In the rules of the Holy Fathers, we find a direct ban on communing to a woman on the days of her purification:
“About the wives who are being cleansed, whether it is permissible for them in this state to enter the house of God, I think to even ask is unnecessary. For I do not think that, if they are faithful and pious, being in such a state, they dare either proceed to the Holy Meal, or touch the Body and Blood of Christ. For the wife, who had bleeding for 12 years, for the sake of healing, touched not Him, but only the edge of His garment. Praying, no matter in what condition you are and no matter in what state of spirit you are, to remember the Lord and ask for His help is not prohibited. But to proceed to that there is the Holy of Holies, should be forbidden by a not entirely pure soul and body ”(2 rule of St. Dionysius).
“If a wife sees the usual happens to wives, should she proceed to the Holy Mysteries that day, or not?
Answer. ” Should not, until she is cleansed ”.(7th rule of Timothy of Alexandria).
Also, women who are in purification are forbidden to participate in other church mysteries (confession, baptism, etc.) as can be seen from the 6th rule of St. Timothy Bishop of Alexandria: “If the announced wife inscribed her name for Baptism, and by the day of Baptism it happens with her as it usually happens to wives, should she be baptized that day, or postponed, and for how long?
Answer. It should be postponed until she is cleansed. "
But as it can be seen from the rule of St. Dionysius of Alexandria: “It is not forbidden to pray, no matter in what condition and no matter in what state of spirit someone is, to remember the Lord and ask for help.” This means that a woman during the period of purification must not stop her usual prayer rule and can be present at church services. But do not participate in the mysteries. The modern church tradition, for the sake of godliness, instructs women in purification not to kiss the icons and the Cross in the church. These prescriptions are not caused by the cultic impurity of women, but by pedagogical considerations. Through temporary excommunication from the mysteries, the woman is reminded of the first fall of Eve. Thus, the woman should increase the jealousy of prayer, repentance and joy soon after cleansing the communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
There is a good article of Serbian patriarch Paul (1914-2009)on the subject of purification of the woman. The man was famous of his holly life. This article is available at:
http://www.orthomama.ru/cat21text207.htm
Priest Andrei Kudryavste
