Eucharist – Faith Unto Ages

Meditation on the Holy Eucharist: Becoming Immoral – St. John Chrysostom

“[When you see the Table set before you], say to yourself, ‘Because of this Body am I no longer earth and ashes, no longer a prisoner, but free: because of this I hope for heaven, and to receive the good things therein, immortal life, the portion of angels, converse with Christ; this Body, nailed and scourged, was more than death could stand against; this Body the very sun saw sacrificed, and turned aside his beams; for this both the veil was rent in that moment, and rocks were burst asunder, and all the earth was shaken. This is even that Body, the blood-stained, the pierced, and that out of which gushed the saving fountains, the one of blood, the other of water, for all the world.’” – (Homilies on the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians 24.7 (NPNF I/12:142) amended).

Is the Eucharist only a Symbol? The Testimony of Abba Daniel the Pharanite

This is what Abba Daniel, the Pharanite, said, ‘Our Father Abba Arsenius told us of an inhabitant of Scetis, of notable life and of simple faith; through his naivete he was deceived and said, “The bread which we receive is not really the body of Christ, but a symbol.”

Two old men having learnt that he had uttered this saying, knowing that he was outstanding in his way of life, knew that he had not spoken through malice, but through simplicity. So they came to find him and said, “Father, we have heard a proposition contrary to the faith on the part of someone who says that the bread which we receive is not really the body of Christ, but a symbol.”

The old man said, “It is I who have said that.” Then the old men exhorted him saying, “Do not hold this position, Father, but hold one in conformity with that which the catholic Church has given us. We believe, for our part, that the bread itself is the body of Christ and that the cup itself is his blood and this in all truth and not a symbol. But as in the beginning, God formed man in his image, taking the dust of the earth, without anyone being able to say that it is not the image of God, even though it is not seen to be so; thus it is with the bread of which he said that it is his body; and so we believe that it is really the body of Christ.”

[REPOST] The Eucharistic Miracle of Fr. Daniel Youhanna

[This post was originally on the Facebook page ‘Orthodox Saint Stories’]

One day a group of people submitted a formal complaint that Fr. Daniel Youhanna was not proficient in memorizing the liturgical prayers in Coptic, and he was summoned by Metropolitan Thomas so he may personally investigate the matter. The day after receiving the metropolitan’s order to appear before him, Fr. Daniel saddled his donkey to journey and meet him. His wife baked him a loaf of bread, wrapped in a handkerchief, in case he became hungry on the journey. He began the ride to the diocese headquarters in Al Minya.

Along the road, he began to review and practice the liturgical prayers in Coptic, so when he was tested by the metropolitan, he would be able to display his proficiency.

The metropolitan, seeing Fr. Daniel walk into his office, was shocked to see, in the priest’s possession, a handkerchief soaked in blood!