Who are the renovationists in Orthodoxy. The beginning of the movement of church renovationists

The Eucharist or Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ was instituted by the Savior himself during the Last Supper. During divine liturgy wine mysteriously turns into the blood of the Savior, and bread into his body. During the reception of the Holy Gifts, we accept Christ into our hearts, we become one with the Lord. How to behave after the sacrament? What is allowed and what is prohibited? Let's consider the questions in detail.

At the Last Supper, for the first time, the Sacrament of the Holy Communion took place, where he identified his body with bread, and wine with the blood shed for sins.

The communicant is united with the Lord through the food of bread and wine. This action is incomprehensible to human mind Therefore, what is happening must be taken by faith.

A person must believe that in every particle of Holy Communion is the body and blood of Christ.

The Church Fathers teach that without the Sacrament of Communion it is impossible to reach the kingdom of heaven and enter into eternal life. This teaching was given to us by the Lord, as recorded in the gospel:

How is the word "eucharist" translated? This word Greek origin, it translates as "thanksgiving". We thank God that through the sacrifice of Christ we receive salvation and redemption from sins. This is essentially the return of the lost, from which they were expelled and. mystical secret The Eucharist is based not just on sacrifice, but on the sacrifice of love for man. Redemption of the fallen human nature- this is what the sacrifice of Christ on the cross signifies.

By participating in the Eucharist, we become partakers of redemption—redeemed and free from eternal punishment.

How do the bread and wine in the Sacrament of Holy Communion become the blood and flesh of Christ? This miracle is possible through the condescension of the Holy Spirit - the substance of wine and bread acquires a different, higher nature.

Thus, Holy Communion is communion human soul to eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.

Preparation for the Sacrament

One should prepare for the Eucharist, since this event is very important for the believer - it transforms the body and soul. First, a person must sincerely believe in the Savior and be aware of what happens during the Sacrament. We must reverently accept the Holy Gifts, remembering our unworthy sinful nature. The grace of God has no boundaries, so you need to accept it with trepidation in your soul and heart.

Secondly, before Communion, one should pacify one’s soul and with all one’s heart forgive those who are at war with us. Jesus instructed that before praying to the Heavenly Father, one should forgive all enemies and not keep evil against a person in one's heart. It is necessary not only to forgive the offenders, but also to ask for forgiveness from those whom we have voluntarily or unwittingly offended ourselves. This is an indispensable condition for preparing for the Sacrament of Communion, which you need to know about.

At least three days before communion,

• keep fasting, refusing fast food;
• give up worldly pleasures and entertainment;
• meditate on your sinful deeds, which should be repented of.

On the eve of Communion, you should read the Rule for Communion (this book can be purchased at church shop). It is also recommended to visit evening worship. Evening and morning before the Sacrament - special time. Do not eat, smoke cigarettes and drink strong drinks.

Communion of the Gifts of the Saints is carried out during the morning service. The believer should come well in advance of the start of the liturgy and confess their sins. This rule is obligatory for all adults, as well as for children from the age of seven.

When is Communion held? This Sacrament is performed after the Divine Liturgy.

Rules for accepting the Holy Mysteries of Christ:

• go to the pulpit;
• fold your arms crosswise on your chest;
• say your name out loud
• wide open mouth;
• after communion, kiss the Chalice (lower part);
• take a drink.

“Zapivka” is church wine diluted with hot water and prosphora.

Note! You should not be baptized and bow near the Chalice. Also, do not bow to the icons.

How to Communion an Infant? The mother should put it on her hand, as when feeding, face up. The priest will commune the baby and wipe his mouth with a handkerchief. It is not advisable to immediately give the baby a pacifier, as well as give him water to drink before drinking.

When can I leave the church after communion? You have to wait for the priest to bring the cross for kissing after the end of the liturgy. Don't forget to read thanksgiving prayers having communed the Holy Gifts.

How to behave after the sacrament

On this day, one should retire from worldly fuss, meditate on the Lord and his mercy. Do not participate in worldly conversations, try to devote yourself to charitable deeds, read spiritual literature.

What not to do after communion:

• openly sin;
• make prostrations;
• kneel down in prayer;
• eat fatty foods;
• to feast and overeat;
• eat foods with bones;
• brush your teeth before bed.

Sin separates man from God, therefore it is considered bad. If you have partake of the grace of God, then sinful actions will simply drive the Savior out of your heart. In order not to lose the received grace, one must be very vigilant, especially on the day after the Sacrament. The unclean one will certainly try to deprive you of holiness by seducing you through other people. Therefore, try to communicate less and talk in general.

Why can't you kneel in prayer and bow down to the ground? Because it is a symbol of repentance for sins, the recognition of one's sinful nature. After accepting the Holy Gifts, one should remain in gratitude and joy for salvation from spiritual death, therefore prostrations to the earth are inappropriate. After the communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, the believer should read thanksgiving prayers, and not grieve for the sins committed.

The Church Fathers recommend keeping light (quick) food on the day of communion. It is strictly forbidden to attend parties with a plentiful feast, especially to take alcohol. This does not contribute to piety, but one can easily lose divine grace. You can also eat meat, but in moderation. If you are not confident in yourself, it is better to just diet on this day. Nothing bad will happen if you refuse fatty meat for dinner.

What does the church say about food with bones - fish and fruits? It is believed that on this day nothing should be spit out, so as not to accidentally lose the grace received. This rule should not be taken to the point of absurdity. After eating the Holy Gifts, you can eat fruits with stones and fish, you just can’t spit. First, it's not pretty. Secondly, the act itself deprives you of grace. And if you eat fish for dinner, you will not lose any grace. But to calm the soul, you can simply collect the bones from the fish and burn them.

In order not to be afraid of accidentally spitting out particles of the Holy Gifts, you need to rinse your mouth well with a “drink”, and then swallow it. "Drinking" is specially given to believers so that all the particles of the sacrament penetrate inside and do not remain in the oral cavity. Priests also recommend swallowing the Holy Gifts whole, without chewing: this will save you from losing God's grace. The same rule applies to brushing your teeth in the evening. If it is done, there is no need to be afraid to spit out or clean out the particles. However, for those who are afraid of losing the Gifts, it is better not to brush your teeth on the day of communion.

Regarding the regurgitation of a communion baby, there is a rule: collect food on a napkin and burn it. You can't throw burps in the trash. The ashes after burning are buried in the ground.

Many believe that after communion, one should not kiss relatives and icons. This is also connected with the fear of losing grace. However strict prohibitions on this account does not exist. This is especially true when applied to holy faces and church shrines. How can one lose grace by kissing icons? As for kissing relatives, there are also no strict prohibitions. However, this night should not be devoted to love pleasures and any worldly unrest.

Is sleepiness after communion a sin?

This question also interests believers, since on morning service gotta get up early. Many people feel sleepy after dinner. Is it possible to sleep after communion? The Church Fathers interpret this question in this way. Sleep ends the day, so going to bed early is not desirable. You should devote the rest of the day to charitable deeds, reading prayers and spiritual literature. Going to bed early is not in itself a sin, but it shortens the day of receiving grace.

This does not apply to sin, but is evidence of a weak spirit. For a believer, the Sacrament of Communion is a joy, invigorates the spirit and inspires to charitable deeds. If you feel bodily weakness, then you are still a spiritual baby. Also, during sleep, a person loses control of the mind, and in dreams he can be seduced by the evil one. This is very dangerous for the soul, so you should refrain from going to bed as early as possible, especially at lunchtime.

Outcome

Having received the Sacrament of Communion, we carry Christ in our souls and bodies. Try not to lose grace until the next communion, preparation for which begins immediately after receiving the Holy Gifts. It is foolish to believe that one can quickly prepare for the next Eucharist in three days, and before that live an ordinary sinful life.

As long as you do not offend the Holiness that is present in you, the fruits of the Eucharist will continue to operate. As soon as you stumble over sin or sinful thoughts, the grace received will immediately leave you.

Treasure the acceptance of the Holy Gifts, do not waste your life on aimless pastime. Remember that Christ himself dwells in the temple of your body, so lead a life worthy of the Savior.

Records found: 50

Hello, less than a year ago I sinned, which I regret very much. I went to church and confessed, the priest accepted my confession and remitted my sins. After that, for 40 days I myself prayed to the earth in the morning and in the evening. But time goes by, and I never forgave myself. Can I be forgiven, forget my act? What do i do?

Natasha

Hello Natasha. Do not look for peace and oblivion, it is impossible. You can only get relief and strength for later life. Judge for yourself - sin damages our very nature, like a bodily wound that leaves a mark, a scar, and sometimes like the loss of an arm, leg, eye. It is naive to expect a new hand to grow back. Christianity gives us crutches and prostheses instead of lost limbs, and the hope of returning them again, if not in this life, then at least in eternity. Keep a small rule of repentance, so that it is not visible to anyone, but always reminds you not of the sin itself, but of the severity of its consequences. This rule will teach you humility. While the desire to get rid of remorse at all costs is aimed at acquiring a completely different property, which is not useful to us. God help you.

Priest Alexander Beloslyudov

Hello. It so happened that I took Communion, and then after the service I wanted to stay and help in the Church of God. My help was in cleaning the candlesticks and mopping the floors. She did it with pleasure. But later I learned that on this day you can’t even make prostrations to the Lord, spit out saliva, and also wash in the shower, take a bath ... Not like washing the floors! I was somewhat upset and would like to know if in fact all this cannot be done after Communion? Or is it all prejudice? Thank you for your reply. Save you Lord.

r.b. Tatyana

Hello Tatiana! The day of Communion is a special day for the Christian soul, when it unites with Christ in a special, mysterious way. As for the reception of the most honored guests, we clean and put the whole house in order, and leave all ordinary affairs, so the day of Communion should be celebrated as great holidays, devoting them, as much as possible, to solitude, prayer, concentration and spiritual reading. Do not be embarrassed that you helped in the temple on this day: it is still a good thing, but from now on try to spend the day of communion in silence and silence. As for the custom of not doing prostrations after Communion and not to kiss the priest's hands, then its non-observance is not a sin. Schiegumen Parthenius points out: “We should also mention here the exaggerated caution of some after Communion. They try not only not to spit for the whole day after communion, which, of course, is commendable, but also consider food waste, if it has been in the mouth, to be considered sacred, and therefore they even try to swallow inedible, and that cannot be swallowed (fish bones, etc.) trying to burn on fire. We do not find such extreme strictness anywhere in the Church Charter. It is only required to drink after communion and, after rinsing the mouth with the drink, swallow it so that any small grain does not remain in the mouth - and that's all! The “superstructures” invented on this issue have absolutely no echo in the Church Charter.”

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Christ is Risen! Please tell me, during the period from Easter to the Trinity, prostrations are not made, and when you read prayers, after reading the kathisma in the Psalter, there is a prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, how to read it during this period?

Love

Love, Truly Risen! Prayer of St. We read Ephrem the Syrian only during Great Lent, and now it is not necessary to read it. Earthly bows from Easter to the Holy Trinity do not. Usually we do not bow to the ground in church, but at home, so as not to embarrass anyone, if you wish, then you can bow to the ground after reading the kathismas as much as you want.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Do I need to bow to the ground when taking out the Chalice for Communion on Sundays and holidays during Easter week?

Svetlana

Svetlana, there are prostrations not only of repentance, but also of gratitude. Before the Chalice, we bow to the ground, even if we do not receive communion. On Easter, bows to the earth are not done, until the feast of the Holy Trinity, but before the Chalice, you can make a bow of gratitude to the earth. Although there is a tradition not to do prostrations at all on Easter days, even before the Holy Gifts. I think you do not need to highlight yourself, as you can mislead others. If you really want to - bow down mentally, the Lord will see you anyway.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Christ is Risen! Tell me, please, from what date can you make prostrations?

Vlad

Vlad, Truly Risen! On the feast of the Holy Trinity, three big prayers. From this moment the earthly prostrations begin. But I want to tell you that at home you can still bow to the ground, if the soul asks, there is nothing terrible in this.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Hello Father Victorin! Thanks a lot You for the answer. I also want to ask you about the Psalter. When is it necessary to make prostrations when reading the Psalter? Are they performed when reading prayers after "Glory"? Explain to me, please, everything in more detail. Thanks a lot. God bless you.

Valentine

Valentine, prostrations are not made while reading the Psalter. They can be done after reading all the kathismas of that day, i.e., for example, you have read one or two kathismas today, and at the end of the whole reading, you can make prostrations to the ground as much as you want, as much as you can. It is best to determine a measure for yourself for each day, not too much, but not too little, so that every day to do the same number of bows. I think you can assign yourself 5-10 prostrations daily, but no more is needed.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Hello! 1. Say, in the morning and evening rule how many bows should be given, and after each prayer, or after certain ones? 2. Is it possible to read the Psalter and drink holy water with prosphora at home during the days female impurity or can't it be done?

Photinia

Photinia, bows can be done at home as much as you like, but practice shows that it is better to do no more than 10 per day to start with. It is better to do a little, but regularly. In the morning, do no more than 10, and in the evening, 3 bows are enough for the night. During female impurity, you can pray, read the Psalter, but you don’t need to drink Holy water and eat prosphora - this is a Shrine, and you need to be treated with reverence.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Good afternoon, fathers, tell me, please, during the Liturgy, when are prostrations made? Holy gifts are brought out twice, the first time they are shown and taken away, and the second time for communion. I watched the parishioners and did not understand anything. As I understand it, if I take communion myself, then I bow to the ground, and if not, then bow down?

Natalia

Natalia, it's good to make prostrations, but they must be timely. The first time the Cup is taken out at the Liturgy during the Great Entrance - the bow to the earth is not done, it can be made half-length. The second time the chalice is taken out, already consecrated, before communion, and Christ Himself is present in the chalice, and of course, it is necessary to bow to the ground before Christ Himself, even if we do not take communion.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

You are absolutely right, thank you very much, that's exactly what I needed to hear. I've got one more question. I heard that on Sunday and Saturday evenings, bowing is not allowed. Is it so? And why? Thank you in advance.

The word "beat" means 100-600 bows, we don't say that now, and it's rare for anyone to do that now. Imagine that you will do as many bows every day as Christians did before us - I think in this case, Saturday and Sunday will seem like a real weekend to you! A similar statute was precisely with this and connected. Weekdays are days of repentance, days of work, and Sunday and Saturday are the days of holidays, when indulgences are given both bodily and spiritually, therefore bows will be canceled on these days. But since we do not follow these rules, it is not a sin to make a dozen prostrations at home even on holidays and Sundays. In addition, there are bows of repentance, and there are bows of gratitude. If there is a desire, then no more than a dozen bows can be made as a thankful expression.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Hello. I have a question. I want to get married, is it necessary to get married by the priest to whom I confessed? And one more question. I have terrible sin, I went to confession for the first time, told in tears, excitedly, I am very receptive, and the priest really pressed me with my act. I understand that he is right. But after confession, he imposed a penance on me: for a month to read a prayer and make obeisances, for 3 months now I have not been able to do it, the work does not allow me to do prostrations every day, even at night, since the schedule is such. What to do? And yet, after confession, I could not come to my senses for a long time, I was depressed for a long time. I'm afraid to go again, although it is necessary after the completion of the penance. I'm afraid of this emotional decline. I'm waiting for answers to questions. Thanks in advance.

Anna

No, Anna, any priest can marry you. And as for penance, you need to meet again with that priest and ask for its mitigation, you really have difficult circumstances.

hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello! Tell me, please, at the Liturgy, when the priest says that the catechumens bow their heads and that they pray, what should the baptized do at this moment? Do I need to bow my head (of course, I want to do this, but it seems that it is proposed to make it catechumens)? And I don't understand when it is necessary to make prostrations? They say that they are not made on Sundays and are not made after Great Lent. In a word, I got confused, because in the temple who kneels during the Eucharistic canon, who stands straight, who bows to the ground at the words "Holy to the Saints", who does not ... Tell me how to do it right? With best regards!

Andrei

The baptized do not need to bow their heads at the litanies for the catechumens. In the period from Easter to the Trinity and on Sundays, it is really not supposed to bow to the ground, they are replaced by waist ones.

Deacon Elijah Kokin

Hello, father. If you can, please clarify this question. Is Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ a reward or is it medicine and help for a Christian? For me, even morning and evening rule- this is an incredibly hard work, let alone the most difficult preparation for Communion, it is very difficult to pray with attention, and if this does not work out, irritation, indignation, murmuring comes and all prayer goes down the drain, so you have to leave it so that it is not desecrated . I understand that prayer is important and that it is the root of everything, but prayer does not work, and this is a big frustration. But conscience does not allow to read the text coldly and detachedly, and it is clear that this will not be a prayer. As a result, it turns out that prayer is like drill or hard labor, and if this is nevertheless overcome, then Communion is like a reward. But, perhaps, after all, this is not a reward, but on the contrary, the Body and Blood of Christ are given to us to help us overcome difficulties, but then there is a contradiction, in order to receive this saving help, a person must fulfill hard work without any help, only to receive it later, when the labor has already been overcome. What then comes first, labor for the sake of Communion or Communion for the sake of help in labor? Tell me how to think about this, what will come to your heart on this issue? Save me, God!

Alexei

Dear Alexei, you are lost in the three pines because you have the wrong concept of the sacrament, because it is not a medicine and not a reward. The root of this word is “part”, and we are all members of the church, separate parts of one whole, that is, the Body of Christ, and He is the head of the Church. Thus, through the communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, we are united with God and with the fullness of the Church. Most importantly, Communion is the foundation of our future life and therefore cannot be regarded as a remedy or reward. In ancient times, people were mostly illiterate and did not have books, but nevertheless they prepared for the sacrament by taking simple prayers and tributes. Tell your confessor about your problem and determine your own with him. prayer rule which is within your power.

Priest Alexander Babushkin

Good evening. God save you. 1. A year in the temple, I confess, I take communion. There is a desire and need for a spiritual father, how to find (select) him? 2. My son has been very ill since childhood, in a group. He is 21 years old, how to reason with him about faith? You won't drive with a stick, will you? 3. Why don't they pay 10 in churches? 4. The attitude of Orthodoxy towards biometric passports? 5. My father completely lost his memory after a stroke, how can I help as much as possible? 6. In addition to confession, what is it possible and how to properly pray for sin for those killed in the womb? Very grateful.

Nikolay.

Nikolai, the choice of a spiritual father has been repeatedly and even extensively written on our website, just be curious. The main meaning is that you need to feel a response and understanding from that priest, as well as his gift of consolation in relation to yourself.
In relation to the son - and you can drive with a stick. You are a father, use your authority, superiority, willpower and convictions. With a son, you can behave more firmly.
The third question is about tithing, I understand? Well, why, there are people even now, and there are many of them, who give a tenth of their income to the temple.
Biometric passports and other electronic means of accounting, according to the Church's understanding of the problem, do not in themselves carry any mystical content. But they bring us closer to total control, which is in the hands of any world dictator, and, of course, the dictator of dictators - the Antichrist.
On the fifth question, you need to contact the doctors, as far as I know, in modern medicine there are effective methods for restoring memory, but they require constant practice and exercise.
And in sins, including those mentioned by you, it is necessary, first of all, to repent. However, nothing prevents us from taking upon ourselves, with the blessing of the priest, some small feat - prayers or prostrations, or fasting - in memory of these sins, as a penance, so that we never forget them.

hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

I live in the world. I pray for the rosary. And as I refrain, the demon overcomes prodigal passion. What prayers to read against this demon?

Sergius

Hello Sergiy! To pray with a rosary, you need the blessing of a priest. If you have one, then bow to the ground during prayer. And also in the fight against this passion it is necessary to confess. Here is one of the prayers against fornication (the prayer of Macarius of Optina): “O Mother of the Lord, my Creator, You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity. O Mother of God! I have intercession of the Son and God, Amen."
Help you Lord!

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

At the weekend I went to Verkhoturye, to the St. Nicholas Monastery, where I took communion. And then we stopped at the Holy Intercession Monastery, where they bowed miraculous icon Mother of God "Tenderness" and the relics of Cosmas of Verkhotursky. And only then did she remember that after communion one should not bow to the ground. How to be?

Hope

Hello Hope! I advise you to bring repentance at confession.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Hello, I am 13 years old, already like 2, or maybe less, for a year I repent very strongly in front of the icon, the fact is that I have VERY VERY VERY bad thoughts, you can’t even imagine, and all the time when these thoughts come, I run to the icon and kiss it, and touch it with my hand, and pray that the Lord will forgive me for everything because I talk about Him and about others like that (to myself, in my mind) and call everyone names, and so on for about 5 minutes -10, I even do this at school, but not in front of the icon, but just looking at the ceiling or ahead, and already some have begun to suspect me of this. Please help, even when I go to a stop, I pray 3 times, I can’t anymore, I’m tired, I even wanted to give up Christianity so as not to harm anyone, but I’m afraid the Lord will get angry and take my parents and family away, help , what should I do? Thanks in advance.

When a person enters the temple of God, he immediately feels that he has found himself in some special majestic and at the same time very peaceful environment - in heaven, which, however, is on earth. Everything here carries harmony, deep meaning and great spiritual beauty. Each church paraphernalia and utensils has its own rank and order. The sacred service and prayer in front of the altar are performed according to strict ancient canons. All this is quite logical and understandable, but there is something that requires careful explanation.

For example, many clergy often face the following question: prostration - how to do it? It is impossible to answer it simply and unequivocally, but it is not so complicated if you carefully study it.

Earth bow - how to do?

It must be said right away that a bow is symbolic action, performed since the most ancient biblical times and expressing great reverence for the Creator of everything earthly and heavenly - the Lord God. Therefore, any bows must be done very slowly and with the words of prayer. In order to find out for yourself how to properly bow to the ground, you need to decide what bows are in general. It turns out that there are great ones - bows to the earth, and there are small ones - waist ones. And there is also a simple bowing of the head.

When bowing to the ground, one must fall on one's knees and touch the floor with the forehead. With a waist bow, the head leans down so that the fingers of the hand touch the floor. So at the consecration of the Temple of the Lord, Daniel, when he was in captivity in Babylon, and other righteous Old Testament. This custom was consecrated by Christ Himself and entered into the practice of the Holy Church of Christ.

kneeling

The most most of kneeling is done during Lent. According to the explanation of St. Basil the Great, kneeling symbolizes the fall of a person in sin, and then the uprising - his forgiveness through the great mercy of the Lord.

And again the question arises: 40 earthly bows - how to do it right? Prostrations are made at any time except special days, we will talk about them below. The rest of the time, you don’t need to be lazy, but it’s better to voluntarily plunge yourself into a bow, which means your own fall into the abyss of repentance in the hope that God will accept and bless these modest labors.

Nothing depends on the number of bows and fasting, if the heart and soul are not cleansed of evil thoughts and change into better side. And if a person sincerely repents even a little, then loving father will surely stretch out His holy right hand to him.

Experience of Bishop Athanasius Sakharov

It is not always possible to find the correct answer to how to bow to the ground in Orthodoxy. But let's try to turn to a well-known zealot Church Charter-Confessor Athanasius (Sakharov).

First of all, let's deal with when it is impossible to make earthly bows, and when it is possible. During the divine service, bows to the earth, as in principle, bows, are performed not at all at will. They are made on weekdays and on fast penitential days. On Sundays and, of course, on great holidays, according to the decree of the Holy Fathers, they are canceled.

During the period of Easter and before the Trinity, as well as from Christmas and before Epiphany, prostrations are also not allowed. Rule VI, 90 says that on Sundays one should not kneel for the sake of honor. Christ's Resurrection. But small prostrations should be done at certain moments in accordance with the meaning of prayers.

Belt and earthly bows

So, at any worship it is necessary:

Church charter

Bows at services (vespers, matins, all-night vigil):

Special rules for bowing

So, we are considering what an earthly bow is. How to do it right? It is worth considering that nuns may be present at the services. Many parishioners, not knowing the rules, begin to imitate them and, just like them, bow down. Or, on the contrary, they look at them and are embarrassed.

The thing is that monks obey their own special rule, while parishioners must adhere to the rule of the Holy Fathers, intended for the entire Church, so that the whole meaning of worship is gradually revealed and known.

Incense

There is already an established tradition when, during the censing by the rector of the church, parishioners are distracted from liturgical prayer, begin to move from one side to the other, riveting all their attention to the approaching priest, creating noise, stand with their backs to the altar, which is unacceptable. During the censing, parishioners should part and let the priest through, after which they should quietly stand in place and return to prayer.

If the priest begins to incense people, then it is necessary to bow and return to the service, and not look through the eyes of the priest during this entire ceremony. It may seem that this entire list is too complicated and tedious to memorize, but it can help every believer get comfortable in the actions of worship.

Is it possible to make prostrations at the Liturgy

Liturgy - special service, which consists of three parts: the Proskomedia, the Liturgy of the catechumens and the Liturgy of the faithful. In the first two parts, bows are performed according to the charter of the ordinary services described above, but we will describe the third part - the most important one - in more detail. When and how are small and great prostrations performed? Let's figure out when to bow to the ground at the Liturgy, and when to bow.

The priest at the Great Procession goes to the pulpit in his hands holds the Chalice and diskos, and the choir at this time sings the "Cherubic Hymn":

• A small bow during the end of the first half of the "Cherubim", at this time the priest is on the pulpit.
• Stand with your head bowed during the commemoration of the priests.
• Three small bows at the triple hallelujah.
• Great bow for the day (if not on a holiday) with the exclamation of the priest "We thank the Lord."

When the Eucharistic canon is celebrated, Holy Sacrament one must observe complete silence and keep the mind in attention.

• A small bow is made with the exclamations of "Take, eat, drink from Her all."
• A small bow for the day is performed at the end of “We sing to you” and “And we pray to Tees, our God.” This is a very important moment for a praying person.
• A small bow for the day is performed after "It is worthy to eat."
• A small bow at the words "And everyone, and everything."
• A small bow for the day at the beginning of the national prayer "Our Father".
• Great bow (if not a holiday) at the exclamation of the priest "Holy to the saints."
• A small bow on the day to the endowed gifts before communion with the words "Come with the fear of God and faith."
• Put a bow to the ground and fold your arms crosswise on your chest after the priest's prayer before communion. (Before the cup, do not cross yourself and do not bow, so as not to push it in any case).
• The communicants do not have to make prostrations until the evening. A bow from the waist for the communicants at the appearance of the Holy Gifts with the exclamation "Always, now and forever."
• The head is bowed when the prayer behind the ambo sounds, and the priest, finishing the liturgy, leaves the altar and stands in front of the pulpit.

Many believers are interested in the question of whether it is possible to bow to the ground after communion. The priests warn that it is not necessary to kneel after it is done for the sake of the shrine, which is inside the person who accepted Holy Communion, and so as not to accidentally vomit.

Conclusion

I would very much like believers to understand that bows do not seem to be the main ones in life. Orthodox Christian, but they help to strengthen faith, enlighten the heart, tune in to the right spiritual mood and understand the whole meaning of the service, being a participant in it. Starting small, you can achieve more. It was not at all out of idleness that the Charters were created. Perhaps now it has become at least a little clearer what an earthly bow is. How to do and when - also described above is quite clear and detailed. But in order to better assimilate all these rules, one must go to the temple more often.

How to behave after communion?

If, having escaped the filthiness of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again become entangled in them and are overcome by them, then the latter is worse for them than the former. It would be better for them not to know the path of righteousness, than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment given to them. But according to a true proverb, it happens to them: the dog returns to his vomit, and: the washed pig goes to wallow in the mud. (2 Pet. 2:20-22).

After communion, one must show correction, testify to love for God and neighbor, thanksgiving, diligent diligence for a new, holy and immaculate life.

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk (1724-1783).

After partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, enter immediately into the inmost secrets of your heart and, bowing there to the Lord with reverent humility, turn to Him mentally with these words: You see, My All-good Lord how easily I fall into sins to my own destruction, what power the passion that fights me has over me, and how powerless I am to free myself from it. Help me and strengthen my powerless efforts, or better accept my weapon instead of me, completely defeat this furious enemy of mine ... Bow to this One God, glorious in the Holy Trinity and beneficent to us, and, having rendered reverent thanksgiving to Him as a kind of gift, offer an inflexible decision, readiness and impulses to fight with one's sin in the hope of overcoming it by the power of the One Trinitarian God.

Saint Nicodemus the Holy Mountaineer (1749-1809).

After communion, one must ask the Lord to keep the gift worthy and that the Lord give help not to return back, that is, the former sins.

Rev. Ambrose of Optina (1812-1891).

Every time the Lord vouchsafes you to partake of the Holy and Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ, think so: what happiness I have today, the Lord entered the house of my heart, did not disdain me, a sinner and unclean! What mercy of God to me, what joy to me, because today I am not alone, but Christ Himself, my Lord and Savior, is my guest!

Hieromartyr Arseny (Zhadanovsky), Bishop of Serpukhov (1874-1937).

Now every sin we commit will be an insult to the Lord; every vicious action is a clear offense to the Sweetest Redeemer. Every abuse of our body will be the spitting, beating, and beating He endured from the enemies. Now we are no longer alone, but the Lord is with us and in us. We must not renounce good deeds, from deeds of piety.

And most importantly, communicants should be complacent and generous in all circumstances of life.

Each of us must protect the accepted treasure, and not throw it at random. Each of us must not forget that he is a Christian, and most importantly, that he is a Christian who has taken communion. In all temptations, he must remember that he has communed the terrible Mysteries of Christ into eternal life, that he is not ready to part with Communion, nor to exchange them for the satisfaction of any passion. Each of us should remember the real bright moments when we are all pure before the Lord, washed by His Most Pure Blood and nourished by His Most Pure Flesh. Each of us should remember the love of the Lord for us and the love that we have testified before Him. Today we said to the Lord: We believe and confess that You are the Son of the Living God, who came into the world to save sinners; We believe that I do not accept the Holy Mysteries for condemnation, but for the healing of soul and body. I kissed You, O Lord, not with the treacherous kiss of Judas the traitor, but with an innocent and holy kiss. If we forget about this, then the Lord Himself will forget us. And we will again wander in the darkness of sin, and the light of Christ will be taken away from us, joy and peace of conscience will be taken away from us, more and more necessary than which there is nothing in the whole world.

Archpriest Valentin Amfiteatrov (1836-1908).

By accepting the Mysteries of Christ, we carry Christ within ourselves. We become like a man who carries a cup filled to the brim with wine or water: if he is not careful, he may spill some of the liquid, and if he stumbles and falls, he will lose everything that was in the cup. Having communed the Mysteries of Christ, we must be aware of what and whom we carry within ourselves. And from the moment of Communion without a pause, without a break, our preparation for the next Communion should begin. And we should not think that if we have received Communion today, then we can prepare for the next Eucharist a day or three days before it, and the rest of the time we can live as if Christ is not present in us.

Bishop Hilarion (Alfeev) (XX-XXI centuries).

Fruit Holy Communion act if we do not offend the shrine. If we offend her, then on the same day of communion she ceases to act. And we offend the shrine with what? Sight, hearing and other senses; verbosity and condemnation. Therefore, on the day of communion, one must primarily preserve one's eyesight and be silent more, keep one's mouth shut.

Rev. Alexy Zosimovsky (1844-1928).

Often after fervent prayer demons attack us great strength as if wanting revenge on us. Moreover, even after Communion, they try with the greatest bitterness to instill in us impure thoughts and desires, in order to avenge us for our resistance and victory over them, and in order to reduce faith in us, trying, as it were, to prove that we do not have no benefit from Holy Communion, and vice versa, even worse is the struggle. But one should not be discouraged by this, understanding the deceit of the enemy to defeat him by faith and perseverance in the fight against him.

Holy martyr. Seraphim (Zvezdinsky), bishop. Dmitrovsky (1883ca. 1937).

There is an old expression: everyone good deed or precedes or follows temptation. And such good deeds as prayer from the heart, and especially communion, cannot remain without the revenge of the devil. He uses all his strength to prevent him from praying properly and from taking communion. And if he could not do this, then he tries to play dirty tricks so that there is no trace left of the benefits received. This is very well known to everyone involved in the spiritual life. That is why it is necessary, with humility and contrition of heart, if possible, to ask the Lord to protect from the wiles of the enemy, acting either directly on the soul, or through people subject to him.

Hegumen Nikon (Vorobiev) (1894-1963).

Always remember that after mass and communion you must always dine slowly and in moderation. The same is true for the night.

Having taken into yourself the pure Flesh and Blood of the Lord, do not rush later, having come home, with greed for the flesh of an animal; observe extreme moderation in the use of it do not indulge in a long sleep during the day. All this contributes to the hardening of the heart, which is extremely necessary to keep in the holy tenderness and sensitivity that we receive after a worthy acceptance of the most pure Mysteries.

St. righteous John Kronstadt (1829-1908).

When a person gorges on fatty foods or overeats altogether after communion, he can immediately observe himself how that light, subtle, spiritual perishes in him, which he clearly felt only before that.

It has been noted that if a communicant goes to bed shortly after communion (especially after a hearty meal), then, upon waking up, he no longer feels grace. The holiday seemed to be over for him. And this is understandable: devotion to sleep testifies to inattention to the heavenly Guest, the Lord and Master of the world; and grace departs from the negligent participant in the Royal Supper. It is better to spend this time in reading, thinking, even an attentive walk. So I had to observe this among the monks. And in the world you can visit the sick, do good to someone or enjoy pious fellowship with brothers or go to the cemetery to the departed.

Metropolitan Veniamin (Fedchenkov) (1880-1961).

After death, we will be severely tortured if we do not keep the grace of the Holy Spirit. If it happens on the day of communion that you get irritated, upset, condemn someone, then we will try to clean this stain in the soul with repentance. This day is best spent in silence and prayer or in reading Holy Scripture and the teachings of the holy fathers, because the soul at this time is especially receptive to the good and the wondrous gospel words will sink into the depths of the heart.

Schiegumen Savva of Pskov-Pechersk (1898-1980).

In order for us to save ourselves more faithfully after confession from repeating sins, let us try, especially at first, while we are still not morally strong, to avoid meeting with sin: to move away from those persons and those places that can give us a reason to fall.

Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov) (b. 1919).

Question:

How should one behave during the day after communion?

Zubkov

Answers the priest Afanasy Gumerov, a resident of the Sretensky Monastery:

A person after communion must keep the shrine. It is wise to keep your mouth shut and avoid idle talk. One must move away from everything vain, passionate and generally spiritually unprofitable. You need to be especially attentive to yourself, because on such a day the enemy tries to lead a person into temptation. If communion was on a weekday, then you must fulfill your duties. Nothing prevents work.

The opinion that on the day of Communion one cannot kiss icons and the hand of priests is not based on anything. Neither the Holy Fathers, nor liturgical books. It is better to abstain from prostrations until the evening, because the person has accepted the greatest shrine- Body and Blood of the Lord. But if during the prayer everyone fell on their knees, then you can do it without embarrassment. The most important thing is to be in a joyful mood and thank God!

Ludmila M
Orthodox Christian

How to behave after the sacrament - superstition or not.

• Father, I am very worried about this kind of question - how to behave correctly after communion. With refraining from condemnation, etc. ... and not spitting, everything is clear. dishes from which you eat on the day after communion (wash only separately and pour water after washing somewhere so that they don’t stomp on it, but you can’t go into the sewer, and the clothes in which you took communion are also touched - wash separately from the other and do the same with water) if you start eating something, then eat it to the end and not let another person do it. .Cut nails, etc. Grace will go away. They explain this by the fact that after Communion everything is consecrated in a person and on him (this is about clothes). And all objects that especially fall into a person’s mouth (this is about food and utensils) are consecrated on this day .How much is true if n Ravda just do. If possible in more detail.
• And another question of this kind. Mom constantly insists that hair, nails and fleece, bandages and, excuse me, pads with blood in no case should be thrown away - only burned - a big sin. What for me, the more I'm interested Orthodox customs, are no longer understandable and more like a pagan ritual in order to save yourself, your beloved, from damage and the evil eye. the bird will take it to the nest, then the head will hurt. So don’t throw away the nails and blood in the trash, but burn it. Understanding perfectly well that the priests are also people, I asked another priest what the answer was, according to your faith. If you are afraid of whom with God? From which she concluded that paganism and belief in this is a sin. She said this to her mother, to which she received an angry admonition and a demand to obey the instructions of the first priest, since you constantly confess to him and look for instructions of this kind in the writings of the Holy Fathers. Now it sharpens the worm of doubt to confess the sin of superstition, or something that violated his decree (father) to the same priest and a kind of condemnation of him in superstition. All this can somehow be substantiated or refuted. more.

Priest Dionysius

1. There are more "after-communion" superstitions than you think. some "particularly pious" even drink their own "sanctified" urine so that "grace does not disappear." Of course, this is complete nonsense! None of what you listed is either a canonical requirement or church tradition has nothing to do with learning Orthodox Church. Wash, wash, wash, etc.
2. I've tried to imagine women who constantly burn gaskets ... Some kind of horror ... Complete superstition! And what did the ancients have to do, they didn’t have pads and, excuse me, it flowed down their legs ...? About hair - also superstition. Well, how can a bird that has blown its hair into its nest affect the head, which will start to hurt? Where are the laws of physics and banal logic?__________________
Truth is in God, and God is Love!

Ludmila M
Orthodox Christian

So here I am about the same thing, father (this is about the second answer)!But here’s how to explain this to a mother (she goes to church every Sunday, often takes communion, unlike me, my husband is completely far from faith in God) ... or just leave her alone and not tell her about her knowledge and opinion on about such questions, and don’t respond to her remarks at all or nod your head in agreement, but act according to your knowledge. She just read all sorts of things like the prophecies of a youth, either Vyacheslav or Benjamin, I don’t remember. And it says that by the end of the existence of the world, demons will be denounced into pieces of flesh, blood, etc. people (thrown away) and live among people (as if they were not among us all the time), so to speak, in the flesh ... Well, it’s just a Hollywood horror movie, not a book. Maybe, of course, this boy is holy in the face of the Lord, but the world in the family, these publications are not added, as well as the books of Nilus, too. As in my opinion, many of them are touching and useful for a beginner, but the majority simply breathes hoaxes and folk beliefs far from orthodoxy.
Forgive me a sinner if I’m writing something wrong and correct me, father. Only my innate quality of character is to know and be able to maximize in my professional activities, study, etc. and regarding faith in God too. worker ... Christian when I can not answer the questions asked of me and not mislead a person, especially when it comes to the salvation of his soul.
If it’s not difficult, answer a couple more questions in this thread. I haven’t figured out how to create new ones yet:
- Why can’t you stroke children’s heads (I ask because I heard it from the priests) like any other person. Just put your hand on the head, like the father does with blessing. Or this is again from the realm of fantasy.
- about corporal punishment child. Why is it strictly forbidden to slap on the fifth point with the palm of your hand, but with a belt or a lozina in this very place, please. Again, my mother heard this from the priest in confession when she complained about her grandson's disobedience. Perhaps specifically in my case, more information is needed to give advice. Only in our parish it is very difficult to ask the priest. He listens casually while continuing to do something and answers in the same way. recent times more or less regularly began to let me go to church. And with two little tomboys it’s hard to walk on my own, a spinal injury in childhood affects. a cowardly hare is afraid to sit down or become wrong, otherwise grace will leave or a bird will do something wrong ...
God save you! And I thank you in advance for your answer...

Is it possible to receive communion every Sunday if I am a sick person?

You can take communion every Sunday, but this issue must be resolved with the priest with whom you regularly confess, i.e. confessor. If he sees that this will be of spiritual benefit to you, then he will definitely bless you to take communion every week. It is not helpful to make such a decision on your own.

Deacon Sergius Pravdolyubov

Is it necessary to bow towards the altar after receiving the Holy Gifts?

You shouldn't do this. And here's why: bowing after communion towards the altar, past the pulpit, on which the priest stands with the Chalice, reflects a complete misunderstanding of one obvious fact. The one to whom, having received the Holy Gifts, wishes to express gratitude, i.e. Christ Himself remains at this time with His Most Pure Body and Precious Blood in the Eucharistic Chalice, which the communicants kiss precisely as a token of gratitude.

Priest Dimitry Turkin

How to accept Honest Gifts?

How to accept Honest Gifts? Chew and swallow before drinking or together? And in what order should I drink it first, and then prosphora, or vice versa?

First, they eat the Holy Gifts, and then a drink and prosphora.

Priest Nikolay Fateev

How to behave on the day of Communion?

Many books have been written on how to prepare for Communion, but how to behave on this day? There are many prejudices: you can’t wash on this day, you can’t eat fish so as not to spit out the bones, as well as berries with seeds? You can’t spit saliva, even if it’s sputum, and what if you spit? What if the baby burped that day? You can't kiss a communicant, and what if it's a baby you kiss 100 times a day?

Church rules prescribe to keep bodily purity on the day of communion, to occupy your mind with contemplation and prayer, and not entertainment. Regarding food, there are no recommendations, but there is a limit on the amount of food and the intake of wine, so that there is no nausea on this day. Therefore, abstinence until Communion, moderation in food, is especially necessary on this day. If the baby burped after communion, then it is necessary to collect it with a napkin and burn it. About baby kisses church rules are silent.

Priest Nikolay Fateev

How often can I take communion during Great Lent?

Fasting time encourages communion more often than usual. And here how much often you should take communion, if you cannot decide for yourself, ask the priest personally.

Priest Dimitry Turkin

Tell us about the rite of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Why did the ancient Church establish the rite of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and who can partake of it?

In the ancient Church, the service of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom or St. Basil the Great was associated with solemn public holidays. The weekly days of Great Lent are a time of repentance, not celebration, therefore a special liturgy is served on these days - the Presanctified Gifts. At this liturgy, the consecration of the Gifts is not performed, but the particles of the Holy Gifts consecrated at the liturgy on the previous Sunday are immersed in the Cup of wine. Therefore, only those who are able to receive a particle of the Holy Body can take communion at this liturgy, and those who usually partake only of the Holy Blood cannot; as a rule, these are infants under two years of age.

Priest Dimitry Turkin

What to do if not everything is clear in the prayers before Communion?

In preparation for the Sacrament of Communion, I feel awkward when reading some of the prayers. Sometimes I myself do not understand everything, and the reading of prayers is formal, because they do not come from my heart, which means they do not reach God. At confession, I confess to lack of concentration, absent-mindedness, and I think that I am not worthy to take part in Holy Communion, although I receive a blessing. It pains me to talk about this, but it turns out that I myself prevent myself from appreciating and accepting the significance of this Sacrament in myself. How can I solve this problem?

Communion, we must remember the GREAT mercy that the Lord gives us unworthy. The Lord gives us deliverance from feelings of guilt in the Sacrament of Confession. We must repent of our sins, repent sincerely and wholeheartedly. After confession, the Lord gives us great mercy to approach the Chalice. Try at your leisure to simply reread the prayers, using an interpretation or a dictionary, so that there are no incomprehensible places, take more time to read the prayers so that the mind does not disperse. I advise you to read the books of Mr. Anthony of Surozh about prayer, there you will find many valuable tips on how to pray attentively.

Priest Mikhail Mikhailov

How to prepare for communion inwardly?

Try to do everything that we have to do before communion, to do not only outwardly, but also inwardly. This is how preparation for communion will be inwardly. Trying to keep our prayers before communion attentive is not just reading the rule. Prepare carefully and with concentration for confession. And another one like this important point: we must consider that we are unworthy to go to communion and go at the same time. Both should be.

When we begin to think that “everything is possible for me, so I will go and take communion” - it means that we lose the fear of God. If we think that we are unworthy and do not go to communion, then we also do not fulfill this commandment. It is said: "Come with the fear of God and faith...". That is, with fear and faith, but proceed! So, we will proceed, but with the knowledge that we are unworthy.

St. rights. Alexei Mechev spoke about this: when you go to confession, consider that you are not worthy to be admitted. And there were many cases described by people close to him when people came to confession, seemingly pious, as if serious, and he did not allow them to take communion: here a man came, with a serious look, confessed and was not allowed, left in great sorrow . And here about. Alexei answered the bewilderment in the look of one of his close associates in such a way: you come up to take communion, do not think that you are worthy, you went and they let you in. Consider yourself unworthy. This is how we will do it, and this is the internal preparation for communion.

Priest Mikhail Nemnonov

Is it possible to kiss the hand of a priest and icons after communion?

Tell me, please, is it right after Communion, when you kiss the cross, not to kiss the priest's hand? What about icons? Save the Lord.

After receiving the Holy Mysteries, you immediately drink a drink and eat a piece of prosphora, so there are no more Holy Particles left in your mouth. After that, you can apply to the icons, and also, together with everyone, approach the kissing of the cross. Both those who have received communion and those who have not received communion at the Liturgy, when kissing the cross, according to custom, kiss the priest's hand.

Deacon Pavel Mironov

They say you can't christen after communion?

They also say that you can’t kiss three times after Communion, kiss children?

It is known that many people think that if they kiss someone after Communion, then "grace will leave" them. This is prejudice. First of all, a person who takes communion must protect himself from everything that is not useful for the soul, from vanity, from sin.

Deacon Pavel Mironov

How to understand in which church you can take Communion?

If you are on a journey or just far from home, how can you understand in which church you can start the sacraments of confession and communion, and in which not? In the churches of the Moscow Patriarchate, of course, you can, but in other Orthodox churches?

When a trip is made across Russia, then, upon entering the temple, if there are serious doubts, one can delicately ask whether this temple belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church or not, and then decide whether it is possible to take communion here. Being abroad, it will not always be convenient to ask such a question in the temple. Without convincing evidence that the temple belongs to the Orthodox Church, it will be difficult to figure it out on your own. Therefore, it is better to confess and take communion in a church, about which there is no doubt.

Priest Dimitry Turkin