The communion ceremony is one of the most important ceremonies in Christianity, enacted by all sects of the Christian church from Catholicism to Eastern Orthodox branches to Protestant denominations. While some churches will practice the ceremony at each gathering (such as Catholics at Mass and weddings) some participate less frequently, usually once a month or so. Every church partakes in communion around Easter time, which is the anniversary of Christ's death and his own establishment of the idea of communion.



Christ's Communion Ceremony

The foundation of the communion ceremony was established by Jesus Christ at what is today known as the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus partook in with his disciples before he died at Calvary. According to all four of the first books of the Christian bible, Christ knew that his death was imminent. He asked his disciples to remember him when they partook of both wine and bread, thus the communion ceremony includes both of these elements.

Symbolism

The two elements of the communion ceremony are intended to remind followers of Christ's suffering. The first element is the bread, which Christ said was broken as his body was to be on the cross. The second element, the wine, symbolizes the blood of Christ which was spilled on the Christ. Christians partake of the elements in order to reflect on what Christ did for them by sacrificing himself on the cross for their sins.

Although the elements are specific in the Bible, not all denominations follow these elements to the letter. Catholics will use wafers in substitution for bread, while many denominations substitute juice for wine. While many do so in order to allow younger believers to partake legally, some denominations such as Baptists do so out of conviction that alcohol is strictly forbidden. This of course is contentious, as it makes for some pretty impressive acrobatics in describing why wine was okay for Jesus but not for modern believers.

Major Denominational Differences

The actual form of the elements are just one of the differences that communion takes in different denominational communion ceremony.

Catholicism dictates that communion be administered by a priest or other person in authority of the diocese. Most Eastern Orthodox churches also follow this dictum.

Protestants, on the other hand, rejected the idea of one man in charge of the church many centuries ago. As such, Protestant communion is generally a joint ceremony administered to the entire congregation in an offeratorial manner, with the pastors and deacons of the church praying before the elements are passed through the congregation on a plate.

The communion ceremony is also called the Eucharist among Catholic practitioners. In all denominations, the ceremony is a symbol of the New Covenant between God and men. No longer bound by strict religious observances but by the promise that God's Son's sacrifice atoned for all of the sins of men, those who choose to believe in Christ partake in the ceremony as a reminder of their salvation.