Holy Sacraments
Holy Communion — Preparation and Rules
How to prepare for Holy Communion: fasting, Confession, the morning prayers and what one must not do afterward.
6 min read
What Communion Is
Holy Communion (the Eucharist, from Gr. eucharistia — thanksgiving) is the most sacred Mystery of Christianity. Through it the faithful receive the true Body and the true Blood of Jesus Christ under the form of bread and wine. This is not symbolism nor metaphor — Orthodox theology teaches that the bread and wine at the Liturgy are truly transformed into the Body and Blood of the Lord, by the mystery of the Holy Spirit.
At the Last Supper Christ said: “This is my body… this is my blood…” and commanded: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Lk 22:19-20). Every Orthodox Liturgy is a renewal of that same Last Supper — in it the Church encounters the living Christ.
Communion is the summit and purpose of the liturgical life. Everything else — prayers, fasts, Confession — is preparation for this encounter.
Who May Receive Communion
Communion is not for everyone — it is for baptized Orthodox Christians who have confessed and fulfilled the conditions of preparation.
Conditions for Communion:
- To be baptized in the Orthodox Church
- To have confessed (those older than seven) — without Confession there is no Communion
- To be reconciled with all your neighbors — Communion is not possible while you are in conscious enmity or discord with anyone
- To have fulfilled the fast and the morning prayers (see below)
Who may not receive Communion:
- The unbaptized
- Those under an epitemia that forbids Communion (by the priest’s direction)
- Those who deliberately did not confess more serious sins at Confession
- The excommunicated
Christians of the Roman Catholic or Protestant churches cannot receive Orthodox Communion, nor may the Orthodox receive Communion in those churches.
The Fast Before Communion
The fast is a spiritual preparation that at once disciplines the body and sharpens the spirit.
The fast from food: Three days before Communion, the faithful fast from meat, dairy and eggs (and in the stricter fast, from fish as well). The night before Communion — an absolute fast from midnight, without food or water. On the morning of Communion you drink nothing, not even water.
The bodily fast: A married couple abstains from marital relations the night before Communion.
The spiritual fast: You avoid television, loud music, quarrels and fruitless conversations. You pray more. You read the Holy Scriptures or spiritual literature. This is not a rigid rule but a recommendation of the spirit — the preparation is a preparation of the mind and heart, not only of the stomach.
If you are ill and cannot fast from food, speak with the priest. The Church is merciful toward the sick — the spiritual preparation is more important than the absolute of the fast.
The Morning Before Communion
The morning of Communion has a specific rhythm that should be observed.
Prayers: Before the Liturgy, you should read the Rule for Holy Communion (the Canon of St John Chrysostom, an akathist, three canons, prayers). This rule is found in all prayer books under “The Rule of Preparation for Holy Communion.” If this is your first time, the priest or the prayer book will guide you.
The Liturgy: Come to the Liturgy from the beginning — do not enter in the middle of the Liturgy and do not leave before Communion. Communion is at the end of the Liturgy, after the Creed and the Eucharistic Canon. When the priest brings out the chalice and calls the faithful, you approach humbly, with your arms crossed over your chest (right over left), with your name in mind.
Approaching: The priest or deacon holds the chalice and gives Holy Communion with a spoon. You open your mouth, receive Communion, swallow, and kiss the base of the chalice. Then you go to the table where you are given a warm drink (warm water or wine) and antidoron (blessed bread) so that you do not accidentally spit out the Body of Christ.
After Communion
After Communion there are spiritual rules that should be observed.
Prayer of thanksgiving: In the prayer book are the prayers after Communion — you should read them that day. If you do not have time for them in church, read them at home.
That day:
- Do not spit without need
- Do not eat immediately — wait at least an hour or two, and partake with humility
- Avoid quarrels and harsh conversations
- Do not make prostrations to the ground (metanias) that day — Christ is within you, and the body that has received the Holy Mystery is treated with special reverence
- Do not go bathing (to the baths) that day
These rules are not magical — their purpose is to prolong the spiritual focus and not to break the state you have attained.
If you accidentally spit out or spill: Wipe and gather it up at once — inform the priest. Do not panic, but do not treat it as a trivial matter either.
Communion is an encounter with Christ. That encounter does not end with leaving the church — it is carried throughout the whole day, in every conversation and every act.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I receive Communion? ›
There is no strict canonical rule about frequency, but the tradition of the Serbian Orthodox Church recommends Communion at least four times a year — at the end of each of the great fasts (Pascha, the Apostles' Fast, the Dormition, the Nativity). Many contemporary spiritual fathers encourage more frequent Communion — once a month or every Sunday — with appropriate preparation. Arrange with your spiritual father what is right for you.
May I eat before Communion? ›
No. Before Communion, fasting and abstaining from food and drink from midnight are obligatory. On the morning before Communion you drink no water, eat nothing at all. You take medicine with water only if it is a medical necessity — in that case consult the priest. The fast from food is combined with abstaining from meat, dairy and eggs several days before, and with abstinence from marital relations that night.
May children receive Communion without Confession? ›
Yes. Children younger than seven years old commune without Confession — the priest gives them Communion directly, without prior examination. From the age of seven, the child goes to Confession before Communion, but the priest adapts the conversation to the child's age. Infants and small children receive only the Holy Blood (wine), since they are nourished by milk — the priest gives them a drop from the spoon.
May one photograph during Communion? ›
No. Photographing during Communion and during the Liturgy in general is inappropriate, and many churches expressly forbid it. Holy Communion is the most sacred moment of the Liturgy — the faithful approach with humility and attention, not with a phone in hand. If you wish to keep a memory of a child's Communion, do so before or after the rite, outside the moment of Communion itself.
May someone help an elderly or sick person approach Communion? ›
Absolutely. The elderly, the sick or the immobile have a right to Communion — the priest brings it to them at home or in the hospital if they cannot come to church. In the church, a close relative may help the person approach the chalice and stand beside them. The priest is always ready to commune the one who cannot approach alone — simply inform him beforehand.