The Eucharist is a religious ceremony in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed in commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. The spelling of the word "Eucharist" is pronounced /ˈjuːkərɪst/ in IPA phonetic transcription. It comes from the Greek word "eucharistia," which means "thanksgiving." In Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions, the Eucharist is considered one of the seven sacraments and is central to the celebration of the Mass.
The Eucharist is a sacrament and central ritual of Christian worship, particularly within Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant denominations. Derived from the Greek word "eucharistia," meaning thanksgiving, it is also known as Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper.
The Eucharist commemorates and reenacts the Last Supper, when Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion. According to Christian belief, during this sacred ritual, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ through a process known as transubstantiation or a similar theological understanding.
The Eucharist holds great significance as it signifies the unity of the Christian community with Christ and with one another. It is described as a means of grace and spiritual nourishment, where through consuming the consecrated elements, believers are believed to receive the forgiveness of sins, healing, and spiritual renewal.
The Eucharist is typically celebrated during Mass or a similar worship service. The process typically involves a priest or minister consecrating bread and wine, which are then distributed to the congregation. Participants receive the bread and wine, often in the form of a small wafer and a sip of wine or grape juice. The Eucharist is viewed as a sacred act of remembrance, thanksgiving, and communion with Christ, emphasizing the central importance of faith and the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The word "Eucharist" comes from the Greek word "eucharistia", which means "thanksgiving". It is derived from the Greek words "eu" (good) and "charis" (grace). In Christian tradition, the Eucharist refers to the sacrament of the Holy Communion, where Christians believe they partake in the body and blood of Jesus Christ in remembrance of his sacrifice on the cross.