Communion after baptism: the meaning of the sacrament. First Communion after Baptism

Communion is one of the main sacraments of Orthodoxy. It is believed that every Christian should regularly receive Holy Communion. The sacrament is performed in the church. It is necessary to prepare for it in advance. The first time a Christian goes to the sacrament after baptism. It is generally believed that the human soul, purified by sacrament and baptism, is guarded by angels.

Why Communion Is Required

Many consider the sacrament of the sacrament a common Orthodox tradition. In fact, its significance is very great for the Christian soul. The Sacrament helps to guide a person on the true path, to purify his soul.

The first communion after baptism reveals the soul of man before the spiritual creatures. The Sacrament prepares it for the future Resurrection of the Lord. We can say that the sacrament is the preliminary preparation of the soul for a meeting with the creator.

First Communion after Baptism

Baptizing and communion with children is recommended from the moment of birth. The earlier the soul opens to the Lord, the easier and more successful life will be. The soul of the child, protected by angels, will not be involved in sinful actions.

The first communion after baptism is an event not only for the child, but also for his spiritual parents. During the sacrament, his soul will first open to the heavenly powers. What do parents need to know about the timing of the sacrament? It passes after the child has been baptized. If the baby is still too small, many parents prefer to disregard the sacrament of the sacrament or postpone it for a later period. The Orthodox Church does not approve of such behavior.

According to the rules established by the clergy, the communion of infants after baptism is held on the second day. To postpone it for a later period is highly discouraged.

The process of holding the sacrament

How is the communion held in the church after the child's baptism? The parishioners stand in line. Infants should be in the hands of their parents. Adult children are themselves. They need to fold their arms crosswise in the chest. The right hand should be at the top.

In the course of the sacrament there is a divine service. Under prayerful appeals to the middle of the church the clergy endure the Chalice with sacred wine and special consecrated bread. They symbolize the blood and flesh of Jesus Christ, who took upon himself all human sins. Above the Chalice there is a special divine service, during which the divine grace descends upon the worshipers.

Believers take turns to approach the clergyman and ask for his blessings. Approaching the priest, one should name the Christian name given at the baptism. After the priest completes the rite of blessing, it is necessary to approach the sacred Chalice, drink wine and eat bread. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that there are no drops and crumbs. Children need to be explained that the divine gifts should be eaten completely. If a child sheds wine, it is worth talking about this priest.

After the sacrament after the baptism is completed, the child is taken to the table with prosphoras and given him to eat one of them. In the same place, you can drink the gifts of the sacrament. After this, you can bring the child to the icons and show how to pray.

Preparing the child for the sacrament

How to prepare for the first child's sacrament? The sacrament requires strict rules in preparation. They are necessary for the complete purification of the human soul. However, it is difficult for children to observe the necessary restrictions, so the rules for preparing for the sacrament are much weaker for them:

• Feeding. If the recipient is an infant, it is recommended to feed him no later than 2 hours before the beginning of the sacrament. Older children should not eat during the day before the communion. In this case, you should begin preparing for the sacrament in advance. To the body of the child to withstand the forced starvation, it is necessary to prepare it beforehand.
• The first communion after the child's baptism is the most important sacrament of Orthodoxy. During its carrying out loud conversations, noise, run are inadmissible. The child should inform in advance about the basic rules of behavior.
• During the sacrament on the child and on the adult, who is holding the Communion baby, there must necessarily be a cross on the breast.

What to do if the child refuses to partake

Older children may refuse to attend the sacrament. How, in this case, should parents do? It is necessary to find out the reasons for his behavior. Maybe the child is just afraid of unfamiliar surroundings. In this case, you can just calmly tell him about what the mystery is.

It is recommended to prepare the child in advance. To do this, in a domestic setting, you need to introduce him to the basics of Orthodoxy. You can read a children's Bible or watch a Christian cartoon.

While in the temple, it is worth paying attention to other children, put them as an example. Seeing that other children are quietly standing and do not show signs of anxiety, the child will calm down.

You can come to the temple in advance and show your child where and how the communion will take place. Perhaps he will be interested in burning candles and icons. Explain to the child their meaning.

After the baby decided and went to the sacrament, he should be praised and express his admiration for his deed. Gradually the baby will quietly receive the sacrament. Having performed the sacrament after the child's baptism, you can acquaint him with the priest. The priest will also praise and encourage the baby.

Communion of adults

Not everyone comes to Christ at a young age. The road to Orthodoxy is different for everyone. More and more often in the temples you can see adults who are preparing to accept Christianity. Communion after the baptism of an adult is conducted in the same way as in children, on the second day after the performance of the sacrament.

However, adults are required to prepare for stricter requirements:

• The Sacrament of Penance. Pre-Christian must pass the secret of confession. Only after the remission of sins is he admitted to the sacrament of the Holy Mysteries. However, if the sacrament is performed after the adult's baptism, the sacrament of confession is not necessary. His soul is completely cleansed of sins during baptism.
• Compliance with strict post for 3 days. These days you can not eat meat, dairy products.
• Behavior. In addition to cleansing the body, before the communion it is necessary to purify the soul. It is best to hold preparatory days in prayer. Also it is worth to drop all bad and evil thoughts.

The sacrament of communion is necessary for the salvation of the soul of every Christian. During its conduct, the Divine grace descends on the Orthodox. The first communion after baptism is especially important for a person. It is at this moment that his soul is revealed to the spiritual world. Observance of the basic requirements in preparation for the sacrament will allow the human soul to open the way to the world of spiritual grace.