Thinking of leaving Orthodoxy

[Philothei]

My mother and the other women of my family ingrained in my head that I was to not receive communion while I was menstruating. This is definitely a teaching of Orthodoxy. Based on what others have said in this thread, a quick Google search has shown me that some parish priests and/or dioceses are allowing menstruating women to commune. Interesting to hear that not everyone has been taught this.

me too...but it is a different tradition sometimes some come from. We cannot expect for all to understand that "tradition" since it is based on a canon and some priests do not agree for it has to enforced according to individual needs. In The RC that canon would have been enforced 'cold turkey" but in our faith the priest determines what to enforce and what not to. If it means for a person falling further out of her faith then of course the priest would not insist on this. I was brought up with this and I respected the canon and the priest who said" it is up to you" but I preferred to observe it and passed it on to my daughter and when she asked her father confessor he gave her a choice. Out of respect she does as she also feels lousy...Sometimes she takes it non of my bees wax

... individuation is important for understanding such traditions and what to do with regard to them. Such maturity is rare, and is the mark of His true disciples. May He grant us all this.

In the Russian Church, it ranges from you can't receive communion on your period to you can't enter a church on your period and everything in between (you can come in but can't venerate, etc.) I've also grown up accepting the restrictions as something that just is, but I can see how someone else can be totally weirded out by them.

yep... but if they talk with their priest that can be taken care off...

@All women

I really dont understand - where is problem? Period - dont take communion, non-period - take communion.
Most of venerating person from humanity ,and more over, in all universe and any other dimensions,spaces(i think) - woman! Your prayers for husband, children are unique, without you our (man) existance is not complete. Be happy everyday!

Happy Pascha to all No need for arguments The Lord is in the tomb today!

 

[buzuxi02]

The tradition of trying to avoid bleeding on the day one communes is that the body and blood of Christ sanctifies our entire body, since the blood is the life of man (gen 4.10-11) when it is nourished by the blood of Christ it takes on properties of the deified life.. So we treat that which is sacred in a dignified manner . Likewise if the Communion cup is accidentally knocked over it will be wiped up with linens, perhaps using alcohol and the linens will be burned or whatever other appropriate means of discarding that which is holy.

Now the canons dealing with menstruation come from Alexandrian bishops as this was the observed custom in the Alexandrian church. From what I understand this practice is still strictly observed amongst the Copts.

Canon 2 of St Dionysios of Alexandria 260 AD:
2. Concerning menstruous women, whether they ought to enter the temple of God while in such a state, I think it superfluous even to put the question. For, I opine, not even they themselves, being faithful and pious, would dare when in this state either to approach the Holy Table or to touch the body and blood of Christ. For not even the woman with a twelve years’ issue would come into actual contact with Him, but only with the edge of His garment, to be cured. There is no objection to one’s praying no matter how he may be or to one’s remembering the Lord at any time and in any state whatever, and petitioning to receive help; but if one is not wholly clean both in soul and in body, he shall be prevented from coming up to the Holies of Holies.

Canon 7 of Timothy of Alexandria 380 AD:
Question: If a woman finds herself in the plight peculiar to her sex, ought she to come to the Mysteries on that day, or not?
Answer: She ought not to do so, until she has been purified.


Theres also the epistle of two great saints of the Church which corresponded with each other on this issue. That is Pope St. Gregory the Great writing to St Augustine of Canterbury:
A woman should not be forbidden to go to church. After all, she suffers this involuntarily. She cannot be blamed for that superfluous matter that nature excretes…She is also not to be forbidden to receive Holy Communion at this time. If, however, a woman does not dare to receive, for great trepidation, she should be praised. But if she does receive she should not be judged. Pious people see sin even there, where there is none. Now one often performs innocently that which originates in a sin: when we feel hunger, this occurs innocently. Yet the fact that we experience hunger is the fault of the first man. The menstrual period is no sin; it is, in fact, a purely natural process. But the fact that nature is thus disturbed, that it appears stained even against human will – this is the result of a sin…So if a pious woman reflects upon these things and wishes not to approach communion, she is to be praised. But again, if she wants to live religiously and receive communion out of love, one should not stop her.

 

[Philothei]

Thanks for posting the canons I was going too...but not enough time!

Kalo Pascha to all Happy Easter

 

[~Anastasia~]

I took Trying to be Orthodox's comments on praying for our husbands and children and man not being complete without a woman and her prayers as a compliment.

Yes, I took it to mean that a mother's and wife's prayers are special. I would imagine we as mothers and wives pray more fervently for our children and husbands than we could expect others to do.

And that man was not complete without woman and her prayers, if thats's what was meant.

But the emphasis on our prayers as mothers and wives I certainly take as a compliment. I believe that I am in a special position to pray for my daughter and my husband.

Happy Pascha!

 

[Dorothea]

Yes, I took it to mean that a mother's and wife's prayers are special. I would imagine we as mothers and wives pray more fervently for our children and husbands than we could expect others to do.

And that man was not complete without woman and her prayers, if thats's what was meant.

But the emphasis on our prayers as mothers and wives I certainly take as a compliment. I believe that I am in a special position to pray for my daughter and my husband.

Happy Pascha!

A Joyous Pascha to all!

 

[gzt]

Anyway, as kind of an aside about something mentioned earlier about men's issues, if you're really interested in nocturnal emissions and not taking communion after having one, I would highly recommend reading John Cassian on the subject. He spends quite a lot of time in his Collationes on the issue, dealing with all sides and taking a very pastoral approach to the matter which also makes very clear that, you know, bodily functions don't create "ritual impurity" and also aren't in any way, in themselves sinful.

I would also say that, in my opinion, John Cassian is a very good thing to read in general. Caveat lector, I am not qualified in any way to give any spiritual advice. While he's a "Western" father, his formation was in the East and his approach is very familiar to the East. Unlike some other material directed to monastics (eg the Philokalia or Ladder of Divine Ascent) which are often given with the warning that they probably should not be read without the blessing and guidance of a spiritual director, I haven't really seen anything in his works that would require such caution. Although I do suppose that intelligent reading is required, since he at times makes subtle and prolonged arguments (cf above) that can be misunderstood.