Yes. If you’re Orthodox and properly prepared, you can receive Communion at any canonical Orthodox church.
That’s the short answer. The longer answer helps you understand what “properly prepared” means and what to do when you walk into an unfamiliar parish.
We’re All in Communion
The Orthodox Church isn’t divided the way Protestant denominations are. When you hear about “Antiochian” or “Greek” or “OCA” parishes, those aren’t separate churches. They’re administrative jurisdictions within the one Orthodox Church. Our bishops are in communion with each other. That means the Eucharist is shared across all of them.
So if you’re a member here at St. Michael’s and you’re visiting family in Dallas or working offshore and stop at a parish in Louisiana, you can commune there. Same Church, same faith, same Mysteries.
This matters in Southeast Texas where work schedules don’t always cooperate with Sunday mornings. If you’re on a plant turnaround or offshore rotation and you find yourself near an Orthodox parish on Sunday, go. You’re not limited to Antiochian churches. A Greek parish, a Russian parish, an OCA parish, they’re all home.
What “Properly Prepared” Means
You can’t just show up and commune anywhere, though. Preparation matters.
First, you need to have fasted. That typically means nothing to eat or drink after midnight Saturday night. Some parishes follow a stricter fast. If you’re unsure, ask.
Second, you should have been to confession recently. How recently depends on your relationship with your priest. Some people confess monthly. Others less often. But if it’s been a while, or if you’ve got something weighing on you, don’t commune without confessing first. When you visit another parish, the priest there won’t know you. If you haven’t confessed in months, that’s a problem.
Third, you can’t be under penance. If your priest has told you not to commune for a period, that applies everywhere. You don’t get to parish-shop your way around it.
Fourth, you need to be at peace with people. If you’re nursing a grudge or refusing to forgive someone, deal with that before you approach the chalice. We say it right there in the Liturgy: “Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” You can’t commune in hatred.
What to Do When You Visit
Get there early if you can. Arriving halfway through the Liturgy and then communing looks bad, and honestly, you’ve missed most of the preparation the service itself provides.
Watch what the regulars do. Every parish has its own little customs. Some line up for Communion down the center aisle. Others form lines on the sides. Some parishes have people say their baptismal name to the priest. Others don’t. Just follow along.
If you’re uncertain about anything, find the priest before the service starts. Tell him you’re visiting from another parish and ask if there’s anything you need to know. Most priests will appreciate that. They’d rather you ask than guess wrong.
And here’s something specific to remember: take off your lipstick before you commune. The chalice gets wiped between each person, but you’re still making the priest’s job harder. Same goes for kissing icons or the cross.
When You Shouldn’t Commune
Don’t commune if you just got there and haven’t prepared. Don’t commune if you’re not sure whether you should. Don’t commune if you’re not actually Orthodox yet, even if you’re a catechumen and attending regularly.
That last one trips people up sometimes. Folks coming from Baptist or Bible church backgrounds often think of Communion as something you do to show you believe in Jesus. We don’t see it that way. The Eucharist is the family meal of the Church. You have to be baptized and chrismated into the family first. It’s not about excluding people. It’s about what the Eucharist actually is: full communion with the Church and with Christ.
If you’re visiting and you’re not Orthodox, you’ll receive blessed bread (antidoron) at the end of the service instead. That’s not a consolation prize. It’s a sign of fellowship and hospitality. Take it with gratitude.
The Practical Reality
So yes, you can commune at any Orthodox church. But that freedom comes with responsibility. You’re not just receiving a symbol or going through a ritual. You’re receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. That requires preparation, humility, and honesty about where you are spiritually.
If you’re traveling or your schedule makes it hard to be here on Sundays, find an Orthodox parish wherever you are. The OCA and Greek churches around Southeast Texas will welcome you. So will the Russian parish in Houston if you end up there. We’re all the same Church. When you walk in, you’re not a visitor in a foreign place. You’re home.
