The Eucharist and women's menstural cycles

[jasonjessica09]

My wife is Coptic Orthodox and she has always restrained from receiving Jesus in the Eucharist whenever her time of the month comes. I’ve never heard this from anybody else but her but is this true for Orthodox Christain women not to go to Holy Communion when they have periods?

What makes it worse for me as a Catholic is that she won’t go to Eucharsitic Adoration with me either when this occurs. I tell her that there is never a reason to deny yourself a chance to be at least present in front of Jesus. So yeah I have tried for a very very long time to convince her that its ok to go to Adoration during her time of the month but she still has refused to do this.

So I am trying to get a gauge on this from people because I’m not really what the correct answer is.

 

[rinnie]

My wife is Coptic Orthodox and she has always restrained from receiving Jesus in the Eucharist whenever her time of the month comes. I’ve never heard this from anybody else but her but is this true for Orthodox Christain women not to go to Holy Communion when they have periods?

What makes it worse for me as a Catholic is that she won’t go to Eucharsitic Adoration with me either when this occurs. I tell her that there is never a reason to deny yourself a chance to be at least present in front of Jesus. So yeah I have tried for a very very long time to convince her that its ok to go to Adoration during her time of the month but she still has refused to do this.

So I am trying to get a gauge on this from people because I’m not really what the correct answer is.

I am Roman Catholic, have been all of my life and have never heard of such a thing.

 

[Barbkw]

Wow, that’s a mishmash of Jewish / Christian ideology.

 

[lizaanne]

Ask her where she learned this from. “Because I’ve always know it” is not acceptable. She needs to - for her OWN sake - know where this “teaching” comes from. If she is denying herself access to the Eucharist, she should WANT to know where this came from and if it is true.

Try talking to her priest as well, he may be able to help her to understand correctly.

~Liza

 

[Mickey]

There are many women in the Orthodox Church who do not receive Communion during their menstrual cycle…they also refrain from antidoran, venerating the Cross and the holy icons, etc.

It depends on one’s spiritual father.

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

Wow, that title itself irks me. Gah, just sounds so irreverent.

 

[Luvtosew]

In the OT women on their cycle were not allowed even enter into the Tabernacle, I believe.

 

[Jim_Dandy]

There are many women in the Orthodox Church who do not receive Communion during their menstrual cycle…they also refrain from antidoran, venerating the Cross and the holy icons, etc.

It depends on one’s spiritual father.

Do you mean that one spiritual father may forbid it and another permit it, without any justification other than his own opinion?

 

[Jesus_123]

My wife is Coptic Orthodox and she has always restrained from receiving Jesus in the Eucharist whenever her time of the month comes. I’ve never heard this from anybody else but her but is this true for Orthodox Christain women not to go to Holy Communion when they have periods? …

So I am trying to get a gauge on this from people because I’m not really what the correct answer is.

​

+Your wife is practicing a respected . . . centuries old . . . time-honored sacred traditional practice followed by some eastern rite Catholic churches . . .

. . . :coffeeread: . . .
RELIGION
Abrahamic

Most Christian denominations do not follow any specific rituals or rules related to menstruation. Some Christian denominations, including many authorities of the Eastern Orthodox Church (also known as the Russian, Ukrainian, or Greek Orthodox Church, distinct from the Roman Catholic Church), advise women not to receive communion during their menstrual period.[13]
**
Other denominations follow the rules laid out in the Holiness Code section of Leviticus, somewhat similar to the Jewish ritual of Niddah.** …

In Judaism, a ritual exclusion called niddah applies to a woman while menstruating and for about a week thereafter, until she immerses herself in a mikvah (ritual bath). During this time, a married couple must avoid sexual intercourse and physical intimacy.**

Orthodox Judaism **forbids women and men from even touching or passing things to each other during this period. While Orthodox Jews follow this exclusion, many Jews in other branches of the religion do not.

Orthodox Christianity

Conservative/Traditionalist members of the Orthodox Church observe the ancient practice of abstaining from Holy Communion during menstruation.[13] This is a fairly common practice throughout Greece and Russia and other historically Orthodox Christian countries. However in most non-Orthodox countries—especially in Europe and North America—a sizable majority of women do not practice this ancient rule, although a minority of women still do. In fact, many Orthodox Christian women are unaware of the ancient practice of abstaining from Holy Communion due to menstruation.

***- Wikipedia​

:compcoff: Link:*** en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_and_menstruation

. . . all for Jesus+​

 

[Marie5890]

My wife is Coptic Orthodox and she has always restrained from receiving Jesus in the Eucharist whenever her time of the month comes. I’ve never heard this from anybody else but her but is this true for Orthodox Christain women not to go to Holy Communion when they have periods?

What makes it worse for me as a Catholic is that she won’t go to Eucharsitic Adoration with me either when this occurs. I tell her that there is never a reason to deny yourself a chance to be at least present in front of Jesus. So yeah I have tried for a very very long time to convince her that its ok to go to Adoration during her time of the month but she still has refused to do this.

So I am trying to get a gauge on this from people because I’m not really what the correct answer is.

Yes I have heard of this for Orthodox women.

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

I’ve never heard this from anybody else but her but is this true for Orthodox Christain women not to go to Holy Communion when they have periods?

I’ve had this conversation with Greek Orthodox women living in the US as well as in Greece. In Greece GO women have told me they obstain from the Eucharist while menstruating, but GO women in the US have told me they don’t follow this practice.

Purely anecdotal, but that’s all I got.

Luna

 

[jasonjessica09]

I’m the OP,

I called my wife a few minutes ago to elaborate on the discussion occuring here. She says that this idea of staying away from the Eucharist during the menstural cycle does come from the Old Testament. Now even though this is OT, she reminds me in saying that the old jewish traditions should not go away. As Jesus Christ said that he came to fullfull the Old Covanent and not to abolish it. So she says that is why she won’t even go to Adoration during this period of time. No pun intneded. She is from Egypt by the way

 

[DasErlibnis]

Just let it be…

If she is honoring God with her body, why challenge that? Keep in mind you’re an American, so, regarding our sexuality, most of what we think is considered a perversion in other countries.

 

[lizaanne]

There are many women in the Orthodox Church who do not receive Communion during their menstrual cycle…they also refrain from antidoran, venerating the Cross and the holy icons, etc.

It depends on one’s spiritual father.

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

 

[ConstantineTG]

I’m saddened by the negative comments here because people rather judge based on their own tradition and current understanding rather than learn why another tradition does this differently.

This practice is borne out of a good understanding of what Communion is. When we receive the Eucharist we believe our own body and blood becomes one (or in communion with) Jesus Christ. So not only menstrual cycles, but anyone is forbidden from Communion if they have active bleeding because it is believed that in your blood is Jesus and thus you will bleed Jesus out. This has nothing to do with Judaic ritual purity.

Of course modern science has proven that menstruation is not active bleeding. Some Churches stick to this practice as it has already been part of their traditions for well over 1000 years.

 

[Mickey]

So a teaching like this can vary from priest to priest?

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.

 

[lizaanne]

Does that surprise you?

Don’t belittle me - I’m trying to learn.

Never mind - I’ll just stay out of this forum.

~Liza

 

[Barbkw]

I’m saddened by the negative comments here because people rather judge based on their own tradition and current understanding rather than learn why another tradition does this differently.

This practice is borne out of a good understanding of what Communion is. When we receive the Eucharist we believe our own body and blood becomes one (or in communion with) Jesus Christ.

So not only menstrual cycles, but anyone is forbidden from Communion if they have active bleeding because it is believed that in your blood is Jesus and thus you will bleed Jesus out.

However, according to the above “good understanding” people with bleeding ulcers, pulled teeth, cuts, etc. should abstain?

 

[The_Idiot]

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 .

 

[ConstantineTG]

However, according to the above “good understanding” people with bleeding ulcers, pulled teeth, cuts, etc. should abstain?

There must be active bleeding, which means blood is still gushing out. Bleeding ulcers would have been hard to determine back then as they have no x-rays, ultrasound, or whatever you need to look inside. If your gums are not bleeding from the tooth extraction, then its not active bleeding.