Conversations like these happen pretty infrequently in a 2,000-year-old institution such as the Orthodox Christian Church which is known for its continuity and adhering to traditions. But that isn’t to say that Orthodox Christianity hasn’t changed, or adapted to the times.
Years ago, the the Orthodox Christian Church held steadfastly to the doctrine that it was a mortal sin to pay or charge interest on a loan. Divorce was out of the question. Even the “mixing of families” when separated spouses met new mates was forbidden. Holy Communion was served to faithful from a single common cup directly to the mouth. And inter-church marriages were strictly prohibited.
But as society changed, so did the Church. Today, who doesn’t use a credit card? Parishes even accept them for donations. Divorce is common and those divorced are allowed to remarry. The Church has also bended its rules and allowed faithful to marry non-Orthodox Christians from “approved” Christian traditions. And for the past thousand years, communion has been served with a spoon.
These changes didn’t happen overnight. In some cases they took centuries to become the established practice of Orthodox Christianity— but they began out of necessity and pastoral sensitivity— a concept called ‘economia’ in the Orthodox Christian tradition. And they all resulted in a major change in church doctrine and the way things are done.
The Orthodox Church may very well be experiencing the beginning of a similar seismic shift.
The Orthodox Church of Finland has been using single-use bamboo spoons for more than a month and the Church of Romania has planned to adopt a similar model. But Archbishop Elpidophoros of America— who is the exarch— or representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in the America— has escalated the Church’s conversation about how to distribute Holy Communion to faithful.
It’s the first time in 1,000 years that a conversation like this is taking place.
In a directive sent to priests of the New York parishes over which he has direct ecclesiastical authority, Archbishop Elpidophoros instructed priests to use single-use metallic spoons to distribute Holy Communion.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a complex problem for Orthodox Christian Churches which serve their most important sacrament from a common spoon and cup.
On the one hand, Churches have to maintain the basic belief and tenet of the Church that the wine and bread become the body and blood of Jesus Christ during a special part of the Divine Liturgy.
But on the other hand, Church officials were in a difficult position to protect their faithful from a virus which spreads from person-to-person through microscopic droplets.
The Archdiocese of America has begun a strategic educational campaign for its faithful which tells the history of the use of the communion spoon. The campaign also reminds faithful that it’s a relatively new practice.
In an a widely-circulated article, theologian Fr. Alkiviadis C. Calivas recounts the history of the spoon’s use and reminds the faithful that it is a relatively new innovation.
“Before the eleventh/twelfth century, everyone, clergy and people alike, received the Holy Gifts separately, in the manner the clergy do to this day,” Calivas writes. “When the people approached, they extended their hands, right over left with palms open, on which the priest placed a portion of the Holy Bread. After consuming the Bread, the communicants were offered the Cup by the deacon.”
It’s unclear if other Metropolitans in the United States— who govern their own regions— will pick up on the Archbishop’s cue to use single-use metallic spoons.
In a news report in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Metropolis of Pittsburgh states that it will not incorporate one-use spoons, opting instead for a different method of serving Communion.
The Archdiocese directives did say this would remain a temporary measure as Churches ride out the pandemic and life returns to normal.
But the mere fact that a high-ranking leader of one of the world’s largest Orthodox jurisdictions— a leader whose roots come directly from Constantinople, considered to be the “thought leader” for global Orthodoxy— instructed priests use single-use spoons, speaks volumes for the prospects of a potentially new, practical way the Church is responding to the needs of contemporary society— as it did in the past.
John G. Panagiotou, a theologian and professor at Erskine Theological Seminary and Cummins Memorial Theological Seminary, called this “a defining time” in the Orthodox Church.
“What we are seeing in 2020 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic is a defining time once again in the history of Orthodox Christianity in which the liturgical practice of the common communion spoon is now being seriously debated after a thousand years of its standardized usage,” Panagiotou said. “The significance of this is more than the Orthodox Churches’ ability to adapt to socio-cultural pastoral concerns which it has done repeatedly in its history. What this discussion has prompted in our day is the fresh articulation in very real terms of one’s essential belief in the nature of the Eucharist itself in relation to the balance of faith and science. Either way, this will shape ecclesiological understanding for generations to come,” Panagiotou concluded.
George E. Demacopoulos, the Co-Director of Orthodox Christian Studies Center and Professor of Theology at Fordham University, agreed that Archbishop Elpidophoros’ proposed adaptation “is consistent with the way that the Church has historically responded to changing circumstances.”
“There is nothing theologically meaningful in the use of a common spoon or a single-use spoon for the distribution of the Holy Eucharist. None of the early theologians who developed our theology of the Eucharist used spoons themselves–it was a later development born of practical consideration,” Demacopoulos told The Pappas Post.
“The theological significance lies in the belief that the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Jesus Christ. To my mind, Archbishop Elpidophoros’ proposed adaptation is consistent with the way that the Church has historically responded to changing circumstances,” Demacopoulos concluded.
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19 comments
Shame has been brought to the Church! Time to find a new jurisdiction!
But the cup or the spoon was never disinfected after each use…This isn’t a question about a spoon or a cup this is a question about what the spoon or cup contains or has just touch
Actually, in early days it was disinfected. With vinegar. This was way before the discovery of Lysol.
People forget that the woman with an issue of blood touched only Christ’s clothes and was healed, not even his own Body. Now they’re worried about the cloth and spoon! the HOLY SPOON represents the hand fo the Seraphim from the Angelic order, which held a burning coal and touched the Prophet Isaiah’s mouth and said: This had touched my lips, and will take away thine iniquities, and will purge thy sins. – Orthodoxy for you
The spoon simbolises the gift of life Isis gives to the dead as she resurrected her husband Osiris
It’s the elements received, namely the body and blood of Christ, that matter and not the manner of their delivery. Liturgical praxis is one thing; theology, quite another.
All I see here are theologians’ opinions, which might have been spread as the Archbishop’s directives I would like to hear Archbishop Elpidophoros himself or read a text about these changes signed by him, as the one that has been uploaded in the Metropolis of Atlanta. Otherwise, I will consider this article as rumors.
Hi Magdalini— if you click on the word “directive” in the article you can see the document.
Thank you for the update. Yet, in St. Demetrios Church in Astoria, none of the directives regarding the Holly Communion were followed. I know this because I watched the Mass until the end of it. People did approach the priests wearing their masks and they removed them right before they receive the Holly Communion. No napkins, no multiple spoons or the like. I have watched this with my own eyes.
That would have to be something you talk to the Archdiocese about. We aren’t enforcers. We just report. You can find all of the contact info for the Archdiocese on the goarch.org website
There are only four Theologians in the Orthodox Church. The early Fathers did write some rules saying the only time Communion can be recieved in the hand of a layman is when the Church is under persecution. Let unbelievers stay out of the affairs of the Church. Let the believers approach the chalice as they always have, and let the unbelievers depart with the catechumens, or let them not bother coming to church either. There is no telling where we are going tobget the virus from, its is going to pass over all of us. We definately wont get it from the chalice. If we do happen to be among those who die from the virus, let us then at least die in Communion with our God, and not without Him.
You can find the Archbishops words coming from his own mouth on the Archdiocese website. There is a video of him talking about Holy Communion. http://www.goarch.org. I believe receiving the Holy Body and Blood as a community together is important – not the silverware.
i agree with the comment made by James. The act itself is more important for an Orthodox Christian.
I personally believe that there is an agenda that lies in wait, like a lion at a watering hole waiting to consume anything that crosses its path. Let’s not forget that the theologians that have expressed their concern and theological opinions are all working at schools that ” are not Orthodox.” Yet we are to take the advice of one who chooses to work for the heretics?
This is all well orchestrated and planned out.
Aww poor baby, you now how have to use a clean spoon….what injustice!
In Romania the Patriarch and the Bishops did not accept the single use spoons or other methods. We are still using the traditional way!
The trouble with the multi-spoon solution is that it does not address the real cause of this debate, i.e., the attack on the faith by militant atheism. The lack of catechism in most of our parishes has left the faithful unprotected and ready to adopt the secular slogans by which atheism accomplishes its spread. Among them are: “I have a voice, I want to be heard” and “I have a fear, you fix it for me”. The multi-spoon solution will not alleviate fears: the celebrant still drinks directly from the chalice and crumbles the host into it using his bare hands. Will this practice have to change, too? What about the fears about transmission through books, candles, icons, pews, the floors, the air, etc. How will they be addressed? Those among our faithful (and some of our priests, hierarchs and theologians) who have adopted the secular slogans as if they were God-given (including “I have rights,” and “I demand equality,”) must be ready for the second wave of fears. They are sure to follow, and will never go away until militant atheism accomplishes its goal of eliminating the faith, altogether. Luckily, its effort is futile: “If all of us nominal faithful haven’t been able to do that for over 2000 years, no one can do it,” thanks to the promise of Christ (Mt 16:18).
I agree with you 100%. Secular bending of the rules and changes were the root cause of the calendar issue, which mind you, to this day there has been no reunification with the fellow GREEK ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS who have no DOCTRINAL differences, but it’s okay to swallow up the Antiochian Church which has Eastern Rite AND WESTERN RITE PARISHES. Also, the “OCA” is not a recognized entity by Constantinople HOWEVER the assembly in the States recognizes the entity and even serve under that representation. So, now that Bartholomew acknowledges ROCOR what purpose does OCA serve. Be certain the powers that be have an American Agenda and Orthodox Church of America serves their “name ” purpose. It’s a sad day indeed.
Weak Faith and Salvation
The common argument goes like this: “Your faith is weak and this weakness prevents you from receiving the Holy Gifts (by way of common spoon).”
??♂️ Are people with weak faith excommunicated because of the “common spoon tradition”?
??♂️ What is the object of this weak faith? Is it the “unfailing protection from any harm” even in spite of our carelessness?
Or is it Christ who gives us resurrection and eternal life?
Is it the Gift or the wrapping?
Is it the Giver of the gift?
Perhaps, people have little faith in the safety of using a common spoon, not in the safety of Gifts contained in the chalice and served with a spoon?