The Holy Eucharist is at the heart of the Orthodox Christian life. We do not regard it as a mere symbol, nor as a theological abstraction, but as the true and actual presence of Christ—His Body and Blood, given to us for our salvation. As our Lord Himself declared: “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.” (John 6:53-54) From the earliest days of the Church, this has been the faith handed down by the Apostles. At the Mystical Supper, Christ took bread and wine and proclaimed: “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:20) The Holy Church has never wavered in the understanding that in the Divine Liturgy, through the invocation of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine become, in truth, the Body and Blood of Christ. This is not a change that can be measured by human senses, but it is a reality known through faith and experience.
The Apostle Paul reinforces this mystery when he writes: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16) He further warns of the gravity of unworthy reception: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27) The Eucharist is not an ordinary meal but a divine encounter. To approach it casually or unworthily is to risk grave spiritual harm.
The Church has preserved this sacred mystery through the centuries, treating the Eucharist with the utmost reverence. The faithful prepare through prayer, fasting, and repentance, recognising that to receive the Holy Gifts is to partake of Christ Himself. As St. John Chrysostom exhorts, “When you see the Lord immolated and lying upon the altar, and the priest bent over that sacrifice praying, and all the people empurpled by that precious blood, can you think that you are still among men and on earth? Or are you not lifted up to heaven?”
The Eucharist is the centre of our worship, the means by which we are united with Christ and with one another in His Body, the Church. It is not merely a private devotion but the very life of the Church itself. We do not approach the Holy Mysteries with casual familiarity but with awe and love, knowing that in this sacred offering, Christ is truly present. “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” (John 6:55) The Orthodox Church does not attempt to rationalise this mystery in philosophical terms, for it is beyond human comprehension. It is a truth revealed by Christ, confirmed by the Apostles, and experienced by the faithful throughout the ages. The Eucharist is our spiritual nourishment, our source of life, and our participation in the Kingdom of God. To receive it is to receive Christ Himself, and to be united with Him in body and soul.
This is why we must approach with faith, reverence, and preparation, lest we, as St. Paul warns, partake unworthily and bring judgment upon ourselves. The Eucharist is the very presence of Christ among us, and it is through this divine gift that we are sanctified and strengthened in our journey towards eternal life. Let us, therefore, treasure this sacred mystery and receive it with fear and love, for it is indeed, as St. Ignatius of Antioch called it, “the medicine of immortality.”
May God bless you +
Fr. Charles
16 April 2023
