The Divine Liturgy

The Eucharist — is a sacrament in which the true Body and true Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ are presented to the believer under the guise of bread and wine for the remission of sins and eternal life (John 6:48-54).

The Eucharist is the main Sacrament of the Church; it fulfills what a Christian is called to – unity with the Lord, Communion with God. The Eucharist is communion with the love of God because love is expressed in sacrifice (There is no more love than if someone lays down his soul for his friends. John 15:13), and the Sacrifice for the sins of all people was brought by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Divine Service of the Sacrament — Liturgy

The divine service at which the Eucharist is celebrated is called the Liturgy. If in other public services (matins, vespers, hours), The Lord Jesus Christ is present only by His grace; at the Liturgy, He is present entirely by His Most Pure Body and Blood.

The Fruits of the Sacrament

Communion is the most important of the Christian Sacraments, established by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. As already mentioned, this Sacrament is central not only in the Gospel narratives (John 6; 51-58, Mt. 26; 26-28, Mt. 14; 22-24, Lk. 22; 19, 20 and 1 Cor. 11; 23-25). All members of the Orthodox Church are admitted to the Sacrament of Communion after they have prepared for it by fasting and repentance. The Orthodox Church also teaches the Sacrament to infants (communing them with the Blood of Jesus Christ alone).