Author: Rev. prof. PhD. Vasile Voludáchis (“Rizarios” Theological Seminary, Athens)
Keywords: Divine Liturgy, Holy Chalice, consecration, wine, bread, Divine Blood, Divine Body, Jesus Christ
Abstract:
The need of a revitalization of the Orthodox liturgical life, according to the old ecclesiastical practice, especially after years of Communism and Western secularization, triggered a larger participation to the Holy Eucharist. However, this participation should be performed by strictly following the liturgical indications present in the holy books. It seems that this is not always followed. For example, the practice of invoking the sanctifying and transforming work of the Holy Spirit which turns the Honourable Gifts into our Savior Jesus Christ’s Blood and Body over two or even more Chalices during a single Divine Liturgy represents an innovation, which does not come to solve a certain existing challenge of liturgics or ritual, but rather comes to create a problem of this kind, having negative effects and consequences compared to the dogmatic teaching of the Orthodox Church. The paradox is that the issue of giving the Holy Communion to as many believers as possible during the Divine Liturgy has been solved for centuries, and the liturgical indications are clear. However, a challenge has been invoked, getting to the innovation of invoking the Holy Spirit over two or even more Holy Chalices. This practice is foreign to the Holy Tradition and the teaching of the Orthodox Church, even shedding a shadow of doubt over the validity of the Divine Communion received during the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. This small article, based on very good evidence, manages to bring much light in this sense.
(Translation from ancient Greek by Conf. dr. Ion Marian Croitoru)
Pages: 234-242