The Shepherd, November 2007
Outside the altar, the reader reads the prayers before Holy Communion. Those who had been preparing to take Communion venerate the icons and bow to all asking forgiveness of all the people there. All this should be happening in silence.
When the priest is ready, the deacon opens the Royal doors and calls: “With fear of God, with faith, and love, draw near.” Then with the Chalice that contains the Body and Blood of Christ he says the Prayer, “I believe, O Lord, and I confess....” and the people that want to partake from the Holy Communion come up to receive.
Small children should be picked up by their Godparents or their parents (or anyone for that matter) till they are tall enough to receive without making it necessary for the priest to bend down to reach the child’s mouth. Does anyone want to be responsible for the spilling of the Body and Blood of Christ? We shouldn’t forget that the Chalice is quiet heavy. We should remember that the priest was up on his feet for hours already and not having eaten from the evening before, has probably been standing in church for a couple of hours longer than we have, is tired and also hungry (he also is just human).
Also adults should try and position their mouth a few inches from the lip of the Chalice, as nearly as possible at the same height. Some stand too far away; others in a kind of mock humility seem to try and duck under the Cup, others bow their heads so low the priest cannot see their mouth and so cannot be expected to direct the Spoon with the Gifts towards it. And, although this might seem obvious, it is necessary to say it, they should open their mouths!
After having received Holy Communion, we go to the side table we have some bread and warm wine to break our fast, and quietly go to our place where we wait for the rest of the people to partake.
At no time should we stand with our back to the Chalice, nor should we be sitting down even if we don’t partake, unless of course we are old or infirm. There is absolutely no reason to talk, and even less reason to leave the church. The one person who left the church early at the first celebration of this Mystery was Judas Iscariot. We do not want to be in the same situation as he is.
After all have received, the priest re-enters the altar through the Royal Doors places the Chalice on the Holy Table and blesses the people, goes back into the altar picks up the Chalice and blesses the people with it (i.e. with Holy Gifts) and carries it to the side table.
The closing prayer follows, for which the priest comes out of the altar into the middle of the church and reads the prayer for the whole Church. He then re-enters the altar, blesses the people, and then comes out with the Cross, names all the saints that day we celebrated, the saints of the Church and the saint whose Liturgy we celebrated (mostly St .John Chrysostom), and he gives the blessing to read the prayers of thanksgiving after the Divine Communion, which should be listened to by everyone. The people (at Brookwood those who did not receive Holy Communion earlier) come up to venerate the Cross and receive a piece of the holy bread. It is called antidoron, which means “instead of the Gifts” and is thus given to those who for some reason were unable to partake of Holy Communion. It is bread that is used at the Proskomidi, and in some churches is specially blessed. It should be eaten with care not crumbled around. This coming up to the Cross and receiving the antidoron necessarily involves movement and some disturbance, but that should not be taken as an excuse to start chatting or talking.
We hope we have been able to explain some things, if some one got interested and wants to go a bit deeper into the meaning of Liturgy, there is plenty of material, and the fathers will be very happy and able to help. We think it is very important to at lest know the very basics of Liturgy, so that we can follow the Liturgy with understanding and begin to teach our children to do the same.
And a short word about children: Children have a purer soul, ready and open to spiritual experience; therefore sometimes they can see things we can’t (for example Angels...). Also, children can understand much more than we might think. Even the very young, if we keep explaining what is going on, can get involved with the service, learn a little more each time, so they will not feel like outsiders and get bored. It is easier if children stand at the front where they can see more then legs of other people. We are blessed with a very beautiful service with a lot of “action;” with a little thought and effort we can help our children to know the church for the very special place that it is.
It will help if the parents are at ease and confident themselves about what is going on, only then can they explain it to their children. It helps to follow the liturgy from time to time with the prayer book, to keep one’s attention on what is going on. But that goes for anyone, not only parents. We should be always trying to learn more and more about the Liturgy and the other services of the Church, otherwise we cease to be part of a congregation praying and participating together and become simply a member of an audience watching something which is not really ours.
N.M.G.
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