The first communion of a child is a great event in the life of not only the baby himself, but also his parents. And, of course, this is an occasion for questions, doubts and, in a sense, anxiety. After all, it is a well-known fact that they take communion in church with red wine.
Of course, many parents feel excited about this, because few people want to give alcohol, even in small quantities, to their own child. Especially strong doubts overcome those who plan to baptize an infant and, accordingly, take part in the sacrament of the sacrament.
Often, parents are overcome by questions related to the hygiene of the procedure. The sacrament of the sacrament does not imply the use of individual dishes, even for the smallest. No less often there are questions about whether it is necessary for babies to participate in the Eucharist after the rite of baptism? Are these ordinances inextricably linked?
What isbaptism? Can unbaptized children receive communion?
Baptism is the very first, main and main rite in the life of a Christian. Only after passing it do other sacraments become available for participation, and first of all, of course, the Eucharist. Accordingly, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to receive communion without baptism will be negative. Of course, adults who have not gone through this rite are not allowed to take communion. This rule is very categorical and there are no exceptions to it.
Questions about whether unbaptized babies can receive communion often arise among people who know little about Christian traditions, but who try to attend churches. They usually argue with the thesis that children are sinless, respectively, they may well be admitted to church sacraments. However, it is not. For a person who has not gone through the rite of baptism, regardless of his age, there is not the slightest sense in communion. In other words, for a baby who has not been baptized, the Eucharist will be just a swallowed spoonful of wine.
The meaning of the rite is not only that a person considers himself a Christian, but also in his spiritual rebirth. During this sacrament, all the sins committed earlier are washed away with water. A person seems to die for his former existence and is reborn from the Holy Spirit for a new, righteous life.
In this regard, modern parents, as a rule, who were not brought up in Christian traditions, often raise the question of the advisability of baptizing newborns. In the Orthodox tradition, there are no agerestrictions for performing this rite. In the baptism of babies, a special meaning is invested - this is a sign that parents will raise and educate the baby in the Christian tradition.
What is a sacrament?
The Eucharist or Communion is one of the most important Christian sacraments. It consists in eating pre-consecrated bread and drinking wine. Accordingly, the bread symbolizes the body of the Lord, and the wine - the blood of Jesus.
The meaning of this sacrament lies in the fact that the participant in it unites with God in Christ. Communion is necessary for a Christian to save his soul and gain eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
This sacrament was established not by churchmen at all, but by Jesus himself during the Last Supper. This is told in all the Gospels, which, as is known, were written by the disciples of Christ, the apostles. The prehistory of the establishment of this sacrament, according to the Gospel written by John, was the miracle of the multiplication of loaves.
In the theology of the Eucharist, such a meaning is also attached: a person was expelled from Paradise and became mortal through food, and by participating in the sacrament, he atones for this original sin. In other words, through the sacrament, a Christian receives eternal life.
Communion is central to the sacraments of the Church as it expresses union with God and allows believers to partake of Jesus' great sacrifice.
"The Substances of the Mystery". What do they commune in the church?
For many modern parents who were not brought up in Christian traditions, the question of whetherthan infants are given communion. The composition of what is in the communion cup, many of them care much more than the spiritual meaning of the sacrament.
Traditionally, bread and wine are used for the sacrament, as Jesus himself established during the Last Supper. In orthodox Orthodox churches, special bread is used as a symbolic body of the Lord - leavened bread. It is called "prosphora".
Wine, symbolizing the blood of the Lord, is diluted with hot or warm water in Orthodox churches. But this is not the case everywhere. For example, in Armenian churches, wine is not diluted with water.
Which wine is used for the sacrament?
Often, in the questions of parents about how babies are given communion in the church, there is an interest in the type of wine. This is really important because this drink, even when diluted, can cause an allergic reaction in a newborn.
As a rule, in most Russian churches, fortified dessert wines made from red grape varieties, such as Cahors, are used to celebrate the sacrament of communion. However, the use of such wines is not at all an unshakable rule.
Each locality has its own traditions of what kind of wine will symbolize the blood of the Lord during the sacrament. For example, in Greek churches, parishioners are often given communion with white wines or their mixture with red ones, while in Georgia, “Zedashe” is traditionally used.
Accordingly, those parents who, for some personal reasons, it is important to know how babies are communed in the church, should talkwith a priest serving in the temple where it is planned to join the sacrament with the baby. There is no need to be shy about asking questions to the clergy, especially if they are dictated not by idle curiosity, but by fears or doubts.
How soon after baptism do children receive communion?
In Orthodoxy, there are no rules that prescribe when and how babies are communed after baptism. There is not even a single tradition accepted by the people. In Russia, christenings were held both on the 8th day after birth and on the 40th. They could have christened the baby on any other day.
After the rite of baptism, a person, regardless of his age, is allowed to participate in the sacrament of the Eucharist. There is no timetable that regulates the number of sacraments or the intervals between them. Accordingly, if adults are guided by the dictates of the soul or the instructions of the priests before participating in the Eucharist, then in questions of when and how infants are communed, the decisive word remains with their parents.
Is it necessary to give communion to children? At what age should you do this?
A very widespread misconception regarding the fact that baptized babies must be given communion. This is not true at all. The sacrament of baptism does not impose on the parents of the child the obligation to bring him to the Eucharist. There are no prescriptions or decrees regulating the age at which infants are communed in the church. The decision about the participation of the newborn in the sacrament is taken by the parents of the child. The priest can only explain to them the meaning of the riteCommunion, talk about why you need to participate in it. A clergyman cannot force the Eucharist.
In pre-revolutionary times, when religion was an integral part of the life of every Russian, questions about when and how babies are given communion after baptism and whether it should be done were not relevant. People came to church services, of course, young mothers had children in their arms. At the end of the prayers, all parishioners lined up for the sacrament. Accordingly, the priest communed both the child and his mother, as well as other people present in the temple.
That is, there were no questions about the age at which babies were communed, because the Eucharist was a traditional, integral and natural part of life. Baptized newborn children were communed together with their mothers. There was, of course, no timetable for the frequency of the sacraments either. At least once a week, on Sundays, newborns participated in the Eucharist, of course, if their parents attended the service.
In modern conditions, not all parents can afford a weekly attendance at the Sunday service. Not everyone understands why infants should be given communion. The clergy do not oblige the parents of newborns to participate in the sacrament. Even if the baby is in the arms of a father or mother, then only adults can take communion. Moreover, you can not get up at all for the sacrament. But refusing to participate in the Eucharist with a child, one should not forget that a person’s habits are laid in his earliestchildhood, when he is just beginning to explore the world.
Are there any differences between children and adults taking communion?
Often, parents believe that it is not hygienic how babies are given communion after baptism. It is better to take care of the baby and bring it to the Eucharist at an older age. Many are also confused by the fact that the blood of Christ symbolizes an alcoholic drink.
Indeed, there are no special conditions for participation in the sacrament of newborns, as well as older children, are not provided. That is, the baby will be communed with the same spoon and the same drink as the other parishioners.
The only difference between participation in the Eucharist for adults and children is that children are not given the body of the Lord, since babies will not be able to eat the bread symbolizing it. Prosphora is given to the mother or father of the baby, the child himself receives only a spoonful of the blood of the Lord.
Of course, the place in the queue for the body and blood of the Lord plays a big role in how babies are communed in the church. Parents with babies in their arms are always allowed to participate in the sacrament first.
How often should I take communion?
There is no consensus on how often a baby should be given communion after baptism. The decision on how long the time intervals between the Eucharist will be is taken by the parents of the child. Of course, the clergy have recommendations regarding the participation of children and their parents in the sacrament.
On the question of how often an infant should be given communion, most priestsagree that this should be done weekly. Adults are encouraged to participate in the sacrament at least once a month. However, a person who has been baptized can participate in the Eucharist at any time, even after each church service attended by him, if he feels such a spiritual need.
Of course, the most logical decision in terms of how infants are given communion, how often this should be done, is simply to follow the parents. This means that if the mother or father of the baby is in line for the Holy Gifts, then you need to take the child in your arms, and not exclude him from participating in the sacrament. This is how people behaved in the old days, it makes sense to follow the custom.
Do they take communion in Lent? What is fasting time for a Christian?
The question of how babies are given communion during Great Lent arises with parents no less often than others. This is due to the unwillingness of people to break any of the church rules, which they simply do not know about.
What is Lent? Without a doubt, everyone, even a person far from religion, knows that this is a time of refusing certain types of food and abstaining from amusements. However, the time of fasting is not at all a period of following a peculiar diet and not the so-called "fasting days".
The food and lifestyle restrictions practiced during this period have only one purpose - to focus the Christian on spiritual needs and problems. It is thoughts about the eternal, about the needs of the soul, about what is not given enoughattention in the daily bustle and everyday worries should be devoted to this time. In fasting, believers pay especially much attention to prayer and, of course, visit temples more often. And, of course, the sacrament of the sacrament is held these days.
How do babies receive communion during Lent? This is traditionally done after Saturday and Sunday church services. In general, communion can be taken not only on weekends, but also on Friday and Wednesday. The sacrament itself performed during this period has no differences from the Eucharist held on other dates.
How do I prepare for the sacrament?
In addition to questions about how many months you can take communion of a baby and how the sacrament takes place, many parents are also concerned about how to prepare for participation in the Eucharist. In the Orthodox tradition, it is customary to pray, fast and confess before taking communion. Of course, this applies to adult Christians.
There can be no question of any fasting, confession and preliminary prayers in the way babies are communed, because the child cannot but eat, and he is not yet able to talk. But does this mean that there is no need to prepare for the sacrament? Not at all. Parents of a newborn are preparing for communion, both for themselves and for the baby.
Quite a lot of questions arise in connection with the need for confession. Often, parents of children do not understand why it is needed if they have not sinned. Indeed, those who care for newborn children do not have time for transgressions, but does this mean that theirreally wasn't? Sin is not only any action, but also thoughts, emotions. Irritation, anger, grumbling, despondency are sins. Confession is a way of repentance, purification of the soul. It is repentance that prepares the soul of a Christian to receive the grace that the sacrament of communion carries within itself. Therefore, confession is a prerequisite for admission to the Eucharist.
As for immediate actions, for example, when to feed babies before the upcoming communion, neither the church nor the parents have a unanimous opinion on this matter. The process of preparing newborns for the sacrament is individual. The main thing is that the baby and his parents feel comfortable during the service and when receiving the Holy Gifts.
Often, young parents, focusing their attention on the questions of whether babies receive communion, when and how they do it, what is included in the process of preparing newborns to receive the sacrament, completely forget that other people are present in the temple. If the baby is hot or cold, wants to eat or drink, you need to change the diaper, the baby will start crying, screaming. Hysterical children's cries are not the best sound accompaniment for prayer, they distract almost all believers present in the church hall. Therefore, it is extremely important before visiting the temple with a newborn in your arms to determine the optimal time between feedings, dress the baby in accordance with temperature conditions and take a bottle of water and a pacifier with you.
Children traditionally fast and confessstart at the age of seven. However, gradually accustoming babies to restrictions should begin at an earlier age. In the event that fasting is observed in the family and the parents themselves regularly take communion, no special efforts will be needed.
Things to keep in mind when partaking of the sacrament?
When contemplating how to properly give communion to an infant, many parents wonder about the formalities involved in the procedure itself. Do they need to be baptized if they have a small child in their arms? Should a newborn be dressed up in some special way? Are there any rules governing the position of the baby in the arms? There are quite a few questions like these.
Although there are no restrictions on whether a baby can be given communion, when and how to do it, there are still some church traditions. As a rule, people line up for communion with babies in their arms after Sunday or Saturday morning services.
The unspoken, but invariably observed procedure for receiving the sacrament is as follows: first parishioners with newborns receive communion, then older children. Following them, the sacrament is received by men, and only after them comes the turn of women. This is not an unshakable rule, but historically this is the order.
When approaching the priest, the newborn should lie on the right hand of the mother or father. First, the clergyman communes the baby, and then his parents. Before heading to accept the sacrament, the face of the newborn must be opened, and the arms crossed on the chest. In this case, you need to place the right one on top.
Of course, this can only be done if the little one is sleeping or napping. A child who is in a cheerful state will certainly begin to move his arms. You should not worry about this, they do not violate any church rules for the movement of children's hands. Of course, if the newborn is wrapped in a blanket or an envelope, then there is no need to unwrap the baby in order to give his arms a certain pose. Such actions can lead to hypothermia. It will be enough just to open the baby's face.
Prosphora is not given to babies, but his parents partake of both the blood and the body of the Lord. You need to be prepared for this and do not forget that not only the baby is involved in the sacrament, but also those who hold it in their arms.
Many parents are concerned about the pectoral cross. Should it be worn around the baby's neck? After all, it is quite dangerous, the child can suffocate. In the old days, they were put on children at baptism and did not take off. However, this is really potentially dangerous, so it makes no sense to leave the baby with a cross around his neck all the time, especially at a time when no one is watching him. But before going to church, the pectoral cross must still be put on.
Often, young parents consider themselves obliged to defend the whole service with the baby in their arms, even if the baby tosses and turns, starts crying, screaming. At the same time, parents usually feel embarrassed and try to calm the baby somehow imperceptibly. However, such actions usually fail. On the contrary, the fuss of parents with a screaming child in their arms is even moredistracts the rest of the parishioners who are in the temple hall from the church service and prayers.
Meanwhile, there is no need to defend the entire service or to take a place “in the forefront”, fearing a long wait for the sacrament. If the child is restless or adults take the newborn to the church service for the first time and do not yet know how the little one will behave, it is better to stand behind, in close proximity to the exit.
If the baby starts crying or if he needs something, you can always quietly go out, and then return to the service. The Church does not require parents with newborns in their arms to be continuously in the hall during the entire service. There is no need to fear that you will have to wait too long for communion. A mother or father with a baby will always be let through, no matter where they are in the temple hall.
When gathering with a newborn for a church service, do not worry too much about formalities. There are no strict rules that would regulate the introduction of newborns to the Holy Gifts in the Orthodox tradition. The only condition that must be met is the passage of the baby through the rite of baptism.
When preparing to partake of the sacrament with a newborn, one should not think about formalities, but about spiritual problems. You need to put aside the fuss and focus on the main thing, for example, on loving your child and imagining his future. Children very subtly feel the state of mind of their parents, especially mothers. If in the temple the mother becomes nervous, fussing,worry, it will definitely be passed on to the baby, and he will cry.
In addition, young parents need to remember that there are other people in the church. You should be respectful to the rest of the parishioners and try not to cause inconvenience to those who pray.
