The Holy Pascha: Great Thursday IIIc

Consider, therefore, the Bread and the Wine not as simple elements, for they are, according to the LORD’s declaration, the Body and Blood of Christ.  Even though sense suggests this to you, let faith establish you.  Do not judge the matter from the taste, but from faith.  Be fully assured without doubt, that the Body and Blood of Christ have been entrusted you … Having learn these things and been fully assured that what looks like bread is not bread, though it taste like it, but the Body of Christ; and that what looks like wine in not wine, though it taste like it, but the blood of Christ … And so having unveiled with pure conscience, may you reflect as a mirror the glory of the LORD (2 Cor. 3:18) and proceed glory to glory, in Christ Jesus our LORD.  Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

Through the grace of God, this is the third edition of this volume.  This volume includes more than 800 pages and over 1000 excerpts from the patristic writings such as the writing of St. Athanasius, St. Cyril of Alexandria, St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. Basil the Great, the Scholar Origen, and many others.  Additionally, each day and each hour are introduced with a brief explanation, the theme of the reading, events, and rites contained within.  We have also included four additional articles: a spiritual introduction to Holy Pascha Week by the Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III, a second article which provides a historical overview of the Holy Week tradition as compared with others Apostolic traditions, and two articles explaining the theological, historical, and spiritual context of some of the hymns of Great Friday.  From the Preface by His Eminence Metropolitan Serapion.