Eucharist

References

Sources

1. 1.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 121)

   EUCHARIST, one of seven sacraments in the Coptic church. Although all sacraments contain and impart grace, the Eucharist carries the most sublime grace of all. In BAPTISM, for example, water remains water, as does the holy chrism in confirmation, the visible element of the sacrament thus undergoing no change. In the Eucharist, however, the bread and wine are no longer mere bread and wine but become the true Body and Blood of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Whereas in other sacraments the Lord bestows His gifts in accordance with each sacrament, in the Eucharist He offers His entire Self, so that p

2. 2.Understanding the Liturgy — Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 43)

   The Anaphora begins with the great prayer of thanksgiving, from which the Eucharist derives its name (Eucharist means thanksgiving).

3. 3.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 121)

   Being the sacrifice of Christ for all humanity, the Eucharist is universal in nature, embracing the living and the dead, and is not, as in the case of other sacraments, a grace restricted to one individual. The Eucharist has also been known as the sacrament of thanksgiving, the Lord's supper, the Lord's table, Christ's table, the sacred table, Holy Communion, the holy sacrifice, the divine mystery, the Lord's bread, the heavenly bread, Christ's Body, the Precious Blood, the redemptive chalice.

4. 4.Understanding the Liturgy — Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 13)

   “For every time you eat of this bread and drink of this cup, you proclaim my death, confess my resurrection and remember me till I come.” The Church, the bride of Christ, has remained faithful to His command by proclaiming His death in the rites of the offertory, and confessing His resurrection in the lifting up of the Prospherin before the Anaphora.

5. 5.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 542)

   The Fraction This is the ceremonial breaking of the consecrated bread in the eucharistic service (see FRACTION). The Communion This is the culmination of the eucharistic service, in preparation for which the priest says, "Make us all worthy, O Lord, to partake of Thy Holy Body and Thy Holy Precious Blood, in purification of our souls, our bodies, and our spirits, and forgiveness of our sins and trespasses, that we may become one body and one spirit with Thee. Glory be to Thee, with Thy Good Father and the Holy Spirit, forever. Amen." The celebrant then partakes of the communion himself, follow

6. 6.Understanding the Liturgy — Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 43)

   The Liturgy of the Faithful follows the same steps the Lord followed in the Last Supper. By reviewing the Synoptic Gospels’ account of the Last Supper, as well as the account given by Saint Paul in 1Cor:15, we find out that the Lord: 1. Gave Thanks, 2. Blessed, 3. Broke, 4. Gave to the Disciples. Following the same plan, the Liturgy of the faithful can be divided into four parts: 1. Prayers of Thanks-giving, 2. Prayers of Blessing, 3. Prayers of breaking the bread, 4. Communion. The first two parts, that is those concerned with thanksgiving and blessing are together called the “Anaphora” or th

7. 7.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 536)

   MASS OF THE FAITHFUL, the major section of the eucharistic service, during which the oblations are consecrated and the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

8. 8.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 135)

   EUCHARISTIC BREAD, one of the two visible elements constituting the eucharistic sacrament, the other element being the eucharistic wine. The bread is leavened, unsalted bread made of the finest wheat flour. It is circular in shape and has a diameter ranging from 3 to about 5 inches, as required.

9. 9.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 248)

   Consequently, just as the uncircumcised were not allowed to partake of the Passover lamb, those who have not been baptized are not allowed to partake of Holy Communion.

10. 10.Understanding the Liturgy — Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 84)

    Before coming to partake of the holy Sacrament, We have to put on the wedding garment, the state of heavenly purity that we first obtained when we were baptized and the same we get when we confess and get the absolution.

11. 11.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 144)

    Priests taking part in the liturgy, however, are given the Body in the spoon while it is placed on the paten, unlike laymen, who receive the Body in their mouths from the celebrant priest's hand, followed by the Blood from the spoon.

12. 12.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 96)

    The preservation of particles of the Holy Body and Precious Blood after Communion at the end of the liturgy is now not permitted in the Coptic church, except for communion of the sick and the prisoner in his cell. In this case, the priest takes the Holy Sacrament at the end of the Divine Liturgy and goes directly to the sick person or prisoner without delay.

13. 13.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 4 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 142)

    In the case of persons wishing to partake of Holy Communion who cannot attend the Divine Liturgy either through illness or for other reasons, the Precious Body, moistened with drops of the Precious Blood, may be reserved and conveyed to them in a special silver pyx, called the artophorion (Arabic, huqq al-dhakhirah), to be administered to them by the priest, while they are still fasting, immediately after the liturgy. The box is then returned empty to the church. ... It is used as a container to carry the Holy Body, sometimes moistened with a few drops of the Precious Blood, to those who are c

14. 14.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 50)

    The prayer of absolution of ministers is further evidence that a minister of the church, of whatever rank, may take part in the eucharistic service without obtaining proper absolution.