When is the best time to confess before Easter? How to prepare for communion in continuous weeks? What is Communion
The 66th canon of the VI Ecumenical Council instructs all Christians throughout Bright Week to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ daily. This is the rule of the Ecumenical Council. Unfortunately, few people can do it. There are even fewer people who know about it at all, because practice has distorted our lives so much that everything is often done in a completely different way.
Many people still have a heretical idea (this heresy is a real, condemned Ecumenical Council) that meat and communion are incompatible. Some Hindu considerations are brought in there: that this is a killed animal and other nonsense. As if potatoes are not dead plant. This is not a Christian idea at all, because it is said: “Whoever abhors meat because of uncleanness, let him be anathema.” But many people have a specific relationship with meat. There was a fast - a person fasted, now there is no fast - a person does not fast.
I do not forbid communion. What about myself? I myself ate meat yesterday, and today I serve. If I, a priest, do this, then it turns out that I can, but he can’t? By what right? Unclear. The priest must live stricter than the layman. It turns out that the priest allows himself everything, but it is impossible for others. This is hypocrisy.
What are the peculiarities of preparation for Communion at this time?
read Easter canon and Easter hours.
On Communion for Easter and Bright Week
Archpriest Valentin Ulyakhin
Let us turn to the practice of the ancient Church. “They were constantly in the teaching of the Apostles, in fellowship and breaking bread and in prayers” (), that is, they constantly took communion. And the whole book of Acts says that the first Christians of the apostolic age took communion constantly. Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ was for them a symbol in Christ and an essential moment of salvation, the most important thing in this fleeting life. Communion was everything to them. This is what the apostle Paul says: “For to me life is Christ, and death is gain” (). Constantly partaking of the Holy Body and Blood, Christians early centuries were ready both for life in Christ and for death for the sake of Christ, as evidenced by the acts of martyrdom.
Naturally, all Christians gathered around the common Eucharistic Chalice at Easter. But it should be noted that at first there was no fasting before Communion at all, first there was a common meal, prayer, sermon. We read about this in the epistles of the Apostle Paul and in Acts.
The Four Gospels do not regulate sacramental discipline. Evangelical weather forecasters speak not only of the Eucharist celebrated at the Last Supper in the Upper Room of Zion, but also of those incidents that were prototypes of the Eucharist. On the way to Emmaus, on the shores of Lake Gennesaret, during a miraculous fish catch ... In particular, when multiplying bread, Jesus says: “I don’t want to let them go without eating, so that they don’t weaken on the road” (). Which road? Not only leading home, but also on life path. I don't want to leave them without Communion - that's what the Savior's words are about. We sometimes think: "This person is not clean enough, he should not receive communion." But it is to him, according to the Gospel, that the Lord offers Himself in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, so that this person does not weaken on the road. We need the Body and Blood of Christ. Without it, we will be much worse off.
Evangelist Mark, speaking about the multiplication of loaves, emphasized that Jesus, having gone out, saw a multitude of people and had compassion (). The Lord took pity on us, because we were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus, in multiplying the loaves, acts like a good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. And the Apostle Paul reminds us that every time we eat the Eucharistic Bread, we proclaim the death of the Lord (). It was the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John, the chapter on the good shepherd, that was the ancient Easter reading, when everyone took communion in the church. But how often you need to take communion, the Gospel does not say.
Guard requirements appeared only from the 4th-5th centuries. Modern church practice is based on Church Tradition.
What is Communion? Award for good behavior because you fasted or prayed? No. Communion is that Body, that is the Blood of the Lord, without which, if you perish, you will perish completely.
You say: I do not dare, I am not prepared ... - But you dared on other days. And on this night the Lord forgives everything. At the dawn of this day, He sends through an angel to Peter the denounced the miron-bearers with the gospel ().
You will say: how will I celebrate, eat and drink? - But on this day, the Church not only does not ask us to fast, but directly forbids it (Ap. post. pr. 64 and Gangra. sob. 18).
I will be in society, I will not be able to keep my mind collected ... - Well, remember that His power and greatness are reflected in every drop.
I heard about a priest of God who, on Paschal night, invited all those who remained at the liturgy to take communion, even those who had not confessed. If he introduced this as a regular rule, it would be extremely tempting. But if he only once became jealous, and dared to take on his conscience the unpreparedness of the flock in order to wake her up and show that the Lord had given her this holy. night, I dare not lift a stone against him.
I also met another priest who boasted that he had weaned his parishioners from taking communion at Pascha. “After all, we, they say, did not have this in Russia ...” What can I say to this ?!
Whole great post there is preparation to start the cup on Easter. Here, a week before it begins, the Church sings: “Let us ascend to repentance, and cleanse our feelings, fight against them, create fasting entrance, knowing the hope of the grace of the heart ... And the Lamb of God will be carried away by us in the sacred and luminous night of the Resurrection; for the sake of us, the slaughter was brought, joined by the disciple in the evening of the sacrament, and dispersing the darkness of ignorance, with the light of his Resurrection ”(meat-failing week, stichera at the verse of the evening).
Two days later we hear: “Let us pray to see the figurative Easter here, the fulfillment and the true manifestation” (Tuesday cheese on verse. Eve).
A week later, we pray: “May we be worthy of the communion of the Lamb, slain for the world by the will of the Son of God, and we spiritually celebrate the Resurrection of the Savior from the dead” (Tuesday 1 of the week to the verse of the evening).
Two days pass, we sing again: “Wishing to partake of the Divine Pascha, not from Egypt, but from the coming Zion, we will take away the sinful kvass by repentance” (Thursday 1 seventh verse to the verse of the evening).
The next day: “Let us be marked by the Blood of us, Vedenny to death by will, and the destroyer will not touch us: and we will take off the most sacred Pascha of Christ” (Friday 1 seventh verse in the morning)
On Wednesday of the fourth week: “Vouchee to partake of Thy divine Pascha” (verse on the Lord cried).
The closer Pascha is, the more unstoppable our desire is: “To precede with joy the terrible and holy Resurrection” (week 4, evening stichera on the Lord cried out).
It is impossible that such an intense preparation should end only with a symbolic, albeit inspired, celebration of the Resurrection of Christ!
On this day, “created by the Lord”, when it is announced that “the Word became flesh and dwell in us” (), let us spread our hearts, let us contain God the Word in ourselves in the most pure mysteries of His Body and Blood, so that He dwells with us and in us.
Listen: how does a Christian generally prepare for communion? Prayer, confession... What else? Let's say: fasting, reading spiritual books, reconciliation with others...
And how does the Church prepare us all for Easter?
Lent ... Here is the great Fortecost, and just before Easter itself, the only strictly fasting Saturday of the year, Great Saturday.
Reading... In Lent, the Psalter is intensively reread in the Church, the books of Genesis, Proverbs, St. the prophet Isaiah ... Before the brightest matins, the entire book of the Acts of the Apostles is read.
As for reconciliation with neighbors, then remember how in the primordial Church every time before the offering of the Holy Gifts, after the words “let us love one another”, the faithful (and they were all preparing to take communion) kissed each other. This, as he explains: "as a sign that people should love each other ... that whoever wants to partake of Him (Christ) should appear without enmity, and that in the next century everyone will be friends." Subsequently, this custom of kissing had to be destroyed, perhaps for the same reason that the indispensable custom of taking communion after every divine liturgy or on every holiday, because those ancient ones were more spiritual, because we were weakened. But on Paschal night, which is the image of the future age, we, all, all, are invited to the sacred meal and sing: “Let us forgive everything on the Resurrection,” and give each other the triple kiss of peace.
One priest told me how, as a boy, he would run into the church on Paschal morning, which was already empty after the solemn divine service. Light, elegant, but silent and deserted ... And the boy became sad: Christ is alone!
Brethren! On the day of the Resurrection, it is not fitting to leave Christ alone. Let us all receive Him strangely, the One, who had no place to lay His head, in our hearts. Let us all receive into ourselves His Body and Blood. Amen.
Collection "The Resurrection of Christ" 1947
Publication source - " Orthodox Russia”, No 7, 1992
About Communion at Holy Week
I believe that priests who do not bless communion at Easter make a very gross mistake. Why? Because the Liturgy is served for people to take communion.
On Great Lent on weekdays - on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays - the Liturgy is not served. And this lack of opportunity to take communion is a sign of repentance and fasting. And the fact that the Charter prescribes to serve the Liturgy on Bright Week every day just means that people are called to take communion every day.
Why shouldn't they fast on Easter week? Because, as Christ said, “can the sons of the bridal chamber grieve while the bridegroom is with them?”
Easter is the most main holiday Christian Church. The entire Great Lent is a preparation for Easter. How can you demand from a person that he also fasts on Bright Week if he wants to receive communion!
On Communion at Easter and Bright Week
Abbot Peter (Prutyanu)
I have been asked many times next question: “Can we take communion at Easter? What about Holy Week? Do we need to keep fasting in order to receive communion?”
The question is good. However, it betrays a lack of a clear understanding of things. On Easter, it is not only possible, but even necessary, to take communion. In favor of this statement, I would like to summarize a number of arguments:
1. In the first centuries of the history of the Church, as we see in the canons and patristic writings, participation in the Liturgy without communion of the Holy Mysteries was simply unthinkable. However, over time, especially in our area, the level of piety and understanding among Christians began to decline, and the rules for preparing for the sacrament became stricter, in places even excessive (including double standards for clergy and laity). Despite this, communion at Easter was a common practice, continuing to this day in all Orthodox countries. However, some postpone communion until Easter itself, as if someone is preventing them from approaching the Chalice every Sunday of Great Lent and throughout the year. Thus, ideally, we should take communion at every liturgy, especially on Maundy Thursday, when the Eucharist was instituted, on Pascha and on Pentecost, when the Church was born.
2. For those on whom penance is imposed because of some serious sin, some confessors are allowed to take communion (only) on Easter, after which, for some time, they continue to bear their penance. This practice, which, however, is not and should not be generally accepted, took place in ancient times, to help the penitent, to strengthen them spiritually, allowing them to join the joy of the holiday. On the other hand, allowing penitents to take communion on Pascha indicates that the mere passage of time and even the personal efforts of the penitent are not enough to save a person from sin and death. Indeed, for this it is necessary that the risen Christ Himself send light and strength to the soul of the penitent (just as the Monk Mary of Egypt, who led a dissolute life until the very last day of her sojourn in the world, was able to embark on the path of repentance in the desert only after communion with Christ). From this arose and spread in some places the erroneous idea that only thieves and fornicators receive communion on Pascha. But does the Church have a separate communion for thieves and fornicators, and another for those who lead a Christian life? Is not Christ the same at every liturgy throughout the year? Does not everyone partake of Him—priests, kings, the poor, robbers, and children? By the way, the word of St. (at the end of Paschal Matins) calls everyone without division to communion with Christ. His call “Those who fasted and those who did not fast, rejoice now! The meal is plentiful: everyone is satisfied! Taurus is big and well-fed: no one will leave hungry!” clearly refers to the communion of the Holy Mysteries. It is surprising that some read or listen to this word without understanding that we are not called to a meal with meat dishes, but to communion with Christ.
3. The dogmatic aspect of this problem is also extremely important. People are queuing to buy and eat lamb for Passover - for some, this is the only "biblical commandment" they keep in their lives (because the rest of the commandments do not suit them!). However, when the book of Exodus speaks of the slaughter of the Passover lamb, it refers to the Jewish Passover, where the lamb was a type of Christ the Lamb slain for us. Therefore, eating the Paschal lamb without communion with Christ means a return to Old Testament and the refusal to recognize Christ as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (). In addition, people bake all kinds of Easter cakes or other dishes, which we call “Easter”. But don't we know that "Our Easter is Christ" ()? Therefore all these Paschal dishes should be a continuation of, but not a substitute for, Communion of the Holy Mysteries. This is not particularly mentioned in churches, but we should all know that Easter is, first of all, the Liturgy and communion of the Risen Christ.
4. Some also say that you cannot take communion on Easter, because then you will eat fast. But doesn't the priest do the same? Why, then, is the Paschal Liturgy celebrated, and after it is it blessed to eat dairy and meat? Isn't it clear that after communion everything can be eaten? Or, perhaps, someone perceives the Liturgy as a theatrical performance, and not as a call to communion with Christ? If eating fast food were incompatible with communion, then the Liturgy would not be celebrated on Easter and Christmas, or there would be no breaking the fast. Moreover, this applies to the entire liturgical year.
5. And now about communion at Bright Week. Canon 66 of the Council of Trullo (691) prescribes that Christians "enjoy the Holy Mysteries" during the entire Bright Week, despite the fact that it is continuous. Thus, communion is started without fasting. Otherwise, there would be no liturgy, or fasting would continue. The idea of the need to fast before communion concerns, first of all, the Eucharistic fast before receiving the Holy Mysteries. Such a strict Eucharistic fast is prescribed for at least six or even nine hours (not like Catholics, who take communion an hour after the meal). If we are talking about a multi-day fast, then the seven-week fast that we kept is quite enough, and there is no need - in fact, it is even forbidden - to continue fasting. At the end of Bright Week, we will fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as during three other multi-day fasts. After all, priests do not fast during Bright Week before communion, and then it is not clear where the idea that the laity should fast these days comes from! Nevertheless, in my opinion, only those who have observed the entire Great Lent, who lead a whole, balanced Christian life, always strive for Christ (and not just by fasting) and perceive the sacrament not as a reward for their works, but as a cure for spiritual diseases.
Thus, every Christian is called to prepare for the sacrament and ask for it from the priest, especially at Easter. If the priest refuses without any reason (in the event that a person does not have such sins for which penance is due), but uses all sorts of excuses, then, in my opinion, the believer can go to another temple, to another priest ( only if the reason for leaving for another parish is valid and not slyness). This state of affairs, which is especially prevalent in the Republic of Moldova, needs to be corrected as soon as possible, especially since the highest hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church gave clear instructions to priests not to refuse communion to believers without obvious canonical grounds (see Resolutions Bishops' Councils 2011 and 2013). Thus, we should look for wise confessors, and if we have found such, we must obey them and, under their guidance, take communion as often as possible. Don't trust your soul to just anyone.
There have been cases when some Christians took communion at Easter, and the priest ridiculed them in front of the entire church assembly, saying: “Wasn't seven weeks enough for you to take communion? Why are you violating the customs of the village? I would like to ask such a priest: “Didn’t four or five years of study in spiritual institution to decide: either you will become a serious priest, or you will go to pasture cows, because " stewards of the mysteries of God" () cannot say such nonsense ... ". And we must speak about this not for the sake of ridicule, but with pain about the Church of Christ, in which even such incompetent people serve. A real priest not only does not forbid people to take communion, but also calls them to this and teaches them to live in such a way that they can approach the Chalice at every liturgy. And then the priest himself rejoices at how different he becomes Christian life his flock. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
Therefore, “with the fear of God, faith and love, let us draw near” to Christ, in order to better understand what it means “Christ is risen!” and “Truly risen!”. For He Himself says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have life in you. Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Translation by Elena-Alina Patrakova
The Orthodox Church does not recognize communion at Easter without repentance for sins. However, this does not mean that casual parishioners of the temple should attend Easter communion. Many priests are afraid to meet people unprepared for it. After all, before going to take communion, a person must prepare: go through Great Lent (the central post in all historical churches) and confess. We are not talking about persons who do not belong to the Orthodox Church at all.
The inadmissibility of unprepared people to take communion has been known since ancient times. The question boiled down to the confessor's decision as to whether a person is generally worthy to unite with Christ. However, according to historical data, confession was tied to communion not so long ago and rather became a necessary measure. This happened due to the fact that the Christian spirit has cooled: people used to take communion every weekend, and then they began to do it only 4 times a year during multi-day fasts.
So that people who rarely visit the temple could receive communion, in Orthodox religion decided in without fail confess the person first. On the this moment this measure still justifies itself, however, not always. This is due to the fact that people go to confession not for the purpose of repentance, but rather as a necessary event, without which the priest will not allow them to the church sacrament.
Many spiritual mentors are categorically against communion without confession.
He brings to the temple not only the baptized, but also unbaptized people. Also in the church you can meet those who have no idea about church canons, but at the same time want to take communion. On the Holy holiday it is necessary to tighten control in order to prevent unprepared people from accessing the Chalice (a vessel for Christian worship used when taking Holy Communion). Often this great holiday an unpleasant spectacle occurs when those in drunkenness parishioners come to bless Easter cakes during the night service.
How to prepare for confession on the eve of Easter
Confession is understood as the repentance of a person for committed sins, where the conductor between the penitent and God is the priest as a witness. It is important to be able to distinguish this sacrament from a confidential conversation with a spiritual mentor. During it, of course, you can also get answers to exciting questions, but it will take a long time. That is why it would be better to turn to the priest with a request to appoint another time for a long conversation.
To prepare for confession, you need to know the following.
|
Training |
clarification |
| Repentance begins with the realization of sins. | A person who thinks about confession admits that he did something wrong or continues to do something in his life. |
| No need to prepare a "list of sins" in advance. | Fellowship with the Lord must come from the heart. |
| You need to talk only about your own actions, and not about the fact that they were committed because of a relative or neighbor. | Every sin is the result of a person's personal choice. |
| When addressing God, one should not worry about the correctness of the chosen words. | You need to speak in simple, accessible language, and not invent complex terms. |
| Don't talk about petty things like "watching TV" or "wearing the wrong clothes." | Topics of conversation should be serious: about the Lord and neighbors ( we are talking not only about family, relatives, but also about people who meet throughout life). |
| Repentance should not be just a story about your actions. | It should change the mind of a person and not return him to past actions. |
| We need to learn to forgive people. | And not just ask for forgiveness from God. |
| To express a "repentant" state, you need to read Penitential Canon Lord Jesus Christ. | One of the greatest liturgical texts that can be found in almost every prayer book. |
The priest may ask for some time to refrain from reading special prayers or from communion. This process is called penance and is carried out not for the purpose of punishment, but for the elimination of sin and its complete forgiveness. After confession, believers must take communion.
How to Prepare for Easter Communion
Despite the fact that confession and communion are different sacraments of the church, one should still prepare for them at the same time. Communion at Easter suggests that a believer who repented of his sins came to the sacrament. Parishioners who come after confession to communion must first of all realize the meaning of the sacrament: not just a religious rite is performed, but the communicant is reunited with God.
In addition, the following points are important:
- a person must, without hypocrisy, sincerely go towards union with God;
- the spiritual world of a person must be pure (no malice, hatred, enmity);
- inadmissible violation of the code church rules(Canon of the Church);
- obligatory confession before communion;
- communion is possible only after the liturgical fast;
- fasting (fasting) for several days, abstinence from dairy and meat foods;
- prayers at worship and at home.
An integral part of the festive matins is the singing of the prayer of John of Damascus (). In addition to the usual morning and evening prayers, believers need to read "Following to the Holy Communion." Also, according to ancient church traditions, one should go to the sacrament on an empty stomach (they do not drink or eat from midnight on the eve of communion on Easter). However, sick people, for example, people with diabetes, fasting is prohibited: a sick person needs to take medicine and eat according to the daily diet.
When taking communion before Easter, one must remember that a worthy sacrament is always associated with the state of the soul and heart of a believer. At the same time, fasting and confession are a preparation for communion, and not an obstacle on the way to it.
Bishop of Obukhovsky Jonah (Cherepanov), abbot of the Kiev Holy Trinity Ioninsky Monastery: The correct opinion is the opinion of your confessor
Great Lent was given to us for this, so that we would practice the communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. I recommend people to take communion every Sunday of Great Lent. Moreover, it is necessary to take communion during Holy Week.
All the services of this week are very deeply connected with the memory of the Last Supper, the actual day of the establishment of the Eucharist. If a person has the opportunity to take time off from work, it is possible to take some time off and free up some time in order to spend Holy Week, it is better to take communion at all liturgies that are celebrated this week.
First three days Holy Week liturgies are celebrated Presanctified Gifts. These days it is quite problematic to attend all services.
But starting from Wednesday evening, you need to be constantly in the temple: on Wednesday evening to be in the temple, on Maundy Thursday to partake of the most pure Body and Blood of Christ, which he commanded us to take for the healing of soul and body, for the remission of sins and eternal life.
On Great Saturday, every Christian also needs to take communion. Needless to say, the liturgy Great Saturday- this is my favorite in the liturgical year, not only for me, but also for many priests. Only on this day is such a quiet and sublime Paschal joy felt. The Easter holiday itself is such a bright, stormy celebration, it has more effect on our spiritual receptors.
Spiritual feelings are extremely sharpened precisely at the liturgy of Great Saturday, when, on the one hand, the Savior is already in the Tomb, but on the other hand, we know that Christ has already conquered Hell. We know that Christ is about to rise again and appear to the apostles. And this quiet Paschal joy is very, very felt in the liturgy of Holy Saturday.
At this liturgy there is such a very symbolic moment when, during the singing of the prokimen, the dark vestments of Lenten are taken off and replaced with already light-colored pre-Easter robes. This also sets you up for Easter joy.
According to the liturgical charter, Orthodox Christians are ordered to stay in churches throughout the entire Bright Week, daily partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. If it is possible, if this time can be freed from everyday worries, from the hustle and bustle, from work, then it would be desirable to start the Sacrament of Communion every day.
The rite of preparation for this Sacrament on Easter days is much shorter, for this you need read only easter clock and attendance at Holy Communion. The services are quite short, very dynamic, very vigorous and joyful. This will not be a burden in any way, but it will be a real celebration of Easter. After all, we partake of the Flesh of the crucified, buried and risen Christ, and when, if not on the feast of Pascha, when, if not on Bright Week, do we partake of the Flesh of Christ, who resurrected for our salvation.
For some, the stumbling block is the question of how to fast before communion. on Holy Week. My opinion is that bright week- this is the time that the Church especially singles out from everything liturgical year. This is the time when fasting is expressly prohibited by the liturgical charter. And in order to prepare for the sacrament, one should not fast in any way.. These are days of special joy, these are days when we live in Christ, when we literally bathe in Paschal joy. And since on these days fasting is strictly prohibited by the charter, and communion is prescribed by the charter, on these days it is not necessary to fast in order to take communion.
I emphasize that this is my opinion.
The correct opinion is the opinion of your confessor. And every Christian needs to have a confessor, and in matters of preparation for confession, for communion, and in general in all matters of spiritual life, one must consult with him.
My recommendations should be taken only as my opinion, but you should definitely consult with your confessor, with a priest who knows you well, who knows all the features of your spiritual life, and do exactly as he advises you.
Archpriest Vladimir Novitsky: Readiness - in a contrite state of heart
Communion, confession correctly is always when we receive communion and confess with the fear of God and contrition in our hearts, with a sense of our unworthiness.
Not with a sense of accomplishment, that we fasted the entire fast, and now we have the right to receive communion, now we have already reached a certain height and quite legally we are entering Holy Week and are approaching Easter. That would be completely unworthy before God.
And worthy - always with contrition in the heart, with humility, with a sense of one's sinfulness, with true repentance. And we can take communion when there is this feeling, this sign of readiness.
Readiness does not lie in the number of prayers read, although this is also good. It is a tool that helps us to humble ourselves, but, above all, readiness lies in a humble, contrite state of heart. Then you can take communion often, without restrictions.
Recorded by Larisa Boytsun, Tamara Amelina
Video: Vyacheslav Grabenko, Viktor Aromshtam
Communion in Great Lent is the consecration and eating of bread and wine, which is the Body and Blood of the Lord.
Surely everyone Orthodox Christian remembers the Last Supper, at which, before his crucifixion, Jesus Christ celebrated Easter with his disciples. On that day, when he broke bread, he said that it was his body, and when he poured wine, he called it his blood. Then the Son of God called the disciples to receive these gifts constantly, so that they could always remain with the Lord. Since that time, each church service bread and wine are consecrated in prayer.
Why is communion necessary?
Communion allows a person to inherit the Kingdom of God, which means it makes it possible to go to heaven after death.
Communion in Great Lent, as in other times, is necessary to strengthen the soul. It helps not to become embittered in everyday life, to remain sensitive to people, supports faith and helps to maintain balance even in the most difficult situations, hoping for God.
The sacrament of communion cleanses sins. Every day a person is faced with condemnation, envy, discontent and other negative feelings. He feels how this negativity pours out of himself, and also sees it in other people. Being in such an atmosphere, the soul gradually becomes callous, moving away from God and completely immersed in worldly concerns. Constant dissatisfaction poisons life, and the inability to achieve your goals sometimes makes it simply meaningless. But these thoughts do not visit people who have God in their hearts. Faith and hope in God allows you to find the right path and enjoy life. Therefore, every person needs communion, which washes the soul and unites with God.
Communion in Great Lent
Great Lent is the time that precedes the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Orthodox Christians, in memory of the great sacrifice that the Savior made, fast for 48 days (from March 11 to April 27, 2019), and then celebrate Easter with joy. While fasting, refrain from fast food, being in humility and prayer, a person tames his body and is cleansed. Confession and Communion in Great Lent have great importance, but communion before Lent is also important, as well as throughout the year.
Very often people take communion before Easter, paying tribute to the tradition, not really realizing their sinfulness. But communion without an understanding of sins is of no use. You need to recognize your sins, wanting to get rid of them, and try not to repeat them in the future.
How should one fast in order to take communion in Great Lent?
First of all, you need to remember that fasting is not just abstaining from food. The main thing is to humble your heart, rid it of hatred, anger, fill it with kindness and love. Try not to quarrel with loved ones, not to enter into conflicts, resolving all issues humbly and with love. During Lent, one should refrain from watching television, especially films with bloody and erotic scenes. At the same time, more time should be devoted to reading spiritual literature, because, looking at the exploits of holy people and the miracles they perform, the soul begins to come to life and strive for the best.
It is important to understand that during fasting it is not so sinful to eat a piece of meat as to offend a person. Although abstinence in food is also important.
How to Prepare for Communion?
If you want to take communion during Great Lent, you need to start preparing 3-4 days in advance. At this time, protect you from all the fuss, try to devote time to your spiritual development.
According to the church charter, there are four canons for Communion ( Penitent to Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, the Guardian Angel and the Follow-up to Communion), they can be found in prayer books or printed from the Internet. In order not to get too tired, you can consciously read one canon a day. It is also important to read the Gospel at this time. Priests advise every Christian to read the Gospel in full during Great Lent. But if it is difficult, then one chapter a day will also be enough.
From 12 nights before communion, it is forbidden to eat any food. On this day, you need to be in time for the beginning of the service, confess and, after the liturgy, partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, which will purify the soul and bring it closer to God!
Number of entries: 238
Good afternoon! I wanted to ask you. My mom is an old lady. And so do I. Due to my age (I am 16), I do not fully understand the whole essence of spiritual communion. But in Lately I get desire visit the church, just stand in it, listen to the reading. But there are no Old Believer churches in our city. So what should I do? Mom says that you can walk, but pray in your own way. And I also wanted to know: is it possible at my age to confess? The weight of my sins hangs on me (maybe it will seem ridiculous, but I, the child, have them too). Thanks!
Anastasia
If you wish to visit Orthodox church then no one will stop you from doing so. If you recognize grace Orthodox clergy then go to confession. But, in that case, what prevents you from joining the Orthodox Church, other than family traditions? I know a priest who prefers ancient rite, nevertheless, understanding the need for the sacraments in his life (he was from the Pomeranian persuasion), he accepted Orthodoxy. He was allowed to pray at home according to ancient books, but he serves in the church according to the modern Nikon tradition, since there is no common faith parish (belonging to the Orthodox Church when serving according to the old rites) in his diocese.
Archpriest Andrey Efanov
Hello, father! Please help me figure it out! I want to become a good Christian. For several years I have been listening to lectures by A.I. Osipov, and began to read soulful literature. Recently, I decided on the first confession and the first communion. Before the day of confession, I wanted to talk with the priest. But in the temple I was advised to come in the morning on a weekday immediately to confession (the priests, as I understand it, are very busy). She prepared, described in detail her sins, based on the "Experience of building a confession" by Fr. I. Krestyankina. During confession, I was very agitated (up to a chill), and the priest was a little in a hurry, and therefore I described some sins briefly. The last thing I said was the sin of judging parents for their addictions (mother has a passion for esoteric literature, dad has a gambling addiction, etc.). In my opinion, it was this that made a painful impression on the priest (moreover, as I felt, it was not my sin of condemnation, but the spiritual state of my family). Among others, I named one of my grave sins: 10 years ago, my mother and I went to a healer (Fr. I. Krestyankin writes: "The Holy Church excommunicates such people from Holy Communion for five to six years"). Batiushka absolved sins, and I asked permission to take the sacrament of communion. Father with a heavy sigh gave permission, and I took communion. Only later, when I left the temple, when the excitement began to pass, I remembered that I had not described all the sins. I sincerely repent of my sins, but have I been cleansed of them at confession, given that I did not tell everything and at least one sin - a grave one (visiting a healer)? Did I sin by taking Holy Communion, after all, the Holy Mysteries can also scorch a person who has unworthily received them?
Elena
Elena, if you have named all the sins and sincerely repented of them, then - we will believe - the Lord has forgiven them. There is no need to describe the sin in detail, you need to repent of it, and there is nothing more to worry about and not to frighten yourself.
hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello! My name is Olga. Father, I'm sorry, I don't even know how to formulate my question. Many years ago, I turned to a woman, as I was told, who sees the past and the future (I repented of this in confession). I always believed in God, but I didn't go to church at that time. I don’t know who she was, she didn’t cast any spells in front of me, there were icons in the room, she just sat in front of me on a chair, trying to say what I had in my life before and something about the future. This woman sent me to church, told me to go to a monastery, order an indestructible psalter, advised me to go to Matronushka in Moscow, which I did. From that time on, I began to go to church. What I addressed to her, I said in confession, but only a few days ago I realized that I had not said that I had written this woman earlier in the notes about her health. Excuse me, father, help me, how can I formulate this in confession? Save me, God! If possible, reply to an email address. Thanks
Olga
Olga, I think there is no need to formulate anything special, just like this, in simplicity, and say. The Lord already knows everything about us, our job is to recognize the sin and repent, so you say this: "I wrote down a woman in the Synods, who, most likely, is a sorceress."
hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello and bless the father. Although I was baptized in infancy, I began to delve deeply into my faith by the age of 30. Throughout my childhood and youth, I did not know anything about God and about my faith, and there was nowhere to find out. When I confessed for the first time, I was 19 years old, the priest had to explain to me what the commandments are and what their meaning is. I pleaded guilty to violating all the commandments, but I did not specifically talk about those sinful acts that I committed, and I did not see my sins then. Now, by the age of 40, I understand all the dirt and abomination of my sins of youth. And sometimes some kind of despair strikes because I led a godless life, and that at my first confession I could not call the sin by its proper name, I could not repent of my sins from the bottom of my heart and tell everything that I managed to do. All those sins come to my mind very often now. Of course, I repented of them in my heart a long time ago and changed my life, but do I need to confess them to a priest? Or is it not worth tormenting yourself with the sins of the past, but trying to think about the present? After all, then I pleaded guilty to violating all the commandments and the priest absolved me of my sins. Help, please, advice. Natalia.
Natalia
You know, it’s better to choose a day when the priest can devote more time to you (you can ask him to confess to you after the service) and, with full awareness of what you are talking about, confess for your whole life, and after that not to remember mistakes of the past, as about something obsolete and irrelevant.
Deacon Elijah Kokin
Good afternoon! The priest imposed penance before Lent. When will he read the permissive prayer at confession, or will he come up and allow him to prepare for confession, and, if God pleases, to take communion?
Elena
Elena, you yourself should go to this priest for confession and say that you have fulfilled the penance. After that, the priest will read a permissive prayer over your head.
hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello, father! Today I was at confession and the priest told me to read a prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos for slaughtered babies, where can I find this prayer, but just a prayer, or tell me the text, since I can’t find it anywhere. Thanks. God bless you!
Inna
Hello! Help, please, advice about personal life. I read a lot, I was looking for an answer, but I did not find it anywhere, I really hope for help! Most recently, she turned to God, performed the Sacrament of Confession and Communion for the first time. I was in a relationship with married man(he is a believer). In preparation for the Confession, I talked with him about the sinfulness of our relationship, and he convinced me that since God has given love, we cannot refuse it. The other day he said that he wants to leave the family (and they have two children!), invites me to marry, and says that for the first time he felt love and could not live without me. I love him too, but I suffer, because this is a terrible sin and causing pain to innocent people (his wife and kids). True, I am tormented, and I don’t know how to act without sinning! Tell me, please, what to do? How to clarify this difficult situation from the point of view of the Church and God? Thanks in advance for your reply and advice.
Victoria
Victoria, If God gave love, which became the beginning of a family, then it really cannot be abandoned. And the justification of betrayal "first true love"- a step that will be repeated later. Marriage, when a family is abandoned for it, is not successful. Moreover, the consequences fall mainly on a woman (often in the field of childbearing). This is not a rule, people just noticed, but should not be neglected. May the Lord strengthen you.
Priest Sergiy Osipov
Good health! I started going to church a year ago. And only a couple of weeks ago I decided to go to confession. But he wrote the sins on paper. Batiushka, without reading the paper, tore it up after reading a prayer. After that I took communion. Is such a confession valid? After all, Batiushka did not know what sins I wrote about. Another question about Baptism. Isn't it harmful to plunge into the hole, never having tried it before? How do you feel about the Indestructible Psalter? I ordered via the Internet on the Optina Pustyn website, oh well. Thanks.
Alexy
Alexei, the fact that you have decided to go to confession is very good. I think the priest did the wrong thing by not reading your confession. But do not be embarrassed, this is not your sin. I advise you to write again all the same sins that you wrote in last time, and come to confession to another priest. And read your own paper. It is better to plunge into the hole at Epiphany only if you are absolutely sure of your health, this is not mandatory, this is folk and not church tradition. We must temper our soul more than our body, although, of course, we must take care of our health. But excessive concern for him is also a sin. The Psalter is a prayer, and, of course, when they pray for us, it is very good. I feel good about the Indestructible Psalter and welcome this form of prayer, but don't try to do it yourself. If you wish, you can read one or two kathismas a day, since we are obliged to read other prayers every day - morning and evening.
Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)
Hello! I fasted during Great Lent 2 years ago, but I did not follow all the rules for preparing for Lent, as a result, at confession before Easter, the priest reprimanded me, saying that it was pointless for me to fast if I did not follow all the rules for preparing for Great Lent ... Tell me, please, how to properly prepare yourself for Great Lent, when exactly you need to confess and take communion before Lent (and whether you need to do this), when to ask for a blessing from the priest, and what other procedures need to be followed? I really want to do everything right, as expected, so that the post does not turn into a formal diet. Thanks!
Julia
Julia, we must live together with the Church, the life of the Church, and together with the Church approach the feat of Great Lent. The post is preceded by several preparatory weeks during which memories are made of those instructive moments in the history of mankind, which can most of all incline the soul to repentance and spiritual work. In parallel with this, believers are gradually preparing for fasting, first excluding meat from their diet, and then other fast foods. It is very useful to be together with the whole Church in these days. You can both confess and take communion these days, if the soul asks for it. But the most important event takes place, perhaps, on Forgiveness Sunday, when believers ask each other for forgiveness and accept the blessing of the clergy for fasting. This Sunday we must try to be sure to be in the temple.
hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello. Ilya, the servant of God, writes. Tell me, please, what to do if there are sins of adultery, which it is very embarrassing to tell the priest at confession? I tried to confess them in general, but I feel that it is not enough. Help me please. Waiting for an answer. Thanks.
Ilya
Ilya, there is no need to tell everything in detail in confession. When you just thought that treason is a sin, your repentance has already begun. At confession, the priest reads a permissive prayer, but this does not mean that you will always feel inspiring freedom. After a grave sin, memories may remain that can lead to discouragement if you do not accept them with heartfelt contrition, which has become a continuation of repentant work. Feel sorry for yourself that you have so struck your soul, and sigh: "Lord, forgive and have mercy on me, a sinner." Relief will come with time. Help God.
Priest Sergiy Osipov
Dear Father Victorin! Life so happened that my godson at the age of eight moved with his parents to another city. I was interested in his life, gave him birthday gifts, but 10 years ago I fell unsuccessfully and ended up on the operating table, then for 3 months in a cast. These days, my godson, already 18 years old, being in my city, not only did not visit me, but he never called me, although he knew that I was in the hospital. In a quiet hope for his attention, I handed him the next gifts. I did not wait for his attention and was very offended. A couple of months later, his mother died, and communication with his family ceased. A few years ago I learned about his unseemly act, which I do not want to advertise. Now he is a grown man, an officer. Whether he needs my attention, I can’t find out, and I don’t want to. This really torments me, because I understand that, as a godmother, I have to do something, but what? I understand that I have committed a great sin. What should I repent of in confession?
Elena
Elena, when we take on the responsibility of becoming godparents, this does not mean that we will just give gifts. First of all, this should be expressed in prayer to God for the godson. You yourself, apparently, are not quite a church person, but a godfather should be a believer and a church person, and teaching your godson Orthodoxy is the main duty of godparents, but not to give gifts, although they are also needed. Your big mistake in the fact that you did not instill faith in yourself or your godson, did not lead him to God, to the church. This is what you need to repent of, and you must pray for your godson until the end of your life, this is your duty, and not expect any reward or attention from him. Try to live on your own church life, confess, take communion, and study Orthodoxy.
Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)
Hello, father. I ask for your answer to my questions. I always suffer that I do not repent as it should be. I can’t understand how specifically one should name one’s sins, it seems to be necessary to speak concisely, but then the confession turns out to be somehow careless. I went to the site to look at an example of a confession, and there are 473 points of sins, and many can be counted among my own. How to be? There are completely childish ones, which I didn’t even think about before, I considered them just childish pranks or acts of misunderstanding, and now they should be called. Whether it is necessary? So I can borrow all the time from the priest.
margarita
Margarita, what and how to do in confession is a very individual matter, so there can be no such thing as “should be” here. For one, a detailed confession is needed, for the other, a short one. You follow your soul: if it requires a detailed confession, find a priest to whom you can confess, and preferably, in sins committed from the age of seven and later.
hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello, I often visit your site and read questions and your answers. I am very grateful to you for finding the time, understanding and sympathy for our problems. My question is: I was baptized 23 years ago in Omsk, and lived in Novosibirsk region. We were baptized together with my sister and her 2-year-old daughter. My sister learned about baptism. Before baptism, we did not confess (no one suggested), but recently I heard that if there are mortal sins, then before baptism we must confess. How to be now, how to fix it? And yet, we were not given a certificate at baptism, and we do not remember the date. Were baptized people previously registered in order to clarify the date? The sister does not remember if she said any information about us. Thanks for your reply, God bless you.
Natalia
Natalya, indeed, there is such a custom when an adult person is baptized, before the Sacrament itself, to confess it, but this confession is more of an educational or pedagogical nature, since all the same, in the Sacrament of Baptism all sins are forgiven, and now you will not confess those sins again necessary. On the contrary, thank God that they are forgiven. The recording of baptisms at the time when you were baptized should have been carried out, and in order to clarify the date, try to inquire about this issue in the temple where you were baptized.
hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello! I am married, married, somehow everything was bad with my husband at one time, every day there were quarrels, fights, they parted, they wanted to get a divorce. I started talking with a young man on the Internet and on the phone, the conversations were adulterous, we seemed to fall in love with each other, I always thought about him, wanted to be with him, imagined him as my husband, etc. Later, my husband and I decided to live again without swearing, but I still talked with that person, I understood that I was sinning a lot, and stopped communicating with him. Now I want to go to confession and I wanted to ask for advice on how to correctly name this sin? In a word, adultery? I didn’t see that person, but I thought about him, and there were conversations and all that, or should I say something separately? How to say right? Thank you, sorry.
Maria
Mary, you are married. The church has blessed you for a joint married life. You have made a promise to God, and for faithfulness or unfaithfulness you will answer before God. You do not have the right to divorce, the wedding is for life. Your sin doesn't count grave sin, and thank God for this that He took you away from this sin, you almost destroyed everything. You would have lost this happiness, and you would not have built another. I'm glad that everything ended well for you, without consequences. You have sinned in your thoughts, and you already wanted to sin in deed, but it did not work out - such a sin is easily forgiven. In confession, say that you wanted to cheat on your husband, and that there were such conversations on the phone (adultery in words and in thoughts). That person must be forgotten completely, repent at confession and take communion. Do not allow such thoughts any more, and God will forgive you.
Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)
Hello! I'm going to go to church for confession soon. Tell me, please, are there any sins in which the church cannot be attended and how to fix it?
Anastasia
No, Anastasia, no sin can be an obstacle to coming to church, to God, to confession. Go boldly, and may Christ help you!
hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello, fathers! Tell me, do I need to tell my confessor about past sins, which I confessed in another church and another priest? After all, the confessed sins are forgiven, and he can not mention them? Or does he still need to know? Save you Lord!