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I am currently going to a Coptic Orthodox Church on Sundays and I do love the Orthodox Church. I was never before and am not a part of a specific denomination now, but just a Christian. I was baptized by being put fully under the water, but according the Coptic Orthodox Church my baptism is not considered valid because the man who baptized me is not an Orthodox Christian. I am not too far from reading all of the material my priest has recommended me to read before being able to get baptized into the Church, but I have something holding me back. Personally, it bothers me to see everyone taking the Blood from the same spoon. I know that it should be done in faith, not thinking that one could get a disease or become sick, but I still do not want to do this. I do not want to catch herpes from someone else who has drank the Blood from the spoon and get stuck with that for the rest of my time here. I have already spoken to my priest about it, but he told me what I already said, that it is a matter of faith, and that this practice has been done for many years. Although he has said this, I still do not want to use the same spoon that everyone else is using. Also, once everyone has taken the Body, they put the cloth right on their mouth and it is obviously pressed right into their face. I am pretty sure that these cloths are not being washed because they are just put right onto the stack of cloths and appear to be put away until next time. I also do not feel comfortable having to put a cloth on my mouth that different people are covering their mouths. Is it possible to take the Blood in another way? Do I have to use the same spoon as everyone else, or can I have something done for myself differently because this bothers me?

Partaking of the holy Eucharist in this customary matter in the Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the spiritual rites in the Church. The Coptic Orthodox Church exists on six out of seven continents. There has never been one case where a disease was transmitted because of partaking of the blood of Christ, regardless of the country where the church is serving. Thus, even countries known to have serious endemic diseases, no cases have ever been reported that point to the church as the source.

Holy Communion has the power to purify us from all sins and can certainly protect us from communicable diseases while partaking of this great Mystery. When our Lord Jesus Christ healed the paralytic man who was brought by his four friends and lowered into the room of St. Peter's house where Christ was visiting (Mark 2; Luke 5), He responded to those judging His actions by asking them which is easier, to heal the ill man or to forgive him. To forgive him or anyone of us required much more, because forgiveness of sins required Christ's incarnation to His suffering and eventual to His death. Holy Communion is a cleansing fire.

The cloth or handkerchief used to cover one's mouth after partaking of the body of Christ does not need to be shared. You could have your own. The cup of water you drink after partaking of Holy Communion also does not need to be shared.