Terminology - Eucharist

AGAPE Greek for the unconditional love which God extends to His people. Agape also designates a communal meal connected to the Eucharist which was a practice of the early Church (1 Cor. 11:20 34).

SACRAMENT – Literally, a “mystery.” A sacrament is a way in which God imparts grace to His people. Orthodox Christians frequently speak of seven sacraments, but God’s gift of grace is not limited only to these seven – the entire life of the Church is mystical and sacramental. The sacraments, like the Church, are both… Read More

SACRIFICE – To offer something up to God. In the Old Covenant, God commanded His people to sacrifice animals, grain, or oil as an act of thanksgiving, praise, forgiveness, and cleansing. However, these sacrifices were only a foreshadowing of the one perfect sacrifice – Christ, the Word of God, who left the heavenly glory to… Read More

ZEON – (Gr. boiling). The hot water used by the priest for the Eucharist. It is added to the chalice during the Communion hymn in commemoration of the water that flowed out of the side of the crucified Christ when he was pierced with the spear.

CELEBRANT – Person who celebrates the Holy Eucharist – priest or bishop. A deacon may not celebrate the Holy Eucharist, but may assist.

AGNETS – (Sl. lamb) The sacrificial lamb in the Old Testament. Symbolically Christ was called the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (JOHN 1:29). Accordingly, in the Orthodox Church, the name Agnets is attributed to our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and that part of the… Read More

AMNOS – (Gr. Lamb). The symbol for the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross (cf. John 1: 29). In the Orthodax liturgy the amnos is the first square piece from the altar bread (prosphora), inscnbed with the letters ICXC NIKA (an abbreviated form for “]esus Christ conquers”). This particular piece is to be consecrated during… Read More

Theology and Eucharist

^{Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann}

1.

The actual state of Orthodox theology must be characterized by two words: confusion and awakening. By confusion, I mean an obvious lack of unity among Orthodox theologians: unity of theological language, unity of method, consensus as to the nature of questions and the mode of their solution. Our theology develops in a plurality of theological “keys” and within several mutually exclusive intellectual frameworks. This confusion, however, is also the sign of an awakening, of a new search for a genuinely Orthodox theological perspective.

Why Not “Open Communion”?

^{Written by the Very Rev. John Breck}

Especially at the feast of Pascha (Easter) non-Orthodox Christians ask why they may not receive Holy Communion in Orthodox parishes.  As painful as this refusal is, it is based on our understanding of the true meaning of the sacrament as revealed in Scripture and ecclesial experience.

A few months ago someone sent me a posting from an Internet site that spoke to the issue of communion among various Christian confessions.  In answer to the question why a Protestant believer was refused the sacrament at Easter in her boyfriend’s Catholic parish, the writer declared that non-Catholics do not believe in “the presence of God’s body in the transubstantiated host.”  Therefore, “they cannot take communion.”

Then the writer added: “There is just one exception to this rule.  Orthodox Christians (such as Greek Orthodox Christians) may take communion in all Roman Catholic Churches.  The reason for this is that Orthodox Christianity also teaches the actual presence of God in the host.”

This widespread understanding of the matter is not accurate and needs to be corrected on several counts, theological as well as pastoral.  An entire tome could be written by way of explanation, but here are a few of the most important elements.  In the next two columns we’ll explore some others.

The Mystical (Last) Supper

On the fifth day after the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem, which, according to our reckoning, was Thursday (on Friday evening, the first day of unleavened bread, they sacrificed the Passover lamb), the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Where will you have us prepare the Passover for you to eat?”

Jesus Christ said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him and, wherever he enters, say to the householder, ‘The Teacher says where is My guest room, where I am to eat the Passover with My disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. There, prepare for us.”

TRANSUBSTANTIANTION – In the exposition of the faith by the Eastern Patriarchs, it is said that the word transubstantiation is not to be taken to define the manner in which the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of the Lord; for this none can understand but God; but only thus much… Read More

The Royal Ministry of Christ in His Church by Archbishop Dmitri The resurrection of Christ was His triumphant entry into His glory, and in His Ascension, He was received up into glory. (I Tm. 3:16) He became thus the Lord of the living and the dead: “For to this end Christ both died, and rose,… Read More

The Resurrection

^{by Archbishop Dmitri}

Although our Lord Jesus Christ had previously revealed His power over death by restoring to life several people who had died, His victory over death was accomplished by His resurrection from the dead on the third day.

The Word of God explains this victory as a victory for all men. “Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.” ^{(I Cor. 15:20-23)}

BODY OF CHRIST – The Church is the Body of Christ both because its parts are united to Christ through His divine mysteries and because through her, Christ works in the world.  We partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, in the holy Mysteries, so that we ourselves may be members of Christ’s Body:… Read More