How Often Should One Approach the Chalice?

gzt · Nov 10, 2019

If what you're referring to is the three feasts Nativity, Theophany, and Pascha, where there's the vesperal liturgy and then the feast itself, those are treated as separate days. If you're referring to the modern "vesperal liturgy" that is sometimes done as a replacement for the real thing on the evening before some other major feasts (eg, doing the feast of the nativity of the Theotokos on the evening of September 7th instead of the morning of September 8th), I guess it's being treated like the next day, that is, it's the liturgy for the feast on the 8th - so don't then go to a different parish that's having the service in the morning on the 8th and receive there, too, because you've already communed at the festal liturgy for the 8th, just at an odd hour. However if there was a liturgy in the morning on the 7th, say the 7th is Sunday, you could have done both, I guess.

All4Christ · Nov 10, 2019

Ultimately this is something to work out with your priest. My personal thought is along the lines of what St Theodore the Studite says here:

Tears and contrition have great power. But the Communion of the sanctified Gifts, above all, has especially great power and benefit, and, seeing that you are so indifferent towards it and do not frequently receive it, I am in wonder and great amazement. For I see that you only receive Communion on Sundays, but, if there is a Liturgy on any other day, you do not commune, though when I was in the monastery each one of you had permission to commune every day, if you so desired. But now the Liturgy is less frequently celebrated, and you still do not commune. I say these things to you, not because I wish for you simply to commune—haphazardly, without preparation (for it is written: ”But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the Bread, and drink of the Cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body and blood” [1 Cor. 11:28-29]). No, I am not saying this. God forbid! I say that we should, out of our desire for Communion, purify ourselves as much as possible and make ourselves worthy of the Gift. For the Bread which came down from heaven is participation in life: ”If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (Jn. 6:51). Again He says: ”He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him” (Jn. 6:58).

Do you see the ineffable gift? He not only died for us, but He also gives Himself to us as food. What could show more love than this? What is more salvific to the soul? Moreover, no one fails to partake every day of the food and drink of the common table. And, if it happens that someone does not eat, he becomes greatly dismayed. And we are not speaking here about ordinary bread, but about the Bread of life; not about an ordinary cup, but about the Cup of immortality. And do we consider Communion an indifferent matter, entirely unnecessary? How is this thought not irrational and foolish? If this is how it has been up until now, my children, I ask that we henceforth take heed to ourselves, and, knowing the power of the Gift, let us purify ourselves as much as possible and partake of the sanctified Things. And if it happens that we are occupied with a handicraft, as soon as we hear the sounding-board calling us to Church, let us put our work aside and go partake of the Gift with great desire. And this (that is, frequent Communion) will certainly benefit us, for we keep ourselves pure through our preparation for Communion. If we do not commune frequently, it is impossible for us not to become subject to the spassions. Frequent Communion will become for us a companion unto eternal life. [Small Catechesis]

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith · Nov 10, 2019

Anhelyna said:
I think that another consideration is how many times a week Liturgy is also Served in your Church

I wish that I could receive The Eucharist more times during the week. It would help keep me in line during the week.

.

AMM · Nov 10, 2019

gzt said:
If what you're referring to is the three feasts Nativity, Theophany, and Pascha, where there's the vesperal liturgy and then the feast itself, those are treated as separate days. If you're referring to the modern "vesperal liturgy" that is sometimes done as a replacement for the real thing on the evening before some other major feasts (eg, doing the feast of the nativity of the Theotokos on the evening of September 7th instead of the morning of September 8th), I guess it's being treated like the next day, that is, it's the liturgy for the feast on the 8th - so don't then go to a different parish that's having the service in the morning on the 8th and receive there, too, because you've already communed at the festal liturgy for the 8th, just at an odd hour. However if there was a liturgy in the morning on the 7th, say the 7th is Sunday, you could have done both, I guess.

I was referring to those three feasts, though I did not know it was only those three times during the year that happened.

So here’s another question - the old/new calendar. If I go to a New Calendar liturgy, then in 13 days if there were an Old Calendar and a New Calendar liturgy (at two different churches), would I not commune at the OC church because liturgically it’s the same day I already communed, but I could commune at the NC church? Or vice versa, on a given day if there’s an Old and New Calendar church serving liturgy could I receive at both?

Sorry, weird questions haha

~Anastasia~ · Nov 10, 2019

AMM said:
I was referring to those three feasts, though I did not know it was only those three times during the year that happened.

So here’s another question - the old/new calendar. If I go to a New Calendar liturgy, then in 13 days if there were an Old Calendar and a New Calendar liturgy (at two different churches), would I not commune at the OC church because liturgically it’s the same day I already communed, but I could commune at the NC church? Or vice versa, on a given day if there’s an Old and New Calendar church serving liturgy could I receive at both?

Sorry, weird questions haha

Watching for the answer on this one. Soon after I was baptized I went to Dallas to visit, and there were many parishes, different calendars, different jurisdictions. I went to Divine Liturgy almost every day! I was in heaven ...

But sometimes it was for a feast I'd already attended on the new calendar. It was a bit odd. I never asked if I "should/could" or not ...

AMM · Nov 10, 2019

~Anastasia~ said:
Watching for the answer on this one. Soon after I was baptized I went to Dallas to visit, and there were many parishes, different calendars, different jurisdictions. I went to Divine Liturgy almost every day! I was in heaven ...

But sometimes it was for a feast I'd already attended on the new calendar. It was a bit odd. I never asked if I "should/could" or not ...

I’ll admit that I have communed more than once in a day. This past Pascha I went to one service at like 7pm, and then again at a different church at midnight.

And when I would acolyte, the priest would often have me or another acolyte assist him in finishing the chalice, though I suppose that is different as it is still in the context of the one liturgy

~Anastasia~ · Nov 10, 2019

I don't know anything about consuming the remaining gifts after communing - but I would think if the priest asked you to, that would be a different matter. You bring up several points/questions I've never heard asked.

AMM · Nov 10, 2019

~Anastasia~ said:
I don't know anything about consuming the remaining gifts after communing - but I would think if the priest asked you to, that would be a different matter. You bring up several points/questions I've never heard asked.

I’m wondering if this might be one of those things that isn’t a hard-and-fast rule? It could be more like a pious custom to protect people from receiving without proper preparation

I believe in the Catholic Church they say you cannot commune more than twice in a day, and in the LCMS that I grew up in there’s no restrictions - not that either of these mean anything to this discussion about Orthodox practice, just an interesting note

Not David · Nov 10, 2019

WanderedHome said:
I know this is a question more for my spiritual father, and I of course, defer to him.

BTW- if you are not Orthodox please do not answer, unless you have a question to help you better understand our faith more. We would be happy to answer.

I know there are many varying views on this among the people of the Church, priests included. I just wanted to throw this out there for a little useful discussion.
There are some who say they only approach the chalice every so often because they recognize their sinfulness and unworthiness. They don't want to take advantage of Christ's grace. Fair enough. I see the point.

My approach is that- Yes, I am absolutely unworthy, which is why I need to approach as often as possible... as often as it is offered. Of course, I don't want to take advantage either, so I should go to Confession as often as I have something to confess, something weighing on my heart.. or at least as often as my confessor recommends.

I think about what is said during Divine Liturgy:

Priest: "Holy things are for the holy"...
Me (to myself): So what hope is there for any of us?
Singers: "One is Holy, One is the Lord Jesus Christ"...
Me (to myself): He is our hope, our righteousness, our worthiness!
Deacon: "In the fear of God, with faith and love draw near!"...
Me: ... silence...

Also the Pre-Communion Prayers are packed full of things that make one think we should approach the chalice as often as possible.

I love your addition of Emojis

WanderedHome · Nov 10, 2019

David Neos said:
I love your addition of Emojis

I know, I am always surprised when I see Orthodox emojis! They just need to make this one in Orthodox version

nutroll · Nov 10, 2019

AMM said:
I was referring to those three feasts, though I did not know it was only those three times during the year that happened.

So here’s another question - the old/new calendar. If I go to a New Calendar liturgy, then in 13 days if there were an Old Calendar and a New Calendar liturgy (at two different churches), would I not commune at the OC church because liturgically it’s the same day I already communed, but I could commune at the NC church? Or vice versa, on a given day if there’s an Old and New Calendar church serving liturgy could I receive at both?

Sorry, weird questions haha

The clergy of my diocese have been told that we are not to celebrate the same day twice in a year. So for instance, there was a year when New Calendar Annunciation fell the day after the Sunday of Orthodoxy. Often there will be pan-Orthodox vespers on that Sunday evening, but because serving that would be serving Annunciation vespers, we were told to attend but not serve so that we could serve it 13 days later in our parishes. So it is a concern.
I would think that communing twice in the same literal day but in churches of different calendars would not be proper even though it would be different days being commemorated. It is not the amount of communion that we receive that is important. Once per daily liturgical cycle is all that is needed.
But there is another important consideration. Why would we jump around from parish to parish enough that these would be concerns? Certainly there is nothing wrong with occasionally attending another Orthodox parish, but we should also plant ourselves firmly in one parish to allow ourselves to put down good roots and grow where we are planted.

All4Christ · Nov 11, 2019

WanderedHome said:
I know, I am always surprised when I see Orthodox emojis! They just need to make this one in Orthodox version

They do...but it is female with a headscarf

~Anastasia~ · Nov 11, 2019

nutroll said:
The clergy of my diocese have been told that we are not to celebrate the same day twice in a year. So for instance, there was a year when New Calendar Annunciation fell the day after the Sunday of Orthodoxy. Often there will be pan-Orthodox vespers on that Sunday evening, but because serving that would be serving Annunciation vespers, we were told to attend but not serve so that we could serve it 13 days later in our parishes. So it is a concern.
I would think that communing twice in the same literal day but in churches of different calendars would not be proper even though it would be different days being commemorated. It is not the amount of communion that we receive that is important. Once per daily liturgical cycle is all that is needed.
But there is another important consideration. Why would we jump around from parish to parish enough that these would be concerns? Certainly there is nothing wrong with occasionally attending another Orthodox parish, but we should also plant ourselves firmly in one parish to allow ourselves to put down good roots and grow where we are planted.

That's a good point and answers my question at least.

I was only attending so many parishes because I was there on an extended visit. Even so, I went primarily to one parish (at least on most Sundays and the feast days of my own calendar) after I had visited them all. But when I had an opportunity to attend only because another parish offered a service (not always the Divine Liturgy) I would usually go.

But my actions would not have been right if I had lived there. I still considered my own parish back at home "my" parish, though I was gone for an extended time.

AMM · Nov 11, 2019

~Anastasia~ said:
That's a good point and answers my question at least.

I was only attending so many parishes because I was there on an extended visit. Even so, I went primarily to one parish (at least on most Sundays and the feast days of my own calendar) after I had visited them all. But when I had an opportunity to attend only because another parish offered a service (not always the Divine Liturgy) I would usually go.

But my actions would not have been right if I had lived there. I still considered my own parish back at home "my" parish, though I was gone for an extended time.

yeah, my situation has some similarities. I moved about 6 months ago after graduating and have had to find a new parish, so I've been rotating through and attending several different ones when they had services. (Although I think I have finally settled on one!)

~Anastasia~ · Nov 11, 2019

AMM said:
yeah, my situation has some similarities. I moved about 6 months ago after graduating and have had to find a new parish, so I've been rotating through and attending several different ones when they had services. (Although I think I have finally settled on one!)

Glad to hear you may have found a home!

Coolbutclueless · Nov 12, 2019

WanderedHome said:
So would you say that confession should be part of the preparation, every time?

For us my priest typically wants us to do confession a couple times a year at least but its better to come more often especially if something is weighing on you.

How Often Should One Approach the Chalice?

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