‖ eulogia
(juːˈləʊdʒɪə)
[Eccl. Lat., a. Gr. εὐλογία in N.T. ‘blessing’: see eulogy.]
a. A name applied by the early Christians to the Eucharist. b. A portion of the consecrated bread reserved for those who were not present at the communion. c. In the Greek church, the unconsecrated bread remaining after communion, blessed by the priests and given to the non-communicants; also bread, sweetmeats, etc. blessed and distributed as tokens of mutual love. See eulogy 2.
| 1751 in Chambers Cycl. 1849 Rock Ch. of Fathers I. 137 This holy loaf or eulogia was meant to be an emblem of..brotherly love. 1883 Addis & Arnold Cath. Dict. s.v. Eulogiæ, The Eulogia, then, was a substitute—though of course a most imperfect one..for Holy Communion, whence the Greek name, ἀντίδωρον. |