I would like to attend Divine Liturgy and receive Communion, but I can't have alcohol

[LuciaPacifici]

I am a Latin Catholic who is drawn to some of the beauty I see in the Eastern Catholic church.

I may even ask a Byzantine priest tI know to be my spiritual director.

I already have some of the traditions (icons, Jesus prayer) but I have not ever attended Divine Liturgy.

I found out that communion would be received from a spoon, with both the Precious Body and Blood. I have always avoided the accidents of wine, because without going into details, it isn’t a great idea for me to have any wine at all, even just a taste.

I am a bit sad that I am too nervous to received at Divine Liturgy. Does anyone else have this problem? Please pray for me.

 

[MorEphrem]

In the East, the priests are generally more approachable in my experience. Go to the pastor, inform him of your predicament, especially if your primary pastoral care is taken care of at this Byzantine parish. I’m certain the priest will make an exception and commune you only with the Body.

(To the reader of this post, please do not start an endless assurance of concomitance - the obvious etymology of the word should affirm to you where that doctrine comes from)

 

[LuciaPacifici]

In the East, the priests are generally more approachable in my experience. Go to the pastor, inform him of your predicament, especially if your primary pastoral care is taken care of at this Byzantine parish. I’m certain the priest will make an exception and commune you only with the Body.

(To the reader of this post, please do not start an endless assurance of concomitance - the obvious etymology of the word should affirm to you where that doctrine comes from)

Thank you. I may approach the Byzantine Abbot about this; if I ever go to the Ukrainian service I will have to try to talk to someone there too. I hope it works out.

 

[Hospodi_pomilui]

In the East, the priests are generally more approachable in my experience. Go to the pastor, inform him of your predicament, especially if your primary pastoral care is taken care of at this Byzantine parish. I’m certain the priest will make an exception and commune you only with the Body.

(To the reader of this post, please do not start an endless assurance of concomitance - the obvious etymology of the word should affirm to you where that doctrine comes from)

I have seen this done a couple of times in parishes. The priest left a piece of the consecrated bread on the diskos and brought it out to communicate an individual who had requested it for the same reason given above. I’ve also seen a priest reserve a small amount of the precious blood in a second chalice for an individual with a gluten issue. The transfer to the second chalice occurred after the piece of the lamb had been added to the chalice but before the rest of the consecrated bread was added.