"This IS Really Me" : The Eucharist

In the early fourth century, Saint Epiphanius had this to say regarding the Eucharist:

"We see that the Savior took in His hands, as it is in the Gospel, when He was reclining at the supper; and He took this, and giving thanks, He said: "This is really Me." And He gave to His disciples and said: "This is really Me." And we see that It is not equal nor similar, not to the incarnate image, not to the invisible divinity, not to the outline of His limbs. For It is round of shape, and devoid of feeling. As to Its power, He means to say even of Its grace, "This is really Me"; and none disbelieves His word. For anyone who does not believe the truth in what He says is deprived of grace and of Savior." (The Man Well-Anchored 57)


Once again we see evidence that the early church understood the words of Christ literally. He took his body in his hands at the Last Supper, the First Eucharist, and said “Take and eat; this is my body.”


Today in the Catholic and Orthodox churches, Jesus continues to stretch out his hands to us (through the hands of the priest) and says: This IS Really Me.