The following is my response to one of my catechumens to the question of why the Orthodox Church practices a closed communion: Basically, Communion creates and defines our community, our being one with one another in Christ—i.e. eating of the one bread and of the one cup. Historically, some people/groups separated themselves from the communion of the Church through heresies or immorality or aligning themselves with a heretical bishop. Therefore, they are not in communion, not part of the one Church—at least as far as we can identify the Church as a concrete divine/human institution (not to be confused with “all who will be saved in heaven,” which only God knows). Anyone can return to communion with the one Church through repentance and Chrismation (or whatever specific rite the bishop decides). We do not have open communion because we don’t want to say people are part of the Church who are not part of the Church—or at least whom we can’t identify as part of the Church. This would be dangerous for them (eating and drinking condemnation to themselves) and dangerous for us (through Communion we become one with one another.

Last night I attended a prayer service in the street in front of the Coptic Orthodox Church that was burned down early Monday morning. Although some evidence points toward arson, arson has not been proven and no motive has yet been identified. However, there has been a recent spike in violence against churches (vandalism, arson and threats), some sources report over 200 significant incidents in Canada since June. Many of us may be wondering what we should do. Well, I think we should do what our Coptic Orthodox brothers and sisters are doing. We should pray and love.

Fr. Stephen wraps up the discussion of Luke 2.

Fr. Stephen wraps up the discussion of Luke 3.

Fr. Stephen concludes the study of Luke, Chapter 4.

Fr. Stephen wraps up the discussion of Luke 5.

Fr. Stephen wraps up the discussion of Luke 6.

Fr. Stephen wraps up the discussion of Luke 7.

Fr. Stephen wraps up the discussion of Luke 8.

Fr. Stephen finishes his discussion on Luke, Chapter 10

Fr. Stephen concludes the discussion of Luke 12.

Fr. Stephen concludes the study of Luke 16.

Fr. Stephen finishes commentating on Luke, Chapter 22.

Fr. Stephen finishes his discussion of John, Chapter 1.

Fr. Stephen De Young ends the discussion of John, Chapter 3, and begins his discussion of Chapter 4.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes his discussion of John, chapter 4.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes his discussion on John, Chapter 5.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes his discussion of John, Chapter 6.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes his discussion of John, Chapter 7.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes his discussion of John, Chapter 8.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes the discussion of John, Chapter 10.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion of John, Chapter 12, verses 37 to 50.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up the discussion of John, Chapter 17.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up the discussion of the Gospel of John, Chapter 19.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes his discussion of John, Chapter 20

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes discussing the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 5.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues his discussion of the Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 6 and 7.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes the discussion of Acts, Chapter 8.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes his discussion of Acts, Chapter 9.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up his discussion of Acts, Chapter 10.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Acts 11 and 12.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes the discussion of Acts 13.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes the discussion of Acts 15.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up his discussion of Acts, Chapter 16.

Fr. Stephen continues the discussion on Acts, Chapter 17.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes the discussion of Acts 18.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up his discussion of Acts, Chapter 19.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up his discussion of Acts, Chapter 20.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the end of Acts 21 and all of Acts 22.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up the discussion of Romans 1.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Acts 4:13-25.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up Chapter 5 of Romans.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up the end of Romans Chapter 8.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Romans 9:30 to 10:4.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes the discussion of Romans 10.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes his discussion about Romans Chapter 11.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Romans 12:10-21.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes his discussion from the week previous about 1 Corinthians, Chapter 10.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes his discussion on St. Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 11.

Fr. Stephen De Young wraps up Chapter 15 of St. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians.