Phanar hierarch forbids clergy from denying communion to anyone
Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago believes there should be no restrictions on who may receive Holy Communion.
On November 18, 2019, during a clergy meeting, Metropolitan Nathanael (Symeonides) of Chicago, a hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America under the Patriarchate of Constantinople, prohibited priests from restricting access to Holy Communion for anyone wishing to receive it, at any time, according to the Protecting Orthodox Church website.
Specifically, Metropolitan Nathanael said priests should not speak of any "parameters" governing participation in Holy Communion, "even during festive occasions such as Easter and Christmas, when many unfamiliar people are present in church."
According to Metropolitan Nathanael, "if St. John Chrysostom, the 'author of the liturgy,' had wanted such 'restrictions' on receiving Communion, he would have incorporated them into the liturgy itself."
He maintained that the only requirement is for people to approach Communion "with the fear of God, faith, and love."
Metropolitan Nathanael announced that, effective November 18, 2019, Holy Communion would be open to all in the Metropolia of Chicago and that no public announcements specifying who should not approach the Chalice would be permitted.
The hierarch explained that clergy have no right to prevent anyone from approaching the Chalice because, in his words, "we will look like fanatics if we forbid people from receiving Communion."
He also argued that if someone is barred from receiving Holy Communion because of a sin that, under Church canons, excludes them from the sacrament, that person may never return to the Church.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople had expressed hope in a letter to the Pope for the restoration of Eucharistic communion with the "sister Church of Rome."
In his response, Pope Francis told Patriarch Bartholomew that restoring communion between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches would require bold steps.
