And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the
Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that
the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing
that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living
as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive
these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Savior, having been made flesh by
the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have
we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and
from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and
blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.
For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them,
which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon
them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, “This do in
remembrance of Me, this is My body;” and that, after the same manner, having
taken the cup and given thanks, He said, “This is My blood.” …
And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the
apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits;
then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs and exhorts
to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and,
as we said before, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are
brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings according
to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution
to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to
those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.
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