They ask if you're a member of the Orthodox church. If not communion is withheld from you. It's not like they have to lay hands on you to prevent you taking it. The priest and deacons would just stonewall you. If you kicked up a fuss I'd imagine you'd be removed by laity who might have to repent for what they did to you.
So the whole congregation lines up and before offering communion the priest asks each one "Are you a card-carrying member of the Orthodox Church?
That's not what I said. Every orthodox Church I've been to has members of laity who greet people in the foyer. They ask. If the priest doesn't know who you are and you approach for communion you'll likely be asked but I can't imagine it comes up very often. Generally you'd let the temple know you're coming beforehand so your parish priest can attest to your righteousness.So the whole congregation lines up and before offering communion the priest asks each one "Are you a card-carrying member of the Orthodox Church?
The parishioner responds "Yes" or "No," then the priest proceeds? Seems a little far-fetched
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OK, fair enough I guess this is considerably smaller than Catholic ones, so anyone new would stick out
Yeah. People would also note whether you could actually follow the Liturgy as well - if you seem confused about what's happening you're likely not Orthodox. You'd need to know how to venerate the icons, when to cross yourself and bow, be able to chant along, know where to face, etc etc etc.
Genuinely curious. So, the priest likely knows everyone that approaches to take communion? And if not, might suspend the ritual to ask the stranger if he were a member of the Church?
Right. Catholic churches have deacons and often laity offer communion as well as the priest at a decent sized church. You might never take communion from the priest himself (depending on where you sit)
Its not supposed to be free, ever see those baskets they pass around?
Yes and maybe.
Well we have to do confession. If you didn't confess you'd probably be denied outright. Now can the priest see into your heart and tell if you completely lied during your confession? No but at that point it's between you and God. I'm sure it happens at times but there's only so much to be done.
The priest who gives you confession is the same as the one who gives you communion, and he knows whether you've been to confession? Don't you have confessionals? You can't be anonymous?
No anonymous confession, no. It's done during service where each person individually joins the priest at an icon of Christ. The priest places his stole over your head and you confess to our Lord. It's private in the sense that nobody could or would eavesdrop on you but it's done within the context of worship. You're not showing up in a closet to confess to a priest - that's weird.
There's an act of contrition, too, during the Catholic service, but the only way to absolve a mortal sin is through the sacrament of confession (the booth). (Or during the act of contrition being resolved to go to confession at the earliest opportunity.)
Are you Russian or Greek ancestry? Are all the people Slavs?
