The Eucharist in the Early Church and Coptic Tradition (CT9629A)

Content

This unit will provide an overview of the sacrament of Eucharist, from historical, liturgical and theological perspectives. A major part of this unit will examine the Coptic understanding of the Eucharist and the key elements of Coptic sacramental theology. Topics to be considered include: the Eucharist in relation to the Christology, Salvation and the Church; the Eucharist in the Scriptures; and the development of the theology of the Eucharist in terms of transformation, anamnesis, sacrifice and the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Learning outcomes

Pedagogy

Weekly sessions, comprising guided reading from the set texts, additional reading resources and opportunities for online collaboration

Indicative Bibliography

• Bradshaw, Paul F. Eucharistic Origins. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
• Chupungco, Anscar J., ed. The Eucharist. Vol. 3, Handbook for Liturgical Studies. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1999.
• Danielou, Jean, The Bible and the liturgy, S. J. University of Notre Dame press, Indiana 1966.
• Dragas, George Dion. The Holy Sacraments of Baptism, Chrismation and Holy Communion: The Five Mystagogical Catechisms of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Orthodox Research Institute. 2008.
• Irwin, Kevin W. Models of the Eucharist. New York: Paulist Press, 2005.
• Kasper, Walter. Harvesting the Fruits: Basic Aspects of Christian Faith in Ecumenical Dialogue. London: Continuum, 2009.
• Léon-Dufour, Xavier. Sharing the Eucharistic Bread: The Witness of the New Testament. Translated by Matthew J. O’Connell. New York: Paulist Press, 1987.
• McPartlan, Paul. The Eucharist Makes the Church: Henri de Lubac and John Zizioulas in Dialogue. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1993.
• Mitchell, Nathan. Real Presence: The Work of Eucharist. New and expanded edition. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2001.
• Limouris, Gennadios, and N. M. Vaporis. Orthodox Perspectives on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry. Brookline, Mass.: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1985.
• Malaty, Fr. Tadros Y., Christ in the Eucharist, 3ed. edition, USA 2001.
• O’Loughlin, Frank. Christ Present in the Eucharist. Homebush: St Pauls, 2000
• Rordorf, Willy. The Eucharist of the early Christians, translated by Matthew J. O'Connell, Collegeville Minnesota Liturgical Press 1978.
• Sheerin, Daniel J. The Eucharist Message of the Fathers of the Church. Wilmington, Del.: M. Glazier, 1986.
• Spinks, Bryan D. Do this in remembrance of me: the Eucharist from the early church to the present day, London SCM Press, 2013.
• Welch, Lawrence J. Christology and Eucharist in the early thought of Cyril of Alexandria, San Francisco: Catholic Scholars Press, 1994
• Zizioulas, Jean. Eucharist, bishop, church: the unity of the church in the divine Eucharist and the bishop during the first three centuries; translated by Elizabeth Theokritoff, Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2007.

Also, handouts and articles from various texts will be available online.

Assessment