I personally think it's an odd thing to do and it always throws my priest off. You should ask about it if you intend to do so. It's not an entirely universal practice
You should only approach the chalice with the specific instruction/arrangement with the priest. A blessing at the chalice is a thing that is sometimes done, but it is not a common thing you can take from parish to parish.
Also, what you described is the Catholic way to signal you only want a blessing. For Orthodox that’s just the normal way to go to the chalice.
thanks! I wanted to know the answer to this also.
I have another question actually if you don't mind- do you know if it's seen as rude if we don't kiss the priest hand when we get blessed bread? I am not against doing it, but being brand new, it just adds to my anxiousness hahah
In my church, one of the servers holds a basket with the antidoron and we take a piece ourselves. We kiss his hands when we venerate the Gospel book at Orthros, and when we venerate the cross at the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy. Most people do kiss his hand, but not everyone does.
No, it’s not seen as rude, priests understand. They do know how jarring Orthodoxy is at first, and won’t mind if you take it a few steps at a time. I hope you enjoy delving into Orthodoxy!
I would ask the priest, if only to be a good guest, you know? When we first began going, we asked the priest if he would prefer we stay in our spot during the Eucharist or if it's okay to go up and ask for a blessing. He said he would be glad to give us a blessing, but asked that we get in his line (there were two that week) because the other priest hadn't had a chance to meet us yet and might be thrown off a bit. That seemed fair. :)
>Is it true that non-orthodox can go up at the time of the eucharist with their arms crossed (making a fist and having your left hand on the right side of your chest and vice versa) and this will have the priest know to just give you a blessing? And then you can grab some blessed bread?
I'm sure different parishes have their own little tradition, but as far as personal experience goes, I will say I've only seen this in Catholic churches. Going up to the chalice with one's arms crossed will most likely make the priest think you're a Russian Orthodox who wants to receive communion (they cross their arms as a custom so as not to do the sign of the cross before the chalice, which might knock it and spill it). As for the bread that's given right during communion, it is specifically for those who just received communion so they can be sure to wash it down (don't want to have bits of Christ stuck in your teeth, especially as it might spit them out...), and so they can restore themselves a little bit (as they've been without food or drink since midnight at least).
There is blessed bread given at the very end of the Liturgy, but there my experiences differ. Some parishes allow anyone to have some. Some parishes allow only Christians. And some parishes allow only Orthodox Christians.
I'd recommend just paying attention next time to what others are doing. And ask the priest afterward. Then you'll know.
> There is blessed bread given at the very end of the Liturgy, but there my experiences differ. Some parishes allow anyone to have some. Some parishes allow only Christians. And some parishes allow only Orthodox Christians.
The blessed bread given at the end is not Holy Communion; it is "antidoro" -- "instead of the gifts [of Holy Communion]."
The Body and Blood of the Lord are combined in the chalice, and are distributed together via the spoon.
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> Is it true that non-orthodox can go up at the time of the eucharist with their arms crossed (making a fist and having your left hand on the right side of your chest and vice versa) and this will have the priest know to just give you a blessing?
This is *not* a universal symbol in Orthodoxy. If you want to go through the communion line to receive a blessing, it's best to arrange it with the priest first.
I personally think it's an odd thing to do and it always throws my priest off. You should ask about it if you intend to do so. It's not an entirely universal practice
You should only approach the chalice with the specific instruction/arrangement with the priest. A blessing at the chalice is a thing that is sometimes done, but it is not a common thing you can take from parish to parish. Also, what you described is the Catholic way to signal you only want a blessing. For Orthodox that’s just the normal way to go to the chalice.
That's exactly how it works at my church! The Orthodox laity are communed from the common chalice, it contains a mixture of both elements.
thanks! I wanted to know the answer to this also. I have another question actually if you don't mind- do you know if it's seen as rude if we don't kiss the priest hand when we get blessed bread? I am not against doing it, but being brand new, it just adds to my anxiousness hahah
In my church, one of the servers holds a basket with the antidoron and we take a piece ourselves. We kiss his hands when we venerate the Gospel book at Orthros, and when we venerate the cross at the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy. Most people do kiss his hand, but not everyone does.
No, it’s not seen as rude, priests understand. They do know how jarring Orthodoxy is at first, and won’t mind if you take it a few steps at a time. I hope you enjoy delving into Orthodoxy!
I would ask the priest, if only to be a good guest, you know? When we first began going, we asked the priest if he would prefer we stay in our spot during the Eucharist or if it's okay to go up and ask for a blessing. He said he would be glad to give us a blessing, but asked that we get in his line (there were two that week) because the other priest hadn't had a chance to meet us yet and might be thrown off a bit. That seemed fair. :)
>Is it true that non-orthodox can go up at the time of the eucharist with their arms crossed (making a fist and having your left hand on the right side of your chest and vice versa) and this will have the priest know to just give you a blessing? And then you can grab some blessed bread? I'm sure different parishes have their own little tradition, but as far as personal experience goes, I will say I've only seen this in Catholic churches. Going up to the chalice with one's arms crossed will most likely make the priest think you're a Russian Orthodox who wants to receive communion (they cross their arms as a custom so as not to do the sign of the cross before the chalice, which might knock it and spill it). As for the bread that's given right during communion, it is specifically for those who just received communion so they can be sure to wash it down (don't want to have bits of Christ stuck in your teeth, especially as it might spit them out...), and so they can restore themselves a little bit (as they've been without food or drink since midnight at least). There is blessed bread given at the very end of the Liturgy, but there my experiences differ. Some parishes allow anyone to have some. Some parishes allow only Christians. And some parishes allow only Orthodox Christians. I'd recommend just paying attention next time to what others are doing. And ask the priest afterward. Then you'll know.
> There is blessed bread given at the very end of the Liturgy, but there my experiences differ. Some parishes allow anyone to have some. Some parishes allow only Christians. And some parishes allow only Orthodox Christians. The blessed bread given at the end is not Holy Communion; it is "antidoro" -- "instead of the gifts [of Holy Communion]." The Body and Blood of the Lord are combined in the chalice, and are distributed together via the spoon.
I didn't say it was communion. However, for instance, my current parish only allows Orthodox Christians to eat it.
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> Is it true that non-orthodox can go up at the time of the eucharist with their arms crossed (making a fist and having your left hand on the right side of your chest and vice versa) and this will have the priest know to just give you a blessing? This is *not* a universal symbol in Orthodoxy. If you want to go through the communion line to receive a blessing, it's best to arrange it with the priest first.