Finnish Church blesses consecration of separate gluten-free Eucharist for those with celiac disease

Kuopio, Finland, August 30, 2022

dom-prestarelyh.net dom-prestarelyh.net     

After more than two years of investigating the issue, the hierarchs of the Finnish Church have come to a decision about how to commune people who suffer from celiac disease.

At its session on August 24, the Bishops’ Council of the Finnish Orthodox Church, an autonomous Church of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, resolved:

When there’s a need for gluten-free Holy Gifts, a priest may consecrate a Lamb made from gluten-free flour during the Divine Liturgy and treat it as the Holy Gifts from the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, using a separate chalice.

The Finnish hierarchs first raised the issue at their session in February 2020.

“Those who suffer from celiac disease cannot commune of the Body of Christ at the Eucharist due to their intolerance to wheat protein. Those who suffer from an acute form cannot commune of the Blood of Christ either, because it could also contain particles of wheat flour,” the hierarchs said, charging one priest with studying the practice of the Greek Orthodox Church.

That priest, Fr. John Lampropoulos, reported to the Finnish hierarchs in October 2021 that the Greek Church has no developed position on the matter, and that the issue requires an appeal to the Canonical Department of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

The Finnish Church’s investigation into the matter has not sat well with everyone in the Church. In October 2021, the Office of Heresies and Cults of the Metropolis of Piraeus of the Orthodox Church of Greece stated that, “it’s a clear challenge to the sanctifying and redemptive power of the Eucharist. It is also a direct insult against the Holy Spirit, a desecration of the Holy Mysteries, and disrespect to the Church and its 2,000-year Tradition.”

The Finnish Council of Bishops also made several other decisions last week. As of August 25, the Church resumed the practice of communing people with the spoon, which had been interrupted due to the COVID pandemic.

The hierarchs also decided to bring newly baptized babies into the altar, regardless of gender, and compiled a list of holy days when Divine services should be celebrated in all parishes of the Finnish Church.

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8/30/2022

See also
Finnish Church should apologize for issue of gluten-free Communion, says Metropolis of Piraeus Finnish Church should apologize for issue of gluten-free Communion, says Metropolis of Piraeus Finnish Church should apologize for issue of gluten-free Communion, says Metropolis of Piraeus Finnish Church should apologize for issue of gluten-free Communion, says Metropolis of Piraeus
“We hope and wish that the Ecumenical Patriarchate will refuse this horrible innovation, the impious experimentation and interventionism in the Holy Sacrament, and that the hierarchs of the Finnish Orthodox Church will realize their great error and apologize to God and the grievously scandalized people of God!” Finnish Church to appeal to Constantinople about gluten-free Eucharist for celiacs Finnish Church to appeal to Constantinople about gluten-free Eucharist for celiacs Finnish Church to appeal to Constantinople about gluten-free Eucharist for celiacs Finnish Church to appeal to Constantinople about gluten-free Eucharist for celiacs
The hierarchs previously discussed the matter in February, and instructed Fr. John Lampropoulos to study the stance and practice of the Church of Greece. Finnish Church investigating question of gluten-free Eucharist for those with celiac disease Finnish Church investigating question of gluten-free Eucharist for those with celiac disease Finnish Church investigating question of gluten-free Eucharist for those with celiac disease Finnish Church investigating question of gluten-free Eucharist for those with celiac disease
The Bishops’ Council of the Finnish Orthodox Church (Patriarchate of Constantinople) met on February 18 in Helsinki under the chairmanship of Archbishop Leo of Helsinki and All Finland, discussing, among other things, the issue of people who suffer from celiac disease receiving Holy Communion.
Comments
Editor12/17/2024 3:45 pm
Sofronios, may it come to pass as you and others desire!
Sofronios12/16/2024 6:01 pm
I am a member of the Finnish orthodox church. We do not have pews in our churches like protestants have in their sanctuaries, atleast where I go. We do have fasting. I agree that clothing is to me immodest (no veiling). The reason why we celebrate Pascha according to new calendar is historical. Many people, including me, want that Pascha is celebrated like every other orthodox church does.
Alexander Leitner9/3/2022 6:18 pm
The Finnish "Orthodox" Church. Following not only the New Calendar but also the Paschalion. Pews, almost no fasting,...immodest clothing, protestant mindset. They are not really Orthodox and never have been.
Rdr Daniel8/30/2022 3:03 pm
I have known people with sever celiac who where not able to partake of the antidoron and who had to be very careful with cross contamination of their food. They partook of Holy Communion normally and to no ill effect. But this is the next logical step to many bishops' response to the covid.
Gary8/30/2022 2:33 pm
This doesn't feel right.
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