins and receive the Holy Communion during the Holy and Great Week before Easter. This is the absolute minimum. It is better to confess our sins and receive the Holy Mysteries four times a year at each of the Fasts, and even better to do so once a month. Frequent communion is a very great help towards a holy and blessed life.


Source: A Catechism of the Christian Doctrine of the Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church

Syrian Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of New York and All North America

7th edition

Overseen by (of blessed memory) Metr. Antony Bashir

 

[Lukaris]

In his book: Introducing the Orthodox Church, Fr. Anthony (Coniaris) writes:

St. Nicodemus promoted frequent communion on Mt. Athos and in the Orthodox Church in general. In 1783 he published a booklet "On Frequent Communion". Although he was attcked by some, an official decree of the Synod of Constantinople (August, 1819) accepted his principle that the faithful should receive communion at every liturgy. This is now an official canon of the church....In the early Church not to receive communion at the liturgy was a sign that the individual was a lapsed member who was seeking readmission to the Church. p. 136 (17th printing).

So I am confused also.

 

[~Anastasia~]

In his book: Introducing the Orthodox Church, Fr. Anthony (Coniaris) writes:

St. Nicodemus promoted frequent communion on Mt. Athos and in the Orthodox Church in general. In 1783 he published a booklet "On Frequent Communion". Although he was attcked by some, an official decree of the Synod of Constantinople (August, 1819) accepted his principle that the faithful should receive communion at every liturgy. This is now an official canon of the church....In the early Church not to receive communion at the liturgy was a sign that the individual was a lapsed member who was seeking readmission to the Church. p. 136 (17th printing).

So I am confused also.

That's essentially what Fr. M taught us ... that we were to prepare (if at all possible) and receive communion at every Divine Liturgy - that if we did not, we were essentially excommunicating ourselves from the Church and that, further, it could be cause for distraction with others taking note that we abstain.

But he doesn't treat anyone as if they are excommunicated, that I'm aware of. The times I have abstained it was because I wanted Confession first (and once because I arrived really late iirc), but he never said a thing.

 

[ArmyMatt]

if you read the canons of the Church, to miss out more then 3 weeks is excommunication, and one must go to confession to receive

 

[~Anastasia~]

if you read the canons of the Church, to miss out more then 3 weeks is excommunication, and one must go to confession to receive

Oops, I do remember that too. Thank you so much for the reminder.

I'm afraid there is too much and I often let slip the "not relevant to me" bits, as I can't imagine failing to receive three weeks in a row without some pretty extreme circumstances going on - and probably not self-imposed ones.

 

[buzuxi02]

It is true that we are to receive communion at every D.L. Attending and never receiving Communion is like being at the Last Supper but sitting in the corner watching. You become a spectator not a participant in the liturgy.
However this presupposes the individual is active in the life of the Church. Fasting, regular confession, not under moral sin, etc. Communion without preparation and knowingly (and maybe even unknowingly) can bring condemnation.

 

[Lukaris]

I tend to believe the church should always offer but the individual carefully discern when to receive ( within the 4 year minimum prescribed by the church). Centuries of uneven application need to provide allowances to the laity as long as confession is in proper order.