Communion
Communion
Communion
It is an act of
(6) If a subdeacon or acolyte is present, cross your Christian love to bring a piece of this holy bread to
Holy
arms over your chest, and allow the subdeacon to faithful Orthodox who cannot attend the Liturgy due
hold the cloth under your chin. Do not take hold of to sickness. In all cases, the holy andidoron should
the cloth: three sets of hands around the chalice (the be treated with care, and if it is not consumed, all
priest’s, the subdeacon’s, and yours) present more crumbs should be placed outside, in low-traffic
risk of accidents. Instead, allow the subdeacon to areas, for the birds to consume.
wipe your lips.
(7) Many parishes have the practice of the faithful
kissing the chalice following Communion; try to
Many parishes read the Prayers of Thanksgiving
after Communion; if this is not done at the parish,
one should do it alone, either quietly in the church,
Communion
follow local practice. or immediately after arriving home. Following
(8) One should not kiss the priest’s hand after Holy Communion, one should be careful to avoid
receiving the Holy Mysteries (whenever you do kiss spitting, chewing gum, having dental work done, or
the hand of a priest, the kiss should be short, with any activity which might cause the Holy Mysteries
closed lips (not a “smooch”, as one priest described to be spilled out of the mouth; this includes being
it). This is a show of reverence for the hand that careful to avoid throwing up (if one is nauseous to
touches the Holy Mysteries, not as a show of respect the point of possibly vomiting, one should avoid
for the seniority of the priest. Other than after Communion that day in any case).
Communion, one should always kiss the hand of the If the Holy Mysteries are for any reason dropped
priest, regardless of whether you like the priest or from the mouth, they should be carefully and
not, whether he is an elder or a newly ordained entirely contained in a cloth, dried, and given to the
young priest. priest for pious and careful disposal according to the
You’ll notice that priests normally and properly canons of the Church.
kiss each other’s hand upon meeting, out of
reverence for Christ’s Body and Blood, which they The Holy Mysteries of Communion are the great
hold at Liturgy. Medicine of the Lord’s Body and Blood, given by
Christ to us for our healing, help, and salvation.