www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Am I allowed to receive communion at an Orthodox Church?

I have recently started my freshman year at a known Calvinist, Protestant college. I love the pursuit of academic excellence and the Christian values that the school exemplifies. Lately, however, I have been feeling out of place theologically and haven't found a church, as most churches around are protestant. I discovered that our school has an "Orthodox Christian Club" and was very eager to return to the Divine Liturgy and the things I know. They invited me to attend church with them, and while I was there, however, I was denied access to receive The Eucharist. I tried explaining that I was Byzantine, but they would not listen. I come to ask one simple question, Am I allowed to receive Holy Communion at an Orthodox church?

Christ is in our midst!!

Reily Martin,

The short answer from the Eastern Christian position is "Yes." You may approach an Orthodox parish if you are cut off from or far away from a church of your own. However, there are two caveats.

First, the Orthodox Churches do not commune anyone who is not in full communion with them. So being "Byzantine" means nothing. Unless you can show membership in a canonical Orthodox Church, you are out of luck.

Second, the Catholic bishops of the United States have stated that this permission, mentioned in the Documents of Vatican 2, does not apply in the United States because there are many Catholic parishes in this country. This Vatican 2 permission was envisioned for people who were in Russia, for example, and who were vast distances from their own churches, or in the Middle East where there were similar situations.

If you want to receive Holy Communion, you have two choices. Go to the nearest Latin parish (or once in awhile, alternating with the Orthodox parish for familiarity) or become Orthodox. I should clarify, however, that this does not apply in the United States where there are Catholic parishes that are available. Familiarity might be nice, but this would be a major faith jump just to remain Byzantine.

This last would also apply for those in the situations I mentioned. A Catholic Christian, whether Byzantine, Chaldean, Armenian, or other, might have to make profession of faith and join the other Church. This does not make one a schismatic or heretic. The Council Fathers saw this as a way for Christians not to lose faith altogether. It's similar to what happened to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church when it was forcibly merged into the Russian Orthodox Church in 1946.

Remember that an isolated Christian soon becomes no Christian at all.

Bob