Let's be honest and without embellishment: we have lost the feeling of Holy Communion.
People approach the Chalice calmly, without inner movement, without struggle, without preparation. They stand in line, as if for something familiar. And they don't even ask themselves the question: Who am I going to now?
We are used to it. And this is the most dangerous thing.
Because when a person gets used to a shrine, they stop seeing it.
And when he stops seeing, he begins to perceive it as something ordinary.
And when this becomes commonplace, it is easy to cross the line and find yourself in a state where the Sacrament is received but not lived.
And then Communion becomes an external action without inner life.
There is a great danger in this — the profanation of the Holy Mysteries.
Because for many today, the understanding of Communion is narrowed to a symbol, to a remembrance, to “this is how it should be.” And this is not just a problem with other traditions — it is a problem with our own lives as well.
In Protestant communities, Communion is often perceived as a remembrance of the Last Supper. It is a memory, it is a remembrance, it is an inner experience. But the bread and wine remain what they are.
In the church tradition — and especially in ours — it is about something else.
Not about memories, but about reality.
At the Liturgy, we do not remember Christ—we receive Him.
Not symbolically, but really, mysteriously, deeply.
That is why the saints said: the Blood of Christ flows in our veins.
When we approach Holy Communion, it is a thermometer of our faith. We are used to saying that prayer is such a thermometer. But there is another one - whether we look at Communion as something living, whether our heart reacts to it at all.
Prayer is love for God.
Communion is also love. But it is something much more. Because through Communion we receive Divine power within ourselves.
They say: "May Holy Communion be for your health."
But we do not receive something material. The Lord Himself enters into us.
Our body becomes one with His Body.
The Blood of Christ flows in our veins.
Our breath becomes His breath.
His life becomes our life.
And something happens that cannot be explained in words.
This is precisely why the Divine Liturgy exists—so that we can receive communion.
And if we don't receive communion, it's worth looking at those who do, rejoicing for them, and even being jealous in a good way.
Because if a person does not feel anything when others approach the Chalice, it means that he has not yet experienced Communion.
A desire should be born:
"I want to take communion too. I want to be with Christ too."
And if a person looks and thinks:
"When will this end? How long do we have to wait?"
this means that Communion has not yet touched her soul.
When a father was young, he loved watching people take communion. It seemed that everyone was approaching the same sun and receiving it into themselves. The sun is one — but everyone is receiving it.
So it is in Communion: the Lord enters into each one completely. Not in parts. Each one receives the whole of Christ.
If we could ask the Lord:
"What do you want most from us?"
we would hear:
"That you may become one with Me."
That is why He became man.
That is why He gave us Holy Communion.
“I want to unite with you,” says Christ.
There is a case.
A woman came to confess to the elder and hid one grave sin. The elder understood this, but said nothing.
After some time, she came to the temple and saw a handsome young man sitting on the holy throne.
She was indignant:
"Aren't you ashamed to be sitting there? Get down!"
The young man turned and said:
"Why didn't you name the sin you committed?"
She was scared:
"How do you know that? Who are you?"
And he answered:
— I am the One whom you will receive in Communion tomorrow.
And disappeared.
It was Christ.
And this means: we are not approaching a ritual. We are approaching the Living God.
Another case.
The priest worked in a hospital and cared for the seriously ill. One day, after Communion, he came to an old man who had open wounds.
The old man said:
— Don't touch me.
But he started helping. And he thought:
"What if my blood mixes with his blood?"
And just touched his wound.
And suddenly I felt strength.
The old man said:
"I feel relieved. I feel alive."
The priest understood: Communion was at work in him.
Holy Communion cleanses. It does not transmit infection.
Priests administer communion to everyone—even the sick—and consume the Holy Gifts themselves. And this does not cause infection.
Because this is a Sacrament.
Some saw drops of living blood in Communion. Others saw light. And they understood that it was not a symbol.
Saint Andrew of Crete did not speak for a long time as a child. But after Communion he received the gift of speech.
Saint John of the Cross healed people through Communion.
But we often don't understand this.
We are like children who play with jewels and do not know their value.
Elder Univsky He said: when you receive communion, ask God to teach you to pray.
Because Communion gives spiritual gifts.
But if a person is not ready, they will not feel anything.
And then he says:
"I took communion - and nothing happened."
And what would have happened if the heart had been closed?
The Holy Liturgy is already Heaven.
Angels constantly praise God. And the Liturgy teaches us this.
It opens the soul to eternal life.
But it depends on us.
Because everyone experiences the Liturgy differently.
For some, it's a habit.
For some, it's a meeting.
Saint Paisios said:
"Your soul is asleep. It needs to be awakened."
And he advised the person to start going to church regularly.
And something strange happened: when a person began to live a church life, his problems began to be solved.
She came to the elder again and said:
"Everything has changed for me. Why?"
The elder replied:
— Because you have reconciled with God.
Before this, you lived without Him.
Now you are with Him.
And so everything fell into place.
Our salvation is very near.
Not somewhere far away. And here — at the Liturgy.
In the Chalice In Communion.
When a person at the Liturgy feels a joy that is stronger than any earthly one, it means that he or she has begun to experience eternity.
God created man for eternal life.
And already here, in the Liturgy, we touch this life.
That is why misunderstanding Holy Communion is a tragedy.
Because a person can stand next to the source of life and not drink.
You can accept it and not live with it.
It is possible to be close to Christ and not let Him into your heart.
And then everything remains outside.
Holy Communion is Christ.
And only one question:
Do we really want to be with Him?
