Gentlemen, I have listened to the first part of your question and answers program. It was excellent and I look forward to your next episode.

It sounded like you were a little rushed answering the last question and I hope to try and add a little more to the explanation on why others are not allowed to participate in the Eucharist in the Orthodox church. Since I was ”one of them” I humbly offer what I have come to realize by way of distinction.

An Orthodox priest has an awesome responsibility to guard the sacred mysteries of Christ. The Orthodox take very seriously the state of their souls before taking communion and the Priest as a Father/Confessor needs to know the state of those coming to receive the body and blood of Christ.

For example, in an Orthodox parish people are required to prepare themselves on a regular basis through confession and usually fasting from the midnight the night before communing. These guidelines within the Orthodox family are to protect its members from receiving the Mystery unto condemnation or judgment.

To open up, or wholesale, this most holy mystery would be a great injustice by anyone required to guard the holy mysteries within the Orthodox church. We must abandon the desire to have the Church conform to what we think it should be i.e. have the Mysteries/Eucharist on our terms.

I’m not saying the people’s hearts asking the question are not sincere in their desire to recognize and receive such holy mysteries. what I am saying is in western American culture we tend to be a bit self absorbed thinking that ”it’s the norm” and okay to want things on our terms. Let’s remember, we are talking about the Kingdom of God.. Further, this goes to the larger issue that we were forced to look at as to why Orthodox believe there are no sacraments outside the church.

If your going to hold to the historic pattern and values of the church than you should become Orthodox. Otherwise, you end up with other movements wearing some of the same vestments and saying some of the same things, yet relaxing vital tradition concerning the mysteries, cannons, councils, fathers, etc. These safeguards were designed to guard the very faith found within the orthodox church. It’s paradoxical that the same people that applaud us for guarding the faith become contentious when we fail to be inclusive to all by doing so?.

Perhaps you can re-address the question on a subsequent show?.

Kevin,

Each question in the list that was given to us could be a whole show. As time goes on we will dive deeper into those questions and others.

Our Life in Christ is a great Orthodox Podcast that has been producing shows for years has a great series on Communion. They can be found at http://ourlifeinchrist.com/

Peace +

Jacob Lee

I was just listening to this, and about involving children in the service, and had to share what happened a couple of weeks ago. We had our 4 year old daughter out to St. Anthony’s for the first time (she’d been to the Life Giving Spring, and St. John the Forerunner). After observing everyone venerating the icons, she would go around kissing every icon (multiple times), and even would kiss the priest’s stole that hangs next the icon. It was hard to know when to stop her, as she was so absorbed in the process.

I have three children (ags. 5, 4, 1) and my two oldest do this quite frequently. I let them venerate as much as they want. As their dad, I can usually tell when they “cross the line” and are playing around and trying to get attention.

For now I have been erring on the side of letting them venerate as they love to do it.

Also, I gave my 4 yr. old son a prayer rope (33 count) and suggested he say “Lord have mercy” for every bead and the hymn to the Theotokos for the separating 3 beads. He REALLY likes to do it. His attention can really wander, but when he is going through the prayer rope he gets really focused. He also asks to sleep with it or an icon.

It seems to me like there are things that I could learn from my kids when it comes to uninhibited veneration…. or that is… not worrying so much about what it might look like to others.

Anyways…… just got back from our celebration of the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

bye for now.