Eucharist and the Lord's Supper
The Eucharist is central to Orthodox worship and is received as the true Body and Blood of Christ. Orthodox language also speaks of mystery and symbol without treating those words as a denial of real presence.
Scripture
- Luke 22:19–20 — At the supper, Jesus identifies bread and cup with his body and the new covenant and tells his followers to remember him.
- 1 Corinthians 10:16–17 — Paul calls the cup and bread a participation in Christ and links the one loaf to the community's unity.
- 1 Corinthians 11:23–29 — Paul recounts the supper and warns the Corinthians against eating and drinking without discerning the body.
Primary sources
Justin Martyr explains:
Justin's second-century account says Christians do not receive the Eucharist as ordinary bread and drink.
For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these
Passage context and translation
Justin explains who may receive the Eucharist and then connects this food with the incarnate Christ. The fuller description of the Sunday assembly follows in chapter 67.
Before the excerpt
And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the Eucharist]
After the excerpt
so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word ... is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.