The Eucharist: The Heart of Christian Unity - Preface of a New Book


The prayer of the Lord Jesus in John 17:21 remains an urgent call to the Church today: “That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” The division among Christians stands in stark contrast to Christ’s desire for unity, and nowhere is this division more visible than at the Eucharistic table, where the Body and Blood of Christ should bring believers together as one. 

The Eucharist: The Heart of the Christian Unity 

The Eucharist has always been at the heart of Christian life and unity, serving as both a sign and source of communion with Christ and with one another. The earliest Christians gathered around the Eucharist, recognizing it as the fulfillment of God’s covenant and as a means of participating in the very life of Christ. The Church Fathers spoke of the Eucharist as the binding force of Christian unity, teaching that those who share in the one Bread and one Cup become one Body in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). 

However, history has borne witness to deep divisions that have fractured this sacred unity. The Council of Chalcedon (451), the Great Schism (1054), and the Protestant Reformation (16th century) have left the Body of Christ fragmented, preventing Christians from gathering at the same Eucharistic table. Today, while theological dialogues continue, the reality remains: We confess “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5), yet we remain divided at the very altar where Christ offers Himself to His people.  

The Role of the Eucharist in Church Unity 

This book seeks to explore a critical question: Should the Eucharist be the goal of Christian unity or the means by which unity is realized? For centuries, many have argued that full doctrinal agreement must precede the sharing of the Eucharist. But is this how Christ intended His Supper to be approached? The early Church did not wait for perfect theological alignment before breaking bread together—they understood the Eucharist itself as the means by which unity is formed and deepened. 

If the Eucharist is truly the real presence of Christ, then it must be the path toward unity, not merely the reward for achieving it. This book calls for a renewed vision of Eucharistic communion, one that seeks to bridge the divides between Christians by recognizing that the Lord’s Table is not a possession of any one tradition but a gift from the Father through Christ for all who believe in Him. 

 Purpose and Structure of This Book 

This book is divided into four parts, each exploring the theological, historical, and pastoral dimensions of the Eucharist as the Sacrament of Unity: 

Part I: The Eucharist in Scripture and Tradition 

- Examines the Old Testament foreshadowing of the Eucharist. 

- Explores Christ’s institution of the Eucharist and His teachings on its significance. 

- Studies how the early Church Fathers understood the Eucharist as central to Christian unity. 

Part II: The Fracturing of Eucharistic Communion 

- Reviews major historical schisms and their impact on Eucharistic fellowship. 

- Examines the theological barriers that prevent Eucharistic sharing today. 

- Reflects on the contradiction of affirming “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church” while refusing Eucharistic unity. 

Part III: The Eucharist as the Way to Church Unity 

- Argues that the Eucharist should be seen as a means of unity, not just its outcome. 

- Considers the pastoral and theological challenges to Eucharistic reconciliation. 

- Calls for practical steps toward greater Eucharistic sharing among Christian traditions. 

Part IV: A Call to Eucharistic Communion 

- Issues a plea for all Christian churches to come together at the altar. 

- Explores how Eucharistic participation transforms hearts and fosters unity. 

- Concludes with a vision of the Heavenly Banquet, where all believers will one day be gathered in perfect communion with Christ. 

 A Call to the Church 

The divisions at the Lord’s Table are not just a theological issue—they are a spiritual wound that weakens the Church’s witness to the world. If we are to fulfill Christ’s prayer for unity, we must take seriously the call to Eucharistic reconciliation. This book is not merely an academic reflection but an invitation—to clergy, pastors, theologians, and all who seek Christian unity—to reconsider how we approach the Eucharist. 

May this journey inspire a renewed longing for the day when all Christians will once again gather as one Body at the one Table of the Lord, proclaiming: 

 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4) 

Hegumen Abraam Sleman

frsleman@CopticChurch.net


#Eucharist, #ChristianUnity, #BodyOfChrist, #OneChurch, #Communion, #ChurchUnity, #UnityInChrist, #LordJesusPrayer, #John17, #ChristianFaith, #SacramentOfUnity, #TableOfTheLord, #BreadAndWine, #CovenantOfChrist, #ChurchLife, #EarlyChurchFaith, #BiblicalUnity, #EucharisticFellowship, #OneInChrist, #ChristTheCenter

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