Proper preparation for the reception of Christ’s Body and Blood is imperative
The Russian Orthodox Church requires anyone who desires to receive Holy Communion to have prepared themselves with confession, the Pre-Communion prayers and having abstained from food or drink from midnight on. Most of the world’s Local Orthodox Churches hold to this standard, recognizing that the clergy, as guardians of the Mysteries, must make sure anyone who approaches the chalice is Orthodox, and properly prepared. The requirement that one be a member of the Orthodox Church before approaching the chalice relates to the fact that communion is the outward expression of having all things in common, in faith and worship. Holy Communion is not the route to unity, but is the fruit of unity.
The Holy Scriptures tell us that to receive unworthily is spiritually dangerous. We are receiving the very Body and Blood of the Saviour for the healing of both body and soul. This eating and drinking is not about a simple remembrance of a past event, but an entrance into the Heavenly Realm, where there is neither time nor space. When communing we are participating mystically in the very Banquet that is on going in heaven. In the Eucharist we have a foretaste of heavenly things. Thus, proper preparation for the reception of Christ’s Body and Blood is imperative for our very salvation. To eat or drink unworthily is to put our immortal soul at risk.
Orthodoxy in North America does not have a common practice in regards to preparation. Some jurisdictions allow members to approach the chalice without having confessed, thus contributing to the abuse of the Mysteries by people who may or may not be fasting and who may never confess.
On the flip side, for those who are required to confess before communing, they can fall into the habit of going through the motions of confession without giving the priest adequate time to offer spiritual direction. When this happens, confession is no different than refraining to confession at all. We can easily run through the usual litany of sins, get absolution and start the week off without having made a heartfelt confession and having a plan to avoid the sins just confession. We must have a plan of action that will allow the Holy Spirit to transform our heart. True repentance MUST include a commitment to go and sin no more! This requires the guidance of a confessor and takes more time than simply getting in a long line prior to the service.
Love and blessings,
Abbot Tryphon
Axios! Axios! Axios! To my dear brother and concelebrant, Archimandrite Irenei, who has just been elected Bishop of Sacramento. Father Irenei will be consecrated to the Episcopate on the 6th of November, in Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, on the occasion of the Feast Day of the Cathedral.
Sunday July 17, 2016 / July 4, 2016
4th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone three.
Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia: Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarit-sa Alexandra, Crown Prince Alexis, and Grand-duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, and those martyred with them (1918).
Venerables Tikhon, Basil and Nikon Sokolovsky (16th c.) (movable holiday on the 1st Sunday after June 29th).
St. Arsenius, bishop of Tver (movable holiday on the 1st Sunday after June 29th).
Synaxis of saints of Tver (movable holiday on the 1st Sunday after June 29th).
Synaxis of All Saints of Pskov-Pechers (movable holiday on the 4th Sunday of Pentecost).
St. Andrew, archbishop of Crete (712-726).
Venerable Martha, mother of St. Symeon Stylites the Younger (551).
Venerable Andrew (Rublev), iconographer (1430).
New Hieromartyr Hieromonk Nilus of Poltava (1918).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest (after 1937)
New Hieromartyrs Sava (Trlajic), Bishop of Gornji Karlovac and George of Serbia (1941).
Burial of St. Andrew, prince of Bogoliubsk (1174).
Uncovering of the relics (1507) of Venerable Euthymius the Wonderworker, archimandrite of Suzdal (1404).
Martyrs Theodotus and Theodota at Caesarea in Cappadocia (108).
Hieromartyr Theodore, bishop of Cyrene in Libya, and with him Martyrs Cyprilla, Aroa, and Lucia (310).
Icon of the Mother of Godof “Galatea”.
Venerables Tikhon, Basil and Nikon Monks of Solovki.
St. Andrew the Russian of Cairo (1174).
St. Donatus of Libya, bishop (Greek).
St. Asclepias the Wonderworker (Greek).
Hieromartyr Theophilus (Greek).
St. Menignus, monk (Greek).
Hieromartyr Theodotus (Greek).
Hieromartyrs Innocent and Sabbatius and 30 others with them in Sirmium of Pannonia (304).
Translation of the relicts of St. Martin the Merciful, bishop of Tours (397).
St. Urlich of Augsburg and Bavaria (973).
Scripture Readings
Romans 6:18-23
18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things isdeath. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 8:5-13
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant
5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.