You prepare through fasting, prayer, and confession. That’s the short answer. But let me walk you through what that actually looks like.
The Eucharistic Fast
Don’t eat or drink anything from midnight if you’re receiving Communion at a morning Liturgy. That’s the basic rule. If you’re attending an evening Liturgy, you’d fast from noon onward. This isn’t about earning anything or proving you’re worthy, you can’t earn what God freely gives. It’s about approaching the Holy Mysteries with intentionality and reverence.
There are exceptions. Small children, the elderly, people who are sick, anyone taking necessary medications, these folks aren’t bound by the strict fast. If you work night shifts at one of the plants around here and your schedule’s all turned around, talk to your priest. The Church is a hospital, not a courtroom.
Prayer Before Communion
The Church gives us specific prayers to say before receiving Communion. You’ll find them in most Orthodox prayer books under “Prayers Before Holy Communion.” These aren’t long, maybe fifteen minutes to read through them. Some people say them the night before, some the morning of, some both.
The prayers are honest. Brutally so. They don’t pretend we’re worthy to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. We’re not. One of them, attributed to St. John Chrysostom, says straight out: “I am not worthy that You should enter under the roof of my soul.” But then it asks anyway, because God’s mercy is bigger than our unworthiness.
You can find these prayers on the Antiochian Archdiocese website or in any Orthodox prayer book. Don’t stress if you miss a day or can’t get through all of them. Better to pray one with attention than rattle through six while thinking about your grocery list.
Confession and Reconciliation
Here’s where it gets personal. You need to examine your conscience. That means actually thinking about how you’ve lived since your last confession, where you’ve failed to love God and neighbor, where you’ve been selfish or cruel or dishonest or lazy in your prayer life.
If something’s weighing on you, go to confession before Communion. The frequency varies, some Orthodox confess before every Communion, some monthly, some as needed. Your priest will guide you on this. But confession isn’t just about listing sins to a priest. It’s about reconciliation with God and with the people you’ve hurt.
If you’ve fought with your spouse or your kids or a coworker, make it right before you approach the Chalice. The Liturgy itself says this: “Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” You can’t commune with God while refusing to reconcile with your brother. It doesn’t work that way.
Who Can Receive?
Only baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians in good standing. That’s the rule. If you’re an inquirer or a catechumen, you’re not there yet. I know that’s hard, especially if you’re coming from a Baptist background where Communion was open to anyone who believed. But we believe something different is happening at that Chalice. We’re receiving the actual Body and Blood of Christ, and that requires being united to His Body, the Church, through baptism and chrismation.
If you can’t receive, you’ll still receive blessed bread (antidoron) after the service. It’s not Communion, but it’s not nothing either. It’s a sign that you’re part of the community, even if not yet fully united to it sacramentally.
The Morning Of
On Sunday morning, keep your fast. Pray the pre-communion prayers if you haven’t already. Get to church early if you can, there’s something about arriving before the service starts that helps you settle into the right frame of mind.
During the Liturgy, pay attention. When the priest says “With the fear of God, faith, and love, draw near,” he means it. Fear here doesn’t mean terror, it means awe, reverence, the recognition that you’re about to receive something holy. Faith means trusting that this is truly Christ. Love means approaching with a heart that’s at least trying to love God and neighbor, even if you’re failing more than succeeding.
After you commune, don’t rush out. Stay for the prayers of thanksgiving. Let what just happened settle into you. You’ve received the Medicine of Immortality, as St. Ignatius of Antioch called it. That’s not a metaphor.
Talk to your priest if you’re unsure about any of this. Every person’s situation is different, and pastoral guidance isn’t one-size-fits-all. He’ll help you figure out what preparation looks like for you, given your work schedule, your family situation, your spiritual state. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s showing up, broken and hungry, to receive the Bread of Life.
