أسئلة يطرحها الزوار · Holy Mysteries

Why do infants and young children receive Communion?

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Infants and young children receive Communion because, after Baptism and Chrismation, they are members of Christ’s Body and are brought into the sacramental life of the Church. The Coptic Orthodox Church gives the child the life of the Eucharist first, and understanding grows inside that life through prayer, worship, and formation.

Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:14 · NKJV

Baptism, Myron, and Communion belong together

In Coptic practice, Baptism is followed by Chrismation with the Holy Myron, and the newly baptized child is then brought to receive Communion. CopticChurch.net describes Communion as following Baptism, because Eucharistic life belongs to the person who has been joined to Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit.

This order teaches that salvation is life received from Christ, not only instruction about Christ. The child is received as a member of the Body who will grow into prayer, fasting, confession, and understanding over time.

Children grow inside the Church

The Church feeds children with the Holy Mysteries because faith is learned in the Church’s life. A child learns the language of worship by being present: seeing the altar, hearing the prayers, receiving the Body and Blood, and slowly learning reverence.

That growth becomes conscious as the child matures. Parents and servants teach prayer, the sign of the Cross, attention in the Liturgy, fasting according to age and strength, and later confession and repentance.

The promise parents carry

Parents and godparents carry a real responsibility. They bring the child to the Liturgy, teach the faith at home, protect reverence, and help the child grow from receiving the Mysteries as an infant into a conscious life of repentance and love for Christ.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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