The Symbolism Of Bread In The Greek Orthodox Church

Bread is often a side dish during our everyday meals. Just about every sit down restaurant serves you bread before your meal. In our faith bread is not just a staple food that is eaten as a side to your dish. The Greek Orthodox Church uses bread for the Eucharist. The sacramental bread symbolizes Christ. Orthodox Christians receive bread during two occasions, after they receive communion, and after the dismissal. When we have accepted the offering of bread this indicates that you have offered your life to God. The night before Jesus suffered on the cross he shared one last meal with his disciples. Jesus is referred to as the “Bread of life.” Our lord said “I am the living bread which came down from heaven.” ( John 6:51) During our lords last meal he took a load of bread, he blessed it, he broke it, and he gave it to his disciples telling them this bread represents his body. (Corinthians 11:23) The bread is a remembrance of Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the bread becomes the body of Jesus Christ. …show more content…
The bread is a symbol which shows we recognize Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. Jesus said “This is my body… this is my blood.” (Luke 22:19,20) Partaking of the Communion table is a necessary part of our Christian life, and is something that we should treat with high respect and reverence. When we accept the bread it becomes part of our lives, the bread becomes apart of who we are. Bread is one of the two elements of the Christian Eucharist, the bread represents Christ’s body. Through the eating of the bread we remember Christ’s death and resurrection but, in advance, we remember many other events and words that led up to that horrific sacrificial offering of himself. In a way through eating the bread we thank God for his sacrifice. A simple and everyday commodity became a remembrance of someone so very powerful and great, Jesus