New York, December 16, 2024
Photo: pravoslavie.ru
Against the background of other Churches’ discussions about how to commune those suffering from celiac disease, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia has reiterated its stance that no one should fear to commune of both the Body and Blood of Christ.
Having been made aware of ongoing discussions in some ecclesiastical circles regarding the administration of the Mystery of Holy Communion to those who suffer from certain ailments such as coeliac disease and its associated conditions of gluten-intolerance, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia considered this a welcome opportunity to restate its age-old confession on the reception of this Sacrament, which remains unchanged
Last month, the Russian Orthodox Church’s Synodal Commission on Bioethics published recommendations that, inasmuch as special gluten-free bread cannot be used for the Eucharist, people with gluten-associated diseases receive only the Blood of Christ.
In August 2022, after a two-year investigation of the matter, the hierarchs of the Finnish Orthodox Church (Patriarchate of Constantinople) blessed the use of separate Eucharistic Lambs:
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.
Conversely, the ROCOR Synod calls upon all to commune of both the Body and Blood, consecrated from one Lamb, without fear:
in the Divine Liturgy we, as Christians grafted into the Body of Christ through Baptism, receive our Lord in His own Precious Body and Life-creating Blood. Not only is communion in the full offering of His Body and Blood together not a source of illness or danger, but it is instead the very source of Life, healing and sanctification. As such, those suffering from any condition relating to either of the earthly gifts offered in the Liturgy, namely bread and wine, should have no fear in approaching the Chalice to receive therefrom both the Body and Blood of their Saviour, for that which was offered in human frailty is transformed by Divine Grace into that which bestows Life unto all. For any further practical counsel based on personal circumstances or concerns, the individual should, as always, seek the guidance of his or her priest.
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