Orthodox Discussion Forum...

[mtown]

Greetings in our Lord,

I have noticed by reading quite a few posts tonite that there is not an Orthodox priest to monitor this forum. I would like to bring to your attention the following website. www.ocfmcgill.tk

This is the Orthodox Christian Fellowship of McGill University. We have started up a bullentin board and have asked an Orthodox priest to monitor it. It has not received many hits, but do encourage people from this site to visist and post your questions and comments.

In Christ,

Miltiadis

 

[MariaRegina]

Dear Miltiadis:

I liked the article on Holy Communion.

Yours in Christ,
Elizabeth

P.S. The fall term at the university begins on August 25, 2003 for me. We don't have an OCF at our campus.

 

[mtown]

Dearest Elizabeth,

If you are serious about starting up an OCF at your school visit the OCF website at www.ocf.net

Thanks for visiting the website. I am glad you enjoyed reading the article about Holy Communion and communicable disease as it was a serious issue up here in Canada during the SARS scare.

In Christ,

Miltiadis

 

[MariaRegina]

Dearest Elizabeth,

If you are serious about starting up an OCF at your school visit the OCF website at www.ocf.net

Thanks for visiting the website. I am glad you enjoyed reading the article about Holy Communion and communicable disease as it was a serious issue up here in Canada during the SARS scare.

In Christ,
Miltiadis

Dear Miltiadis:

In Los Angeles, we have a few Greek Orthodox physicians who are telling the faithful not to receive Holy Communion out of fear of receiving AIDS. The priests don't know what to do. In the Greek Churches here very few receive Holy Communion except on Pascha. Then everyone goes, yet few frequent Holy Confession.

Kalispe'ra!

Your sister in Christ,

Elizabeth

 

[MariaRegina]

Dear Miltiadis:

Could you encourage your priest to visit here once in a while? Especially for the Didache study?

Your sister in Christ,
Elizabeth

 

[mtown]

Dearest Elizabeth,

The following article about Holy Communion was written by a doctor, and actually was picked up and posted on several Christian website to bring light about the subject of infectious diseases and Holy Communion.

As for what the doctors are saying in Los Anegeles, I cannot comment about that. There are some that believe through faith, that the transfigured Holy Gifts can never be contaminated by anything. It is the miracle of the Holy Eucharist. But I also understand within my field of study (biological sciences) not too many people are willing to accept that kinda answer, and I believe the following article does provide the "scientific" proof that they are looking for.

As for your second comment concerning Holy Confession. As with all the Mysteries of the Holy Church, they are choices that everyone needs to make by themselves. You know the expression: "You can bring a horse to water, but can't make him drink." Well, I find it rings very true amongst the Orthodox Youth when it comes to Holy Confession. They also hear alot of "horror" stories about it too, and they become too intimidated to go. What is required before someone goes to confession, is to find a spiritual father/mother. They should not worry so much about their ego or pride, but like you said earlier they should enter the Sacrament with all humility. And that is where i believe a spiritual father/mother comes in handy. People should also be aware that there is also confession outside the Sacrament, meaning we should confess to our brothers and sisters and friends, this helps with humility and leading us closer to approaching the Sacrament of Holy Confession with a good heart and mind. I personal go to confession with a really good friend of mine, and not only is the experience uplifting but also binds us closer together as spiritual children of the Orthodox Community.

 

[Reader Nilus]

It is clear according to St Paul if one gets sick from partaking of the Holy Mysteries they did so in an unworthy manner.
Jeff the Finn

 

[MariaRegina]

Right on Jeff.

 

[MariaRegina]

Dear Milty:

When will your ocf site at your university be functioning? I just tried to reach them and reached a blank page.

 

[mtown]

Our webmaster must be updating the webpage, check it again tomorrow.

 

[umpreacherdude]

Where can I get a copy of the article on holy communion and communicable diseases written by a doctor? I have had members as me to wear surgical gloves as I serve!

 

[umpreacherdude]

Where can I get a copy of the article on Holy Communion and communicable diseases? I have actually had a small group of people ask me to wear surgical gloves as I serve the elements! Thanks.

 

[Maximus]

umpreacherdude -

We Orthodox believe that the Holy Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and nothing less.

In the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem:

"What seems bread is not bread, though bread by taste; but the Body of Christ. What seems wine is not wine, though the taste will have it so; but the Blood of Christ" (quoted in Mike Aquilina's The Way of the Fathers, p. 61).

Those who receive the Body and Blood of our Lord in a worthy manner can NEVER be harmed by them. NEVER.

St. Ignatius of Antioch called the Holy Eucharist "the medicine of immortality" (Letter to the Ephesians, 20). We receive it for the remission of sins and life everlasting and receive only blessings, never any hurt.

Here is a post from Photini over at the Taverna that is quite excellent in this regard:

From Photini:
"In the life of St. John of Shanghai, it is told how he once took communion to a person who had been bitten by a dog found to have rabies. The person was in an advance stage of infection, and was delirious. When Vladika gave the man communion, he spat it out. Vladika picked up the Holy Particle, and consummed it. The man's relatives were terrified, fearing for Vladika's life. Vladika assured them that it was the Body of Christ, and they should have no fear.and that the sick man would recover. Vladika suffered no ill effects, and the man began to improve that night, and soon went home completely healed.

When the American public began to become aware of AIDS in the early 80's some parishes of one Orthodox jurisdiction began to give communion with disposable plastic spoons, causing several distasters, as the spoons were frequently dropped, spilling the Blood of Christ on the carpet. In time, older parishioners, said that this had to come to an end - did the priests no have faith in the saving grace of the Divine Mysteries? Over the centuries, new and mysterious illness have broken out, but there is no record of Orthodox Christians dropping like flies from having received the Mysteries. As we approach the Divine Mysteries with love and fear, we ask God that we receive them not to our condemnation, but"for the healing of soul and body." The Mysteries are Divine medicine."

This is the response to the communicable disease question that was given by a priest-monk who I know.

 

[Reader Nilus]

The only thing that is going to cause anyone to get sick from taking the Holy Mysteries is eating and drinking in an unworthy manner according to St Paul. Whether some one is communing has a disease or not is of no concern to me, what needs to be of concern is if I am truely repentant and seeking the Lord's Mercy.
Jeff the Finn

 

[Peter]

Never thought much about this myself.