Prayer after Communion — why do they read, what do the words mean and which one to choose

In the Orthodox tradition, Communion is considered the main sacrament in which a person unites with Christ, accepting His Body and Blood under the guise of bread and wine. This moment is the peak of spiritual life, and prayer after Communion becomes a continuation of the Eucharist, an expression of gratitude for the gift of salvation and purification of the soul. The practice of reciting prayers after Communion has its roots in the first centuries of Christianity and remains an integral part of the Orthodox prayer rule. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

The history of prayer after Holy Communion

The practice of prayer of thanksgiving after the Eucharist has its roots in early Christian times. Already in the fourth and fifth centuries, the fathers of the Church, including Saints John Chrysostom and Basil the Great, included in their liturgical writings prayers addressed to Christ after communion.

Gradually, a special rite of thanksgiving prayers was established in the Church's liturgical tradition, which became part of a personal prayer rule. In ancient monasteries and temples, believers stayed in the church after the Liturgy to give thanks for the Holy Chalice together. Subsequently, these prayers became part of the prayer books and became an integral part of the spiritual life of an Orthodox Christian.

The spiritual meaning of prayers after Communion

Prayer after Communion is an expression of humility, gratitude, and hope. By accepting the Body and Blood of Christ, a person unites with the Savior and receives grace, which is important to preserve and multiply.

Prayers of thanksgiving include requests for spiritual sobriety, cleansing of the heart and strengthening in faith. The believer thanks God for the gift of love, salvation, and the presence of Christ in his soul. In the prayers, there are words of gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the Divine mystery, for cleansing from sins and for the light that fills the heart after the Eucharist.

Prayers after Communion include several parts. The first is giving thanks for the Gifts received and turning to Christ as the source of life. The second part contains a petition for the preservation of the grace received in the sacrament. The rule is completed with prayers to the Mother of God, saints, and Guardian Angel, in which the believer asks for intercession and help in his spiritual life.

Prayer before Holy Communion: history, meaning and the strongest texts

Prayer books traditionally cite the texts of Saints Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, and Simeon Metaphrastus, as well as a common prayer of thanksgiving in which the believer professes faith and love for Christ. It is recommended to read these texts in church after the liturgy or at home, immediately after returning from worship.

Thanksgiving prayers should be read in a calm atmosphere, without haste, with an awareness of the greatness of the moment. Church tradition advises to remain silent after receiving the Holy Gifts, not to have empty conversations, so that attention and heart remain turned to God.

Many priests note that these prayers are a continuation of the liturgy itself.: they consolidate the spiritual experience of union with Christ. If it is not possible to read the entire order of thanksgiving prayers, you can choose one or two of them.

The strongest prayer after Communion

Among the many prayers of thanksgiving, the prayer of St. John Chrysostom occupies a special place. In it, the believer gives thanks to Christ for the ineffable gift and asks him to strengthen his soul, grant purity of thought and keep faith alive in his heart. This text is considered one of the most powerful thanksgiving prayers in the Orthodox tradition.

The prayer of St. Basil the Great also has a special spiritual effect, which contains words of penitent humility and requests that the shrine become a source of spiritual healing and eternal life. These prayers connect the believer with the centuries-old experience of the Church and help to realize the greatness of the gift of Holy Communion.

Prayer of thanks:

"I thank You, Lord my God, that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have made me worthy to partake of Your Holy Things. I thank You that You have honored me, who am unworthy, to partake of Your most pure and heavenly Gifts. But, O Master, Lover of mankind, who died and rose again for us, and who gave us these terrible and life-giving Mysteries of Thine for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies, make them available to me for the healing of soul and body, for the repelling of every enemy, for the enlightenment of the eyes of my heart, and for the peace of my spiritual powers, in firm faith, in unfeigned love, in the fulfillment of wisdom, in the observance of Your commandments, in the multiplication of Your divine grace and the acquisition of Your kingdom. So that, preserved by them in Your sanctification, I may always remember Your mercy and no longer live for myself, but for You, our Lord and Benefactor. And so, having left this life in the hope of eternal life, I have reached a place of eternal rest, where the incessant voice of those celebrating and the endless delight of those gazing at the ineffable beauty of Your face. For You are the true goal of aspiration and the inexplicable joy of those who love You, O Christ our God, and all creation praises You forever. Amen to that.";

The Prayer of Simeon Metaphrastus:

"You who have given Your flesh to me voluntarily, You are a fire that burns the unworthy! Do not burn me, my Creator, rather go into the members of my body, into all the joints, into my insides, into my heart, and burn the thorns of all my sins. Purify my soul, sanctify my thoughts, strengthen my knees with my bones together, enlighten my five main senses, and nail me with fear of You. Always protect, protect, and protect me from any deed or word harmful to my soul. Cleanse, wash, and make me comfortable; beautify, admonish, and enlighten me. Reveal me to be Your abode, the one Spirit, and no longer the abode of sin, so that every evil-doer and every passion may flee from me after receiving Communion, as from Your house, as from fire. As intercessors for myself, I present to You all the saints, the Leaders of the disembodied armies, Your Forerunner, the wise Apostles, and above them, Your immaculate, pure Mother. Accept their prayers, my merciful Christ, and make Your servant a son of light. For You, the Only Good One, are the sanctification and also the radiance of our souls, and to You, as befits God and Master, we all send glory every day."