The short answer is: it depends on your priest’s guidance and your spiritual state. There’s no single rule that applies to everyone.
This surprises people coming from backgrounds where Communion happens monthly or quarterly. In Orthodoxy, we’re moving back toward the early Church’s practice of receiving every Sunday. But that means we need to think differently about preparation.
Here’s what you need to know. If you’ve committed serious sin, you need to confess before receiving Communion. Period. The Eucharist is Christ’s Body and Blood, and St. Paul warns us not to receive unworthily. Serious sin creates a barrier that confession removes.
But what about regular, weekly communicants who haven’t committed grave sins? The practice varies. Some parishes and spiritual fathers expect confession before every Communion. Others recommend confession during the major fasts (Great Lent, Nativity Fast, Apostles’ Fast, Dormition Fast). Still others suggest monthly confession for those who commune weekly.
The Antiochian Archdiocese promotes what they call a “Communion-centered life.” That means regular participation in the Liturgy and frequent reception of the Eucharist, with confession as an ongoing part of your spiritual life rather than a ticket you punch before each Communion. The OCA’s Holy Synod issued similar guidance, noting that those who commune frequently should confess regularly, though they don’t mandate confession before every single Communion for everyone.
What matters most is having a relationship with a confessor who knows your spiritual life. When I talk to inquirers here in Beaumont, I tell them this isn’t like getting your inspection sticker renewed. It’s not bureaucratic. Confession is medicine for the soul, and your priest helps determine what dose and frequency you need.
Some practical realities. If you’re working a turnaround at the refinery and you’ve been at Liturgy every Sunday for months, living a life of prayer and fasting, your priest might tell you to confess monthly or seasonally. If you’re struggling with a particular sin or going through a difficult time, he might want to see you more often. If you haven’t been to church in weeks and you’ve been living carelessly, you probably need to confess before approaching the chalice.
The key is honesty with yourself and with your confessor. Don’t play games. Don’t avoid confession because you’re embarrassed or because you think you can manage your spiritual life without it. And don’t treat it like a legalistic requirement you fulfill grudgingly. Fr. Alexander Schmemann wrote extensively about how we’ve sometimes turned the Eucharist into something rare and frightening when it should be the center of our lives. Confession helps us approach that center with proper preparation and humility.
One thing the sources all agree on: don’t rush in for a hurried confession right before Liturgy starts. That’s not good for you or for your priest, who’s trying to prepare for the service. Come to Vespers the night before if you can. Make an appointment during the week. Give yourself and your confessor time for a real conversation.
Talk to Fr. Michael about establishing a pattern that fits your life. Maybe that’s confession before every Communion. Maybe it’s monthly. Maybe it’s tied to the fasting seasons. What matters is that you’re growing in your relationship with Christ, that you’re honest about your sins, and that you’re receiving the Eucharist as the life-giving medicine it is. The Church gives us flexibility here because our spiritual lives aren’t identical. Your coworker might need something different than you do.
Don’t let uncertainty keep you from the chalice. Ask your priest. He’ll tell you what he expects and help you figure out a rhythm that serves your soul’s healing. That’s what he’s there for.
