Communion is one of the main sacraments of Orthodoxy. It is generally accepted that every Christian should regularly partake of the Holy Mysteries. The sacrament is performed in the church. You need to prepare for it in advance. The first time a Christian goes to communion is after baptism. It is generally accepted that the human soul, cleansed by communion and baptism, is guarded by angels.
Why Communion is necessary
Many consider the sacrament of communion to be a common Orthodox tradition. In fact, its significance is very great for the Christian soul. The sacrament helps to guide a person on the true path, cleanse his soul.
The first communion after baptism reveals the human soul to spiritual creatures. The sacrament prepares her for the future Resurrection by the Lord. We can say that the sacrament is a preliminary preparation of the soul for a meeting with the creator.
First Communion after Baptism
Baptize andCommunion is recommended for children from the moment of birth. The sooner the soul opens to the Lord, the easier and more successful life will flow. 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 be revealed to the heavenly forces for the first time. What do parents need to know about the timing of the sacrament? It passes after the child has been baptized. If the baby is still too young, many parents choose to neglect the sacrament of the sacrament or postpone it until 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 held on the second day. Postponing it to a later date is highly discouraged.
Ordinance process
How is the sacrament in the church after the baptism of a child? The parishioners line up. Babies must be in the arms of their parents. Adult children stand on their own. They need to fold their arms crosswise on their chests. In this case, the right hand should be at the top.
During the sacrament, a service is held. Under prayer appeals to the middle of the temple, the clergy take out the Chalice with sacred wine and special consecrated bread. 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 the worshipers.
The believers take turns approaching the clergyman and asking for his blessing. Approaching the priest, one should name the Christian name given at baptism. After the priest completes the rite of blessing, you must go to the sacred Chalice, drink wine and eat bread. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that there are no drops and crumbs. Children should be taught that divine gifts should be eaten completely. If a child spills wine, you should tell the priest about this.
After the communion after baptism is completed, the child is brought to a table with prosphora and given to him to eat one of them. You can also drink the sacrament there. After that, you can bring the child to the icons and show how to pray.
Preparing a child for communion
How to prepare for a 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 recipient is a baby, 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. At the same time, preparations for the sacrament should begin in advance. In order for the child's body to calmly withstand forced starvation, it is necessary to prepare it first.
- The first communion after the baptism of a child is the most important sacrament of Orthodoxy. During its implementationloud conversations, noise, 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 holds the communion baby in his arms must have 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 just scared of unfamiliar surroundings. In this case, you can just calmly tell him what the sacrament is.
It is recommended to prepare the child in advance. To do this, at home, you need to introduce him to the basics of Orthodoxy. You can read a children's Bible or watch a Christian cartoon.
Being in the temple, you should pay the attention of the child to other children, set them as an example. Seeing that other children are standing calmly and showing no signs of anxiety will calm the child.
You can come to the temple in advance and show the baby 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 kid decided and went to communion, he must be praised and expressed his admiration for his act. Gradually, the baby will calmly accept the sacrament. Having made the sacrament after the baptism of the child, he can be introduced to the priest. The clergyman will also praise and encourage the baby.
Communionadults
Not everyone comes to Christ at a young age. Everyone has their own path to Orthodoxy. Increasingly, in churches you can see adults preparing to accept Christianity. Communion after the baptism of an adult is held in the same way as for children, on the second day after the sacrament.
However, adults have stricter requirements for preparation:
- The sacrament of repentance. Beforehand, a Christian must go through the mystery of confession. Only after the remission of sins is he allowed to partake of the Holy Mysteries. However, if communion is performed after the baptism of an adult, the sacrament of confession is not necessary. His soul is completely cleansed of sins at the time of baptism.
- Strict fasting for 3 days. These days you can not eat meat, dairy products.
- Behaviour. In addition to cleansing the body, the soul must also be cleansed before communion. It is best to spend the preparation days in prayer. It is also worth discarding all bad and evil thoughts.
The sacrament of the sacrament is necessary for the salvation of the soul of every Christian. During it, 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 preparing for the sacrament will allow the human soul to open the way to the world of spiritual grace.
