communicant

A communicant is a person who receives Holy Communion, a central sacrament in many Christian denominations. This act signifies a person's full membership and participation in the Christian church. The specific requirements and practices surrounding who can be a communicant vary significantly between different traditions.

In some denominations, such as Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, a communicant is typically someone who has been baptized and confirmed, and who is in a state of grace, meaning they have not committed any mortal sins that have not been confessed and absolved. In many Protestant churches, the requirements may be less stringent, often focusing on baptism and a personal profession of faith. Some denominations practice open communion, where any baptized Christian is welcome to receive communion, while others practice closed communion, restricting it to members of their own congregation or denomination.

The act of receiving communion is often seen as a spiritual nourishment and a profound expression of faith and union with Christ and the church community. The term "communicant" therefore denotes an active and recognized participant in this sacred ritual. Understanding the role of a communicant is essential to grasping the liturgical practices and theological understandings of various Christian faiths.