Sarah Mitchell
Communion is a highly important sacrament in both the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. However, there is some ambiguity regarding whether Greek Orthodox Christians can receive communion in Catholic churches and vice versa. While the Catholic Church has allowed its members to receive communion in Orthodox churches in cases of necessity, the Orthodox Church officially maintains that Orthodox Christians are not permitted to receive communion in non-Orthodox churches. This is because, in Orthodox theology, communion is equivalent to membership in a church, and to give communion to Catholics would imply a unity that does not exist. Nevertheless, in some regions, particularly the Middle East, intercommunion between the two denominations does occur.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Communion in Orthodox Church | Not permitted by Orthodox theology; exceptions in the Middle East |
| Orthodox Communion in Catholic Church | Not permitted by Orthodox theology; exceptions in the Middle East |
| Catholic Communion in Catholic Church | Permitted in cases of "necessity" or "grave necessity" |
| Orthodox Communion in Orthodox Church | Only permitted for Orthodox Christians |
| Catholic belief in the Eucharist | Permitted in cases of danger of death or grave necessity |
| Orthodox belief in the Eucharist | Communion is a sign of membership in the church |
| Greek Orthodox Holy Communion | At least four times a year |
| Greek Orthodox Holy Communion preparation | Prayer, fasting, spiritual disciplines, reconciliation with the community |
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What You'll Learn
- The Catholic Church allows its members to receive communion in Orthodox churches
- Orthodox churches do not allow non-Orthodox Christians to receive communion
- Catholics are permitted to receive communion in Orthodox churches in cases of necessity
- Orthodox Christians are permitted to receive communion in Catholic churches in cases of necessity
- The Orthodox Church has a genuine Eucharist and priesthood
The Catholic Church allows its members to receive communion in Orthodox churches
The Catholic Church has an intercommunion policy with Eastern Orthodox churches and other Eastern apostolic Christian churches. Canon 844 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Latin Church and the parallel canon 671 allow members, in particular exceptional circumstances, to receive the Eucharist from ministers of churches with a valid Eucharist, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church.
The Catholic Church permits its members to receive Communion in Orthodox churches in cases of "necessity" or "real need". This is because, in some cases, it may be impossible for a Catholic to approach a Catholic minister. However, the Orthodox Church does not honour this and only permits Orthodox Christians to receive Communion in Orthodox churches. This is because, in Orthodox theology, communion is equivalent to membership in a church. Giving communion to Catholics would be the same as saying "Catholics are members of the Orthodox Church", which is not true.
Despite this official Orthodox belief, some Orthodox churches, particularly in the Middle East, practice inter-communion with Catholics. This is because Christian life is hard in the Middle East, and inter-communion is not actively discouraged.
In general, the Catholic Church does not allow a Catholic to receive communion in a Protestant church, as it does not consider Protestant ministers to be priests ordained by bishops in a line of valid succession from the apostles. However, this rule does not apply to Moravians, Anglicans, and some Lutherans, who teach that they ordain their clergy in lines of apostolic succession.
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Orthodox churches do not allow non-Orthodox Christians to receive communion
The Catholic Church has an intercommunion policy with the Eastern Orthodox churches and other Eastern apostolic Christian churches. This means that Catholics are allowed to receive communion in Orthodox churches. However, this policy is not reciprocated by the Orthodox Church.
While some individual Orthodox clergy may give communion to Catholics, there is no Orthodox church that officially permits Catholics or other non-Orthodox Christians to receive communion at their liturgies. The Orthodox Church only permits baptised Eastern Orthodox Christians (such as Bulgarian Orthodox, Georgian Orthodox, and Albanian Orthodox) to receive communion, and only when they have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting, and confession of sins.
The Orthodox Church's position on this matter is not due to a desire to exclude non-Orthodox people, but rather because non-Orthodox individuals have chosen not to embrace all that Orthodox Christianity holds. It is the non-Orthodox individual who makes it impossible for an Orthodox priest to offer them communion.
In some places, particularly in the Middle East, intercommunion between Orthodox and Catholic Christians is practised despite the official stance of the Orthodox Church.
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Catholics are permitted to receive communion in Orthodox churches in cases of necessity
The Orthodox Church does not permit Catholics to receive Holy Communion at their liturgies. This is because, in Orthodox theology, communion is equivalent to membership in a church. Giving communion to Catholics would imply that Catholics are members of the Orthodox Church, which is not true.
However, the Catholic Church has a different view. Since the 1980s, the Catholic Church has had an intercommunion policy with Eastern Orthodox churches and other Eastern apostolic Christian churches. This means that Catholics are permitted to receive communion in Orthodox churches in cases of "necessity". There is no authoritative definition of "necessity", but it typically refers to situations where a Catholic cannot approach a Catholic minister. For example, in places where Christians are a minority, such as in the Middle East, intercommunion between Orthodox and Catholics is common.
In addition, the Catholic Church permits its members to receive Communion in Orthodox churches if it is a case of "real need or spiritual benefit" and there is no danger of error or indifferentism. This is outlined in canon 844 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Latin Church.
It is important to note that, while the Catholic Church allows its members to receive Communion in Orthodox churches in certain circumstances, the opposite is not true. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not admit Catholics to receive the Eucharist from its ministers.
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Orthodox Christians are permitted to receive communion in Catholic churches in cases of necessity
Orthodox Christians are not ordinarily permitted to receive communion in Catholic churches. This is because, in Orthodox theology, communion is equivalent to membership in a church. To give communion to a non-Orthodox Christian would be to affirm that they are a member of the Orthodox Church.
However, the Catholic Church does permit Orthodox Christians to receive communion in Catholic churches in cases of "necessity". Canon 844 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Latin Church states that members who cannot approach a Catholic minister may receive the Eucharist from ministers of churches with a valid Eucharist, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church, in particular exceptional circumstances that are regulated by the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops. This includes when there is a danger of death or, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop, some other grave necessity.
The Catholic Church has an intercommunion policy with the Eastern Orthodox churches, allowing them to receive communion. However, this is not extended by the Eastern Orthodox Church, which does not permit Catholics to receive communion in its churches. While some Orthodox individuals and churches, particularly in the Middle East, do practice inter-communion with Catholics, this goes against official Orthodox teachings.
In Orthodox Christianity, receiving communion is preceded by the sacrament of confession, which provides an opportunity for reconciliation and restoration of a person's relationship with God and the Church. Before receiving communion, Orthodox Christians are expected to fast and pray, and to have their marriages blessed in the Orthodox Church.
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The Orthodox Church has a genuine Eucharist and priesthood
The Orthodox Church teaches that participation in the Holy Communion requires proper respect and preparation. This includes self-preparation through prayer, fasting, spiritual disciplines, and reconciliation with the believing community. Fasting is considered a means of self-discipline and a reminder that one is receiving Christ in Holy Communion. Confession, or spiritual guidance from a priest, is also an important aspect of preparation for Holy Communion.
The Catholic Church has a different perspective on intercommunion with the Orthodox Church. While the Catholic Church allows its members to receive Communion in Orthodox churches in specific circumstances, such as in cases of "necessity" or "spiritual advantage," the Orthodox Church does not reciprocate this practice. The Orthodox Church generally only permits Orthodox Christians to receive Communion in their liturgies. This is because, in Orthodox theology, communion is equivalent to membership in the church. Giving Communion to non-Orthodox individuals would imply that they are members of the Orthodox Church, which is not the case.
However, there are exceptions to this rule, particularly in the Middle East, where intercommunion between Orthodox and Catholic Christians is sometimes practiced despite going against official church teachings. Additionally, the Catholic Church distinguishes between churches with valid Eucharist and holy orders and those without, and it recognizes the Orthodox Church as having valid sacraments.
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Frequently asked questions
Orthodox theology dictates that Catholics cannot receive communion in an Orthodox church and vice versa. This is because, in Orthodox theology, communion is equivalent to membership in a church. However, there are exceptions in the Middle East where inter-communion is practiced. The Catholic Church also permits Orthodox Christians to receive communion in Catholic churches in cases of "necessity", although there is no authoritative definition of "necessity".
The Catholic Church has an intercommunion policy with the Eastern Orthodox churches and other Eastern apostolic Christian churches. They allow members of these churches to receive communion. However, the Catholic Church bars Orthodox members from receiving communion in Catholic churches.
The Orthodox Church does not permit Catholics to receive communion in their churches. This is because communion signifies complete unity in matters of faith, life, and worship, which does not exist between the two churches.
To receive communion in the Orthodox Church, one must be a practicing Orthodox Christian. This means being baptized and/or chrismated in the Orthodox Church and having beliefs and a lifestyle that align with the teachings of the Church. It is also important to be prepared spiritually through prayer, fasting, and reconciliation with the community and the Church.
