June 22, 2001
The Faithful Priests, Deacons, and Monastics of
of the
Holy Diocese of Denver
Beloved in the Lord,
As all of you know, the central focus of our holy Apostolic faith is the distribution of the Holy Body and Sacred Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ to the faithful believers, laity and clergy, of the Church for their sanctification and salvation.
We know that the Eucharistic Divine Liturgy began immediately after the glorious resurrection of our Lord. Actually the Lord Himself celebrated it at Emmaus before Saint Luke and Saint Cleopas (Luke 24:30). We can accept as a verity that it was celebrated in the presence of our Lord's Mother, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary (Acts 1:14).
Without any doubt the Divine Liturgy had become an immediate sacramental service which was celebrated in every place where Christian congregations had been established. When Saint Paul went to Corinth, he certainly participated in the unbloody sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist which had been established there even before he had arrived. In the eleventh chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians, Saint Paul teaches about one's behavior and appearance in the Church. He then speaks about the Lord's Supper. In the original Greek he calls it Kyriakon Deipnon. He condemns the flippant attitude and behavior of the people during the holy Eucharistic service.
Saint Paul proceeds to repeat the words of Institution, Receive,
eat, this is My Body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of
Me; this cup is the new covenant in My Blood. This do, as often as you
drink it, in remembrance of Me (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25).
The Apostle
continues to tell the Christians of Corinth that because of the fact
that they were careless in how they approached the altar table to
receive the Holy Gifts some of them had become ill and others had
died.
As clergy we know that the Body and Blood of our Lord is for the remission of sins and the promise of eternal life in God's Kingdom. It is also for the healing of spiritual and physical infirmities. But the Holy Gifts can be a double-edged sword, cutting in both directions, one for healing and the other for condemnation. The manner by which one approaches to receive the Holy Gifts is therefore a matter of life and death.
I am reminding you of these things, not that you do not know them but because I have been witnessing a carelessness on the part of the clergy in preparing and offering the Holy Gifts to the people in the recent past. I have also seen this carelessness transferred to the people who receive Holy Communion. More frightening is the fact that some people appear to be afraid of touching the communion spoon with their lips. Such people unfortunately do not seem to realize that Holy Communion has never been known to spread biological diseases in all of the Church's history. Rather than fear that they are not properly prepared to receive the Holy Gifts, they transfer the fear of unpreparedness from themselves to the fear of contamination from the Body and Blood of the Lord.
I have also noticed a lot of sloppiness by some priests in the distribution of Holy Communion. Some seem to be in a rush to finish and I wonder if the people are receiving both the Body and the Blood, or just a very small amount of the Sacred Blood.
Rather than making other observations, allow me to instruct you as reminders, so that you may become more sensitized to the divine treasure which you hold in your hands:
- Cut a larger Lamb than the size of the Seal on the prosforon. This is important because when you give Holy Communion, a particle of the Lamb on the Communion spoon prevents unnecessary dripping from the spoon. Many of you cut a Lamb that is too small for the number of people you commune.
- Have two altar boys, each holding a corner of the communion cloth to place under the chin of the communicant. This way, if there is any dripping, it will not fall on the clothing of the communicant or on the floor.
- Hold only the edge of the communion cloth between the two fingers with the hand you hold the chalice.
- Never over fill the chalice, or under fill it.
- Do not rush in removing the sacred particles from the Antiminsion after you remove them from the paten placing them in the chalice; the people can wait one minute more.
- When you consume the Gifts always use warm water to clean the chalice; cold water does not thoroughly clean and can leave the chalice sticky.
- Never move quickly when carrying the chalice, especially when steps are involved.
As you recall these basic reminders concerning the great care you must have in handling the Holy Gifts, please remind the people as to the care they should take whenever they receive the Holy Body and Sacred Blood of the Lord. Some obvious instructions are these:
- Orthodox Christian communicants must have prepared themselves to receive the Holy Eucharist with prayer and abstinence. This means that there must be no consumption of food or drink after the previous midnight hour, unless a person is taking medication.
- Orthodox Christian communicants must not make the sign of the cross before the communion cup. Some persons have hit the cup accidentally. If two altar boys hold the communion cloth the communicant should cross his or her arms over their chest and make the sign of the cross after walking away from the chalice.
- Inform the communicants that they should close their lips lightly over the communion spoon if they are to receive the holy Body, as well as the Sacred Blood.
- Inform the communicants that the priest is the one who consumes the remainder of the Holy Gifts at the end of each Divine Liturgy and we know of no priest who has ever become infected with communicable diseases.
- Women and girls should wipe their lips to remove all lipstick before receiving Holy Communion. Many times the lipstick adheres to the communion spoon.
- Abstinence before Holy Communion includes children from at least six years of age, if not younger. No Greek Orthodox child in our parishes has ever appeared to be emaciated; actually many are overfed.
The Holy Body and Sacred Blood of our Lord are the most valuable
Gifts in this life and must never be looked upon in a flippant or
nonchalant way. These Holy Gifts unite us with our Lord Himself and in
doing so we await His glorious return; for we receive them in
remembrance
of our Lord, proclaiming His death for us until He comes
again (1 Corinthians 11:25,26).
Guard this awesome and divine Parakatathiki; it will mean our own eternal condition when He returns.
With Paternal Blessings,
+Metropolitan Isaiah
Presiding Hierarch
of
the Diocese of Denver