How to fast before confession. How to prepare for communion in continuous weeks? Communion of the elderly and sick people, pregnant women, nursing mothers

13Feb

How to Fast Before Confession and Communion

In this article, we will talk about how to fast before confession or communion, and why this is necessary. The mystery of confession and communion is considered one of the greatest in Christianity. Repentance is one of the main things a person can do to atone for his sins. It is necessary to remember all your sins, to admit to yourself that you are wrong, that you have committed a sin, that you have acted badly, etc. And this is still not enough. It is necessary to observe the entire procedure of repentance, and more about it. True, there are people who are not responsible for the confession procedure, believing that you just need to come to church and repent of your sins. But according to the canons of religion, this is not correct. To repent, to confess and be blessed, must be carefully prepared, and one of the procedures for preparing for communion and confession is fasting.

Fasting before confession

Fasting before confession is called fasting, fasting, and consists in absolute abstinence, both from bodily goods and from food, which is prohibited in fasting. Each priest has his own opinion regarding the time that is subject to fasting, but on average it is believed that abstinence should be 3 days before confession. But this period is minimal. Some priests declare that before confession a person should try as much as possible, that is, limit himself as much as possible from pleasures and thereby indulge in repentance. You can, therefore, fast for a week. Also exists allowable duration fasting up to 2 or even 1 day with the permission of the confessor for those who confess and receive communion regularly. Everything depends on your individual characteristics, but if the state of health does not allow you to fast, then the church allows the possibility of not fasting, but only in terms of food, then you need to fast spiritually.

spiritual post

Most are even sure that fasting is not necessary with the stomach. But with the mind, that is, there is no need to slander, envy, shout, etc. You must be humble. Also married couple must refrain from making love. Women who are in the period of purification, that is, during the period of menstruation, are not allowed to receive communion and confession.
What can you eat in fasting before communion? The same as in a regular fast, limiting the consumption of meat products and dairy products. Thus, meat, sausages, milk, cottage cheese, cheese, creamy meat, etc., must not be consumed at least three days before confession and communion. The main question remains, but you can eat fish, because on some days of fasting you can eat it, and on some you can’t. This is also individual, it is better to consult with your confessor. So, for example, in Christianity, Wednesday and Friday are fast days when even fish cannot be eaten. At the same time, Saturday is the day when not one Orthodox does not fast. As a result, it turns out that if communion is on Sunday, then fish cannot be eaten on Thursday and Friday, but on Saturday you can.

Differences of opinion

How to Fast Before Communion

By the way, there is an opinion that before the very confession, you can not fast, in fact, a person can confess at any time. But if after confession it is necessary to take communion, then fasting must be observed.
There are confessors who are of the opinion that it is necessary to fast very strictly, at least one day, the last one before communion. Drink water and eat bread, that's all. Not even fruits. But such restrictions do not apply to patients, pregnant women and children. you can read more about baby fasting.
There is also an opinion that the degree of fasting depends on the degree of sins. There are mortal sins that require strict fasting and restrictions in any area, there are sins that are not so serious, which provide opportunities for weakening the fast.
In the end, I would like to give a parable, which tells about the severity of fasting before confession and communion. One monk came to the elder and asked what fasting was. And the elder explained to him, telling the monk about all his sins throughout his life. Out of shame, the monk did not know what to do. Falling to his knees, he wept. And the old man said with a smile: “Now go and eat dinner.” “No, Father, thank you, I don’t want to,” replied the monk. “This is fasting, when you remember your sins, repent and no longer think about food.” From the life of St. Gabriel (Urgebadze; 1929-1995), a great old man of our time.
As a result, the main moral is that it is necessary to fast spiritually, and then physically. Fasting is the ability to give up what brings pleasure, and not just food.

How to prepare for confession? what to talk about in confession?

Confession cleanses our heart and soul. But not everyone knows how to properly approach confession. We will talk about this further.

With what words to start confession, how does confession go?

Confession is a bath that washes the soul from sinful dirt. It is not enough to simply acknowledge your sin. You need to go to church and confess before God to repent.

If some do not understand why it is necessary to go to the temple, then one more example should be given. The church is like a hospital for the soul. But if we are ill with the body, then we visit the hospital? So it is with the soul, it is necessary to heal it in the church.

During confession, you come to the temple and listen to the words of the holy father, “Behold, child, Christ stands invisibly, receiving your confession…”. This is how the confession begins.
Further, you bow your head over the lectern, the holy father covers you with stole, and you can already express what is in your soul. At this time, the index and middle finger must be put on the gospel or the cross.

After your words, the priest can ask you some questions and also clarify whether you repent of this sin. After you have repented, the rector of the temple reads a permissive prayer. Next, you need to kiss the cross and the Gospel.

There are no formalities and obligations in preparing for confession. You don't have to say any specific words. In order to confess, you do not need to select a specific day or church holiday.

All you need is the call of the soul and the desire to be cleansed. Preparing for confession is the moment when you analyzed your life and actions and realized that you were doing something wrong.

After confession, you can take a blessing from the priest. For this put right hand over the left and say: "Father, bless."

The priest makes the sign of the cross and places his hand on your palms. You need to kiss your father's hand. If after confession you plan to take communion, then also ask for this blessing.

How to prepare for confession for the first time?

Confession is perceived as reconciliation with the Lord. A priest is present as a witness, to whom you reveal your sins. And he, in turn, prays for the forgiveness of your sins.

Before confession, there are a few important rules to remember:

• Realize your sins and sincerely repent. If you decide to come to confession, then you understand that you are doing something wrong in your life. Therefore, you should reconsider all the moments that do not suit you, and which you regret. Sincerely ask God for forgiveness for all sins and ask to cleanse your soul and mind from filth.
• Don't write huge lists. In this case, you seem to be just reading the list without opening your soul. You can briefly sketch what you want to confess, so as not to forget. But writing the whole confession on paper is not worth it.
• Confess only your sins. Do not say that you did something sinful in response to the sinful deed of a neighbor, relative or colleague. These are their sins, for which you must not speak. Cleanse your soul and thoughts first.
• Don't think of any beautiful words and turns for your speech. God accepts and loves us in any way. And he certainly knows about your sins. Do not be shy and the priest. Over the years of service, he listened to a lot, so you certainly won’t be surprised at your words.
• If you long years did not go to the temple, then you should first confess this sin and talk about serious sinful deeds and thoughts. About wearing short clothes or watching TV in the post can be said at the end. Since in the presence of more serious sins, it is not so important to mention the TV and clothes.
• Try to change your life before confession. Do not think that confession is an event after which you can continue to commit sinful acts. Change your life for the better. Let gradually and slowly, but surely.
• Forgive and you will be forgiven. If you ask the Lord for forgiveness, then be prepared to forgive the people you are offended by.

• Find out about the time of confession in the temple. If you have come for the first time, then it is better not to choose the days of big holidays. On such days, there are usually a lot of people who want to confess. It is better to choose a quieter day in order to be able to have a full-fledged unhurried confession.
• Read before confession prayers of repentance. They can be found in prayer books.
• It is desirable to confess at least once a month. Then you will feel in good physical and mental tone.

What prayers to read before confession and communion?

Before confession and communion, one should not only observe fasting, but also prepare with prayer. The prayer before confession is the prayer of Simeon the Theologian. Also in the prayer book, prayers of repentance are provided, which are also recommended for reading.

Before Communion:

• Keep fasting 3 days before Holy Communion. Avoid meat and dairy products.
• Before the day of communion, visit the temple during the evening service.
• Read the rules before Holy Communion.
• From midnight until communion, do not eat or drink water.
• Come to the beginning of the liturgy, and not to the time of confession. It is important to be in the temple during the entire service.

Communion is necessary for both children and adults

To begin Holy Communion in the evening it is necessary to read the canons:

• Repentant to Jesus Christ
• Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos
• Guardian Angel

Also find the troparia and songs for Holy Communion in the prayer book and read them.

Is it necessary to fast before confession, is it possible to eat before confession?

Fasting is not required before confession. Since you can confess at any time when the soul requires it, without thinking that you have eaten before.

But before communion, a three-day fast is necessary. These days you can use:

• Vegetables and fruits
• flour products
• Sweets (but don't overeat)
• Dried fruits and nuts

Confession - sins: enumeration for women and men

Sins have existed since the time of Adam and Eve. They are so diverse that perhaps some do not even know that they are sinning. We offer you a list of sins in which men and women can convict themselves:

• Violated (a) the rules of behavior in the temple.
• He complained (a) about his life and those around him.
• Did not diligently perform (a) prayers.
• She did not abstain from carnal pleasures during pregnancy, as well as on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. I was with my husband during Lent.
• Did not repent (as) of sin immediately.
• Commemorated (a) the deceased with alcohol.
• He condemned (a), doubted (as) his neighbors.
• Had (a) sinful dreams.
• Sinful (on) gluttony.
• Praised (a) people, not the Lord.
• I was lazy (as) to go to church on Sundays.
• Deceived (a), hypocritical (a), cowardly (a).
• He believed (a) signs and was (a) superstitious (on).
• Concealed (a) sins at confession.
• Wore (a) clothes that were not modest, looked (a) at someone else's nakedness.

• He was ashamed (as) to be baptized, took off (a) the cross when meeting people.
• He did not pray (as) before eating food, went to bed (as) without prayer.
• Condemned (a) priests.
• Advised (a) or had an abortion.
• Spent (a) money on entertainment, events.
• Spoiled (a) water while swimming in the river, in which they take water for drinking.
• Visited fortune tellers.
• Sold (a) and produced (a) alcoholic beverages.
• Being unclean, she went to the temple.
• Telling (a) sinful stories from the life of close friends or relatives.
• Sinned (a) fornication and masturbation.
• Took (a) contraceptives, means of contraception.
• Visited (a) wicked places.
• Had an intimacy with a person of the same sex.
• I was engaged in exercises in the morning, and did not read (a) prayers.
• On Sundays he went (a) not to the temple, but to the forest or to the river.
• Jealous of (a) wife (husband). Tried (as) to exterminate the opponent (tsu) with the help of healers.
• Dreamed of traveling.
• Acquired (a) lottery tickets, hoping to get rich.
• During breastfeeding, she had a relationship with her husband.
• Instead of praying, I read (a) magazines, watched (a) TV.
• She prayed with her head uncovered (for men - in a headdress).
• Took (a) a sinful relationship without being married.
• Had (a) Sodomy sin (connection with animals, with a relative by blood).

It's only short list sins. There are 472 of them listed on the pages of spiritual books. Some of them are repeated, or indicated with additional clarifications.

Teenage and children's sins in confession: a list

The child confesses from the age of seven. Until that time, communion without confession is allowed. For children and adolescents during confession, the following sins are supposed to be indicated (naturally, if any):

• I forgot (a) about reading prayers in the morning and evening, as well as before and after meals.
• Did not prepare (as) for confession.
• Rarely visited the temple.
• Did not know (a) the basic prayers: Our Father, Creed, Mother of God Virgin, rejoice.
• Did not obey (as) parents and teachers.
• He raised his voice to the elders.
• He fought (as), called (a) children.
• Did not teach (a) lessons.
• Played (a) gambling.
• Didn't go to confession after reaching the age of 7.
• Had fun (as) on fasting days.
• Inflicted (a) on the body of the tattoo.
• Did not accustom (a) younger relatives to the word of God.
• did not treat respectfully godmother or godfather.
• Stole (a) or took (a) without asking.
• Not skillfully, he tried (as) to draw icons.
• He lived (a) not according to Divine laws.
• Kuril (a).

How to say about masturbation in confession?

All people are sinners, everyone has his own. Masturbation is also a sin. And he needs to repent. But very often there is such a situation that people who spoke about such a sin at confession continued to do it.

It should be understood for oneself that one should get rid of the sin of masturbation. After the first confession about this sin, try not to succumb to temptation anymore. If the willpower is not yet strong enough, then it is necessary to go to the temple for confession after each masturbation.

Ask God to give you the strength to get rid of sin. Repent and talk to the priest. Do not be embarrassed, the servant of the temple will listen and support you, give advice.

Confession is a means of purifying the soul and an impetus to a new one, right life. If you feel spiritual heaviness or sorrows do not leave you, visit the temple. There you will find help and support for your soul. and at the same time you will find peace and good spirits.

Video: How does confession begin?

Orthodox post These are the days when people are cleansed by the spirit. But at the same time, the body is also cleansed, because everything in each person must be pure - both the soul, and the body, and thoughts. On the days of fasting, you need to be attentive to your psychophysical state. A person who decides that he is ready to limit his diet, in principle, knows which foods are allowed to be consumed in a given period, and which are not.

The main canons of nutrition in fasting

It is necessary to figure out what you can still eat on fasting days, and what foods should be excluded from the diet. So, the mandatory exceptions are:

1. Meat products;
2. milk, as well as butter, cottage cheese and cheeses;
3. Eggs and mayonnaise;
4. Fatty sweets and pastries;
5. fish and vegetable oil(on strict days of fasting);
6. Alcohol and tobacco.

These foods should not be eaten during fasting. There is an opinion that if a person does not eat meat, eggs, does not drink milk, then he loses protein, which is so necessary for the body. But with the right approach to a lean diet, this is completely not the case.

There are many foods that are rich in protein. If you diversify the lean diet with mushrooms, eggplant, legumes and soy, you can get required amount squirrel. After all, even nutritionists have proven that soy may well replace fish and meat.

And yet, before fasting, you should find out if it will become dangerous for the body, because not everyone can benefit from abstaining from certain products.

What is allowed to eat in a strict fast

In Christianity, the days of fasting vary in severity. On one day, one thing may be allowed, on the second, another. And there are days when you can't eat at all. Most strict post Christians have Great.

It lasts 40 days, during which any recreational activities. In addition, there are some canons that must be followed:

1. It is forbidden to take any food on Fridays, as well as on the day the Great Lent begins;
2. The first and last weeks are marked by the permission to eat vegetables, fruits and bread. Water is allowed as a drink.
3. On other days, honey, nuts and any plant foods are allowed.

What can you eat during fasting on non-strict days:

1. Eggplant;
2. Zucchini;
3. fish;
4. lentils;
5. oatmeal;
6. Any fruit salads, of course, without seasoning them with sour cream.

The main food in fasting is herbal products. These are mainly cereals (of course, buckwheat, wheat, barley and oatmeal are the best, as these are primordially Russian types of cereals, besides they are rich in fiber and minerals).

Of course, do not forget about the vitamins contained in vegetables and fruits. The main thing is that fasting does not cause a violation of the diet. You should not skip breakfast, and you also need to remember that it is advisable to snack more often during fasting.

Due to the fact that there is no animal protein in the lean diet, which gives the feeling that a person is full for a long time, you want to eat something substantial, especially in the early days. But in this case, you can forget about purification.

The best option here is regular meals, as well as the inclusion of whole grains in the diet, and of course beans.

It is important to remember that for any restriction in food, you need to prepare your body. For him, the option will be the most severe stress, in which a person overeating every day, suddenly suddenly stops eating. There will be no benefit from such an attempt at purification.

Features of nutrition after fasting

Some people think that if the post is over, then you need to win back for all the days and eat everything at once, and even more.

At the same time, without thinking at all that in this case, not only will there be no benefit from abstinence, but on the contrary, there will be only harm. How to eat after the end of the post?

The first days should be like a gradual "fading" of fasting. It is not recommended to eat these days:

1. Meat (with the possible exception of chicken, turkey or fish);
2. Mushrooms, especially pickled;
3. You should not get involved in baking;
4. High-calorie sweets, such as cake, buttercream or buttercream cake;
5. Sausages and smoked meats.

Since the body, during the time the fast lasted, weaned from animal food, you need to start eating it little by little, as if re-accustoming yourself. Do not eat fried meat or fish. It is desirable that the food be boiled and eat it in small portions, little by little.

Salt in the first days after fasting is better to limit. Shouldn't get carried away flour products in butter and eggs. Much more useful will be dishes from cereals (rice, buckwheat, millet or oatmeal - does not have of great importance) with fruits, in which it is desirable to add more greens. After all, the body needs vitamins during this period.

The Sacrament of Communion - how to prepare for it, what can you eat?

The shortest duration of fasting before Communion is three days. It happens that a person cannot withstand these restrictions due to illness or even hard, exhausting work, while the body requires a lot of calories.

In this case, at confession, which necessarily takes place before communion, you need to repent to the priest of this sin as well. What you can’t do is tell the priest that you fasted if the fast is not kept.

So what can you eat in this post? Almost the same is allowed as on the days of other fasts:

1. You can eat vegetables and fruits;
2. Cereals from cereals;
3. Boiled or baked fish;
4. Bread;
5. Nuts.

You can also eat sweets, such as dark chocolate, gozinaki, but it is better to limit the consumption of these products. The main thing is to remember that in the use of even those products that are allowed, you need to know when to stop, do not overeat.

The benefits of fasting for a person or “why to fast”

Eating in fasting according to all the rules is very beneficial for human health. Allowed food will give the body the necessary substances, and the absence of prohibited foods will not allow the body to spend energy on fighting toxins, etc.

Lenten nutrition inherently normalizes the work of the whole organism, but its main benefit is as follows:

1. Improved digestion;
2. Getting rid of dysbacteriosis;
3. Liver cleansing and normalization of its work;
4. Complete cleansing of the body. Slags and toxins are removed completely;
5. Eating by day will prevent set excess weight.

Some people, fearing excess weight, do not touch, for example, pies with potatoes fried in oil, albeit vegetable. If you pay attention to fasting days, then on weekends this food is completely allowed and is not at all harmful to health.

Why is this happening? Everything is simple. Even if you allow yourself to enjoy your favorite pies on a day off, all the substances that the body does not need will be removed from the body over the next five weekdays.

Little joys after fasting

Only those people who really held Great Lent, after its end, can fully experience the pleasure of everyday food. In the first days, after forty days of abstinence, ordinary food tastes unusually "sweet".

Those foods that seemed ordinary before Lent seem to be the most delicate nectar. Not everyone can experience such feelings. Only those few who have truly abstained from forbidden food are capable of such a thing.

After all, you no longer need to ask yourself the question, is it possible for me today, now. After all, no matter how hard a person tries, there will not always be enough time for cooking, and on fast days tomorrow it will not be possible to eat what they ate today.

Therefore, it turns out that all food often consists of water, nuts and dried fruits.

Fast or not?

In any case, regardless of whether a person fasts or not, you need to know the measure in everything. After all, if you exhaust yourself with constant hunger, the body will not receive the substances it needs, it will use internal resources that are not endless.

And in the end, it just “gets tired” of working and stops. Is there any benefit to such fasting? The answer is obvious - no. The same can be said about overeating. Excess will be deposited in the body, and as a result - obesity, heart disease and other internal organs.

So whether to fast or not is up to everyone. The main thing is not to go to extremes.

Many Orthodox believers ask the priests in person, via the Internet, or ask their relatives: is it possible to brush your teeth before communion? But this is far from the only thing that not only beginners can ask. A lot of questions arise from the church-goers. It is worth noting that there are a huge number of near-church myths and misconceptions.

This article summarizes the answers of experienced and pious priests, gives recommendations and helpful tips beginners.

What is Communion?

How does Christ speak in the Gospel about Communion? On the eve of a terrible death on the cross, He gathers His disciples together and prepares a meal. There is bread and wine on the table. Christ says that in memory of Him they will drink wine and eat bread, since these are symbols of His blood and body.

To this day, liturgy is being performed in churches and preparations are being made. Holy Communion with bread and wine. The priests pray together with the parishioners with the words "Let us pray to the Lord for the offered Honest Gifts."

What is actually meant by the bread and wine in the Holy Chalice? Prayers read before Communion at home are just as necessary for a Christian as church prayers. Why is prayer needed? Because the Lord unites with the very person who calls him to himself.

What is Communion?

There are several testimonies about how Communion is actually prepared and what is hidden from human eyes under it. One day a man entered the temple. The royal gates in the temple were open. The priests stood at the altar. Suddenly, a man who came in saw the priest pierce the baby with a spear. He shouted to the whole temple: “Why are you killing a baby?” All the people standing in the temple turned around. No one could figure out which baby in question. In fact, the priest had a prosphora in his hands (a small bread made from wheat flour and water).

The Lord invisibly and endlessly sacrifices himself for the sake of people, but not materially, but spiritually. His crucifixion was actually seen almost 2,000 years ago at Golgotha ​​in Jerusalem.

Let's return to the Gospel and to those lines where the Lord is at the Last Supper. He said: "From now on you will drink my blood (wine) and eat my body (bread) in memory of Me." But how this would happen, even the apostles did not know. Moreover, it is not given to us to know. This is Divine mystery. We can only take it seriously, and as it is, without a doubt. Therefore, the prayers read before Communion are very necessary, first of all for the one who takes communion.

Another living testimony:

In the city of Lanciano (Italy) to this day there is a true proof that the Eucharist is not just bread and wine. AT catholic church Saint-Legotius in the 8th century, one priest doubted that Communion was a miracle. When he picked up a piece of bread, he saw something similar to muscle tissue. He looked into the Chalice and saw that instead of wine there was blood. The priest screamed in horror. Then he realized that there was no doubt. The Lord proved to him that everything was real. To this day, this miracle is in Lanciano. Many pilgrims come to pray near such a shrine.

What does a Christian need before Communion?

Of course, first of all, the belief that he will be given to taste not just bread and wine, but the body of Christ. Of course, such a meal is a miracle. The Lord gives a piece of himself to a sinful person. Therefore, Communion must be approached not only with fear, but also with faith. You can't just partake like that.

How to treat?

Above we have considered two testimonies of the miracle of God. It is worth noting that not only Jesus Christ is in the altar during the Liturgy, but also Mother of God, archangels, saints.

No wonder the holy fathers said that angels grieve because they do not receive communion. Because they have no body, no need. They are with God. And the Lord gave man such a great gift - to unite with Himself during Communion. Let it be invisible.

*canon repentant to the Savior;

* canon of the prayer of the Mother of God;

* canon to the Guardian Angel;

*Adherence to Holy Communion.

It is all these prayers, chants, kontakia that will help to prepare properly to receive the Holy Gifts as it should be.

Posts and confessions:

Priests say that you need to fast for at least 3 days. If a person is unchurched, rarely visits the temple, sins, then he needs to prepare for almost a week. That's why best option for such people, this is the Great, Christmas Lent, as well as Petrov and Uspensky. But that is why it is not necessary to choose periods of many days of fasting. After all, more important is reconciliation with God, and not convenience.

What to do before Communion to someone who rarely goes to church?

First of all, Be sure to go to the priest for confession. When the priest receives the penitents, you can find out in the church that is closer to your home or which you want to visit. Be prepared for the fact that the priest after confession may not allow you to take Communion. There could be many reasons for this. Often, in order to be admitted to communion, you need to fast, repent, visit the temple many times. Be sure to ask the priest after confession whether he blesses the approach to the Holy Chalice or not. Often the priests themselves insist that the confessor take communion. You need to take this advice.

What is the post before communion?

If you are a beginner or have not been to the temple for a long time, then be sure to go to the priest for confession. Usually, during this sacrament, many spiritual issues are resolved. The priest will explain to you what to do, what to beware of, when you can take communion.

What is meant by post?

Meat, milk can not be eaten, eggs too. In addition, dishes, products, drinks that contain the above products are not consumed. Remember that fasting should be spiritual in nature. Eat little food. For example, for breakfast - tea with oatmeal cookies or herculean porridge on the water, at lunch - soup on vegetable broth, at dinner - vegetable salad and rice/potatoes.

Drink before communion, as well as during fasting, alcoholic drinks forbidden. It is also recommended to refuse coffee. After all, the body should be a temple of the soul, a calm "home", sober and vigorous. The food is modest (not fasting), coffee and alcohol cannot in any way set you up for prayers.

Spiritual side:

Let's continue our conversation about fasting. We've dealt with food. As for entertainment, watching movies, you need to postpone all this. Any unimportant things should be replaced with prayers to God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, your Guardian Angel and the saints.

Let's talk about what to read before Communion. Above we mentioned the canons and the following to Holy Communion. In addition to them, it is advised to read the Gospel, the holy fathers. Beware of taking near-church literature or that which belongs to false Christian literature.

No need to fuss while fasting. If possible, postpone things for later. They can wait. After all earthly life transitory, but the fasting person needs to think about eternity.

Why such restrictions?

During the Liturgy, before the removal of the Holy Chalice, the choir sings that we (the parishioners) are leaving all earthly fuss. Not every (especially modern) person understands that sooner or later earthly life will end and everything that he worked so hard for will go into oblivion. After all, he will not be able to take his passport or his favorite job, bank accounts or a computer with valuable information with him into the afterlife. He will appear before God with his conscience, with sins and virtues. The Lord won't ask if you were CEO, He will ask you to answer for offending the grandmother client. God doesn't care if you had a Lexus. He will ask if you brought the weak, the weak, without taking money from them.

Why restrictions in fasting in relation to entertainment?

The time has come to sit down at the table or stand in front of the icons and think: what have you done wrong in your whole life, for this period.

Is the conscience clear?

It is more important for a Christian to know not about, for example, whether it is possible to brush one's teeth before Communion, but about what sins really are and what repentance is, how not to sin. The Lord is grieved when a person commits a sin even mentally. Just think: you are mentally angry, even your heart is numb. This is also a sin. You need to repent sincerely.

When is communion not allowed?

Do you know that you need to get rid of your sins? If you have repented, you should try to avoid transgressions. In order for the priest to allow Communion, you need to attend the evening service every Saturday, then in the morning at the Liturgy. The same should be done in large church holidays. Need to read at home morning and evening prayers by Prayer. Of course, it takes 20-30 minutes. If you do not have time, then you can read the Seraphim's rule: three times "Our Father", three times "Theotokos ..." and once "The Creed". But at the same time, during the day, you need to silently pray to God, to the saints. These are the most important rules.

They may not be allowed to receive Communion in such cases, for example:

*murder, abortion; divination, divination, extrasensory perception, spiritualism, astrology;

*other faith, heretical views;

* cohabitation outside of marriage, debauchery, homosexuality, drug addiction and alcoholism, and so on.

The priest needs to tell the whole truth during confession, not to hide any sin. The Lord stands by invisibly, He knows everything, only awaits repentance of the heart. If you hide something, it will be an even greater sin. You need to completely cleanse your soul before Communion.

What do the holy fathers and priests say?

The human soul must be pure, bright, with the hope of correction and change of life for the better. You should not go to the Chalice if you are not sure that you want to live with God.

If the father blessed:

When a priest gives a blessing, one should take it seriously. You should read not only the canon to the Theotokos before Communion, but also the canons to the Savior, the Guardian Angel, as well as the Follow-up. All this is in the Orthodox prayer books.

The reading space is very large. Therefore, the canons can be read 2-3 days before communion, but the Follow-up is read only the night before, after coming from the church from the evening service.

You need to make sure that no one distracts you. If you take communion with your family, friends, pilgrims, then read in turn, pray.

Morning before Communion:

As you know, Orthodox Christians cannot eat anything in the morning before Communion. Even medicines are not allowed.

But can you brush your teeth before Communion?

There is no ban on this. If you are sure that you do not accidentally swallow water or paste, you can brush your teeth.

If the stomach is sick, it is not possible to wait a long time until noon, then it is better to go to the early service. AT small towns and in the villages the Liturgy is served early, and in megacities - at 7 in the morning or at 9-10 o'clock.

For the sake of union with God, you can endure. It is worth reading prayers to yourself.

The morning before Communion is always exciting. You need to mentally prepare. After reading morning rule, go to the temple at least half an hour before the Liturgy, in order to calmly submit notes, light candles, and approach your favorite saints.

Before Communion itself:

At the service, you should carefully listen to prayers. When the priests prepare the Communion, pray that you will receive the Blood and Body of Christ worthily. At the same time, a pious person should sincerely consider himself unworthy of such a Gift.

Remember the Canon of the Theotokos before Communion: you need to pray that the Mother of God will intercede for us sinners. And what does the canon of Jesus Christ say? We repent to the Lord of our sins. Keep this in mind when you wait for Communion.

The very moment of Communion:

When the Royal Doors open and the priest comes out with the Chalice, you need to bow to the ground. Then stand in line with your arms crossed over your chest. When you come to the Chalice, you need to tell your father orthodox name and open your mouth wide. The sacrament should be swallowed immediately so that the particle does not get stuck in the teeth. Accept warmth and prosphora. Many people ask: “Can I eat before Communion?” Do you know why the answer is no? Because the Lord must enter the body of a Christian first. After all, God is more important to us than food.

WHAT TO SAY IN CONFESSION?

Quite often, those who decide to go to church for this sacrament for the first time think about what they need to say in confession.

It is important to understand that confession is not just an intimate conversation with a priest, but a religious rite aimed primarily at repentance.

In confession, it is important to be completely determined to correct your life. The realization that it has become difficult for you to live because of the commission of some sin or even several is the first step towards correction. Only after this understanding is complete should one sign up for confession.

In some situations, not only repentance after committing a sin can be a reason to go to confession. If it is difficult for you to distinguish good from bad, or life seems useless and painful, you can also come to confession, because the church is always open for those who need it.

What sins to talk about in confession:

One of the main mistakes of people who come to confession is to list all their sins in their entire lives. It is extremely important to highlight exactly why you came. Sin is an act against the church, God. This is a kind of violation of morality - one's own, someone else's, public. In Christianity, there are eight deadly sins, the fulfillment of which has serious consequences for a person - anger, sadness, gluttony, fornication, despondency, vanity, pride and avarice. In addition, there are personal sins - these are various actions against conscience and God. As a rule, a person can only determine some sins himself; they are not spelled out in any sacred book. A sin can be that act that in every possible way burdens your life.

It doesn't matter what you bring to church. In confession, the main thing is complete repentance and an inner understanding of the deed.

What to say to a priest in confession:

Confession in Orthodoxy, as in most other religions, is a conversation with God about your misdeeds, a request for help. The priest serves only as a witness to this conversation, God's helper on earth.

Therefore, in confession, it is important to be extremely frank and not hide anything about what is bothering you. It is especially important to talk about what worries you the most on this moment, not forgetting the little things and details of the offense for which you want to repent.

You can trust a priest with your biggest secrets, because he has no right to tell anyone about your confession. Remember that you do not need to be afraid of condemnation from the church, the very fact that you have come to repentance is already a worthy deed of a believer.

Important to remember that it is not necessary to speak at confession about a sin for which you have already confessed, if it has not been committed again. And, often, confession alone will not be enough. You need to ask God in prayers for forgiveness, come to church as soon as you feel like it, honor traditions and rituals.

The Church advises that confession, like communion, should be regular. Your confessor will be able to tell you about the frequency of confession. Remember that it is the clergyman who will be your main assistant in observing church rites.

As you can see, confession is a very complex sacrament. Not everyone is ready for it. If you decide to confess, then you need to weigh the pros and cons for yourself, and your soul will tell you what to say in confession. Remember that repentance and freeing yourself from your sin is a long process that will require a lot of strength and patience from you.

Diseases and other troubles do not fall on a person just like that. Man is a cosmic being and develops according to the laws of not only material, but also spiritual world. If he violates these laws, there is an illness or some tragic circumstances that endanger life.

It is enough to eliminate these violations, and everything in your life will return to normal. This is what inner confession helps to do.

The confession has two parts:

Part one: you must remember all the times when someone greatly offended or insulted you. After all, resentment is a source of continuous flow of negative psychic energy.

Calmly remember your past life from the age of 12 (it is from this age that a person begins to bear karmic responsibility for his actions). The offender (even if this person has died) must be mentally imagined, and then hugged and kissed tightly!

Sometimes resentment reaches such strength that hugging and kissing, even mentally, does not work. In such cases, the "enemy" can be imagined as an unintelligent child of 2-3 years old. But it is necessary to hug and kiss - this is an indispensable condition of the Rescue Mechanism!

Second part: not only do you have enemies, someone, perhaps, considers you their enemy. It is possible that you yourself were a violator of moral truths.

In this case, imagine that you are on the court, and the judge is your own heart. Get on your knees before him and tell all your bad deeds, mistakes, vices from the age of 12. Speak everything you remember - giving an account that you will not do it again.

After all, by repenting, you remove all the negativity that has accumulated over the years. If the inner confession was carried out correctly and sincerely, then recovery and deliverance from troubles will come in a hundred cases out of a hundred, regardless of the severity of the illness or the scale of the misfortune that has fallen on you. It's only a matter of time.

After an inner confession, try not to repeat the same mistakes - otherwise misfortunes will return in double volume.

The Unified Prayer, which any person can do, regardless of their religious beliefs, will help you avoid this. This prayer, as practice shows, is able to reduce the temperature in a matter of minutes, relieve any pain.

Prayer must be done in solitude, with a lit candle, kneeling:

"God! Good God!
Yes, shine Your name in Heaven and on Earth.
From end to end of the Universe!
God! Strengthen your strength in resisting the forces of darkness, so as not only to resist it, but also to cleanse Mother Earth from this garbage.
Teach me to separate good from evil and to remain in peace and firmness of spirit, in order to worthily do Thy Will among people.
Strengthen the strength of my brothers and sisters - both close and unknown to me.
May they see Your true glory and be filled with love in their hearts.
And they will overcome the dark barriers in the movement along the Path to the Light.
And let them stretch out their hands to each other and give the immeasurable warmth of the soul.
God! May Your Will be done! And there will be One People on Earth.
He who loves his Mother - Nature, reunited with You with his love and walking along the Path of True Spiritual Development, relying on Your Last Testament.

IN THE MORNING: “Bless, Lord, on the deeds of the coming day, and may its difficulties be met as it befits those who walk under Your Light.”

IN THE EVENING: "Fill up, Lord, the lost strength for the good, in order to prepare for the meeting of the day of the future."
“I go to bed, I have the Cross seal on me. Guardian Angels! Save my Soul from evening until midnight, and from midnight until morning.

And the prayer "Our Father" three times.

Prayer is the most powerful force in the universe! The Bible says:

"Whatever you ask in prayer WITH FAITH, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)

"ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH LET IT BE TO YOU" (Mat. 9:29).

It was established by the Lord Himself and has been performed in the Church continuously for two millennia. All this time, Christians of different times and peoples, as it were, participate in that Last Supper, when Christ divided the bread and wine among His disciples and declared this food to be the Divine Body and Blood.

Of course, not every wine or bread is sacred, but only those over which special, liturgical prayers are said. The Particles eaten at the Liturgy give the believers Divine grace, spiritual strength, cleanse from the consequences of sin. There are frequent cases of recovery from diseases and other miracles that occur at the will of God.

The main shrine of the Church should be approached after appropriate preparation. An important step in this preparation is fasting. Fearing to break church rules, inexperienced parishioners often ask priests how to fast before Communion? Is fasting obligatory for everyone? In what cases can it be weakened or canceled? A brief excursion into the history of the ancient Church will help to understand this.

How did the tradition of fasting before Communion begin?

In the first centuries of the existence of the Christian Church, Communion was obligatory for any Christian present. Every Sunday, and sometimes more often, people gathered in the house of one of the Christians and had a meal with prayers and the sharing of bread. At that time, there was no special fast before this action, because the Eucharist was held in the evening and all the participants in the action had already had lunch and even supper.

It often happened that the dinners of wealthy Christians were too luxurious and combined with music and dancing, as was customary in the east. The Apostle Paul, who often celebrated the Eucharist himself, considered it unacceptable that such Christians should come to Communion after feasts and amusements, when their thoughts could not concentrate on prayer. Over time, they began to celebrate the Liturgy in the morning, and the custom arose to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ on an empty stomach, "before any meal." However, even then they still did not fast for several days, as is customary in the modern Church.

When the persecution of Christians ceased in 4 AD, many began to be baptized. Once small, tight-knit communities that met secretly in homes, they turned into large gatherings of worshipers in spacious temples. Due to human weaknesses, the moral level of believers has declined. The Holy Fathers of the Church, seeing this, urged every Christian to carefully examine his conscience when approaching Communion.

It was not allowed to approach the Sacrament if a person ate food on the night before the Liturgy, had sexual contacts or "impure visions" (dreams). Christians who revealed these involuntary sins at confession were temporarily suspended from Communion and fulfilled a special prayer rule. There were no restrictions on food on other days, since the believers strictly observed Wednesday, Friday and four fasts a year.

The tradition of fasting before Communion for three or seven days was established during the synodal period (XVIII-XIX centuries). This was due to a general decline in spirituality and religiosity. Many began to go to church “out of habit,” and received communion only because this was taken into account in church documents. If there was no record in the church book that the parishioner confessed and took communion, trouble could follow civil service.

At this time, the tradition of "fasting" was introduced - preparation for Communion for several days, in order to distract a lazy person from the hustle and bustle of life and help tune in to prayer. This custom is preserved in Russian Orthodox Church up to this day. Fasting consists of restriction in food and confession on the eve of Communion. How many days to fast - the confessor decides. You can also read about this in the Rules, a stand with which is usually located in a prominent place in the temple.

Fasting Rules Before Communion

So, there is no general church rule of obligatory fasting and confession before communion. But many priests strongly recommend to their parishioners fast for three days before entering the Sacrament. Is it worth rejecting good tradition for the letter of the law? It is impossible to argue with the priest or deliberately refuse fasting, since condemnation and insults only add sin to the already existing ones. It is better to fulfill the prescribed rule based on your own physical strength.

Orthodox prescribes the rejection following products:

• the meat of any animal or bird, even lean;
• milk (kefir, cottage cheese, whey, etc.);
• eggs of any bird;
• fish (not always).

In fact, at the disposal of the fasting Christian are fruits, vegetables, cereals, pasta and bread. Don’t be tempted to cook gourmet “lenten dishes”: food should not become a source of pleasure, but only support strength.

Is it permissible to eat fish before Communion? In most cases healthy person it should be abandoned. The exception is living in the Far North or ships, where fish is the main source of food. Seafood is considered more "lean" than fish and is allowed in moderation. A short fast before Communion is also associated with other restrictions, refusing the following:

• sweets;
• sexual contacts;
• alcoholic beverages;
• smoking;
• participation in various entertainments (weddings, parties, concerts).

6 hours before the start of the Liturgy, food and drink should be completely excluded.. This six-hour fast is called "Eucharistic". If the Eucharistic fast is broken, the priest may not admit to the Sacrament.

Many believers strive to receive communion on the days of general church fasts. This makes it possible to calmly prepare, especially if loved ones also fast and do not offer unnecessary temptations.

Is it permissible to take communion if you smoked or unwittingly broke the fast? About all the excesses allowed during fasting should be tell the priest in confession. Through confession, admission to the Sacrament is made, and the concealment of even a small offense is considered a great sin before God.

How to fast children

The Russian Orthodox Church has a tradition compulsory confession for children from the age of seven. At the same age, they should be accustomed to fasting. But children take communion from the very moment, i.e. from infancy.

Fasting before communion is not obligatory for a child if he or she is under three years.

From three to seven years of age, restrictions are introduced gradually, the child must not only be deprived of delicious food, but be aware of the need and purpose of fasting. You can support your child own example by removing fast foods from the family menu. Parents themselves should begin confession and Communion together with the child.

The decision on whether it is possible to lighten the fast should be made by the parents after a conversation with the priest, based on the state of health of the child. Children who grow up in unbelieving families and do not have the proper spiritual development.

Fasting for pregnant women

Pregnant women and the sick, who wish to take communion, but are on a strict diet, fasting can be weakened or canceled. This is done only with the blessing of the priest. Before you go for such permission, you should test yourself, will a short-term fast really be an unbearable burden, or because of laziness you don’t want to break the usual course of life?

If it is impossible for a pregnant woman to give up dairy products, you can replace this by giving up sweets or other things to which she feels affection. Such abstinence will be accepted by the Lord as a significant achievement.

Post in a hostel

Relief or cancellation of fasting is allowed for Christians who are on urgent military service, study, hospital, boarding school or places of detention, where meals are provided in common canteens and there is no opportunity to choose lean food. In this case, one should adhere to the blessing of the confessor visiting a military unit or boarding school. Refusal of fast food can be replaced by other restrictions or prayer. For those wishing to receive communion, it is better to resolve this issue with the priest a week before the Sacrament or (if not possible) before confession.

When can I take communion without fasting

During Christmas time - from the Nativity of Christ to Epiphany - and on Bright Week - seven days after Easter - a five-day fast is not required for communicants, only a six-hour Eucharistic one is preserved. But this permission can be allowed only to those who fully observed the previous, Christmas and Great Lent.

Lenten preparation is canceled for the seriously ill and dying.