EUCHARIST

EUCHARIST means "thanksgiving" and early be­came a synonym for Holy Communion. The Eucharist is the center of worship in the Orthodox Church. Be­cause Jesus said of the bread and wine at the Last Sup­per, "This is my body," "This ... is ... my blood," and "Do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19, 20), His followers believe-and do-nothing less. In the Eucharist, we partake mystically of Christ's Body and Blood, which impart His life and strength to us. The celebration of the Eucharist was a regular part of the Church's life from its beginning. Early Christians began calling the Eucharist "the medicine of immor­tality" because they recognized the great grace of God that was received in it.