Paten and the Eucharist in Early Christianity

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Short Version) Direct teaching

They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not acknowledge the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, who suffered for our sins, and whom the Father, in His goodness, raised up again. Those, therefore, who speak against this gift of God, bring upon themselves death in the midst of their disputes. Yet it would be better for them to treat it with respect, so that they might also rise again. It is fitting, therefore, that you should keep away from such people, and not speak of them either in private or in public, but to pay attention to the prophets, and above all, to the Gospel, in which the passion of Christ has been revealed to us, and the resurrection has been fully proven. But avoid all divisions, as they are the beginning of evils.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching

...d renewal, and live as Christ instructed, are allowed to partake. We do not receive these as common bread and drink, but in the same way that Jesus Christ our Savior became flesh by the Word of God and had flesh and blood for our salvation, we have been taught that the food blessed by His word and prayer, which nourishes our blood and flesh through transformation, is the flesh and blood of Jesus who became flesh. The apostles, in the writings they composed, which are called Gospels, have passed down to us what Jesus instructed them: that He took bread, gave thanks, and said, "Do this in remembrance of Me, this is My body;" and in the same way, after taking the cup and giving thanks, He said, "This is My blood;" and gave it to them alone. The wicked devils have imitated this in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same actions. You either know or can learn that bread and a cup of water are used with certain incantations in the mystical rites of someone being initiated.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

18. As the prayer goes on, we ask and say, “Give us this day our daily bread.” This can be understood both spiritually and literally, because either understanding is full of divine usefulness for our salvation. For Christ is the bread of life, and this bread does not belong to all people, but it is ours. And just as we say, “Our Father,” because He is the Father of those who understand and believe, so also we call it our bread, because Christ is the bread of those who are in union with His body. And we ask that this bread should be given to us daily, so that we who are in Christ, and who receive the Eucharist daily as the food of salvation, may not, because of the interruption caused by some grave sin, be prevented—being kept back and not communicating—from sharing in the heavenly bread, and so be separated from Christ’s body, as He Himself foretells and warns: “I am the bread of life which came down from heaven. If any man eats of my bread, he shall live forever; and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” John 6:58 When, therefore, He says that whoever eats of His bread shall live forever, it is clear that those who partake of His body and receive the

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...all the people in order, with reverence and godly fear, without tumult. And let the bishop give the oblation, saying, The body of Christ; and let the one who receives say, Amen. And let the deacon take the cup, and when he gives it, say, The blood of Christ, the cup of life; and let the one who drinks say, Amen. And let the thirty-third psalm be said while the rest are partaking. And when all, both men and women, have partaken, let the deacons carry what remains into the vestry. And when the singer has finished, let the deacon say:

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

And this food is called among us [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.

1 Corinthians 10:16 Direct teaching

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 11:27 Direct teaching

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11:25 Direct teaching

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

Mark 14:22 Direct teaching

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Matthew 26:26 Direct teaching

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Luke 22:20 Direct teaching

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Luke 22:19 Direct teaching

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Mark 14:23 Supporting witness

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.

Luke 22:17 Supporting witness

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves.

Matthew 26:27 Supporting witness

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.

1 Corinthians 11:23 Supporting witness

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

1 Corinthians 11:24 Supporting witness

and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Short Version) Direct teaching

Take care, then, to have only one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup to show the unity of His blood; one altar; as there is one bishop, along with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants: so that, whatever you do, you may do it according to the will of God.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Supporting witness

...ve, which is worthy of God, and urge you to have only one faith, and one type of preaching, and one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His blood, which was shed for us, is one; one loaf is also broken for all, and one cup is shared among them all: there is only one altar for the whole Church, and one bishop, with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants. Since there is only one unbegotten Being, God, even the Father; and one only-begotten Son, God, the Word and man; and one Comforter, the Spirit of truth; and also one preaching, and one faith, and one baptism; and one Church that the holy apostles established from one end of the earth to the other by the blood of Christ, and by their own sweat and toil; you should also, therefore, as “a peculiar people, and a holy nation,” perform all things with harmony in Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands in the fear of God; and you virgins, to Christ in purity, not regarding marriage as an abomination, but desiring that which is better, not for the reproach of wedlock, but for the sake of meditating on the law. Children, obey your parents, and have affection for them, as workers together with God fo

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness

...ugh their office. Let no one do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let a proper Eucharist be considered as such when it is administered either by the bishop, or by someone he has entrusted it to. Wherever the bishop is present, let the multitude of the people also be there; just as where Christ is, there the whole heavenly host stands by, attending to Him as the Chief Captain of the Lord’s might, and the Governor of every intelligent nature. It is not lawful to baptize, offer, present sacrifice, or celebrate a love-feast without the bishop. But whatever seems good to the bishop is also well-pleasing to God, so that everything you do may be secure and valid.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Short Version) Supporting witness

... God. Let no one do anything related to the Church without the bishop. Consider that to be a proper Eucharist which is administered by the bishop or by someone he has entrusted it to. Wherever the bishop is, there let the congregation also be; just as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop to either baptize or celebrate a love-feast; but whatever he approves of is also pleasing to God, so that everything done may be secure and valid.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness

Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Short Version) Supporting witness

Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Long Version) Supporting witness

one loaf also is broken to all [the communicants], and one cup is distributed among them all: there is but one altar for the whole Church, and one bishop, with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

And let the bishop give the oblation, saying, The body of Christ;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...f God, was driven out. As for the deacons, after the prayer is over, let some of them attend to the oblation of the Eucharist, ministering to the Lord's body with fear. Let others watch the crowd and keep them silent. But let that deacon who is at the high priest's side say to the people, "Let no one have any quarrel against another; let no one come in hypocrisy." Then let the men give the men, and the women give the women, the Lord's kiss. But let no one do it deceitfully, as Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss. After this let the deacon pray for the whole Church, for the whole world and its several parts, and for its fruits; for the priests and the rulers, for the high priest and the king, and for the peace of the universe. After this let the high priest pray for peace upon the people and bless them, as Moses commanded the priests to bless the people, in these words: "The Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make His face shine upon you, and give you peace." Let the bishop pray for the people, and say: "Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance, which You have obtained with the precious blood of Your Christ, and have called a royal priesthood, and a holy nation."

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Direct teaching

...t into the chalice as far as the middle, and with it he makes the sign over the body that is on the paten, saying:

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Supporting witness

Then he dips it even to the middle in the chalice, and signs with it the body which is in the paten, saying:—

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

Then he distributes to the clergy. And when the deacons take the patens and the chalices to distribute them to the people, the deacon who takes the first paten says:

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Supporting witness

He kisses the altar in the middle, and receives with both hands the upper oblation; and looking up, says:—

Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus Direct teaching

...ing to the Spirit, for we must worship God “in spirit and in truth.” Therefore, the offering of the Eucharist is not physical but spiritual, and in this respect, it is pure. For we offer to God the bread and the cup of blessing, thanking Him for commanding the earth to produce these fruits for our nourishment. Then, after perfecting the offering, we invoke the Holy Spirit, so that He may make this sacrifice—both the bread as the body of Christ and the cup as the blood of Christ—so that those who receive these symbols may obtain forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Those who perform these offerings in remembrance of the Lord do not align with Jewish practices, but by performing the service in a spiritual manner, they are called sons of wisdom.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

...er change their opinion or stop offering the things just mentioned. But our opinion agrees with the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn supports our opinion. For we offer to Him His own, consistently announcing the fellowship and union of the flesh and Spirit. For just as the bread, which is produced from the earth, when it receives the invocation of God, is no longer common bread but the Eucharist, consisting of two realities, earthly and heavenly; so also our bodies, when they receive the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, having the hope of the resurrection to eternity.

Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus Supporting witness

and in this respect it is pure. For we make an oblation to God of the bread and the cup of blessing, giving Him thanks in that He has commanded the earth to bring forth these fruits for our nourishment.

Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus Supporting witness

but they are according to the Spirit, for we must worship God “in spirit and in truth.” And therefore the oblation of the Eucharist is not a carnal one, but a spiritual;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...re able, and we carry out His constitution. For on the same night in which He was betrayed, He took bread in His holy and undefiled hands, and looking up to You, His God and Father, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, "This is the mystery of the new covenant. Take of it, and eat. This is my body, which is broken for many, for the remission of sins." In the same way, He also took the cup, mixed it with wine and water, sanctified it, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink all of this, for this is my blood, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins. Do this in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show my death until I come. Therefore, remembering His passion, death, resurrection from the dead, return into the heavens, and His future second appearing, in which He is to come with glory and power to judge the living and the dead, and to repay everyone according to his works, we offer to You, our King and our God, according to His constitution, this bread and this cup. We give You thanks through Him, because You have counted us worthy to stand before You and to sacrifice to You. And we beg You to look mercifully upon these gi

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

Always be thankful, as faithful and honest servants. And concerning the Eucharistic thanksgiving, say this: “We thank You, our Father, for the life that You have made known to us through Jesus Your Son. Through Him You made all things, and You take care of the whole world. You sent Him to become man for our salvation. You allowed Him to suffer and to die. You raised Him up, were pleased to glorify Him, and set Him at Your right hand. Through Him You have promised us the resurrection of the dead. O Lord Almighty, everlasting God, gather Your Church together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom, just as this grain was once scattered and has now become one loaf. We also thank You, our Father, for the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed for us, and for His precious body, of which we celebrate this representation, just as He Himself appointed us, to show His death. 1 Corinthians 11:26 For through Him glory is to be given to You forever. Amen.” Let no one eat of these things unless he is initiated, but only those who have been baptized into the death of the Lord. But if anyone who is not initiated hides himself and partakes of them, he eats eternal damnation, because,

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...Solomon shows beforehand the pattern of the Lord's sacrifice. He mentions the slain victim, and the bread and wine, and also the altar and the apostles, and says, "Wisdom has built her house; she has set up her seven pillars. She has killed her victims. She has mixed her wine in the cup. She has also prepared her table. And she has sent out her servants, calling with a lofty proclamation to her cup, saying, 'Whoever is simple, let him turn to me.' And to those who lack understanding she has said, 'Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mixed for you.'" He declares the wine mixed. That is, he foretells with a prophetic voice the cup of the Lord mixed with water and wine, so that it may be clear that in our Lord's passion, what had been predicted before was done.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

which thing the Lord, completing and fulfilling, offered bread and the cup mixed with wine, and so He who is the fullness of truth fulfilled the truth of the image prefigured.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Those which were then first-fruits, and tithes, and offerings, and gifts, now are oblations, which are presented by holy bishops to the Lord God, through Jesus Christ, who has died for them.

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Supporting witness

The oblation is offered to God, the Lord of all.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness

O God, receive at Your holy, heavenly, and spiritual altar in the wide heavens, through Your ministering archangels, the thank offerings of those who offer sacrifice and oblation, and of those who want to offer much or little, in secret or openly, but do not have anything to give.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness

This do in remembrance of me; for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show forth my death and acknowledge my resurrection and ascension until I come.