Your Eminence,
We are all familiar with Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas’ (a renowned professor of liturgics) note a few weeks ago where he described the history of Holy Communion in the Eastern Tradition.
Specifically, he described the 1000 year old process up until the more common use of the “lavida” to be:
Before the eleventh/twelfth century everyone, clergy and people alike, received the Holy Gifts separately, in the manner the clergy do to this day. When the people approached, they extended their hands, right over left with palms open, on which the priest placed a portion of the holy Bread. After consuming the Bread, the communicants were offered the Cup by the deacon.[4]
Ref: See. For example, the description in Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis, V: 21, 22.
Your Eminence….in your sermon at Prophet Elias in Mississauga, ON during Vespers on July 19th, 2020, you presented a very different practice which is inconsistent with what the Reverend Professor Fr. Calivas quotes above.
In your sermon, you began this topic with the quote from Matthew 26:23 describes…
Ὁ ἐμβάψας μετ’ ἐμοῦ τὴν χεῖρα ἐν τῷ τρυβλίῳ οὗτός με παραδώσει
…and you continued by explaining to the Faithful that this was the manner in which Holy Communion was distributed in the first 1000 years of Church History, namely, the clergy would “dip” the Body into the Blood, and hand it to the people with a “tong” (λαβιδα-τσιμπιδα)
In this light, it is clear that your statements made on July 19th at Prophet Elias Church directly contradict Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas’ academic position on the historical facts surrounding this very important topic, of how the Orthodox Faithful used to receive Holy Communion prior to the establishment of the single “lavida” that we are accustomed to.
Fortunately in Greece, we have video evidence of the ancient practice as preserved in the liturgy of St. Iakovos Adelfotheos, and as you can see in minute 1:18, the priest is offering the Body first, then the faithful proceed to drink the Blood from the COMMON chalice according to the ancient, unmodified practice…
Are you implying that Professor / Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas was incorrect with his assertion and citation of St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s manuscript? The faithful are confused now, because you seem to be describing a practice that is more similar to the current Latin tradition of dipping the αζυμα and then handing it to their faithful.
It is understandable given the corona-virus situation, that it would be difficult to explain to the faithful that Historically, prior to the “common lavida / spoon” all the faithful used to place their lips onto a COMMON chalice, echoing the famous words of our Lord “Πιετε εξ’αυτου παντες… “. Understandably, this narrative would certainly not help alleviate the current controversy that is out there.
However, at the same time, historical facts have to be consistent, especially when announced in a public forum, because there can only be a single source of Truth when it comes to Ecclesiastical History. At this point, the Orthodox Faithful of Canada and beyond would like this public misunderstanding clarified. Please advise which version of historical practice is accurate, yours from July 19th, or Fr. Calivas’, or the video evidence from our the most ancient Divine Liturgy that still exists in our Orthodox practice today…thank you.
Ιωαννης Μ. (Αναγνωστης)
