eucharist

Everyday

1. (church) The Christian service in which bread and wine are blessed and shared to remember Jesus's Last Supper; also called Holy Communion, the Mass or the Lord's Supper. tree →
2. The bread and wine themselves, which many Christians believe become, or show, the body and blood of Christ. tree →

In the lessons

In religion lessons pupils learn that Christians celebrate the Eucharist because Jesus said «Do this in remembrance of me». Different churches understand it differently, but most see it as the heart of worship. Children may make their First Holy Communion. Phrases: «celebrate the Eucharist», «receive the Eucharist», «Sunday Eucharist».

Examples

• On Sunday the family went to the Eucharist. tree →
• The priest blessed the bread and wine at the Eucharist. tree →
• Christians believe Jesus gave the Eucharist at the Last Supper. tree →
• Catholics call the Eucharist the Mass. tree →
• She received the Eucharist for the first time at her First Communion. tree →
• «Eucharist» comes from a Greek word meaning «thanksgiving». tree →

Note

Usually with a capital E and «the». Pronounced YOO-ka-rist. Adjective: eucharistic. Different churches use different names: Mass (Catholic), Holy Communion (Anglican, many Protestant), Divine Liturgy (Orthodox).