Our Venerable Father Bessarion the Wonderworker; Venerable Hilarion the New, Confessor. Post-feast of the Ascension.
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Acts 27:1-44; John 17:18-26.
Read John 17:18-26
The desire of the Lord is that the entire human race would be united in Him, but how does this come about? Our Christian faith teaches us that it is through the Eucharist that we become united to God. Therefore having a correct understanding of what constitutes Holy Communion is essential to the partaking of the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist. A true believing Christian accepts through faith that the bread and wine is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This in turn becomes the sign of unity within the Church, whereby the Church is seen as the one body of Christ and the members of the Church form one body in Christ. Therefore, those who do not hold to the teachings of the Church are not permitted to partake of the Eucharist. This separation of those individuals who have not been incorporated fully into the Church is a cause for pain for our Lord and helps us to understand His longing for the unity of faith and worship in the Church. Therefore, we must hold fast to the teachings of the Church and not depart from the unity of the faith that is established in Christ Jesus, the Lord.