A foremost issue in the
parishes of the Church of the G.O.C. is the correct understanding of the
requirements for reception of the Immaculate Mysteries. Our churches are open
to all. Whoever considers themselves Orthodox Christians may approach
unhindered to pray to God, to hear the teaching and to receive antidoron. However,
it is not possible for all to receive the Immaculate Mysteries. It is just like
with a pharmacy, entrance into the pharmacy is not forbidden, but one will not
receive strong medication without first presenting a doctor’s prescription, so
too in the Church. There are certain requirements for the reception of Holy
Communion.
?????? The spiritual father’s
permission to receive Holy Communion is identical to a doctor’s prescription
for strong medication. Just as with our health, we select a doctor for our physical
ailments and we do not go to quack or ignorant physicians who do not have a
medical license or to those who have had their medical license taken away
because of their ineptitude. Similarly in the spiritual realm, the spiritual
doctor to whom we go for the healing of our souls must be canonical. In other
words, he must have a canonical ordination from the canonical Church of the
Genuine Orthodox Christians; not from the New Calendarist schism which is
defiled by the virus of Ecumenism, nor from the schisms of those who have been
deposed by the Church of the G.O.C. It is understood that the spiritual father
must exercise his priesthood unhindered, he himself must not be weighed down by
the penalty of suspension or deposition.
?????? We must go to a canonical spiritual
father of the Church at regular intervals to confess our sins. We will receive
guidance from him as to how we must prepare in order to receive the Immaculate
Mysteries. Preparation is through the practice of the virtues; almsgiving,
prayer, study and proper fasting.
?????? Generally, the fast before
Holy Communion is three days without oil, except however if this is tailored by
the spiritual father proportionally to the physiological and spiritual
situation of the penitent. For instance, someone who lives a spiritual life but
is weighed down by some illness may fast for two days, or one day, or not at
all (if his illness is severe) for the interval of his illness.
?????? The permission of the
spiritual father is a necessary requirement for the reception of Holy
Communion. It should be noted that it is sufficient for the spiritual father to
be a canonical clergyman of the Church of the G.O.C. It is not necessary that
it be the priest of the parish one goes to in order to receive. The demand of
some clergy to commune only their particular spiritual children is unorthodox
and clergymen who apply such measures will be subject to canonical penances.
????? One who wishes to receive
Holy Communion must have read the service of preparation for Holy Communion
from the night before, but also on the day which he will receive he must come
to church on time and follow the Matins and the Divine Liturgy and not come at
the last minute to receive except if there exists a pressing reason. If he is
the parent of underage children and for this reason finds it difficult to come
early he is obliged to read his morning prayers ? at least until the
six-psalms- at home. If he comes early and is unknown in that particular parish
he may approach the side door of the altar and inform the liturgist that he has
the permission of his spiritual father and he intends to receive. However, this
must not occur after the Divine Liturgy has begun because it is not permissible
to interrupt the celebrant.
????? Certainly the greatest
requirement for the reception of the Immaculate Mysteries is that one be a
member of the Church of the G.O.C., in other words he must be “with the Old
Calendar”. The members of the New Calendar Church are under the ban of
Pan-Orthodox Councils which condemn those who follow the New Calendar and they
are obliged to go to a canonical spiritual father to go to confession and
through a good confession of Faith (and the proper rite) be enlisted in the
Church of the G.O.C. and only then receive Holy Communion.
????? Wherever above we mention
the Church of the G.O.C. we mean the canonical Church, the Holy Synod presently
under the presidency of Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and all Greece.