This must be the month for questions about what it means to be an Orthodox Christian!
In conversation today a friend asked me why he wouldn't be allowed to take communion in an Orthodox Church. Best explanation I've ever found is this from Frederica Mathewes-Green, a journalist and NPR commentator--and the wife of an Orthodox priest.
Visitors are sometimes offended that they are not allowed to receive communion. Orthodox believe that receiving communion is broader than “me-and-Jesus”; it acknowledges faith in historic Orthodox doctrine, obedience to a particular Orthodox bishop, and a commitment to a particular Orthodox worshipping community. There’s nothing exclusive about this; everyone is invited to make this commitment to the Orthodox Church.
But the Eucharist is the Church’s treasure, and it is reserved for those who have united themselves with the Church. An analogy could be to reserving marital relations until after the wedding.
We also handle the Eucharist with more gravity than many denominations do, further explaining why we guard it from common access. We believe it is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. We ourselves do not receive communion unless we are making regular confession of our sins to a priest and are at peace with other communicants. We fast from all food and drink—yes, even a morning cup of coffee—from midnight the night before communion.
Only Orthodox may take communion, but anyone may have some of the blessed bread. If someone hands you a piece of blessed bread, do not panic; it is not the eucharistic Body. It is a sign of fellowship.
--F. Mathewes-Green, "12 Things I Wish I'd Known: First Visit to an Orthodox Church"
I couldn't say it any better myself.
That's "what's up with that", J.
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"As this piece of bread was scattered over the hills and then brought together and made one, so let Thy Church be brought together from the ends of the earth into Thy Kingdom. For Thine is the Glory and the Power through Jesus Christ forever."-an anaphora prayer from the Didache
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