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EARLY
CHRISTIAN WORSHIP
Written by St.
Justin Martyr 161-180AD
...after
we have thus washed him who has been convinced
(converted to Christianity) and has assented to
our teaching, we bring him to the place where
those who are called brethren are assembled, in
order that we may offer hearty prayers in common
for ourselves and for the baptized person, ...so
that we may be saved with an everlasting
salvation. Having ended the prayers, we salute one
another with a kiss. There is then brought to the
president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine
mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise
and glory to the Father of the universe, through
the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and
offers thanks at considerable length for our being
counted worthy to receive these things at His
hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and
thanksgivings, all the people present express
their assent by saying Amen. ... And when the
president has given thanks, and all the people
have expressed their assent, those who are called
by us deacons give to each of those present to
partake of the bread and wine mixed with water
over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to
those who are absent they carry away a
portion....And this food is called among us
Eucharistia or [the Eucharist], of which no one is
allowed to partake but the man who believes that
the things which we teach are true, and who has
been washed with the washing that is for the
remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who
is so living as Christ has enjoined. ... we been
taught that the food which is blessed by the
prayer of His word, and from which our blood and
flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh
and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For
the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them,
which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto
us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took
bread, and when He had given thanks, said,
"This do ye in remembrance of Me, this is My
body;" and that, after the same manner,
having taken the cup and given thanks, He said,
"This is My blood;" and gave it to them
alone.
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