The Eucharist and women's menstural cycles

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Is this something Eastern Catholics follow as well?
As Mickey has said, it varies in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and thus in the Eastern Catholics as well. Given like I said that we know that menstruation is not active bleeding, then its not an issue, many have updated their understanding of the practice. Although I am not sure what the Syriac Churches are doing, they may still be following this. I guess its best to ask someone who is Chaldean, Syriac, Syro-Malankara, Syro-Malabar, etc. And as mentioned above, it may be followed only in the motherland of the Churches, but not here in North America. In North America, priests and bishops would have to look at what the RC is doing and follow that. Mainly because people here do get most of their catechesis from the RC, and also sometimes out of fear that people might “defect”.
 
Does that surprise you? It is not doctrinal. There were not councils that addressed this. It is a very ancient practice…observed even by the Latin Church until the about the 17th century. Some jurisdictions have different ways of looking at it.

One’s spiritual father/mother knows what is best for his/her spiritual child. I do not question it. We are obedient to our spiritual director…that is also an ancient tradition. 😉
This practice was condemned as heretical and a judaization at a local council in 15/16th century Moscow.
 
This practice was condemned as heretical and a judaization at a local council in 15/16th century Moscow.
Source please.

St Gregory the Great—Pope of Rome
A woman should not be forbidden to go to church. After all, she suffers this involuntarily. She cannot be blamed for that superfluous matter that nature excretes…She is also not to be forbidden to receive Holy Communion at this time. If, however, a woman does not dare to receive, for great trepidation, she should be praised. But if she does receive she should not be judged. Pious people see sin even there, where there is none. Now one often performs innocently that which originates in a sin: when we feel hunger, this occurs innocently. Yet the fact that we experience hunger is the fault of the first man. The menstrual period is no sin; it is, in fact, a purely natural process. But the fact that nature is thus disturbed, that it appears stained even against human will – this is the result of a sin…So if a pious woman reflects upon these things and wishes not to approach communion, she is to be praised. But again, if she wants to live religiously and receive communion out of love, one should not stop her.
 
Obviously a bunch of men have answered this thread. They don’t realize that when a woman’s has her cycle, sometimes she doesn’t feel that clean. To the men out there, why don’t you try changing a bloody pad or tampon several times a day for about a week and see how you feel. During their cycles, women are often crampy, bloated, irritated, headachy, and not feeling their best.

If a woman feels like she can’t go because she has her cycle, she should be respected. Remember in the days of the Old Testament, the products we have today didn’t exist and therefore one of the reasons why they weren’t allowed inside the temple was because of hygienic reasons. They would probably bleed in the temple. Even in those days, they knew blood could spread some type of disease. Sometimes today the products aren’t perfect. Depending on the day, a woman may have to change quite frequently. It is kind of difficult to concentrate on your Lord when you are afraid of the pad you are wearing may fail because your flow is so heavy or the washroom is locked or far away.

If Orthodox women or women in general don’t feel like going to adoration or receive the Eucharist, respect their decision and keep the door open for whenever they do want to go.

I highly suggest that men, do not bring a priest into this, because this is a woman’s territory! If you must, ask a nun to speak with her or provide the woman with some literature. After that let it go. Until the guys get a period, they won’t understand this.
 
If Orthodox women or women in general don’t feel like going to adoration
Adoration is a uniquely Latin practice, although it has been adopted by some Eastern Catholics, the Orthodox does not do it.
 
Adoration is a uniquely Latin practice, although it has been adopted by some Eastern Catholics, the Orthodox does not do it.
If I am not mistaken the Orthodox actually discourage it. They see it much more of a Catholic practice?
 
I highly suggest that men, do not bring a priest into this, because this is a woman’s territory!
That is incorrect. As Orthodox Christians, we are obedient to our spiritual father or spiritual mother.

It is God’s territory. 😉
 
Source please.

St Gregory the Great—Pope of Rome
A woman should not be forbidden to go to church. After all, she suffers this involuntarily. She cannot be blamed for that superfluous matter that nature excretes…She is also not to be forbidden to receive Holy Communion at this time. If, however, a woman does not dare to receive, for great trepidation, she should be praised. But if she does receive she should not be judged. Pious people see sin even there, where there is none. Now one often performs innocently that which originates in a sin: when we feel hunger, this occurs innocently. Yet the fact that we experience hunger is the fault of the first man. The menstrual period is no sin; it is, in fact, a purely natural process. But the fact that nature is thus disturbed, that it appears stained even against human will – this is the result of a sin…So if a pious woman reflects upon these things and wishes not to approach communion, she is to be praised. But again, if she wants to live religiously and receive communion out of love, one should not stop her.
I am talking about the notion that a women can not ot must not recieve communion. If someone personally feels uncomfortable doing so that’s on them. But out right denial is wrong. A spiritual father making such a rule would definetly be going against the will of the church, as your own quote from Gregory would indicate.

For your source, I believe it was the Sobor of 1503 against the judaizers. I read this several years ago in a class and I can not find the text of this sobor online, so make of it what you will.
 
That is very interesting. So a teaching like this can vary from priest to priest? Are there other similar things that will vary like this? I would imagine that could be very confusing to the faithful, especially if they move from one location to another and encounter a priest who is teaching something different from what they have learned.

~Liza
I do have to agree here. I mean I do understand there are different diciplines, but a Teaching?

I never read in SS or ST where Jesus said this. I do agree that if a person is in a state or MORTAL SIN, but that is for women and men.

The bible states THis is my Body that will be given up to you. DO THIS in memory of me.
 
Please people - this abstention from the chalice is a deeply held tradition in some Orthodox Churches .

You ask them to respect your traditions - please respect theirs.

You have been given the reasons for this abstention - don’t rubbish those reasons - just accept them and do not criticise .
I would never mean any disrespect. But what I am asking is where is this in ST or SS thats all.
 
A spiritual father making such a rule would definetly be going against the will of the church, as your own quote from Gregory would indicate.
Nonsense.
For your source, I believe it was the Sobor of 1503 against the judaizers. I read this several years ago in a class and I can not find the text of this sobor online, so make of it what you will.
I will ignore it since you cannot provide the context.

It is a practice which still exists (by obedience to holy spiritual fathers/mothers and Elders)…including from the Russian Orthodox Church.

I can provide you with some early canons if you wish.
 
From what I read it was common in the Jewish and pre Christian era.

In the 1st 5 centuries of the Christian Era the Greek and Syriac speaking part of the Church protected women from this and they were allowed to receive the Eucharist.
 
Nonsense.
I will ignore it since you cannot provide the context.

It is a practice which still exists (by obedience to holy spiritual fathers/mothers and Elders)…including from the Russian Orthodox Church.

I can provide you with some early canons if you wish.
I think they are right Mickey. What they are saying is it should not be forbidden. And refusing Eucharistic Adoration:confused: I don’t truly understand this.
 
From what I read it was common in the Jewish and pre Christian era.

In the 1st 5 centuries of the Christian Era the Greek and Syriac speaking part of the Church protected women from this and they were allowed to receive the Eucharist.
As I mentioned, from what I had learned, this has nothing to do with ritual purity of the Jews but rather avoiding the blood of Christ which now runs in your own veins after receiving the Eucharist from bleeding out.
 
I think they are right Mickey. What they are saying is it should not be forbidden. And refusing Eucharistic Adoration:confused: I don’t truly understand this.
Rinnie…from what I remember…Orthodox don’t have eucharistic adoration.
 
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