May I receive communion in an Eastern Orthodox Church?

[adamhovey1988]

I have a question, that I think I know the answer to, but just to be sure. It is my understanding, that generally, I may not receive the Eucharist in any Church except those in communion with Rome. Now, say I go to a predominantly Orthodox country like Greece or Russia, and there is no nearby Catholic Church. Would I be allowed to receive Communion in those churches? It is my understanding that the Catholic Church doesn’t really have a problem with it in extreme circumstances, but I know that the Orthodox don’t generally allow it for Catholics. So would I be advised against it?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

Code of Canon Law:

Canon 844 §2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

The Church does permit Catholics to receive the sacraments from the Orthodox churches if there is no reasonable way to receive the sacraments from a Catholic church. However, not every Orthodox church or priest permits non-Orthodox to receive the sacraments so respect must always be shown to their rules. It would be best to discuss the matter ahead of time with the local priest. The general rule of thumb should be that without explicit permission to receive then a Catholic should not.