Gluten and the Eucharist

[Ryan]

I'm wondering if anyone has raised issues about gluten in the eucharistic bread, as has happened in other Christian groups. Wafers are one thing, but I'm guessing it would be pretty hard to make a gluten-free prosphora.

[Herman Blaydoe]

To my knowledge it has not been an issue for Orthodox Christians.

[Theodora E.]

A friend of mine has Celiac's disease (cannot tolerate gluten at all). He is only communed with the Blood of Christ. Yes, it's taken from the same chalice the Body of Christ is in, but he's not had any issues.

[Andreas Moran]

There was at one time a visitor to the monastery here in Essex who had some form of complete intolerance to bread, and could not receive the antidoron. But he took communion as we all do and never suffered any adverse effects.

[Paul Cowan]

That's because it is NOT bread.

[Owen]

A former assistant pastor of mine had a conditon in which the eating of bread would cause anaphylaxis (severe allergic rreaction). He never came to harm because of partaking of the Holy Gifts, and this, as much as anything, was a validation for him of the Real Presence of Christ in the Gifts.