When you can not fast before the sacrament. The three-day fast before Communion is a consequence of spiritual decline

Each church event requires compliance with certain rules. A true Christian must perform repentance and communion, which helps a person to be cleansed of sins and begin life with a pure soul and thoughts. But not all parishioners, especially newcomers, know how to prepare for the sacrament (fasting before communion).

What is the meaning of abstinence before communion

To perform the rite of the sacrament, the believer must undergo training, which includes:

• Fasting or abstaining from animal products, fish and vegetable oil on special days.
• Rejection intimacy.
• Reading prayers.
• Moral humility, or the rejection of worldly entertainment, bad thoughts and deeds.

Fulfilling church canons, the parishioner prepares his soul and body for the opportunity to receive divine gifts and the grace of the Lord.

Why is it necessary to fast in food, deeds and thoughts, if after confession and communion all committed sins are nullified? The bottom line is simple, if the parishioner on the eve of the sacrament is in a state of satiety, satiety with fun, gluttony, bodily pleasures, then he will not be able to accept the grace of God. A well-fed body is more drawn to sleep and rest, and prayers do not reach his soul and mind in the quality required for spiritual enlightenment and forgiveness of sins both by God and by the Christian himself.

The listed abstinences are a kind of sacrifice of a penitent and communing person, which makes it possible to let Christ into his soul. If fasting is done consciously, and not for show, then the believer will feel more deeply the severity of sin and will not want to commit it again. The Lord cannot be deceived, and those who are careless about preparing for the sacrament can be punished even more, and forgiveness will not happen.

Types of posts and their features

Which fast to observe before communion depends on the time at which a Christian prepares for the sacrament and how often he attends church and confesses to a confessor.

In church rules, there are the following types of fasting:

• Fasting can be strict when it is unacceptable to eat animal products and even fish. Exception for persons with pathologies in the gastrointestinal tract, with diabetes, pregnant, lactating, children and other parishioners with recommendations from a nutrition doctor. If a person has gathered for communion, when according to the church calendar they observe Christmas or easter post, then all the days of fasting you need to exclude products prohibited in the post.
• During ordinary fasting, there are days when it is allowed to include fish in the diet during fasting before communion. But the rest of the rules are the same.
• Fasting during which you can not eat not only fish, meat, dairy products, eggs, but also vegetable oil. Such a post is called "Firs".
• Dry eating is a type of fasting when any food is prohibited until sunset, and then only lean foods can be eaten.

In order to follow the rules of preparation before communion and understand what kind of fast a layman should keep, you need to seek help from the ministers of the church - they will explain, taking into account the specifics of the time chosen for confession and communion.

Rules for fasting before communion

Fasting before communion must be followed to the fullest extent, taking into account the time and possible post By Orthodox calendar. In addition to fasting in food, the believer before communion needs to put his thoughts in order and consider his actions.

1. Restrict viewing of entertainment programs on TV, computer, attending events.
2. In your free time from household chores and work, you can devote time to reading church literature for personal enlightenment.
3. Eliminate quarrels, resentment in relations with other people. Reconsider your actions and, if possible, do a good deed.
4. To refuse for the period of fasting before communion from intimacy with a partner.
5. On the third day of fasting, the day before communion, read the obligatory canons: repentant to Christ, prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos, the guardian angel. The canons can be read at a convenient time during the day before communion. On the day of communion in the morning, you need to read the prayer for communion. All prayers and canons can be found in the prayer book for the Orthodox or you can buy separate literature on preparing for communion.
6. Fasting, or fasting, the believer must keep until the end of the morning liturgy and the celebration of communion. The church day does not begin in the morning, but in the evening of the previous day. Therefore, a parishioner who has gathered for communion and has endured a three-day fast must completely refuse food and drinks from the evening before communion.
7. visit evening service before the day on which the sacrament is scheduled. If Sunday is chosen, then be in the temple for the evening liturgy on Saturday.
8. Until the moment of partaking of the gifts of God, you need to be cleansed of sins with the help of confession, telling the priest about what is in your soul.

Only after a sincere confession and the absence of offenses, the sacrament of communion will have the power and significance that is preached by the Orthodox religion. If after a three-day fast there are doubts and unfinished business, it is better to postpone the ceremony and prolong your humility and achieve peace of mind so as not to commit other sins.

How long is the post

There are different requirements for the number of days of fasting that a believer must observe before communion:

• Long fasting for a week is the best option restlessness and humility for Christians who rarely attend church and do not observe all the canons. For 7 days, a person has time to think about his actions, pacify pride, forgive offenders and ask for forgiveness from relatives and friends. Having received earthly forgiveness, they will be forgiven by the Lord. Until recently, it was mandatory for all believers who wish to receive communion.
• A three-day fast is the main preparation for communion for an Orthodox person. A beginner and those who have health problems can not keep a strict fast in food, but otherwise the requirements do not change.
• Fasts on Wednesdays and Fridays for those who attend the temple weekly for Sunday service.

There is no need to fast before communion for believers engaged in military service or tourism, because these people eat only what is available and being in such a position regarding food, they should observe a spiritual fast.

Is it possible to eat fish in fasting before communion

It will not be difficult for a Christian who observes fasts according to the church calendar systematically to endure fasting for three days. But for a beginner, giving up everyday food can be difficult at first. Excluding meat and animal products from the diet, the newcomers have a worldly question, is it possible to eat fish on these three days? Are seafood and fish on the banned list? It is impossible to unequivocally answer whether it is possible to fast fish before communion or not.

It all depends on the period in which confession and communion are supposed to take place. You can eat fish on the days when it is allowed for consumption during normal fasting. But on the days of strict fasting, even fish is forbidden for believers.

Fish is allowed for pregnant, lactating, children, so as not to deprive them of good nutrition at the time of preparation for the ceremony and not harm their health. For the rest of the Orthodox, who doubt whether it is possible to eat fish while fasting, it is better to refuse it for three days, given that the period is short. Any doubts will be resolved by the priests of the church if the parishioner asks questions of interest, so that no mistakes are made in fasting before communion due to lack of information.

List of allowed products

The basket for a meal during a three-day fast cannot be called meager. The assortment is varied and contains a complex beneficial vitamins and minerals, if you make the menu correctly, and do not eat monotonous dishes:

• cereals;
• pasta without eggs, flour and water;
• fruits;
• vegetables, greens;
• berries;
• nuts;
• mushrooms;
• vegetable oil;
• lean bread;
• tea, black coffee, decoctions, compotes.

Spices, herbs and natural sauces without the addition of animal fats are not prohibited. If you approach the preparation of the menu with imagination, then fasting will not seem like torment, but the body will be prepared for purification and atonement for sins.

Finally

Communion must be taken seriously and the rite should be performed not because it is customary to do so, but only with the readiness to fulfill the church rules of preparation as a true Christian. Only with a full understanding of the meaning of divine gifts can one open one's soul for the faith and grace of Christ to enter into it.

It was established by the Lord Himself and has been performed in the Church continuously for two millennia. All this time, Christians of different times and peoples, as it were, participate in that Last Supper, when Christ divided the bread and wine among His disciples and declared this food to be the Divine Body and Blood.

Of course, not every wine or bread is sacred, but only those over which special, liturgical prayers are said. The Particles eaten at the Liturgy give the believers Divine grace, spiritual strength, cleanse from the consequences of sin. There are frequent cases of recovery from diseases and other miracles that occur at the will of God.

The main shrine of the Church should be approached after appropriate preparation. An important step in this preparation is fasting. Fearing to break church rules, inexperienced parishioners often ask priests how to fast before Communion? Is fasting obligatory for everyone? In what cases can it be weakened or canceled? It will help you figure it out brief digression in the history of the ancient Church.

How did the tradition of fasting before Communion begin?

In the first centuries of existence Christian Church Communion was obligatory for any Christian present. Every Sunday, and sometimes more often, people gathered in the house of one of the Christians and had a meal with prayers and the sharing of bread. At that time, there was no special fasting before this action, because the Eucharist was held in the evening and all the participants in the action had already had lunch and even supper.

It often happened that the dinners of wealthy Christians were too luxurious and combined with music and dancing, as was customary in the east. The Apostle Paul, himself often celebrating the Eucharist, considered it inadmissible that such Christians come to Communion after feasts and amusements, when their thoughts cannot concentrate on prayer. Over time, they began to celebrate the Liturgy in the morning, and the custom arose to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ on an empty stomach, "before any meal." However, even then they still did not fast for several days, as is customary in the modern Church.

When the persecution of Christians ceased in 4 AD, many began to be baptized. Once small, tight-knit communities that met secretly in homes, they turned into large gatherings of worshipers in spacious temples. Due to human weaknesses, the moral level of believers has declined. The Holy Fathers of the Church, seeing this, urged every Christian to carefully examine his conscience when approaching Communion.

It was not allowed to approach the Sacrament if a person ate food on the night before the Liturgy, had sexual contacts or "impure visions" (dreams). Christians who revealed these involuntary sins at confession were temporarily suspended from Communion and performed a special prayer rule. There were no restrictions on food on other days, since the believers strictly observed Wednesday, Friday and four fasts a year.

The tradition of fasting before Communion for three or seven days was established during the synodal period (XVIII-XIX centuries). This was due to a general decline in spirituality and religiosity. Many began to go to church “out of habit,” and received communion only because this was taken into account in church documents. If there was no record in the church book that the parishioner confessed and took communion, troubles in the civil service could follow.

At this time, the tradition of "fasting" was introduced - preparation for Communion for several days, in order to distract a lazy person from the hustle and bustle of life and help tune in to prayer. This custom is preserved in Russian Orthodox Church before today. Fasting consists of restriction in food and confession on the eve of Communion. How many days to fast - the confessor decides. You can also read about this in the Rules, a stand with which is usually located in a prominent place in the temple.

Fasting Rules Before Communion

So, there is no general church rule of obligatory fasting and confession before communion. But many priests strongly recommend to their parishioners fast for three days before entering the Sacrament. Is it worth it to reject a good tradition for the sake of the letter of the law? It is impossible to argue with the priest or deliberately refuse fasting, since condemnation and insults only add sin to the already existing ones. It is better to fulfill the prescribed rule based on your physical strength.

Orthodox prescribes the rejection of the following products:

• the meat of any animal or bird, even lean;
• milk (kefir, cottage cheese, whey, etc.);
• eggs of any bird;
• fish (not always).

In fact, at the disposal of the fasting Christian are fruits, vegetables, cereals, pasta and bread. Don’t be tempted to cook gourmet “lenten dishes”: food should not become a source of pleasure, but only support strength.

Is it permissible to eat fish before Communion? In most cases healthy person it should be abandoned. The exception is living in the Far North or ships, where fish is the main source of food. Seafood is considered more "lean" than fish and is allowed in moderation. A short fast before Communion is also associated with other restrictions, refusing the following:

• sweets;
• sexual contacts;
• alcoholic beverages;
• smoking;
• participation in various entertainments (weddings, parties, concerts).

6 hours before the start of the Liturgy, food and drink should be completely excluded.. This six-hour fast is called "Eucharistic". If the Eucharistic fast is broken, the priest may not admit to the Sacrament.

Many believers strive to receive communion on the days of general church fasts. This makes it possible to calmly prepare, especially if loved ones also fast and do not offer unnecessary temptations.

Is it permissible to take communion if you smoked or unwittingly broke the fast? About all the excesses allowed during fasting should be tell the priest in confession. Through confession, admission to the Sacrament is made, and the concealment of even a small offense is considered a great sin before God.

How to fast children

The Russian Orthodox Church has a tradition compulsory confession for children from the age of seven. At the same age, they should be accustomed to fasting. But children take communion from the very moment, i.e. from infancy.

Fasting before communion is not obligatory for a child if he or she has not reached the age of three years.

From three to seven years of age, restrictions are introduced gradually, the child must not only be deprived of delicious food, but be aware of the need and purpose of fasting. You can support your child by your own example by removing fast foods from the family menu. Parents themselves should begin confession and Communion together with the child.

The decision on whether it is possible to lighten the fast should be made by the parents after a conversation with the priest, based on the state of health of the child. Children who grow up in unbelieving families and do not have proper spiritual development should not be forced to fast.

Fasting for pregnant women

Pregnant women and the sick, who wish to take communion, but are on a strict diet, fasting can be weakened or canceled. This is done only with the blessing of the priest. Before you go for such permission, you should test yourself, will a short-term fast really be an unbearable burden, or because of laziness you don’t want to break the usual course of life?

If it is impossible for a pregnant woman to give up dairy products, you can replace this by giving up sweets or other things to which she feels affection. Such abstinence will be accepted by the Lord as a significant achievement.

Post in a hostel

Relief or cancellation of fasting is allowed for Christians who are on urgent military service, study, hospital, boarding school or places of deprivation of liberty, where meals are provided in common canteens and there is no opportunity to choose lean food. In this case, one should adhere to the blessing of the confessor visiting military unit or boarding school. Refusal of fast food can be replaced by other restrictions or prayer. For those wishing to receive communion, it is better to resolve this issue with the priest a week before the Sacrament or (if not possible) before confession.

When can I take communion without fasting

During Christmas time - from the Nativity of Christ to Epiphany - and on Bright Week - seven days after Easter - a five-day fast for communicants is not required, only a six-hour Eucharistic one is preserved. But this permission can be allowed only to those who fully observed the previous, Christmas and great post s.

Lenten preparation is canceled for the seriously ill and dying.

Many Orthodox believers ask the priests in person, via the Internet, or ask their relatives: is it possible to brush your teeth before communion? But this is far from the only thing that not only beginners can ask. A lot of questions arise from the church-goers. It is worth noting that there are a huge number of near-church myths and misconceptions.

This article summarizes the answers of experienced and pious priests, gives recommendations and helpful tips beginners.

What is Communion?

How does Christ speak in the Gospel about Communion? the day before terrible death on the cross He gathers His disciples together and prepares a meal. There is bread and wine on the table. Christ says that in memory of Him they will drink wine and eat bread, since these are symbols of His blood and body.

To this day, liturgy is being performed in churches and preparations are being made. Holy Communion with bread and wine. The priests pray together with the parishioners with the words "Let us pray to the Lord for the offered Honest Gifts."

What is actually meant by the bread and wine in the Holy Chalice? Prayers read before Communion at home are just as necessary for a Christian as church prayers. Why is prayer needed? Because the Lord unites with the very person who calls him to himself.

What is Communion?

There are several testimonies about how Communion is actually prepared and what is hidden from human eyes under it. One day a man entered the temple. The royal gates in the temple were open. The priests stood at the altar. Suddenly, a man who came in saw the priest pierce the baby with a spear. He shouted to the whole temple: “Why are you killing a baby?” All the people standing in the temple turned around. No one could figure out which baby in question. In fact, the priest had a prosphora in his hands (a small bread made from wheat flour and water).

The Lord invisibly and endlessly sacrifices himself for the sake of people, but not materially, but spiritually. His crucifixion was actually seen almost 2,000 years ago at Golgotha ​​in Jerusalem.

Let's return to the Gospel and to those lines where the Lord is at the Last Supper. He said: "From now on you will drink my blood (wine) and eat my body (bread) in memory of Me." But how this would happen, even the apostles did not know. Moreover, it is not given to us to know. This is a divine secret. We can only take it seriously, and as it is, without a doubt. Therefore, the prayers read before Communion are very necessary, first of all for the one who takes communion.

Another living testimony:

In the city of Lanciano (Italy) to this day there is a true proof that the Eucharist is not just bread and wine. In the Catholic Church of Saint-Legotius in the 8th century, one priest doubted that Communion was a miracle. When he picked up a piece of bread, he saw something similar to muscle tissue. He looked into the Chalice and saw that instead of wine there was blood. The priest screamed in horror. Then he realized that there was no doubt. The Lord proved to him that everything was real. To this day, this miracle is in Lanciano. Many pilgrims come to pray near such a shrine.

What does a Christian need before Communion?

Of course, first of all, the belief that he will be given to taste not just bread and wine, but the body of Christ. Of course, such a meal is a miracle. The Lord gives a piece of himself to a sinful person. Therefore, Communion must be approached not only with fear, but also with faith. You can't just partake like that.

How to treat?

Above we have considered two testimonies of the miracle of God. It is worth noting that not only Jesus Christ is in the altar during the Liturgy, but also the Mother of God, the Archangels, and saints.

No wonder the holy fathers said that angels grieve because they do not receive communion. Because they have no body, no need. They are with God. And the Lord gave man such a great gift - to unite with Himself during Communion. Let it be invisible.

*canon repentant to the Savior;

* prayer canon Mother of God;

* canon to the Guardian Angel;

*Adherence to Holy Communion.

It is all these prayers, chants, and kontakia that will help you prepare correctly to receive the Holy Gifts in the right way.

Posts and confessions:

Priests say that you need to fast for at least 3 days. If a person is not churched, rarely visits the temple, sins, then he needs to prepare for almost a week. That's why best option for such people - this is the Great, Christmas fast, as well as Petrov and Uspensky. But that is why it is not necessary to choose periods of many days of fasting. After all, more important is reconciliation with God, and not convenience.

What to do before Communion to someone who rarely goes to church?

Firstly, Be sure to go to the priest for confession. When the priest receives the penitents, you can find out in the church that is closer to your home or which you want to visit. Be prepared for the fact that the priest after confession may not allow you to take Communion. There could be many reasons for this. Often, in order to be admitted to communion, you need to fast, repent, visit the temple many times. Be sure to ask the priest after confession whether he blesses the approach to the Holy Chalice or not. Often the priests themselves insist that the confessor take communion. You need to take this advice.

What is the post before communion?

If you are a beginner or have not been to the temple for a long time, then be sure to go to the priest for confession. Usually, during this sacrament, many spiritual issues are resolved. The priest will explain to you what to do, what to beware of, when you can take communion.

What is meant by post?

Meat, milk can not be eaten, eggs too. In addition, dishes, products, drinks that contain the above products are not consumed. Remember that fasting should be spiritual in nature. Eat little food. For example, for breakfast - tea with oatmeal cookies or oatmeal porridge on the water, for lunch - soup on vegetable broth, for dinner - vegetable salad and rice / potatoes.

Drinking before communion, as well as during fasting, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. It is also recommended to refuse coffee. After all, the body should be a temple of the soul, a calm "home", sober and vigorous. The food is modest (not fasting), coffee and alcohol cannot in any way set you up for prayers.

Spiritual side:

Let's continue our conversation about fasting. We've dealt with food. As for entertainment, watching movies, you need to postpone all this. Any unimportant things should be replaced with prayers to God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, your Guardian Angel and the saints.

Let's talk about what to read before Communion. Above we mentioned the canons and the following to Holy Communion. In addition to them, it is advised to read the Gospel, the holy fathers. Beware of taking near-church literature or that which belongs to false Christian literature.

No need to fuss while fasting. If possible, postpone things for later. They can wait. After all earthly life transitory, but the fasting person needs to think about eternity.

Why such restrictions?

During the Liturgy, before the removal of the Holy Chalice, the choir sings that we (the parishioners) are leaving all earthly fuss. Not every (especially modern) person understands that sooner or later earthly life will end and everything that he worked so hard for will go into oblivion. After all, he will not be able to afterlife pick up a passport or favorite job, bank accounts or a computer with valuable information. He will appear before God with his conscience, with sins and virtues. The Lord won't ask if you were CEO, He will ask you to answer for offending the grandmother client. God doesn't care if you had a Lexus. He will ask if you brought the weak, the weak, without taking money from them.

Why restrictions in fasting in relation to entertainment?

The time has come to sit down at the table or stand in front of the icons and think: what have you done wrong in your whole life, for this period.

Is the conscience clear?

It is more important for a Christian to know not about, for example, whether it is possible to brush one's teeth before Communion, but about what sins really are and what repentance is, how not to sin. The Lord is grieved when a person commits a sin even mentally. Just think: you are mentally angry, even your heart is numb. This is also a sin. You need to repent sincerely.

When is communion not allowed?

Do you know that you need to get rid of your sins? If you have repented, you should try to avoid transgressions. In order for the priest to allow Communion, you need to attend the evening service every Saturday, then in the morning at the Liturgy. The same should be done in large church holidays. Need to read at home morning and evening prayers by Prayer. Of course, it takes 20-30 minutes. If you do not have time, then you can read the Seraphim's rule: three times "Our Father", three times "Theotokos ..." and once "The Creed". But at the same time, during the day, you need to silently pray to God, to the saints. These are the most important rules.

They may not be allowed to receive Communion in such cases, for example:

*murder, abortion; divination, divination, extrasensory perception, spiritualism, astrology;

*other faith, heretical views;

* cohabitation outside of marriage, debauchery, homosexuality, drug addiction and alcoholism, and so on.

The priest needs to tell the whole truth during confession, not to hide any sin. The Lord stands by invisibly, He knows everything, only awaits repentance of the heart. If you hide something, it will be an even greater sin. You need to completely cleanse your soul before Communion.

What do the holy fathers and priests say?

The human soul must be pure, bright, with the hope of correction and change of life for the better. You should not go to the Chalice if you are not sure that you want to live with God.

If the father blessed:

When a priest gives a blessing, one should take it seriously. You should read not only the canon to the Mother of God before Communion, but also the canons to the Savior, the Guardian Angel, as well as the Follow-up. All this is in the Orthodox prayer books.

The reading space is very large. Therefore, the canons can be read 2-3 days before communion, but the Follow-up is read only the night before, after coming from the church from the evening service.

You need to make sure that no one distracts you. If you take communion with your family, friends, pilgrims, then read in turn, pray.

Morning before Communion:

As you know, Orthodox Christians cannot eat anything in the morning before Communion. Even medicines are not allowed.

But can you brush your teeth before Communion?

There is no ban on this. If you are sure that you do not accidentally swallow water or paste, you can brush your teeth.

If the stomach is sick, it is not possible to wait a long time until noon, then it is better to go to the early service. IN small towns and in the villages the Liturgy is served early, and in megacities - at 7 in the morning or at 9-10 o'clock.

For the sake of union with God, you can endure. It is worth reading prayers to yourself.

The morning before Communion is always exciting. You need to mentally prepare. After reading morning rule, go to the temple at least half an hour before the Liturgy, in order to calmly submit notes, light candles, and approach your favorite saints.

Before Communion itself:

At the service, you should carefully listen to prayers. When the priests prepare the Communion, pray that you will receive the Blood and Body of Christ worthily. At the same time, a pious person should sincerely consider himself unworthy of such a Gift.

Remember the Canon of the Theotokos before Communion: you need to pray that the Mother of God will intercede for us sinners. And what does the canon of Jesus Christ say? We repent to the Lord of our sins. Keep this in mind when you wait for Communion.

The very moment of Communion:

When the Royal Doors open and the priest comes out with the Chalice, you need to bow to the ground. Then stand in line with your arms crossed over your chest. When you come to the Chalice, you need to tell your father orthodox name and open your mouth wide. The sacrament should be swallowed immediately so that the particle does not get stuck in the teeth. Accept warmth and prosphora. Many people ask: “Can I eat before Communion?” Do you know why the answer is no? Because the Lord must enter the body of a Christian first. After all, God is more important to us than food.

WHAT TO SAY IN CONFESSION?

Quite often, those who decide to go to church for this sacrament for the first time think about what they need to say in confession.

It is important to understand that confession is not just a sincere conversation with a priest, but a religious ceremony aimed primarily at repentance.

In confession, it is important to be completely determined to correct your life. The realization that it has become difficult for you to live because of the commission of some sin or even several is the first step towards correction. Only after this understanding is complete should one sign up for confession.

In some situations, not only repentance after committing a sin can be a reason to go to confession. If it is difficult for you to distinguish good from bad, or life seems useless and painful, you can also come to confession, because the church is always open for those who need it.

What sins to talk about in confession:

One of the main mistakes of people who come to confession is to list all their sins in their entire lives. It is extremely important to highlight exactly why you came. Sin is an act against the church, God. This is a kind of violation of morality - one's own, someone else's, public. In Christianity, there are eight deadly sins, the fulfillment of which has serious consequences for a person - anger, sadness, gluttony, fornication, despondency, vanity, pride and avarice. In addition, there are personal sins - these are various activities against conscience and God. As a rule, a person can determine some sins only by himself; they are not spelled out in any sacred book. A sin can be that act that in every possible way burdens your life.

It doesn't matter what you bring to church. In confession, the main thing is complete repentance and an inner understanding of the deed.

What to say to a priest in confession:

Confession in Orthodoxy, as in most other religions, is a conversation with God about your misdeeds, a request for help. The priest serves only as a witness to this conversation, God's helper on earth.

Therefore, in confession, it is important to be extremely frank and not hide anything about what is bothering you. It is especially important to talk about what worries you the most on this moment, not forgetting the little things and details of the offense for which you want to repent.

The priest can be trusted with his most big secrets, because he has no right to tell anyone about your confession. Remember that you do not need to be afraid of condemnation from the church, the very fact that you have come to repentance is already a worthy deed of a believer.

Important to remember that it is not necessary to speak at confession about a sin for which you have already confessed, if it has not been committed again. And, often, confession alone will not be enough. You need to ask God in prayers for forgiveness, come to church as soon as you feel like it, honor traditions and rituals.

The Church advises that confession, like communion, should be regular. Your confessor will be able to tell you about the frequency of confession. Remember that it is the clergyman who will be your main assistant in observing church rites.

As you can see, confession is a very complex sacrament. Not everyone is ready for it. If you decide to confess, then you need to weigh the pros and cons for yourself, and your soul will tell you what to say in confession. Remember that remorse and freeing yourself from committed sin a long process that will require a lot of strength and patience from you.

INTERNAL CONFESSION.

Diseases and other troubles do not fall on a person just like that. Man is a cosmic being and develops according to the laws of not only material, but also spiritual world. If he violates these laws, there is an illness or some tragic circumstances that endanger life.

It is enough to eliminate these violations, and everything in your life will return to normal. This is what inner confession helps to do.

The confession has two parts:

Part one: you must remember all the times when someone greatly offended or insulted you. After all, resentment is a source of continuous flow of negative psychic energy.

Calmly remember your past life from the age of 12 (it is from this age that a person begins to bear karmic responsibility for his actions). The offender (even if this person has died) must be mentally imagined, and then hugged and kissed tightly!

Sometimes resentment reaches such strength that hugging and kissing, even mentally, does not work. In such cases, the "enemy" can be imagined as an unintelligent child of 2-3 years old. But it is necessary to hug and kiss - this is an indispensable condition of the Rescue Mechanism!

Second part: not only do you have enemies, someone, perhaps, considers you their enemy. It is possible that you yourself were a violator of moral truths.

In this case, imagine that you are on the court, and the judge is your own heart. Get on your knees before him and tell all your bad deeds, mistakes, vices from the age of 12. Speak everything you remember - giving an account that you will not do it again.

After all, by repenting, you remove all the negativity that has accumulated over the years. If the inner confession was carried out correctly and sincerely, then recovery and deliverance from troubles will come in a hundred cases out of a hundred, regardless of the severity of the illness or the scale of the misfortune that has fallen on you. It's only a matter of time.

After an inner confession, try not to repeat the same mistakes - otherwise misfortunes will return in double volume.

The Unified Prayer, which any person can do, regardless of their religious beliefs, will help you avoid this. This prayer, as practice shows, is able to reduce the temperature in a matter of minutes, relieve any pain.

Prayer must be done in solitude, with a lit candle, kneeling:

"God! Good God!
May Your Name be hallowed in Heaven and on Earth.
From end to end of the Universe!
God! Strengthen your strength in resisting the forces of darkness, so as not only to resist it, but also to cleanse Mother Earth from this garbage.
Teach me to separate good from evil and to remain in peace and firmness of spirit, in order to worthily do Thy Will among people.
Strengthen the strength of my brothers and sisters - both close and unknown to me.
May they see Your true glory and be filled with love in their hearts.
And they will overcome the dark barriers in the movement along the Path to the Light.
And let them stretch out their hands to each other and give the immeasurable warmth of the soul.
God! May Your Will be done! And there will be One People on Earth.
Loving his Mother - Nature, reunited with You with his love and walking along the True Path Spiritual Development relying on Your Last Testament.”

IN THE MORNING: “Bless, Lord, on the deeds of the coming day, and may its difficulties be met as it befits those who walk under Your Light.”

IN THE EVENING: "Fill up, Lord, the lost strength for the good, in order to prepare for the meeting of the day of the future."

“I go to bed, I have the Cross seal on me. Guardian Angels! Save my Soul from evening until midnight, and from midnight until morning.

And the prayer "Our Father" three times.

Prayer is powerful force in the Universe! The Bible says:

"Whatever you ask in prayer WITH FAITH, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)"ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH LET IT BE TO YOU" (Mat. 9:29).

How to Fast Before Confession and Communion

In this article, we will talk about how to fast before confession or communion, and why this is necessary. The mystery of confession and communion is considered one of the greatest in Christianity. Repentance is one of the main things a person can do to atone for his sins. It is necessary to remember all your sins, to admit to yourself that you are wrong, that you have committed a sin, that you have acted badly, etc. And this is still not enough. It is necessary to observe the entire procedure of repentance, and more about it. True, there are people who are not responsible for the confession procedure, believing that you just need to come to church and repent of your sins. But according to the canons of religion, this is not correct. To repent, to confess and be blessed, must be carefully prepared, and one of the procedures for preparing for communion and confession is fasting.

Fasting before confession

Fasting before confession is called fasting, fasting, and consists in absolute abstinence, both from bodily goods and from food, which is prohibited in fasting. Each priest has his own opinion regarding the time that is subject to fasting, but on average it is believed that abstinence should be 3 days before confession. But given term minimum. Some priests declare that before confession a person should try as much as possible, that is, limit himself to the maximum from pleasures and thereby indulge in repentance. You can, therefore, fast for a week. There is also a permissible duration of fasting up to 2 or even 1 day with the permission of the confessor for those who confess and receive communion regularly. It all depends on your individual characteristics, but if your state of health does not allow you to fast, then the church allows you the opportunity not to fast, but only in terms of food, then you need to fast spiritually.

spiritual post

Most are even sure that fasting is not necessary with the stomach. But with the mind, that is, there is no need to slander, envy, shout, etc. You must be humble. Also, a married couple should refrain from making love. Women who are in the period of purification, that is, during the period of menstruation, are not allowed to receive communion and confession.
What can you eat in fasting before communion? The same as in a regular fast, limiting the consumption of meat products and dairy products. Thus, meat, sausages, milk, cottage cheese, cheese, creamy meat, etc., must not be consumed at least three days before confession and communion. The main question remains, but you can eat fish, because on some days of fasting you can eat it, and on some you can’t. This is also individual, it is better to consult with your confessor. So, for example, in Christianity, Wednesday and Friday are fast days when even fish cannot be eaten. At the same time, Saturday is the day when not one Orthodox does not fast. As a result, it turns out that if communion is on Sunday, then fish cannot be eaten on Thursday and Friday, but on Saturday you can.

Differences of opinion

By the way, there is an opinion that before the very confession, you can not fast, in fact, a person can confess at any time. But if after confession it is necessary to take communion, then fasting must be observed.
There are confessors who are of the opinion that it is necessary to fast very strictly, at least one day, the last one before communion. Drink water and eat bread, that's all. Not even fruits. But such restrictions do not apply to patients, pregnant women and children. you can read more about baby fasting.
There is also an opinion that the degree of fasting depends on the degree of sins. There are mortal sins that require strict fasting and restrictions in any area, there are sins that are not so serious, which provide opportunities for weakening the fast.
In the end, I would like to give a parable, which tells about the severity of fasting before confession and communion. One monk came to the elder and asked what fasting was. And the elder explained to him, telling the monk about all his sins throughout his life. Out of shame, the monk did not know what to do. Falling to his knees, he wept. And the old man said with a smile: “Now go and eat dinner.” “No, Father, thank you, I don’t want to,” replied the monk. “This is fasting, when you remember your sins, repent and no longer think about food.” From the life of St. Gabriel (Urgebadze; 1929-1995), a great old man of our time.
As a result, the main moral is that it is necessary to fast spiritually, and then physically. Fasting is the ability to give up what brings pleasure, and not just food.

Orthodox fasting is those days when people are cleansed by the spirit. But at the same time, the body is also cleansed, because everything in each person must be pure - both the soul, and the body, and thoughts. On the days of fasting, you need to be attentive to your psychophysical state. A person who has decided that he is ready to limit his diet, in principle, knows which foods are allowed to be consumed in a given period, and which are not.

The main canons of nutrition in fasting

It is necessary to figure out what you can still eat on fasting days, and what foods should be excluded from the diet. So, the mandatory exceptions are:

1. Meat products;
2. Milk, as well as butter, cottage cheese and cheeses;
3. Eggs and mayonnaise;
4. Fatty sweets and pastries;
5. Fish and vegetable oil (on strict days of fasting);
6. Alcohol and tobacco.

These foods should not be eaten during fasting. There is an opinion that if a person does not eat meat, eggs, does not drink milk, then he loses protein, which is so necessary for the body. But with the right approach to a lean diet, this is completely not the case.

There are many foods that are rich in protein. If you diversify the lean diet with mushrooms, eggplant, legumes and soy, you can get the required amount of protein. After all, even nutritionists have proven that soy may well replace fish and meat.

And yet, before fasting, you should find out if it will become dangerous for the body, because not everyone can benefit from abstaining from certain products.

What is allowed to eat in a strict fast

In Christianity, the days of fasting vary in severity. On one day, one thing may be allowed, on the second, another. And there are days when you can't eat at all. The strictest fast among Christians is Great.

It lasts 40 days, during which any recreational activities. In addition, there are some canons that must be followed:

1. It is forbidden to take any food on Fridays, as well as on the day the Great Lent begins;
2. The first and last weeks are marked by the permission to eat vegetables, fruits and bread. Water is allowed as a drink.
3. On other days, honey, nuts and any plant foods are allowed.

What can you eat during fasting on non-strict days:

1. Eggplant;
2. Zucchini;
3. fish;
4. lentils;
5. oatmeal;
6. Any fruit salads, of course, without dressing them with sour cream.

The main food in fasting is herbal products. These are mainly cereals (of course, buckwheat, wheat, barley and oatmeal are the best, as these are primordially Russian types of cereals, besides they are rich in fiber and minerals).

Of course, do not forget about the vitamins contained in vegetables and fruits. The main thing is that fasting does not cause a violation of the diet. You should not skip breakfast, and you also need to remember that it is advisable to snack more often during fasting.

Due to the fact that there is no lean diet animal protein, which gives the feeling that a person is full for a long time, I want to eat something substantial, especially in the early days. But in this case, you can forget about purification.

The best option here is regular meals, as well as the inclusion of whole grains in the diet, and of course beans.

It is important to remember that for any restriction in food, you need to prepare your body. For him, the option will be the most severe stress, in which a person overeating every day, suddenly suddenly stops eating. There will be no benefit from such an attempt at purification.

Features of nutrition after fasting

Some people think that if the post is over, then you need to win back for all the days and eat everything at once, and even more.

At the same time, without thinking at all that in this case, not only will there be no benefit from abstinence, but on the contrary, there will be only harm. How to eat after the end of the post?

The first days should be like a gradual "fading" of fasting. It is not recommended to eat these days:

1. Meat (with the possible exception of chicken, turkey or fish);
2. Mushrooms, especially pickled;
3. You should not get involved in baking;
4. High-calorie sweets, such as cake, buttercream or buttercream cake;
5. Sausages and smoked meats.

Since the body, during the time the fast lasted, weaned from animal food, you need to start eating it little by little, as if re-accustoming yourself. Do not eat fried meat or fish. It is desirable that the food be boiled and eat it in small portions, little by little.

Salt in the first days after fasting is better to limit. Do not get carried away with flour products in butter and eggs. Much more useful will be dishes from cereals (rice, buckwheat, millet or oatmeal - does not have of great importance) with fruits, in which it is desirable to add more greens. After all, the body needs vitamins during this period.

The Sacrament of Communion - how to prepare for it, what can you eat?

The shortest duration of fasting before Communion is three days. It happens that a person cannot withstand these restrictions due to illness or even hard, exhausting work, while the body requires a lot of calories.

In this case, at confession, which necessarily takes place before communion, you need to repent to the priest of this sin as well. What you can’t do is tell the priest that you fasted if the fast is not kept.

So what can you eat in this post? Almost the same is allowed as on the days of other fasts:

1. You can eat vegetables and fruits;
2. Cereals from cereals;
3. Boiled or baked fish;
4. Bread;
5. Nuts.

You can also eat sweets, such as dark chocolate, gozinaki, but it is better to limit the consumption of these products. The main thing is to remember that in the use of even those products that are allowed, you need to know when to stop, do not overeat.

The benefits of fasting for a person or “why to fast”

Eating in fasting according to all the rules is very beneficial for human health. Allowed food will give the body the necessary substances, and the absence of prohibited foods will not allow the body to spend energy on fighting toxins, etc.

Lenten nutrition inherently normalizes the work of the whole organism, but its main benefit is as follows:

1. Improved digestion;
2. Getting rid of dysbacteriosis;
3. Liver cleansing and normalization of its work;
4. Complete cleansing of the body. Slags and toxins are removed completely;
5. Eating by day will prevent set excess weight.

Some people, fearing excess weight, do not touch, for example, pies with potatoes fried in oil, albeit vegetable. If you pay attention to fasting days, then on weekends this food is completely permissible and is not at all harmful to health.

Why is this happening? Everything is simple. Even if you allow yourself to enjoy your favorite pies on a day off, all the substances that the body does not need will be removed from the body over the next five weekdays.

Little joys after fasting

Only those people who really held Great Lent, after its end, can fully experience the pleasure of everyday food. In the first days, after forty days of abstinence, ordinary food tastes unusually "sweet".

Those foods that seemed ordinary before Lent seem to be the most delicate nectar. Not everyone can experience such feelings. Only those few who have truly abstained from forbidden food are capable of such a thing.

After all, you no longer need to ask yourself the question, is it possible for me today, now. After all, no matter how hard a person tries, there is not always enough time for cooking, and on fast days tomorrow it will not be possible to eat what they ate today.

Therefore, it turns out that all food often consists of water, nuts and dried fruits.

Fast or not?

In any case, regardless of whether a person fasts or not, you need to know the measure in everything. After all, if you exhaust yourself with constant hunger, the body will not receive the substances it needs, it will use internal resources that are not endless.

And in the end, it just “gets tired” of working and stops. Is there any benefit to such fasting? The answer is obvious - no. The same can be said about overeating. Excess will be deposited in the body, and as a result - obesity, heart disease and other internal organs.

So whether to fast or not is up to everyone. The main thing is not to go to extremes.