Q&A Home > C > Holy Communion > Orthodox and Catholic How does the Orthodox Church differ from the Catholic Church in preparing to receive Communion? Does any Protestant Denomination believe in the Holy Sacrament of Communion? The Coptic Orthodox Church is an apostolic, traditional church. In preparation to receive Holy Communion, the Church urges the believers to repent and confess their sins. "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body" (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). The church has not come up with many modifications over the centuries. Only a convening synod can correct or modify any practice or understanding. Receiving Holy Communion should be preceded by a nine hour fasting. Usually this fasting starts from midnight except in the cases of early liturgy (5 am to 7 am) in which case it has to be observed starting at 10:00 p.m. Believers are admonished to come early to church to hear the readings, especially the Holy Gospel. The Catholic Church has made some major modifications in her rites and rituals over the past couple of decades. For example, praying mass facing towards the people instead of facing towards the East. It would be better for
you to refer to their most recent application of preparing for Holy Communion. On the other hand, each of the many thousands of the protestant churches has its own distinct boards and regulations. Most of the Protestant churches that observe Holy Communion, are likely to consider it as a symbolic representation of the Last Supper.
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