Other Protestant denominations rarely use this term, preferring either "Communion", "the Lord's Supper", "Remembrance", or "the Breaking of Bread". Today, "the Eucharist" is the name still used by Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Lutherans. The term eucharistia (thanksgiving) is that by which the rite is referred to in the Didache (a late 1st or early 2nd century document), and by Ignatius of Antioch (who died between 98 and 117) and by Justin Martyr ( First Apology written between 155 and 157). The New Testament was originally written in Greek language and the Greek noun εὐχαριστία ( eucharistia), meaning "thanksgiving", appears a few times in it, while the related Greek verb εὐχαριστήσας is found several times in New Testament accounts of the Last Supper, including the earliest such account: įor I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks ( εὐχαριστήσας), he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. The Eucharist has been a key theme in the depictions of the Last Supper in Christian art, as in this 16th-century Juan de Juanes painting. 4.4.2 Syro-Antiochene Rite (West Syriac).
4.4.1 Edessan Rite (Church of the East).4.3.6 Reformed (Continental Reformed, Presbyterian and Congregationalist).4.3.5 Open Brethren and Exclusive Brethren.2.1.1 Paul the Apostle and the Lord's Supper.1.4.4 Divine Liturgy and Divine Service.In spite of differences among Christians about various aspects of the Eucharist, there is, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, "more of a consensus among Christians about the meaning of the Eucharist than would appear from the confessional debates over the sacramental presence, the effects of the Eucharist, and the proper auspices under which it may be celebrated". Others, such as the Plymouth Brethren, take the act to be only a symbolic reenactment of the Last Supper and a memorial. Anglican eucharistic theologies universally affirm the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, though Evangelical Anglicans believe that this is a spiritual presence, while Anglo-Catholics hold to a corporeal presence. Reformed Christians believe in a real spiritual presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Lutherans believe the true body and blood of Christ are really present "in, with, and under" the forms of the bread and wine ( sacramental union). The Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches agree that an objective change occurs of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, but vary in their use of transubstantiation as a name for the change. The Catholic Church states that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ under the species of bread and wine, it maintains that by the consecration, the substances of the bread and wine actually become the substances of the body and blood of Jesus Christ ( transubstantiation) while the appearances or "species" of the bread and wine remain unaltered (e.g. Christians generally recognize a special presence of Christ in this rite, though they differ about exactly how, where, and when Christ is present. Communicants, those who consume the elements, may speak of "receiving the Eucharist" as well as "celebrating the Eucharist". The elements of the Eucharist, sacramental bread ( leavened or unleavened) and sacramental wine (or non-alcoholic grape juice), are consecrated on an altar or a communion table and consumed thereafter.
According to the New Testament, the rite was instituted by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper ( Matthew 26:26–28 Mark 14:22–24 Luke 22:17–20 1 Corinthians 11:23–25) giving his disciples bread and wine during a Passover meal, he commanded them to "do this in memory of me" while referring to the bread as "my body" and the cup of wine as "the blood of my covenant, which is poured out for many". eucharistía, lit. "thanksgiving") also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, among other names, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. The Eucharist ( / ˈ juː k ər ɪ s t/ Greek: εὐχαριστία, translit. For other uses, see Lord's Supper (disambiguation) and Most Precious Blood (disambiguation). "Lord's Supper" and "Most Precious Blood" redirect here.