Hi all my friends, and new members of TAW. I know I don't come here often anymore for personal reasons, but I'm still Othodox, and growing Spiritually slowly but surely by God's Mercy.
I don't wish to start an unneccessary controversy here, but I just want to share something I witnessed at Communion during Divine Liturgy today.
A bit of background first. Those who know me are aware that I belong to the Russian Orthodox Church MP. I had the priveledge of meeting our present Patriarch one week before he became the Patrarch while he was still our Metropolitan.
Back to today. Those who know the Russian Church are aware that they are very strict about how and when you may take the Eucharist. The MP is very strict that the Communicant does a confession no longer than 24 hours before taking Communion, and that the Communicant adheres to a strict fast from midnight before till they take part in Communion.
Before every Communion, our Priest states quite clearly in Russian, English and often in Greek too the conditions under which we may take the Eucharist. Today was no exception. But to our absolute amazement, one young lady chose to challenge our Priest on this. In front of a full church, with people still waiting in line, she proceeded to argue with our Priest for nearly five minutes why she should be allowed to take Communion.
The alter-boy holding the Red "wipe cloth" lives with us, so I know a lttle of the conversation between our Priest and the young woman. A few words were in English, though the major part of the altercation was in Greek. Father is fluent in Greek too. She stated that she needed the Eucharist, and was willing to confess after Divine Liturgy. Father stated the obvious that there was a Confession before DL and he did a second Confession for late comers just before the Communion too. She had no excuse really. But after this incident she ripped off her scarf (Yes she had put on a scarf, though most Greek woman visitors do not) stormed out of chruch in obvious embaresment, and left.
I know the Greek church are not as strict as we MP are over Confession before Communion, and I'm not throwing stones over our differences of belief. But the "Ground Rules" were addressed to the Parish before Communion. Was it necessary to go and "Test" the Priest over this matter in front of the assembly?
Forgive me
Kolya
That's a sad story, but I don't have a lot of sympathy for this woman. First, the title of this thread is a little inaccurate - we shouldn't "take" communion, we should receive it. It is not something we have a right to take.
And second, this woman was very much in the wrong. When you go into another church, you should respect their traditions, and follow them, even if you don't personally agree with them. The priest is responsible to his bishop for whom he allows to partake from the chalice, and more importantly, he is responsible to Christ and protecting His Body as the priest vowed to do at ordination.
There is nothing to worry about in being turned away, since if you were going to partake worthily and the priest stopped you for an unfair reason, it's his sin, not yours, and none of your concern - and if you were going to partake unworthily, you have been spared from committing a terrible sin against the body of Christ.
In either case, it is totally unacceptable to argue and make a scene at this most holy part of the Liturgy. Nobody has a right to demand to partake of communion - if they do, that's all the more reason to turn them away. And nobody should think badly of a priest who turns them away, since he is only trying to fulfill his sacred duty to protect the chalice.
This woman can be pitied and certainly should be prayed for, but she should be grateful for the priest stopping her from partaking. May it be for her ultimate salvation.
And it is very disturbing to me that a priest would openly criticize the practices of other Orthodox priests, especially in front of a layman. That just teaches the laity that they have a right to demand communion or think badly of a priest who denies them.
