www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Communion fast

Dear friends,

What is the EC policy on fasting prior to receiving Eucharist? I have understood it to be from the previous night. Is this correct?

The RC Communion fast has been lessened through the years, with now only one hour required. As a RC, I am not certain what is customary in the EC churches.

Normally, I travel the day before to the EC parish I attend when I have the opportunity, so the fast isn't such a difficult thing. But now, I have the opportunity to attend on Sunday, by driving in that same morning. This means getting up early and driving about three hours. Is coffee allowed at all in the morning before receiving Eucharist?

Is there a strict policy, and does it vary according to which EC Church one attends? Are there any variations?

It would be helpful to know for sure, as I may be doing this more often in the future.

Please pray for me.

Thanks in Christ and the Theotokos

Canon law has a way of sitting rather lightly on the Eastern Catholics - most of the time. The Communion Fast is a case in point.
The absolute requirement is, believe it or not, a fast of 15 minutes prior to receiving Holy Communion. No, I am not joking.
Where it is possible, our Churches are likely to recommend the tradtional fasting from the previous midnight. This is not always possible, for any number of reasons.
If you want a suggestion, you might try skipping the meal which you would otherwise eat at the hour nearest before the Divine Liturgy (one sings better that way).
In any event, please keep firmly in mind that the Holy Communion is much more important than the fast!
Incidentally, if you are driving for any length of time to go the Divine Liturgy, somebody has been offering a set of audio-tapes of the prayers before Holy Communion, which you might like to play while driving.
Incognitus

Gracious - Incognitus has done it again - made my jaw drop

My own reaction had been, on reading the orginal question was , that ECs were ,like the Latins, only required to fast for 1 hour before the Reception of Holy Communion - hence from time to time you will notice someone look at their watch before joining the line. But that thought has just been tossed out of the window for me .

Speaking personally I used to obey the 1 hour fast Rule but recently have moved towards the traditional practice of nothing from the evening before - in my case normally about 9pm but it is varied a little depending on where I am , and at what time my evening meal has been etc etc.

I have however discovered that if I am not to feel unwell I do need a little liquid in the morning - half a glass of orange juice or similar - not coffee or tea or milk - fruit juice or water [ hmm - is Birchjuice a fruit juice ?]

As to the wisdom of driving for 3 hours after an overnight fast in order to go to Divine Litrugy and still fasting - well only you know how you feel at that point - this should certainly be discussed with your Priest or SF.

I do like Incognitus's suggestion of tapes of the Prayers for before Communion - that would be great preparation.

Whilst on this - my pet peeve - folk who do not realise that chewing Gum is breaking the Fast and as an EMHC [ the new term is now in my head ] and standing before me ........ and only then ......... no I can't actually say what happens next but I am NOT permitted to refuse them Communion - absolute horror.

Anhelyna

Well, I shoot for the night before to begin the fast. This is not so much actual as i do not typically eat between supper and bed, but more a mental thing. Think Vespers get us into the new day-if in that day i will receive Communion, begin focusing on this and and let it be a director of what i do, how i act and think.

As far as driving three hours before: one can do this without coffee, and then be at Liturgy for some time and not have anything resembling a meal until noon. Of course, i was used to this sort of thing, but if you need coffee to stay awake, then go ahead. Better coffee before the Liturgy than none before the funeral.

BTW, i think in the Pittsburgh Metropolia, the fast is one hour (which in my home parish means one can eat up until the Epistle)

In Christ,
Adam

Adam

I don't know if I am confused here or not, did you really mean that from the Epistle to Reception of Communion it is 1 hour ?

Anhelyna

Anhelyna asks "did you really mean that from the Epistle to Reception of Communion it is 1 hour ?"
I don't know the parish in question, but I suppose it depends on how long-winded the sermon is.
Incognitus

Thanks, I did wonder about this also. This has been informative.


God Bless,


Porter.

I dont know about long-winded-Father has very good homiletic skills. However-DL is usually 80-90 minutes. At that rate, that puts a one hour fast beginning around the Prokeimenon or the Trisagion (there are rarely interpolations or announcements after Communion).

Thanks to all of you for your information. We were able to get to DL this morning, leaving at 7:30 and driving to church by about 10:10. One cup of coffee, early, kept me going until after 1:00. My teenagers were as happy to be at DL as I was! So, I said to them, we could always move here, but you would have to change schools! They didn't go for that idea. But it's less than three years till they are all done with high school. Lord only knows what might happen then!

Blessings and Peace to all!

Tammy

That is just exactly right for my parish too.

My pastor has joked about it and encouraged us all to do the traditional fasts.

15 minutes I never heard of, has my pastor been holding out on me? If I stand in the back I can chew gum until the Epiclesis!


just kidding


no I would never do that


never

Neither would I - I don't chew gum! However, some pistachios might be interesting.
As to the 15 minute fast, we owe this one to Pope Paul VI. I believe he actually intended it for the sick, but since no one is perfectly healthy, it obviously applies to all of us. So I'll put the pistachios away at the end of the Anaphora.
Incognitus

[QUOTE]Originally posted by incognitus:
Neither would I - I don't chew gum! However, some pistachios might be interesting.........
As to the 15 minute fast, we owe this one to Pope Paul VI. I believe he actually intended it for the sick, but since no one is perfectly healthy, it obviously applies to all of us. ....
Incognitus [/QUOTE

Indeed - so I had been taught though I confess I had not extended that to us poor sinners - sick as we so obviously are.

An interesting thought all the same

Anhelyna

I know that when the changes were made in the Roman Church, one hour before receiving became the REQUIRED fast, the traditional fast was not thrown out, but became voluntary and was supposed to be encouraged. The same holds true for abstinence from meat on all Fridays of the year, and abstinence on Wednesdays and fasting on all Fridays during Lent.

Most people however, see what they want to see or hear what they want to hear, and go with that.

That's also why this "conscience" business got so screwed up. People were told to form their own conscience, but what they left behind was to form their conscience "in accord with the teachings of the Church".

Sorry, I sidetracked this thread a bit.

In Christ, Bill

If ya put the Twinkie down when you get out of your car, you should be fine.

Seriously though, it really is a matter of perspective and physiology.

It does need to be said every now and then, DON'T BE STUPID. If you are diabetic, hypoglycemic, pregnant, or otherwise so constructed that the midnight fast isn't a Good Idea, don't do it. Asceticism isn't a one-size-fits-all shackle. It's a garment woven of love, sized and crafted for each individual.

Sharon

Sharon,

Your comments are always so insightful and beautifully put.

Tammy