The sign that I am in the community (that I am a parishioner, a Christian), is that I care about every person and especially those who pray with me at the Liturgy! And this means that I cannot but care that everyone communes in the Eucharist, the Kingdom of God (of course, if I have communed the Kingdom of God even once?!). Therefore, I am obliged to find out from everyone who was at the Eucharist and did not commune, the reason, the motivation not to commune in the Eucharist, and to help clear the way to communion (this can take years! Proclamation – is a labor-intensive and very responsible process!). One who has once communed in the Eucharist, the Kingdom of God, cannot but desire this Joy, Happiness for everyone, and cannot but do everything in his power to make as many people as possible taste this Grace. He cannot but preach the Kingdom of God, which has already come, here among us, and that it can be actualized for oneself (experienced, communed) in the Eucharist! And now let’s see: who communes in the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit?! are there many such?! By their fruits we know them! One who does not call the faithful to communion in the Eucharist and does not prepare them for this great Sacrament, – is not a parishioner (whoever he may be: patriarch57, metropolitan, archpriest…), that is, not a Christian, at best proclaimed (who tries to proclaim himself; who submits to proclamation, listens to the advice of the more experienced)!!!
Therefore, the Eucharist – is the parish (Church)! To commune in this Sacrament of the Eucharist (Sacrament of the Church, Parish) – is to commune the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Communion of the Body of Christ (the faithful, that is, parishioners). To commune in the Eucharist (Kingdom of God) – is to commune the Parish, the Church, the Body of Christ (to become a communicant of the life of the community of the faithful, that is, the Holy Spirit)! And the Table of Holy Gifts – is the seal of communion of the Parish, one of the forms of communion of the faithful (parishioners) with Christ (and the Father and the Spirit) and with each other, the consequence of the Eucharistic gathering of the faithful in one place (‘where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am among them (in the Sacrament of the Eucharist – V.A.)’, that is, the communion of Gifts, Communion in the Holy Spirit is always the consequence of the gathering of parishioners in the Church). If there is nothing to seal (that is, there are no parishioners, because those who approach the Holy Cup, approach not as parishioners, but as visitors!?), then there is no seal (communion of the Holy Spirit). The Church prays (see the Liturgy of John Chrysostom): ‘Send down the Holy Spirit upon us’, that is, on the parish, which is the Body of Christ, ‘and on these Gifts offered (Bread and Wine)’, when we have gathered in the parish-church and pray (wish revelation of the Kingdom of God, have one will) as one body, with one heart and one mouth, consuming which, we manifest, certify, seal our membership in the Kingdom of God, in the Church!!! If I am not a parishioner, not a member of the Body of the Church (and the Eucharist – is the communion of the parish, the people of God, the gathering of parishioners in the Church!), then what kind of communion in the Eucharist (of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Parish, the Spirit of the Body) can there be?!
P.S. If a son (or daughter) violates the command-warning of the Father and as a result of disobedience falls ill, then this sin (wound, disease – see Part I) of the son (or daughter) is reflected on the entire family – the burden of the disease (the sick need to be cared for, additionally taken care of, and financially spent on) will be felt by every member of the family! Especially the parents, because they have to work to pay for the treatment, and the brothers and sisters as well, because the funds that were to go to them for their needs or leisure will be spent on medicines and all necessary… Sin – is always a wound of the whole Body, so we bring repentance before the entire community, against which we have sinned, just as this offender (violator) must ask for forgiveness not only from the parents, but also from the brothers and sisters, who through him will suffer discomfort, lack… (if one member suffers – the whole body suffers! Confession in communities-parishes took place before the whole church, and the whole community accepted the sinner and helped him bear the burden of the consequences of sin and heal! Now such practice is unthinkable, because there are no parishes! In confession, the presbyter personifies the whole community-church, so the penitent must repent before the presbyter, as before the whole community; because the essence of confession (= second baptism) – to return to the community, which must accept it, giving the absolution prayer of acceptance into communion!). We sin not to hurt God, but His body, that is, the parishioners, so we must repent and ask for forgiveness (about forgiveness see Part I). We will talk more about confession and repentance in subsequent parts (see also about confession in Part I).”