Can I brush my teeth before the sacrament? What can and can not be before communion?

Many Orthodox believers ask the question to the fathers internally, via the Internet or are interested in their relatives: can I brush my teeth before the communion? But this is by no means the only thing that newcomers can ask. A lot of questions appear among the church-goers. It is worth noting that there is a huge number of near-church myths, misconceptions. This article briefly retells the answers of experienced and pious priests, gives recommendations and useful advice to beginners.

What is the Communion?

How does Christ say in the Gospel of the Lord's Supper? On the eve of a terrible death on the cross, He gathers together his disciples and prepares a meal. On the table there is bread and wine. Christ says that in memory of Him they will drink wine and eat bread, as these are the symbols of His blood and body.

To this day, the Liturgy is being performed in the temples and Holy Communion is being prepared with the use of bread and wine. Priests pray together with parishioners with the words "Let's pray for the offered Honorable Gifts to the Lord."

What is actually meant by bread and wine in the Holy Chalice? Prayers read before the Communion at home are as necessary for the Christian as for the church. Why do we need prayer? Because the Lord connects with that person who calls him to himself.

What is the Communion?

There is some evidence of how the Communion actually prepares and what lies beneath it is hidden from the eyes of the people. One day a certain person came into the temple. The royal doors in the temple were open. The priests stood at the altar. Suddenly, a stranger saw a priest piercing a baby with a copy. He shouted at the whole church: "Why are you killing a baby?" All the people standing in the temple turned around. No one could understand what kind of baby they were talking about. In fact, the priest in his hand was a prosphora (a small loaf of wheat flour and water).

The Lord invisibly and endlessly gives himself up as a sacrifice for the sake of people, but not materially, but spiritually. Indeed, his crucifixion was seen almost 2000 years ago on Calvary in Jerusalem.

Let's go back to the Gospel and to the 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 will happen, even the apostles did not know. Especially it is not given to us to know. This is a 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 communicant himself.

Another living testimony

In the city of Lanciano (Italy) to this day there is true evidence that Communion is not just bread and wine. In the Catholic Church of St. Legotius in the 8th century, one priest doubted that Communion was a miracle. When he picked up a piece of bread, he saw something like a muscle tissue. He looked at the Cup and saw that there was blood instead of wine. The priest shouted in horror. Then he realized that you can not doubt. The Lord proved to him that everything is real. To this day, this miracle is in Lanciano. Many pilgrims come to pray near such a shrine.

What do you need before the Christian participle? Of course, first of all, the belief that he will be given to eat 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 should begin not only with fear, but also with faith. It's just that you can not receive communion.

How to treat?

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

No wonder the holy fathers said that angels mourn because they do not receive the sacrament. After all, they have no body, there is no need. They are already with God. And to the man the Lord gave such a great gift - to unite with Himself during the Sacrament. Let it be invisible.

Let's figure out what to read before the communion:

• Canon penitential to the Savior;
• Canon of the Moleben of the Mother of God;
• The canon to the Guardian Angel;
• Adherence to Holy Communion.

It is all these prayers, hymns, kontakion that will help you prepare properly to receive the Holy Gifts in the way that is proper.

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 the best option for such people is the Great, Christmas, and also Petrov and Uspensky. But you do not need to choose exactly the periods of multi-day posts. After all, it is more important to reconcile with God, and not convenience.

What should we do before the Sacrament to someone who rarely goes to church? First, it is necessary to approach the priest for confession. When the priest accepts penitents, you can find out in the temple that is closer to your home or who want to visit. Be ready that the priest after confession can not admit to Communion. There can be a lot of reasons for this. Often, to be admitted to communion, one must fast, repent, visit the temple many times. It is necessary to ask the priest after the confession whether he blesses the Holy Chalice or not. Often the priests themselves insist that the confessor take communion. It is necessary to accept such advice.

What is the post before Communion?

If you are a beginner or have not been in the temple for a long time, then go to the priest for confession. Usually during this sacrament many spiritual questions are solved. Father will explain to you what to do, what to watch out for, when you can take communion.

What is meant by fasting? Meat, milk can not eat, eggs, too. In addition, meals, products, drinks that contain the above products are not consumed. Remember that fasting should be spiritual. Eat a little. For example, for breakfast - tea with oatmeal cookies or oatmeal porridge on water, lunch - soup on vegetable broth, at dinner - vegetable salad and rice / potatoes.

Drink before the communion, as well as during the fast, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. It is also recommended to refuse coffee. After all, the body should be a temple of the soul, a quiet "house", sober and cheerful. Food is fast (not lean), coffee and alcohol can not be adjusted to prayers.

Spiritual side

Let's continue our conversation about fasting. With food, we sorted it out. As for entertainment, watching movies, you need to postpone it all. Any unimportant things need to be replaced with prayers to God, the Most Holy Theotokos, your Guardian Angel and the saints.

Let's talk about what to read before the Communion. Above we mentioned the canons and the follow-up to Holy Communion. Besides them, it is advised to read the Gospel, the holy fathers. Be wary of taking near-church literature or the one that refers to the false Christian.

It is not necessary to fuss during the post. If there is an opportunity, then postpone the case for later. They can wait. After all, the earthly life is short-lived, and the fast must think about eternity.

Why such restrictions?

During the Liturgy, before the removal of the Holy Chalice, the choir sings that we (the parishioners) leave all the earthly vanity. Far from everyone (especially modern) understands that sooner or later the earthly life will end and all that he worked so hard will go into oblivion. After all, he can not take his passport or his favorite job, bank accounts or a computer with valuable information with him to the afterlife. He will appear before God with his conscience, with sins and virtues. The Lord will not ask if you were the general director, He will ask you to answer for offending the grandmother-client. God does not care if you had a "Lexus". He will ask if you brought the weak, the weak, without taking money from them.

Why are restrictions in fast in relation to entertainment? It's time to sit down at the table or stand in front of the icons and think: what have you done wrong in all life, for this period. Is the conscience clear? It is more important for a Christian not to know, for example, whether it is possible to clean his teeth before the Sacrament, but about what sins really are and what is repentance, how not to sin. The Lord is upset when a person commits a sin even mentally. Just think: you are mentally angry, even your heart is numb. This is also a sin. It is necessary to repent sincerely.

When they are not allowed to receive communion?

Do you know that you need to get rid of your sins? If you repent, you must try to avoid sin. In order for the priest to admit to Communion, every Sabbath must be attended to the evening service, then in the morning at the Liturgy. The same should be done on large church holidays. We need to read the morning and evening prayers at the Prayer at home. Of course, this takes 20-30 minutes. If you do not have time, you can read the Seraphim rule: thrice "Our Father", three times "Theotokos ..." and once "The Symbol of Faith". But at the same time during the day you need to pray to God, the saints. These are the most important rules.

May not be allowed to Communion in such cases, for example:

• Murder, abortion;
• Fortune-telling, divination, extrasensory, spiritualism, astrology;
• Another faith, heretical views;
• Cohabitation outside marriage, debauchery, homosexuality, drug addiction and alcoholism and so on.

The priest needs to tell the whole truth during the confession, not to hide any sin. The Lord stands beside him invisibly, He knows everything, only waiting for repentance of the heart. If you hide something, it will be even more a sin. It is necessary to completely cleanse your soul before the Sacrament. What do the holy fathers and priests say? The human soul must be pure, bright, with the hope of correction and a change in life for the better. Do not go to the Chalice if you are not sure that you want to live with God.

If the priest blessed

When the priest gives a blessing, you should take it seriously. You should read not only the canon of the Theotokos before the Sacrament, but also the canons of the Savior, the Guardian Angel, and also the Follow. All this is in Orthodox prayers.

The volume for reading is very large. Therefore, you can read the canons 2-3 days prior to Communion, but the Followings are read only the night before, after coming from the temple with evening service.

It is necessary to make sure that nobody distracts you. If you take communion with your family, friends, pilgrims, then take turns, pray.

The morning before Communion

As you know, Orthodox Christians, you can not eat anything in the morning before Communion. Even medicines are not allowed to drink. But can I brush my 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, there is no way to wait until noon, it is better to go to early service. In small towns and villages the Liturgy is served early, and in megacities - at 7 am or 9-10 hours.

For the sake of connection with God you can be patient. It is worth reading prayers to oneself.

The morning before the Sacrament is always exciting. We need to prepare mentally. After reading the morning rule, go to the temple at least half an hour before the Liturgy to calmly submit notes, put candles, go to your beloved saints.

Before the Communion itself

In service, listen carefully to prayer. When the priests prepare the Communion, pray to receive the Blood and Body of Christ worthy. At the same time, a pious person sincerely should consider himself unworthy of such a gift.

Remember the Canon of the Mother of God before the Sacrament: one must pray that the Mother of God intercedes for us sinners. And what does the canon say about Jesus Christ? Repent to the Lord in our sins. Remember this when you wait for the Sacrament.

The very moment of Communion

When the King's Gates are opened and the priest comes out with the Cup, one should bow down. Then stand in line, crossing his arms over his chest. When you come to the Cup, you need to call your father's Orthodox name and open your mouth wide. Communion should be swallowed immediately, so that the particle is not stuck in the teeth. Take warmth and prosophora.

Many people ask: "Can I eat before the Communion?" Do you know why the answer is not? Because the Lord must enter the body of a Christian first. God is more important to us than food.

So we talked about whether it is possible to brush our teeth before the Sacrament, how to prepare, what to read, gave examples of evidence of true faith. It must be remembered that God needs our prayers and repentance, and not the fuss of the earth.