This section of our Library contains the Koinonikon (κοινωνικών), or Communion Hymns that are chanted or intoned right after "One is Holy..." while the Priest and clergy in the Altar partake of Holy Communion and  prepare to distribute it to the faithful. Archimandrite Iosaph (McLellan) of blessed memory held that this hymn should be what is sung during the Communion of the Faithful, and not "Receive the Body of Christ." He held that "if it is good enough for the clergy, it is good enough for the people."

​

In noting this, we are not advocating that everyone who gathers this information go and try to change how services are done in their respective parishes. "Receive the Body of Christ" IS perfectly suitable for the Divine Liturgy on any day, and the fact is that a great many congregations sing it by heart, and it is often a way for them to get to sing in Church where many are prohibited from singing otherwise.

​

However, we do want to offer this material as a way to possibly deepen the experience of services. For example, a choir may sing the Sunday Communion Hymn on Sunday and alternate it with "Receive the Body..." which is a Paschal Communion Hymn. They may choose to chant the assigned Communion Hymn at the beginning and then revert to "Receive..." This is a decision reached by the choir, the conductor and one that must be blessed by the celebrant or parish priest, just like anything else. Nevertheless, we have found that using these does broaden and deepen the services, often making them sharply relevant to the occasion for which the Liturgy is being served.