Does anyone know exactly, why do the Romanians (at least the Old Calendarists ones) cannot partake the Holy Communion more than just four times a year (after the four fast seasons happens throughout the liturgical year)??
Indeed, at the Divine Liturgy, the priest simply does not come out to give communion to anybody (so the children don't communicate as well), as I could witness myself while being at the Dormition Monastery in Bucharest, and when visiting other Romanian Old Calendar churches and monasteries.
When was this practice introduced or begun? For what reasons?
I've seen it while I've been staying there, but I don't know why I did not ask about.
I was there for Theophany, and I thought that in a big Feast they would give Communion to the crowd of faithful. I was wrong.
The only information they gave me was that they could communicate only four times a year, no matter if they were monastics and laymen. Only the priests communicated.
I was really shocked with such practice, which I had never heard about nor seen before, in any other orthodox tradition I know, either personally or by reading.
I really appreciate any information about this issue.
Thanks in advance.
Asking your prayers for me,
Roman, The Sinner