Orthodox Eucharist question

[Slider]

On another discussion forum I read a post from someone claiming that it was one Orthodox hierarch's practice to add unconsecrated wine from a bottle to the already consecrated chalice right before he would distribute the Eucharist. Has anyone else heard of this practice? Wouldn't this mean that everyone would be getting a mixture of the blood of Christ with common wine? How can this be allowed? Thank you.

In Christ,
Anthony

 

[Oblio]

Hi Slider and welcome to TAW.

I serve as an Acolyte in the OCA (Orthodox Church in America) which basically follows the Russian Typikon or Liturgical Tradition. I can tell you that we do not do this. What was probably confused is that we add a bit of warm water to the Chalice after the Body of our Lord is added to the Chalice (post consecration). This is IIRC is to symbolize the water that flowed from the side of our Lord when it was pierced.

 

[Marjorie]

What Oblio said.

You may be referring to my post on GT; I noted that it is the tradition of the Orthodox Church to include water in the wine of the Holy Eucharist.

In IC XC,
Marjorie

 

[Matrona]

The water also makes the Eucharist a bit less intense for those of us who don't drink wine normally. Wine tends to make me cough (because it's so dry) so I was worried about coughing after receiving the Eucharist, but thanks to the water, that hasn't posed a problem for me.

 

[Michael G]

Please also note that in most cases the water added to the Chalice is warm if not outright hot. This is symbolic of the real presence of the Holy Spirit in the Eucharist.

 

[Oblio]

Please also note that in most cases the water added to the Chalice is warm if not outright hot. This is symbolic of the real presence of the Holy Spirit in the Eucharist.

Thanks Michael, I thought I had heard that too, but I was unsure of it.

 

[Father Gregory]

There is more to this question than we have considered thus far. During (Great) Lent on Wednesdays and Fridays, the Orthodox Church serves the Divine Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts ... a service ascribed to St. Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome ... or St. Gregory the Dialogist as Orthodox sometimes call him.

Divine Liturgies may not be celebrated during the weekdays of Great Lent bearing in mind its penitential character, (except for Saturday which still has the special character of the old Sabbath for us). However, with the need for sacramental nourishment in mind, the Church administers Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament (or Pre-Sanctified Gifts as we call them) to the faithful in the context of a Vespers service with preparatory and thanksgiving prayers (but no Anaphora or Eucharistic Prayer as it is called by non-Orthodox Christians).

On the previous Sunday, the priest will have invoked the Holy Spirit to consecrate another Lamb (Eucharistic Bread ... we don't say "Host" as it's leavened bread of course). To this is added drops of the Blood of Christ sufficient only to moisten the top surface of the Lamb which is then reserved in the tabernacle (or artoforion as we call it).

When the faithful gather on Wednesday and Friday evenings the priest breaks the consecrated Lamb into a chalice containing non-consecrated wine. Remember though that the Lamb bears the consecrated blood. It IS generally held by the Orthodox Church that the Pre-Sanctified Gifts DO consecrate the wine inasmuch as they also consecrate US who faithfully receive them.

 

[The Virginian]

I've served in the altar at various since being chrismated. As to the water added to the wine: (1) When the spear peirced the side of Jesus, blood and water flowed out, (2) as for the water being hot which is added to the wine; in the prepatory prayers for communion these words are found,"...it is a fire and burns the unworthy." Please note; these are just my personal observances, and not official teachings of Orthodoxy.



a sinful and unworthy servant

 

[anastasios]

I wouldn't see anything wrong with mixing the blood of Christ with more wine. At presanctified liturgy, the wine is not consecrated, but by adding the body into it, it becomes the blood. We're not scholastically focused in this regard. Same thing with holy water or chrism: add a little holy water to a bucket of normal water or a drop of chrism to a vial of oil and voila, the whole thing gets transformed automatically--although with chrism this is not normally done due to the theological principle of chrism coming directly from the bishop each time it is needed.

Anastasios

 

[Reader Nilus]

I have seen it done when we in the altar misjudged the size of the crowd. I do not think it is a big deal as Fr Gregory pointed out that is how it is done for the Liturgy of St Gregory The Great.
Jeff the Finn

 

[MariaRegina]

Bump - this is an interesting thread

ATTENTION ALTAR SERVERS:

I just want clarification from someone who has served during the Sunday Lenten Divine Liturgy of St. Basil (being a woman, I have not had the privilege).

I was told that a little consecrated wine was poured over the lamb prior to letting it dry out for the pre-sanctified liturgy and/or for the communion for the sick, so that it contains both elements. From reading this thread, this is apparently not so?

 

[Oblio]

was told that a little consecrated wine was poured over the lamb prior to letting it dry out for the pre-sanctified liturgy and/or for the communion for the sick, so that it contains both elements. From reading this thread, this is apparently not so?

In our mission (OCA-DOS) the Lamb is partially dipped into the Blood and set aside.

 

[MariaRegina]

In our mission (OCA-DOS) the Lamb is partially dipped into the Blood and set aside.

Thanks so much, Reader Chris!