How does communion work after a child’s baptism?

Author Olga Gumanova

05/28/2010 13:07 (Updated: 07/20/2021 17:41)

Religion » Religions of Russia » Orthodoxy

Every holiday, Sunday, and sometimes weekday in any Orthodox church you can see a long line of mothers and grandmothers, less often fathers with children in their arms, going to the Holy Chalice. Having baptized their child, they all heard the advice: “Now bring him communion.” But how to do this, when and why? Higumen Theognost (Pushkov), candidate of theology, cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, spoke about this.

The Eucharist is the Sacrifice and Table of Christ that He offers to us. At this Meal, He gives Himself to us as food, so that we live and exist by Him, in the Light of His Presence. Without participation in the Eucharist, life in the Church is unthinkable; without the Eucharist there is no Church.

But if a meal is an expression of the love of the one who serves it, then participation in the meal without reciprocal love is criminal. It is impossible to “drive” Christ to the table. Man himself must thirst and hunger for this Heavenly Food. This, by the way, is the answer to the question: “How many times a month should I take communion?” And as much as you want, as long as this “wanting” is an expression of the whole being, all the ardent love. When there is such a desire, then the question does not arise, since the thirst for communion with God knows no satiety. If we are fed up, it means we have stopped loving. It is criminal to approach the Eucharist without this inner feeling of love and thirst for meeting God.

If this is the condition for participation in the Table of Christ, then what about the Communion of children?

First Communion after Baptism

It is recommended to baptize and give communion to children from the moment of birth. The sooner the soul opens to the Lord, the easier and more successful life will be. The soul of a child, protected by angels, will not be involved in sinful acts.

The first communion after baptism is a whole event not only for the child, but also for his spiritual parents. During the sacrament, his soul will first open to heavenly powers. What do parents need to know about the timing of communion? It goes away after the child has been baptized. If the baby is still too young, many parents prefer to neglect the sacrament of communion or postpone it to a later date. The Orthodox Church does not approve of such behavior.

According to the rules established by the clergy, the communion of infants after baptism is carried out on the second day. Postponing it to a later date is highly not recommended.

The process of performing the sacrament

How is communion administered in church after a child's baptism? Parishioners line up. Babies should be held by their parents. Adult children stand on their own. They need to fold their arms crosswise across their chest. In this case, the right hand should be at the top.

During the sacrament, a divine service takes place. During prayer requests, the clergy bring a Chalice with sacred wine and special consecrated bread to the middle of the temple. They symbolize the blood and flesh of Jesus Christ, who took upon himself all human sins. A special service is held over the Chalice, during which divine grace descends on those praying.

Believers take turns approaching the clergyman and asking for his blessing. When approaching the priest, you should name the Christian name given at baptism. After the clergyman completes the blessing ceremony, you must approach the sacred Chalice, drink wine and eat bread. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that there are no drops or crumbs. Children should be taught that divine gifts should be eaten completely. If a child spills wine, you should tell the priest about it.

After the communion after baptism is completed, the child is brought to a table with prosphoras and given to him to eat one of them. You can also wash down the gifts of the sacrament there. After this, you can take the child to the icons and show how to pray.

How to confess correctly, examples of confession

Example No. 1. In populous cities, numerous parishes gather in temples and churches. Up to several dozen people come to confession. For such cases, Orthodoxy provides for “general confessions.” Usually there are a lot of people during Lent, when suddenly everyone remembers their sins. The priest announces the sins committed by people, and the parishioners repent, saying - Sinful (sinful)! True, for permissive prayer you need to approach each Christian one by one. You need to cross your arms over your chest and say your baptized name. Then the stole is applied, and the layman is blessed in the name of the Lord. The only recommendation is that you should not use this method of cleansing on your first confession.

Example No. 2. Write down all transgressions and sins on paper. The sheet of paper with the list that is taken to confession is called a charter. It is allowed because, standing near the Gospel, the priest and the crucifix, a moment of embarrassment ensues. What you wanted to say, what you wanted to repent of, is instantly forgotten. Approach the priest and say: “I am a sinner before the Lord” and begin to read out the recorded sins. There is no need to talk in detail about the acts committed. If, for example, you took someone else’s thing, there is no need to describe where it was and who else was present. Enough of these words: I committed the sin of theft. But it is not advisable to list the entire list dryly. For example, you come up and begin to say: “I sinned by adultery, envy, foul language, and so on on the list.” This is also impossible, it’s better to say this: “I sinned, God, by cheating on my spouse” or “I judge my friend.” This must be done because the Holy Father, listening to your confession, will definitely advise you on how to overcome this or that passion. Together with him you will understand the reasons for this weakness. The confession should end with the words: “Lord! I repent to you. Have mercy on me and save my sinful soul!”

Church wedding in Russia

Example No. 3 . This example of a confession was compiled by the clergy of one of the monasteries:

Preparing a child for communion

How to prepare for your child's first communion? The sacrament requires adherence to strict rules in preparation. They are necessary for the complete purification of the human soul. However, it is difficult for children to comply with the necessary restrictions, so the rules for preparing for the sacrament are much weaker for them:

Feeding. If the person receiving communion is an infant, it is recommended to feed him no later than 2 hours before the start of the sacrament. Older children should not eat during the day before communion. In this case, you should begin preparing for the sacrament in advance. In order for the child’s body to calmly withstand forced fasting, it is necessary to prepare it in advance.
The first communion after the baptism of a child is the most important sacrament of Orthodoxy. During it, loud conversations, noise, and running are unacceptable. The child should be informed in advance about the basic rules of behavior.
During the sacrament, the child and the adult who is holding the communion baby in their arms must wear a pectoral cross.

What to do if a child refuses to take communion

Older children may refuse to go to communion. What should parents do in this case? It is necessary to find out the reasons for his behavior. Maybe the child is simply frightened by an unfamiliar environment. In this case, you can simply calmly tell him what the sacrament is.

It is recommended to prepare your child in advance. To do this, in a home environment, you need to introduce him to the basics of Orthodoxy. You can read a children's Bible or watch a Christian cartoon.

While in church, it is worth drawing the child’s attention to other children and setting them as an example. Seeing that other children are standing calmly and not showing signs of anxiety, the child will calm down.

You can come to the temple in advance and show your child where and how the communion will take place. Perhaps he will be interested in burning candles and icons. Explain their meaning to your child.

After the baby has made up his mind and went to communion, he must be praised and express his admiration for his action. Gradually, the baby will calmly accept the sacrament. Having celebrated the sacrament after the child’s baptism, he can be introduced to the priest. The priest will also praise and encourage the baby.

Why do you need to take communion?

Have you ever fallen in love with someone who is very far away? If yes, you understand well how strong in such a situation is the desire to be close to your loved one at all costs, to touch him, to talk not only through online messages, but, as they say, live. This is exactly how a soul that loves God longs to be with him not only in the future, in Heaven, but already now, in earthly life.

Some people believe that to live a righteous life, it is enough just to do good deeds and pray. But this is far from true. We must never forget that hundreds of evil spirits are invisibly swarming around, instilling in us completely unrighteous thoughts. And sometimes we even stop noticing that we are sinning, believing that we live “like everyone else.” Demons cling like burrs, and the further you go, the more of them there are. They push some to despondency and depression, they turn others away from God and the Church, and now the person stops thinking about his soul. It is very hard for such a soul, overgrown with demons, it groans and cries, and sometimes a person cannot even understand why he is so bitter, why family life is not going well and nothing makes him happy. And even good deeds and prayers help very little, because moral guidelines are blurred, because without God’s help it is not always possible to distinguish good from evil. Gradually, this state of affairs becomes familiar.

It is difficult to convey in words the feeling that a person experiences after receiving communion - perhaps the first in his life. There is suddenly peace in the soul, and the body seems so light, as if suddenly rejuvenated. I want to sing in unison with the choir and smile at everyone I meet. And then, after communion, he is not at all drawn to past carnal pleasures, but spiritual themes, on the contrary, attract more and more. God’s will begins to be felt in life - many events acquire patterns and meaning, and in what seemed just a series of troubles, spiritual benefit suddenly opens up.

Source of the article: https://xn--80aimjhlq4f.xn--p1ai/pravoslavnaya-zhizn/vo-skolko-prichastie.html

Adult Communion

Not everyone comes to Christ at a young age. Everyone has their own road to Orthodoxy. Increasingly, in churches you can see adults preparing to accept Christianity. Communion after the baptism of an adult is carried out in the same way as for children, on the second day after the sacrament.

However, more stringent requirements are imposed on adults during preparation:

Sacrament of repentance. First, a Christian must undergo the secret of confession. Only after the remission of sins is he allowed to partake of the Holy Mysteries. However, if the sacrament is celebrated after the baptism of an adult, the sacrament of confession is not necessary. His soul is completely cleansed of sins during baptism.
Observe strict fasting for 3 days. These days you should not eat meat or dairy products.
Behavior. In addition to cleansing the body, before communion it is necessary to cleanse the soul. It is best to spend the preparatory days in prayer. It is also worth discarding all bad and evil thoughts.

The sacrament of communion is necessary for the salvation of the soul of every Christian. During its celebration, Divine grace descends on the Orthodox. The first communion after baptism is especially important for a person. It is at this moment that his soul opens to the spiritual world. Compliance with the basic requirements in preparation for the sacrament will allow the human soul to open the way to the world of spiritual grace.

Source of the article: https://fb.ru/article/156758/prichastie-posle-krescheniya-smyisl-tainstva-pervoe-prichastie-posle-krescheniya

Confession before communion, why it is necessary

Christianity cannot exist without confession, because all people are not perfect, who among us is without sin. However, it is important that we understand how to properly confess before communion and why it is necessary.

Confession is a sacrament where a Christian repents of his sins before the Lord, in the face of a clergyman. And he forgives the believer in the name of the Savior. Confiding one's sins is not a forceful pulling of one's conscience out of darkness, not just curiosity, not a judgment on a sinned parishioner. Confession before communion is not a simple conversation about shortcomings and doubts. Moreover, it is not necessary to report to your confessor on the topic of sin or just custom.

Confession before communion is sincere repentance coming from the heart. Also the need for spiritual cleansing, death in sins and resurrection in holiness. Confession is the great Mystery of Jesus Christ’s love for his children. Why does a man wash away the dirt from his body? Just as a Christian cares about the purity of the flesh, so he must preserve spiritual purity with even greater zeal. After all, the body is perishable, but the soul is eternal.

Spiritual dirt is a sin that can only be “washed away” by confession before communion. Sins settle like soot on the soul; if they are not prayed away, they weigh down a person. The parishioner finds no peace and feels empty inside. Under the burden of sin, a person gets irritated for no reason, bears insults to his loved ones, losing inner confidence. He cannot understand what is happening himself, but it is a matter of unconfessed sins. Repentance restores purity to the soul, which has been denigrated by unseemly actions.

Confession before communion is God's mercy to a fallen person, weak in his faith. This is available to every believer seeking a way to save the soul from sins. Sincere repentance gives parishioners not only remission of sins, but also replenishes spiritual well-being: the worldview is renewed, lightness and goodness sets in, and unacceptable passions go away. The sacrament of confession returns to the purity received from Baptism.

General information about the sacrament of communion

The Sacrament of Communion among the Orthodox is called the Eucharist, which literally translates as “thanksgiving.” By performing it, believers gain grace, through unity with Christ, and become the owners of eternal life. The procedure involves believers eating the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ in the form of bread and wine. As a result, a miraculous unity of people with God occurs. Understanding the sacrament of Communion prevails over the human mind and has a deep spiritual meaning.

After the baptism of a child, parents and godparents are entrusted with enormous responsibility for his spiritual life, so they must make efforts to obligatorily offer the child the sacrament of Communion.

If it is not possible to bring the baby to the holy chalice with Communion on the day of christening, it is better to do this as soon as possible.

Most priests advise giving communion to children at every Sunday service. It is advisable to share the Eucharist with your child, because this is a great blessing bestowed by the Lord himself, as well as the first step towards an active spiritual life.

How do adults prepare for communion?

Preparation for the Eucharist should begin several days before it is celebrated. A person who intends to receive communion in a proper manner must first observe sincere repentance and humility, acquire a desire to improve and lead a pious lifestyle. To do this, you need to eat lean food, pray with great zeal, and attend evening worship on the eve of the day of Communion for confession.

In the process of preparing for the sacrament of Communion, it is important:

deeply aware of one's own sinfulness;
beware of manifestations of anger and condemnation;
suppress depraved thoughts and abusive speech;
avoid visiting entertainment venues;
devote time to reading spiritual literature;
in anticipation of giving up intimate relationships;
after midnight before the sacrament, do not eat, drink, or smoke.

Together with prayers, it is better to combine fasting, lasting from 1 to 3 days, which involves abstinence from indecent food: meat and dairy dishes, butter, eggs.

During strict fasting, you should not eat fish dishes and adhere to moderation in food and drink.

Confession

A strict condition for the implementation of Communion is Confession, performed the day before or in the morning before the Liturgy. Before confession, it is necessary to make peace with the offenders and the offended, and ask for forgiveness with humility and awareness. During the process of confession, one must sincerely repent of the sins and deeds committed.

Prayer

Preparation for communion is inevitably accompanied by fervent prayers and reading the penitential canon to our Lord Jesus Christ, the prayer canon to the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as the canon to the Guardian Angel, the canon to Holy Communion and the following to Holy Communion.

Fasting of an adult after christening

Retreat is a certain preparation for the Eucharist, consisting of reading certain prayers, fasting and repentance.

To speak correctly, you must follow the following rules:

Healthy people and non-pregnant women should eat in moderation and fast, which involves excluding meat and dairy products and eggs from the diet.
During fasting, read out the morning and evening prayer rules with attention and diligence.
Study spiritual literature that is valuable for preparing for repentance.
Refusal of entertainment and going to noisy places.
It is more correct to read the canon of repentance to the Lord Jesus Christ, the canons to the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel, and the Rule for Communion during these 3 days.
Reach agreement with the offended and offenders.
It is necessary to confess in church at an evening service - All-Night Vigil or at morning Confession.
Avoid eating and drinking after midnight and before the morning Liturgy.

Retreat is an integral part of the life of a Christian, necessarily preceding the sacrament of Communion.

List of sins

intemperance from all manifestations of evil
complaints about people and life
cheating on husband or wife
fear of people or circumstances
fear of professing Christianity to people
unjustified anger
concern
excessive talkativeness
pride
violence, assault
cruelty towards people
cruelty to animals
occultism
slander
refusal to participate in Christian sacraments
bitterness, embitterment
blasphemy
not forgiving your offenders
self-interest
corrupt practices
misrepresentation
boasting
make a child sin
deception of children,
despising children is the same as despising God (Luke 10:16)
child abuse
abandonment of an unborn child
condemnation
putting worldly concerns above God
refusal of help
not humility before God's punishment
disobedience to God's commandments
lack of compassion
constant complaints
contempt
not be satisfied with what you have
insincerity
don't be meek and quiet
participation in discord, quarrels
unwillingness to change in accordance with the commandments
stubbornness
turning to false advice (not from God)
coarseness
insatiable desire for worldly gain
envy
cunning
despair
doubts about the power of God
aggression towards rich/poor
aggression towards men/women
non-repayment of debts
deception
fraud
perjury
give in to temptations
despondency
despair
drunkenness
injustice
hostility
desire for evil
rancor
intemperance from all manifestations of evil
vindictiveness
extortion
lack of faith
flattery for profit
greed
not loving God with all your heart, soul and mind
desire for God in words, but not in heart
trust in man, not in God
trust in wealth, not in God
separating yourself from God
not being grateful to God in all circumstances
indulgence
see your own self-interest rather than Christ's
disrespect for parents
humiliation of oneself or others
causing mental and physical pain
hypocrisy
irresponsibility
jealousy
justification of the wicked
theft
killing animals
lack of love
touchiness
abuse
bias
don't pray in the name of Jesus
selfishness
deliberate failure to do good deeds
harmfulness
betrayal

How to correctly place candles in church sequence

How is the ceremony carried out in the church?

The Sacrament of Communion is celebrated every Sunday in all churches. And in places of service of more than one priest - every day, except for special days of the Church Charter. The ritual takes place after the Liturgy, held in the morning. At the end of the singing of the Lord's Prayer and the closing of the Royal Doors, a line forms at the altar. Children and parents with babies are allowed forward - they receive communion first.

When celebrating the Eucharist, some simple rules should be followed:

When the priest takes out the chalice and after reading 2 prayers, you should cross yourself, cross your arms to your shoulders so that the right hand is on the left shoulder and the left hand is on the right, approach and take communion without lowering your hands.
You shouldn’t cross yourself near the bowl so as not to accidentally touch it.
At the moment of the ceremony, you must say your own name in Baptism, open your mouth wide for the priest to insert a spoon with the Body and Blood, after which you should swallow them, kiss the cup, step away and cross yourself.
Next, you should go to the table with a “drink” to wash down and eat a piece of prosphora with the Communion to avoid ejection.
You should not leave the temple before the end of the service in order to listen to the prayers of thanksgiving or read them at home.

On the day of the sacrament, you should refrain from entertainment, behave piously, devote the rest of the day to pleasant communication with loved ones, reading spiritual literature, and quiet walks.

Orthodox Life

How to spend the day after the Sacrament of Communion? Can anyone take communion and how should one take communion during Lent? The rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy, Bishop Sylvester (Stoichev), tells in detail.

– Vladyka, is Communion a gift or a medicine?

– Communion is both the greatest gift and, naturally, medicine, because, as it is said in the prayers, “for the healing of soul and body.” The works of the holy fathers often say that Communion is a medicine that is given to us so that we have grace-filled strength for life in Christ. Many Byzantine authors consider Holy Communion within the framework of the scheme: Baptism-Confirmation-Communion, where Baptism is adoption in Christ, new birth in Him; Confirmation is the receipt of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Eucharist is the strengthening of a renewed person. This is how, for example, St. Nicholas Kavasila thinks, although, of course, one must understand that the Eucharist is the “formative” Sacrament of the Church. One of the famous religious Russian philosophers, Alexei Khomyakov, even once said that the Church is walls erected around the Eucharistic chalice. Christians gather together in worship to pray together.

– When and for whom was the Sacrament of Communion established?

– The Sacrament of Communion was established by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself during the Last Supper, the participants of which, according to the Gospel text, were the apostles. The Eucharist is intended for all Christians for all times: “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Based on the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, we can say that already in those days there were recommendations for the correct approach to this Sacrament: “Let a person examine himself, and in this way let him eat from this bread and drink from this cup. For whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation for himself, without considering the Body of the Lord. Because of this, many of you are weak and sick, and many are dying” (1 Cor. 11:30).

– How often can you receive communion?

- Complex issue. It must be said that for a long time there was such a practice that one must take communion 4 times a year - every fast. We will not go into details of the historical factors that led to the emergence of such a practice, one thing is obvious: church life involves more frequent participation in the Sacraments.

In the 20th-21st centuries, a certain Eucharistic revival took place in our Church, and in most parishes the clergy say that we need to receive communion often: every Sunday or, as St. Seraphim of Sarov, every twelfth holiday.

– But doesn’t frequent communion cause a danger of cooling towards the sacred?

– It depends on the person, the confessor, the parish. Everything is very individual. The life of an Orthodox Christian is impossible without constant communion. I am glad that most of our parishioners receive communion often. In some Orthodox Churches this is not observed, for example, in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, where parishioners rarely receive communion. A friend of mine from Bulgaria told me that she visits a church in which the priest recommends frequent communion, but he adopted this practice from familiar priests of the Russian Church. But such a parish is the only one in their diocese.

– Can anyone take communion?

- No one can say with boldness that he is worthy of the Sacrament of Communion. Everyone must understand that they have obstacles.

– What are serious obstacles?

- Deadly sins. We are all sinners: we get irritated, offended, and fuss every day, but this is not a radical obstacle to Communion. If a person commits serious sins: murder, fornication, then he cannot be allowed to the Chalice without going through a certain course, which will be assigned to him by his confessor in the form of penance. According to the tradition of clergy, the priest decides whether to bless the approach to Communion or not. Our confessors know all the intricacies of our soul. We must follow their advice.

– How should and can one receive communion during Lent?

– Considering that Lent is a special time for repentance, one must take communion every week, unless there are serious obstacles.

– How should you spend the day after the Sacrament of Communion? They say that you cannot bow. Is it possible to kiss a priest’s hand or an icon after Communion?

– There are many myths associated with this. I even heard that you shouldn’t take a shower (smiles). There is, of course, no logic in such statements. The time after Communion should be spent in chastity, silence, and reading spiritual literature. The Lord's Day must be dedicated to Him. Everyone has daily worries, but try to deal with things in advance or spend a minimum of time on them on the day of Communion. Communion is a day of joy, spiritual celebration, and it should not be exchanged for fussy everyday affairs.

As for the practice of not kissing a hand or an icon. After Communion, the Blood of Christ may remain on the lips. The priest who administers communion, or the deacons holding the plate, monitor this, but anything can happen. Until you have taken a drink, it is customary not to kiss either the cross, or the hand, or the icon, so that there is no temptation. There are no other purely practical recommendations. On Sunday, bowing to the ground is not required by the charter.

– What would you advise a person before First Communion?

– Much depends on a person’s initial preparation: one attends Church for six months and only then approaches the Chalice, another does not go to church, but decides to take communion on Maundy Thursday, because that’s the custom. You need to consult with the priest who confesses you. As a rule, beginners need a detailed confession, during which the depth of their intentions and the degree of churching are established. The priest must also explain how to fold his hands and how to approach the Chalice. The prayerful mood is very important: some are accustomed to performing morning and evening prayers and will not find it a burden to read 3 canons and the canon, and prayers for Communion, others can only say the “Our Father” once a year. Such people should divide the prayer rule over several days so that they do not lose the desire to pray. It is customary to fast for several days before Communion. Communion must be received with reverence. If a person does not have reverence at the moment, then it is better to explain to him that Communion should be postponed, so that there is no sin either on this person or on the priest, who, seeing such a state, nevertheless gave his blessing to approach Communion.

Interviewed by Natalya Goroshkova

Preparing a child for communion

Approaches to organizing a child’s communion depend on age characteristics. The only requirement for everyone is the absence of loud conversations, shouting, noise and running around in the house of God. The Sacrament of Communion is available only to baptized parents and children who must wear a cross.

Infants

The first communion of a child after Baptism has no fundamental differences from subsequent ones. Adults must adapt to his own needs, the schedule and the requirements of the church, and maintain complacency and a positive attitude while attending the Liturgy. It is customary to bring babies to Communion itself. On weekdays it begins approximately 50 minutes or an hour from the start of the service, and on holidays a little later. It is more convenient to perform the ritual not during the holidays, when it is not too crowded.

No special preparation is required to participate in the Eucharist. It is necessary to deliver the child to the temple, provide him with maximum comfort: dress him in case of freezing or, on the contrary, undress him if it is hot, hold him in his arms, and do not let him cry. It is recommended to feed infants several hours before the sacrament. When presenting the baby to the chalice, you need to put him on your right hand and hold him with your left so that he does not accidentally push the priest.

From 3 years of age

Unlike infants, older children are already more intelligent, so parents should explain to them the meaning of the sacrament of Communion, talk about Christ and his good deeds. It is better to come to the temple 10-15 minutes before the start of the ceremony. Children from 3 to 5 years old should not eat food in the morning on the eve of communion, and from 5 years old they can already observe a light fast the day before. It involves giving up meat dishes, sweets, watching cartoons, and obedience. But you need to evaluate the child’s condition; the presence of food and drink is not a manifestation of sinfulness.

It wouldn't hurt to read prayers with adults.

Parents are obliged to teach their children the correct approaches to communion and observance of the rules:

folding your arms across your chest;
when approaching the chalice, do not cross yourself;
Tell the priest your own name at baptism.

It is important for children to feel the solemnity of what is happening, to be in the role of adults.

After 7 years

It is permissible to bring a child to confession, which is preceded by a preliminary story from adults about this sacrament. It is worth warning the priest in advance about the child’s first confession and agreeing with him on all the nuances. From this age, it is worth gradually accustoming children to the remaining requirements of the Eucharist.

It is better to start fasting on the eve of Communion, then easily teach it to last for up to 3 days.

Is it necessary to give communion to a child?

A child’s meeting with God is an important event in the child’s life. He had not yet formed his attitude towards the Lord. Here you need to help your son or daughter adapt to a new environment. Parents even note that their baby gets sick less when he begins to take communion.

1. The child must participate in this ritual, because then his Heavenly Patron will be nearby.

2. Young parents often wonder how often to give communion to their children.

3. Until the age of 7, this can be done regularly at the liturgy, which is served on Sundays and holidays.

Adults who have taken part in church sacraments since childhood think more broadly, paying special attention to spiritual values. This helps them maintain moral purity, the desire to be merciful to the weaknesses of others, and the belief that everything in our lives happens for a reason.

What can be done if the baby does not want to receive communion

When children are capricious in church and do not want to take communion, parents must convey to them that this is not torture, but a celebration of unification with God. To introduce children to the sacrament, you need to show them your own example, take communion with the baby, and focus on how other children do it.

In cases of categorical protest on the part of the child, many priests advise to wait, but under no circumstances stop trying. In any difficult situation, it is better to consult with a clergyman and strictly follow his recommendations. If you correctly introduce a child to the sacraments of the church from an early age, then in the future you can avoid the occurrence of many spiritual problems.

Source of the article: https://pravoslavy.ru/liturgiya/prichastie-posle-kreshheniya-rebenka

Answers to frequently asked questions

Parents planning to take their child to Communion for the first time ask several common questions.

Is it possible for a baby to drink water before the sacrament? - If your baby asks for a drink, you should not refuse him, as thirst leads to irritation and whims. Moreover, you should not limit the baby’s fluid intake during the period of preparation for communion.
Is it possible to feed a baby before going to church? — The baby must be put to the breast, but it is expected that there will be at least half an hour left before communion.