Holy Communion: Preparation and Reception

While the Orthodox Christian Church requires members to fast before receiving Communion so that they don't spoil their appetites for the sacred meal, the church cautions against placing too much emphasis on fasting. The focus should be on relating to Christ, not a person's sacrifices. With their hands at their sides, as participants approach the priest, they make the sign of the cross and tell the priest their baptismal names. As they hold the Communion cloth beneath their chins, they slowly and politely receive the wafer from the spoon into their mouths. After wiping their mouths with the cloth and making the sign of the cross, they pass the cloth to the next person in line and move on to drink from the chalice. The Orthodox Church teaches that receiving Communion means becoming one with Christ, so members should go forth from Communion acting as Jesus would act.