The Eucharist, or Communion of the holy mysteries of Christ, was established by the Savior himself during the Last Supper. During the Divine Liturgy, wine mysteriously turns into the blood of the Savior, and bread into his body. When we receive the holy gifts, we accept Christ into our hearts and become one with the Lord. How to behave after communion? What is allowed and what is prohibited? Let's consider the questions in detail.
How to prepare for communion?
The most important question that worries neophytes is not an offensive word, but the name of those who are just beginning their path to Christ - preparation for the sacraments. As you know, there are seven of them in total. However, the main ones that Christians come into contact with regularly are confession and communion.
As we see, confession comes first. Absolution of sins is closely related to communion; a person first confesses, only then approaches the Chalice. An exception - communion without confession - is possible in rare cases and only with the permission of the priest.
The second question, which is no less troubling than the first, is how to spend the time after communion. Is it possible to sleep, talk, or do any business after communion? We'll definitely talk about this a little later. Now let's talk about preparing for the sacraments. Here's what you need to do before partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ:
- fast both physically and spiritually;
- prepare thoroughly for confession;
- confess;
- subtract the sequence for communion and the necessary canons.
Now let's talk in more detail about each point.
Sacrament of the Eucharist
At the Last Supper, the sacrament of Holy Communion took place for the first time, where Jesus identified his body with bread, and wine with the blood shed for sins.
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The communicant is united with the Lord through the bread and wine he eats. This action is incomprehensible to the human mind, so what is happening must be perceived by faith.
A person must believe that in every piece of holy communion there 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 eternal life. This teaching was given to us by the Lord, as recorded in the Gospel:
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How is the word "Eucharist" translated? This word is of Greek origin and is translated as “thanksgiving.” We thank God that through the sacrifice of Christ we receive salvation and redemption from sins. This is, in essence, the return of the lost paradise from which Adam and Eve were expelled. The mystical mystery of the Eucharist is based not simply on sacrifice, but on the sacrifice of love for man. The redemption of fallen human nature is what Christ’s sacrifice on the cross signifies.
By participating in the Eucharist, we become partakers of redemption—redeemed and free from eternal punishment.
How do bread and wine become the blood and flesh of Christ in the sacrament of Holy Communion? 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 the introduction of the human soul to eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.
Fast
Fasting is a voluntary refusal of animal products. There are four main fasts and one-day fasts. Four long fasts are made throughout the year, one-day fasts are held on Wednesday and Friday. Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesday in memory of the Gospel events. On this day the Lord was betrayed by Judas, and on Friday he was crucified.
The first Christians fasted for a week before taking the sacrament. Now the fast has been reduced to three days, although only the priest can set the exact time of abstinence. With the blessing of the priest, concessions are made for fasting for pregnant and lactating women, the sick, travelers and children.
During fasting, as stated above, one avoids animal products. We will list what is hidden under this name:
- Any types of meat.
- Dairy products, including cheeses.
- Muffins and baked goods containing milk and butter.
- Eggs.
- It is advisable to refrain from eating fish before communion.
This is a bodily or physical fast. However, there is spiritual fasting. A person refuses entertainment events, spouses abstain from intimacy for three days before communion.
Entertainment events are flexible concepts. This may include visiting a nightclub and reading a romance novel. Here's what you should give up when preparing to begin the sacrament of communion:
- Reading detective stories, romance novels, collections of jokes. It is permissible to read classical literature, but selectively. “The Master and Margarita,” for example, does not promote proper preparation for communion. But it is advisable to talk with a priest about this topic, because everything is individual. For example, a schoolchild was asked to read part of a novel by Monday, and the sacrament on Sunday. Reading by obedience (assigned by the teacher) is quite acceptable.
- Watching TV, computer games, wandering aimlessly on the Internet.
- Singing and dancing.
- Listening to worldly songs.
- Visiting theaters, cinemas, exhibitions, discos, cafes and restaurants.
- Visiting.
Three days is not a long time. A person is able to refuse the above for this time.
Lack of sleep is a problem for thousands of people
You need to know your body, your sleep norm. It is impossible to force yourself to sleep according to a schedule that is not typical for your body. The amount of sleep is affected by your mental state, health, age and much more. Sleep is physiological; it cannot be a sin. Incontinence - maybe, sleep - no. And intemperance can manifest itself in everything. You probably need to separate sleep and lazy time in bed. It’s one thing when a person is sleeping, and another thing when he wakes up, lies down, drinks coffee in bed, falls asleep again, and so on for half a day. It's difficult to force yourself to sleep. Sleep can be pleasant, but few people are able to turn it into a source of sinful pleasure, because in order to sleep a lot, you need to have a special state of mind. On the contrary, modern people tend to sleep very little, and lack of sleep is a problem for thousands of people.
Among my parishioners, the question of excessive sleep time did not cause any concern; on the contrary, I was repeatedly complained about excessive sleepiness in the evenings. Usually, after considering the reasons, it turns out that the person is too busy during the day and generally does not get enough rest. Such people, of course, do not need to limit sleep, but increase its duration. For example, teachers who are emotionally burnt out at work, after which they also have to do household chores, doctors, vehicle drivers, and so on. A little rest would greatly help them recover from work. In a word, most often modern people do not need sleep restriction, but almost a forced increase in it.
By the way, a nap during the day can solve the problem of fatigue in the evening, when a Christian does not have the energy for evening prayers. Most people have responsibilities in the family and in society. Lack of sleep can lead to tragedies in all areas of life. A person must have a sense of responsibility before God and people. A monk can spend energy on praying and vigil at night; this is connected with ancient monastic traditions. But a layman must be in a state of clear mind, have strength and health.
Reading the canons and following the sacrament
Let's talk about what prayers to read before communion. Orthodox prayer books contain the necessary canons and following. It is necessary to read three canons with an akathist - that’s what they are called. The title makes it clear that the canons are large; in fact, reading takes about twenty minutes. Then we read the order for Holy Communion. In different prayer books the following is called either this or prayers for communion. Here you will have to reserve time; proofreading takes thirty to forty minutes.
Ideally, the canons are read the evening before communion, and the succession is read in the morning. However, this practice is gradually losing its effectiveness; people read out the necessary prayers in the evening.
So we found out what prayers to read before communion. For those who, due to illness, are unable to proofread, we publish a video recording of the reading of the sequence.
Feats may be different
All our spiritual exercises should lead to love being born in us. This is the main thing. If a person gets irritated after a night vigil, what good is it? Maybe he should get some sleep? But a worldly person can develop pride from such exploits. It is better for people who are spiritually fragile not to try to repeat the exploits of holy ascetics.
The feat of a family man, it seems to me, lies elsewhere. Humility, submission, and service to other family members replace night vigils. If a mother chooses the ascetic mode, and in the morning her children go to school unkempt and unkempt, what is the benefit and to whom? If she herself goes out to her family in the morning, unwashed and tired, is that good? Moreover, in the life of every mother there are periods of night vigils - when she cares for infants. What if there are several children? But there is also a husband who needs attention, and she herself also wants to breathe at least sometimes and look at the world.
In the lives of worldly people there are enough spiritual exploits that the Lord sends them for humility. This humility calls upon us the grace of God. In our time, keeping a family together is the greatest feat. Look how many divorces there are now, how many Orthodox people even live in second or even third marriages! This happens because we do not have sacrifice within the family, everyone pulls the blanket on themselves and wants to dominate, consume, and not give. Who knows, maybe our feat is not in night vigils, but in maintaining good relationships with loved ones for decades? And then, at the Last Judgment, say: “Lord, here I am, here are my wife and children.” Will the Lord then ask us how long we slept?
Preparing for Confession
Dear readers, be patient! Soon we will tell you what to do if you feel sleepy after communion, how to spend this day, what you can do, and what it is advisable to abstain from. Now let’s pay attention to how to properly prepare for confession.
Sit down, pick up a piece of paper and a pen, and dig deep into the “depths” of your memory. Surely something will come up that you are ashamed to admit to yourself. Feel free to write down an unpleasant memory. Better yet, buy a book at the church store on how to properly prepare for confession. The book by Father John Krestyankin, “The Experience of Constructing a Confession,” is very helpful in this regard, where our daily and more serious sins are explained in detail.
Let us note that it is advisable to come to confession on Saturday evening, the day before communion. As practice shows, on Sunday mornings the priest’s lectern is crowded with a whole crowd of people wanting to confess and receive communion. Father is physically unable to pay enough attention to everyone and listen to an hour-long confession (this happens). On Saturday evening the priest has much more time for each confessor.
Intimate relationships of young people
These are typical myths of our time; a dozen more similar statements could be sketched out. All of them stem from the main misconception: intimate relationships between young people are a solid foundation for family happiness, and if there is no compatibility, nothing can be changed. However, this is not at all true.
It is simply illogical to make the well-being of a family solely dependent on something that is not always possible to manage. It is known that a woman’s orgasm is “90% in the head,” which means it all comes down to the contents of our pretty heads. But if the main thing is not the bed, then what?
Intimate relationship between husband and wife
The truth is that family happiness is not built on sex. On the contrary, the depth of relationships, harmony, mutual understanding, love give rise to desire and passion in the intimate relationship of husband and wife. Spiritual intimacy evokes a desire for physical intimacy, and if there is attraction and strong sympathy between partners, then there will be a good start in sexual life.
Not everything will be perfect right away. The attraction that is born from real honest relationships is the base over which you need to methodically and day after day build the building of a fulfilling sexual life. The key to the success of this work is love, trust and the desire to meet each other halfway.
Psychology of intimate relationships
Don't give up because of minor failures, everyone has them. The reason is simple - unfortunately, there are no telepaths among us, and we cannot guess the thoughts of others.
How to take communion correctly
Is it possible to sleep after communion and how to behave on this day? Let's figure out how to properly begin the sacrament, and then answer the above questions.
Before approaching the Chalice, hands are folded crosswise on the chest. It is advisable to silently read the prayers “Thy Secret Supper” and “I believe and confess that You are truly the Christ...”. The priest pronounces these prayers from the pulpit, bringing out the Chalice with the Holy Blood and Body of Christ. In the case when a person does not know these prayers, simply ask that the sacrament will be beneficial: “Not for judgment or condemnation, but for the remission of sins and eternal life.”
When approaching the Chalice, clearly say your full name and open your mouth wide. After the priest has placed a spoon with wine and a piece of prosphora into his mouth, the communicant's lips are blotted. This is necessary so that no traces of the sacrament remain on the lips. The communicant kisses the bottom of the Chalice and goes to a special table to take a drink and eat a piece of prosphora.
Bottom line
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 you 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 sacred thing that is present in you, the fruits of the Eucharist will continue to act. As soon as you stumble over sin or sinful thoughts, the grace you 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 lifestyle worthy of the Savior.
After communion
What do the prayers read after communion look like? They are called prayers of thanksgiving for Holy Communion. Printed in any Orthodox prayer book, quite short. Reading takes 7-10 minutes, depending on the speed of proofreading.
In many churches, it is practiced to read prayers of thanksgiving at the time when believers come to venerate the cross. The priest stands on the pulpit, holding a cross in his hands, people kiss the instrument of the crucifixion, then step aside and listen to prayers of thanks.
Prayers read after communion are obligatory. In them we thank God for allowing us to connect with Him through participation in the sacrament.
Theology of Intimate Relationships
Orthodoxy welcomes sex between a married couple as an act of God's blessing. Intimate relationships in an Orthodox family are a God-blessed action that involves not only the birth of children, but also the strengthening of love, intimacy and trust between spouses.
God created man and woman in His image, He created a beautiful creation - man. The Almighty Creator Himself provided for intimate relationships between a man and a woman. Everything was perfect in God's creation; God created man, naked and beautiful. So why is humanity so hypocritical about nudity nowadays?
The Hermitage exhibits magnificent sculptures demonstrating the beauty of the human body.
The Creator left His instructions to people (Gen. 1:28):
- to multiply;
- multiply;
- fill the earth.
What should you not do after communion?
Very often you have to watch how two gossips meet. Both have just received communion, but talking is simply a vital necessity. The young ladies will stand in a corner of the temple and begin to share the news.
Dear readers, remember! The most important thing that you cannot do after Holy Communion is just talk. The sacrament gives us grace, which is very easy to lose, but difficult to find. Chatting about nonsense, pouring from empty to empty, people lose this valuable gift. Just as an open stove loses heat, so we, in vain chatter, are left without the most precious thing.
What's the best way to spend this day? Is it possible to sleep after communion? The answers to the last question are different, different priests have their own opinions on this matter. for example, the famous priest Dmitry Smirnov looks at sleep after communion with absolutely calm. Some priests believe that drowsiness is a sign of demonic attacks on a person. Sleeping after communion is compared to the loss of a warm spring day when the rest of the week was cold and stormy.
If possible, it is advisable to refrain from visiting guests on this day, idle conversations, stupid jokes, and discussing neighbors. Postpone watching TV and playing computer games to another day, try to preserve this grace.
The question arises: how to preserve this grace? Sunday is dedicated to God, it is customary to read spiritual literature, and it is advisable to spend time in church. Often people are in a hurry to go home after the service, but you can offer your help and clean a candlestick, for example. Just try to refrain from idle talk, we remind you again.
Better get enough sleep
People are all different, everyone has their own norm and their own sleep pattern. For many people, napping during the day is a very good alternative if it is not possible to sleep enough at night. If we pay attention to the life of rural residents, they always rest during the day because they get up very early. By noon, the man who got up at four in the morning had already worked for seven hours! You can’t do without a day’s rest with this regime. I think that if you have the opportunity to sleep during the day, that's very good. After all, we are not taking anything away from anyone, on the contrary: without enough sleep, a person becomes irritable, and this certainly has a negative impact on his life - both at work and in the family. A person who has had enough sleep is active, wants to work, is inspired, and is emotionally at ease.
About behavior in the temple
We have sorted out the issues of interest. How to prepare for the sacrament, how to spend this day, is it possible to sleep after communion. There is very little time left, let's clarify some points regarding behavior in the temple.
Dear women, information for you! Now many young priests are allowed to begin the sacrament of communion while in uncleanness (critical days). This practice is completely unacceptable, remember. A woman can receive communion while unclean only in cases where life and death are involved. Therefore, on red days of the calendar, stay at home and refrain from visiting the temple.
Arrive at the service 10-15 minutes before the start. They calmly hand out notes, light candles, and touch icons. During the Divine Service, it is forbidden to walk around the temple (especially during the Cherubim Song and the reading of the Gospel). It is advisable to refrain from talking with neighbors and not to look around, examining parishioners. Just pray quietly with everyone.
When approaching confession, you should talk about your sins with restraint. There are times when confessors tell the whole church about what they are guilty of before God, and even in not entirely correct expressions. Father is a person, first of all, and a man. Women should especially remember this, because representatives of the fair sex more often confess publicly.
Intimate relationships or sex
There is no concept of sex in the Bible, but Holy Scripture pays a lot of attention to the intimate life of believers. From time immemorial, the connection between a man and a woman has been an object of desire and an open door to temptation.
Sex has always been associated with depravity, which has been known since the beginning of time. For debauchery, homosexuality and perversion, God burned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire, not finding righteous people in them. The concept of sex is associated with oral and anal copulation, which Orthodoxy classifies as perversions according to the Bible.
In order to protect believers from the sin of fornication, God, in chapter 18 of the book of Leviticus from the Old Testament, described point by point with whom one can have sexual intercourse.
Imagine, the Great Creator Himself pays great attention to close, sexual relationships, blessing intimate life in marriage.
God doesn't want us to torture ourselves
In conclusion, I would like to say: God loves us! More than a good mother loves her child. Imagine: your child falls asleep, and you hit him on the cheeks: “Don’t sleep! Do not sleep!" - is this love? Of course not. And God loves us. He needs our heart, our love. A person must rest, eat and drink as much as he needs to live, serve his loved ones and the people around him. It is better to focus on the sins of irritation, condemnation, anger, envy, flattery, hypocrisy - and fight them. And with sleep, I think, it’s much easier to deal with.
Archpriest Vladimir Shutov
