Communion is one of the main sacraments of Orthodoxy. It is believed that every Christian should regularly receive Holy Communion. The sacrament is performed in the church. You need to prepare for it in advance. The first time a Christian goes to the sacrament after baptism. It is generally accepted that the human soul purified by communion and baptism is guarded by angels.
Why is the sacrament necessary
Many consider the sacrament of communion to be an ordinary Orthodox tradition. In fact, its significance is very great for the Christian soul. The sacrament helps to guide a person on the true path, to purify his soul.
The first communion after baptism reveals a person’s soul to spiritual creatures. The Sacrament prepares it for the future Resurrection of 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
It is recommended to baptize and partake of children from the moment of birth. The sooner the soul is revealed to the Lord, the easier and more successful life will be. The soul of a child, guarded 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 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 small, many parents prefer to neglect the sacrament of communion or put it off until a later date. The Orthodox Church does not approve of such behavior.
According to the rules established by the clergy, infant communion after baptism is held on the second day. It is highly discouraged to postpone it to a later date.
Sacrament process
How is the sacrament held in the church after the baptism of a child? Parishioners stand in line. Infants should be held by their parents. Adult children stand by themselves. They need to fold their arms crosswise. In this case, the right hand should be at the top.
During the sacrament, worship is held. Under prayer addresses in the middle of the church, 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.
Believers take turns approaching the clergyman and ask for his blessings. Going to the priest, you should name the Christian name given at baptism. After the clergyman completes the rite of blessing, it is necessary to 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 need to be explained that divine gifts should be eaten completely. If a child spills wine, it is worth saying about this priest.
After the communion after the baptism is completed, the child is brought to the table with prosphora and allowed him to eat one of them. There you can drink the gifts of the sacrament. After that, you can bring the child to the icons and show how to pray.
Preparing the child for the sacrament
How to prepare for the first communion of the child? The sacrament requires compliance with strict rules in preparation. They are necessary for the complete purification of the human soul. However, it is difficult for children to observe the necessary restrictions, so the rules for preparing for the sacrament are much weaker for them:
- Feeding. If the communicant is a baby, it is recommended to feed him no later than 2 hours before the beginning of the sacrament. Older children should not eat during the day before Communion. In this case, preparation for the sacrament should be started 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 it, loud conversations, noise, running are unacceptable. The child should be informed in advance of the basic rules of conduct.
- During the sacrament on the child and on the adult, who holds the communion baby in her arms, there must be a body cross.
What to do if a child refuses to receive communion
Older children may refuse to attend the sacrament. What should parents do in this case? It is necessary to find out the reasons for his behavior. Maybe the child is just scared by an unfamiliar environment. In this case, you can simply 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 the children's Bible or watch a Christian cartoon.
While in the temple, it is worth paying the attention of the child to other children, putting them as an example. Seeing that other children are calm and do not show signs of anxiety, the child will calm down.
You can come to the temple in advance and show the baby where and how the sacrament will take place. Perhaps he will be interested in burning candles and icons. Explain their meaning to the child.
After the baby has made up his mind and went for communion, he must be praised and expressed admiration for his act. Gradually, the baby will calmly accept the sacrament. Having performed the sacrament after the child’s baptism, he can be introduced to the priest. The clergyman will also praise and encourage the baby.
Communion of adults
Not everyone comes to Christ at a young age. Everyone has their own road to Orthodoxy. Increasingly, in temples you can see adults preparing to convert to Christianity. Communion after the baptism of an adult is held in the same way as in children, on the second day after the sacrament.
However, more stringent requirements are imposed on adults in preparation:
- The sacrament of repentance. Previously, the Christian must pass the secret of confession. Only after the absolution is he allowed to participate in the sacrament of the Holy Mysteries. However, if the sacrament is performed after the baptism of an adult, the sacrament of confession is not necessary. His soul is completely cleansed from sins during baptism.
- Compliance with strict fasting for 3 days. These days you can not eat meat, dairy products.
- Behavior. In addition to cleansing the body, before the sacrament, it is also necessary to cleanse the soul. It is best to spend preparatory days in prayer. It is also worth discarding all evil and evil thoughts.
The sacrament of communion is necessary to save the soul of every Christian. During its holding, the 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.