Lord's Supper Question

[Vedant]

In the Eastern Orthodox church I know the priest guards the chalice and that nobody outside the communion of Eastern Orthodoxy is allowed to take the Lord's Supper in Eastern Orthodox churches.

My question:

Is there ever a time a priest will refuse one of his members the Lord's Supper? If so, could you tell me a story of what could lead a priest to not allow someone to take the Lord's Supper? Thank you.

[gzt]

um, sure. if he knows that somebody has been separated from the church by some unconfessed sin, for instance, he would refuse them communion.

[OnTheWay]

If the priest knows someone is excommunicated then he would not allow them to have communion. Many priests won't give communion to anyone they don't know, and if visitors wish to have communion they are required to speak with the priest before Liturgy.

[authiodionitist]

I've seen a Catholic guy go up to the Chalice and be turned away. He wasn't upset - I think he expected it. I'm not sure what went on there, but there was definitely a verbal exchange. Probably along the lines of "Are you Orthodox?"~"No, I'm Roman Catholic"~"Well, you can't commune"~"Okay"

As far as other Orthodox, I've seen that too. The Orthodox comes up, the priest tells that person to speak to him later, but that that Orthodox cannot commune. That's a personal issue, though.

[Akathist]

Sure, our Priest will tell us if we go too long between confessions that we won't be able to receive again until it has happened.

We get visitors who sometimes don't understand and get in line. He quietly explains it to them that they can't receive.

[Monica, child of God]

I've been told to refrain from partaking for a time as part of repentance for confessed sin.

M.

[kamikat]

My priest has told me that he refused a parishoner because he refused to come for confession for over a year.

[gtsecc]

I think it is important to point out that the Priest only does this at the permission of the Bishop. Priests do not have the authority to commune or not commune people. So, they are merely following the guidelines of their Bishop.

Some Orthodox Bishops will allow their priests to give communion to Copts. For example, there is a Bishop in France who allows this. Some Bishops do not. For example, +Dmitri does not allow his Priest to give communion to Copts.

But even then, you can't say the Bishop is or is not giving communion - the person, out of communion, really must be seen as putting themselves out of communion by not holding the same beliefs.

Someone correct me if this is misleading, but I think it was an important distinction to be made.

[Ilian]

In the Eastern Orthodox church I know the priest guards the chalice and that nobody outside the communion of Eastern Orthodoxy is allowed to take the Lord's Supper in Eastern Orthodox churches.

Western Orthodox churches are no different.