Can a baptised, demon-possessed person receive Communion?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, the administration of Holy Communion to a person suffering from demonic possession is a matter handled with extreme care, discernment, and pastoral authority by the Church.

The straightforward answer is that generally, a person who is actively possessed by a demon is not given Holy Communion until they have been purified through the prayers of Exorcism and the Sacrament of Unction of the Sick.

Here is the theological and liturgical reasoning behind this practice:

1. Protection of the Holy Mysteries

The Holy Body and Blood of Christ are "Holy things for the holy". The Church is fiercely protective of the dignity of the Sacrament. Because a possessed person is not in full control of their faculties or their body, there is a physical risk of desecrating the Elements (such as spitting them out or behaving violently) during the act of partaking.

2. The Conflict of Spirits

The Holy Eucharist is a "live coal" (as referenced in Source 1, comparing it to the vision of Isaiah). St. Paul warns that one cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons (1 Corinthians 10:21). Entering into communion while an evil spirit occupies the person's members creates a spiritual conflict. The Church first seeks to cast out the "strong man" (the demon) through the authority of the Priesthood before the King of Kings enters to dwell within the person.

3. The Role of the Priest's Discernment

The priest has the authority to "give the Sacrament of Communion to those whose measure they consider lawful, and forbid those whose measure they consider deficient" (Source 3). The priest is the steward of the Mysteries. If he perceives that a person is under the influence of an unclean spirit, he is obligated to withhold the Eucharist for the protection of the person and the honor of the Sacrament.

4. The Path to Restoration

The Coptic Church does not abandon the possessed. Instead, the focus shifts to:

• The Liturgy of the Word: The person may attend the prayers to hear the Word of God, which is a source of healing.
• Exorcism Prayers: The priest prays the "Prayers over the Energumens" (those afflicted by spirits).
• Sacrament of Unction of the Sick: As Source 4 mentions, the Unction of the Sick is a vital rite for healing. It is often through the prayers of the Unction and the casting out of spirits that a person is prepared to receive Communion again.

5. Distinguishing Afflictions

It is vital to distinguish between demonic possession (where the spirit controls the body) and spiritual warfare or temptation. Every Christian struggles with the latter. However, in cases of actual possession—where the person’s sovereignty is compromised by a demon—the Church follows the ancient canons (such as those of Timothy of Alexandria) which state that if a person is "possessed and troubled by an unclean spirit," they should not partake of the Mysteries until they are cleansed.

In summary, while the person remains a member of the Church through their baptism, the active presence of a demon creates a temporary barrier. The priority is to deliver the soul first, so that they may receive the "Medicine of Immortality" for their benefit and not for their judgment.