We spoke previously about spiritual conditions necessary for receiving Holy Communion like having true faith, pure repentance, reconciliation with others, not approaching the Communion without preparedness, and the importance of feeling contrite and unworthy at the time of Communion. Holy Communion should be approached with the same eagerness as a patient seeking medicine to be cured of all illnesses. Hence, Holy Communion gives us the healing and immunity against all evil viruses of sin.
There are also some necessary physical preparation before receiving the Holy Communion, such as:
Control over all physical senses so that no obscure sins may enter the heart.
Cleanness of body and clothing; respectable clothes should be worn, as you are going to Church to meet the King of kings and Lord of lords.
The faithful must be fasting and eat light food on the eve of Communion.
Sexual relations between married couples should not take place either on the eve of Communion, as well as on the day of receiving the sacrament.
If a person is in a state of impurity, accompanied by a dream or otherwise, he must not approach Holy Communion as this is considered breaking the fast. St Severus Bin Moqufaa said, “Sexual impurity is fast breaking, and who breaks the fast cannot be forbidden from praying, or entry of the Church or attendance of the Mass (after a complete physical cleaning of course), but only forbidden from partaking of the Mysteries.”
Period of abstaining from food must be nine hours for adults, according to the number of hours of suffering of the Lord Christ during His Crucifixion, (from the Third Hour (9 am) until His sentence at the Twelfth Hour (6 pm)). For children, the period of abstinence is six hours, and the duration of the Mass (three hours), for weaning infants (three hours is also the usual time between feeds). If the child’s health is not the best, the priest can lessen the period of abstinence. A common mistake amongst some churches which distribute the general Korban (holy bread) early, is that some mothers feed their children from the Korban before going to receive Holy Communion. It is important therefore, for Churches to distribute the Korban after the Mass has finished only. In the past, some Churches would arrange for an ‘Agapi’ meal after the Mass, where the poor, together with guests and strangers, would sit together and share a meal in love. When churches no more had the ‘Agapi’ meal, the Korban was distributed in its stead.
Before Communion, it is important not to brush your teeth or gargle water, in case water may accidentally be swallowed. St. Severus Bin Moqafaa says, “Many gargle their mouth by water then partake in the Communion and this is wrong. The mystery of God’s words to His servant Moses about the Passover lamb, who was an example of the Body of Christ, was to be eaten with bitterness, meaning bitterness of the mouth.”
Women should not partake of the Holy Communion when they are menstruating.
After a woman gives birth, she is not to partake of the Holy Communion until after forty days, if she delivered a boy, and eighty days if she delivered a girl. Hence, the first time she receives Holy Communion, after child birth, is on the day of her child’s baptism after the priest prays for her the woman’s absolution.
It is not preferable for a person to walk barefoot, or for a man to shave, directly after Communion. This is to avoid any wound occurring which may bleed. If, however, bleeding does occur unintentionally, the blood must be wiped with a piece of cloth or cotton, then burned in fire.
If anyone comes to church late, that is, after the Bible reading, they have no right in partaking of the Holy Communion. The Bible reading and the Prayer of the Mass are performed before Holy Communion in order to sanctify the soul and body, and provide spiritual and mental preparation for partaking of the Holy Communion.
After receiving the Holy Communion, it is important for each person to read the ‘Prayer After Holy Communion’, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the wonderful grace received.
It is advisable that the remainder of the day be spent relaxing, rather than mingling with others. Reading spiritual books and spending the day in peace is a great way to feel the existence of God inside you, after having received the Holy Communion.
I have already written three books concerning the Rites of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and the Divine Mass, and therefore I will not expand on this further. I hope, dear reader, you may be able to read these three books :
Spirituality of the Rite of the Holy Liturgy in the Coptic Orthodox Church
How to benefit from the Holy Liturgy
Study and Contemplation on the three Masses
The books include all the Rites of the Liturgy, specifying what concerns the priest, the deacons, and the congregation.
May God help us to be ready and worthy always to partake in the Divine Mysteries, so that we may abide in Christ, and He may abide in us, so that we may be granted the gift of Eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Due to its importance, I would like to mention here the Rite of Sanctification of the Chalice, as mentioned in the Liturgy books.
RITE OF SANCTIFICATION OF THE CHALICE
If the Chalice is accidentally exposed to substances other than wine, such as vinegar or oil, it must be emptied and the chalice properly cleaned, after covering the bread that has been chosen to be the Body and placing it on the right side of the altar. A priest or deacon stands near the Body to watch over it, with a lit candle in his hand.
The ministering priest wraps his hand with a linen veil in which he receives the decanter of wine after testing it well. The priest holds the decanter in his left hand and makes the sign of the cross over it three times, before pouring it into the Chalice and mixing it with about a third water (two thirds wine, and one third water). The deacon then follows with the deacon’s response.
The priest says the Thanksgiving Prayer, then covers the Chalice with the Prospharine, raises the incense after placing five spoonfuls of incense, and says the first Pauline Mystery: “O God the great, and the eternal....”. He offers incense in the censor, without proceeding around the altar, or descending from the sanctuary.
The congregation sings the hymn “Censer of Pure Gold”, as well as any other hymn according to the season or rite. A deacon reads the Pauline Epistle to the Corinthians, which speaks about the Holy Communion being the Holy Body and Blood of the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:23-27).
The hymn of “Holy God” is sung before the Prayer of the Gospel. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cups runs over” (Psalm 22:5), followed by the Gospel according to St Matthew (26:26-29), which speaks about the institution of the Holy Communion.
The priest says the Litanies of Peace, the Fathers and the congregations, then the Apostolic Creed.
The priest then says the Prayer of Reconciliation: “O God, and lover of mankind, purify us from all blemish, all guilt, all hypocrisy all malice and the remembrance of evil entailing death. Make us all worthy to greet one another with a holy kiss, to become one body and one spirit by the bond of perfect love and peace which is Your only Begotten Son, our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Through whom is all glory, and honor ...”
The deacon responds, “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” During the congregational response, the priest lifts the Prospharine.
During the Consecration of the wine, the priest says, “Likewise also the cup after supper He mixed it of wine and water, and, He gave thanks, Amen. He blessed it, Amen. And He sanctified it, Amen.”
The priest continues: “He tasted, and gave it also to His own holy Disciples and saintly Apostles saying: “Take, drink of it all of you. For this is My Blood of the new Covenant which shall be shed for you and for many, to be given for the remission of sins. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
The priest then prays on the Chalice, saying the following fractions:
“O Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son, the Logos of God the Father, who was incarnated for us without alteration, by His own will, who suffered in Body, while as a God was not suffering. Who gave us the spring of life from His pure side, we ask and entreat Your goodness O Lover of Mankind, for this mixture which is in this Cup, may You bless it, sanctify it, and manifest it as the Holy Blood of Your Holy living Body.”
“That which preceded and was sanctified and perfected to become One with it, for every one to partake and be pure in soul and body and spirit, to be worthy of the remission of sins.”
“Glory be to Your holy name, with Your good Father, and the living Holy Spirit. Make us all worthy to dare, without fear, O God the Pantocrator who is in heaven to say: ‘Our Father who art in heaven.’”
Then the priest takes the paten which holds the holy Body, and places it on the altar after having carefully lifted the veil which covered the holy Body, and says the Submission Prayers: “Yes we ask You, O good Father ... The grace of the beneficence of Your only begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ are now fulfilled.”
Followed by the Absolution: “O Master, Lord God the Pantocrator, healer of our souls, our bodies and spirits...”
The priest then says the introductions of the Three Litanies:
“Remember O Lord, the peace of Your one, holy, universal, and Apostolic Church...”
· “Remember O Lord, our Patriarch, the honored father, Pope ... , and his brother(s) in the apostolic ministry ...”
“Remember O Lord, our congregations, bless them.”
The deacon says, “Saved, Amen. And with your spirit. In the fear of God, let us attend. Amen.”
The congregation responds, “Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.”
The priest lifts the “Spadikon” (central part of the holy Body) and makes the sign of the cross with it on the blood, then places it in the Chalice, saying, “The holies are for the holy people. Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
The congregation responds, “One is the Holy Father, One is the Holy Son, One is the Holy Spirit, Amen.”
The priest lifts the Chalice in his hands and says the Confession.
He then kneels before the altar and prays silently, “That every glory, honor, and worship all the time is due to the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ... now and at all times...”. The congregation then sings Psalm 150, “Praise the Lord”, which is the Communion Psalm.
The priest then distributes the Holy Mysteries, which are the living Body and precious Blood of the Lord.
The Bishop is responsible for ensuring that the priests distribute the Holy Communion according the holy Church canons, and penalize those who are negligent.
NOTES:
Rite of Sanctification of the Chalice is done, only if at the end of the Mass it was noticed that the precious Blood had seeped from the Chalice, due to a fracture of the Chalice (if it was made of glass or similar), or if accidentally, what was placed in the Chalice was not wine but some other substance. If, however, either of these cases were discovered before transubstantiation, then it is possible to change the Chalice (in case of a fracture), or pour the contents of the Chalice which is not wine, into a container, then wash and wipe the Chalice thoroughly, before continuing with the Holy Mass, without the need for performing the Rite of Sanctification of the Chalice.
