Feast of the Holy Eucharist: a typical example of Melkite flexibility.
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Icon of The Inexhaustable Cup
The Feast of The Holy Eucharist
This Feast was initiated in the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264 under the Latin name of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ or Divine Body). Some 500 years later, in 1737, it was introduced in the Melkite Church by a Decree of Patriarch Maxim II Hakim who also composed a splendid full Canon for this feast. This is a typical example of the flexibility of the Melkite Church. While we belong to the Eastern Byzantine Church in our spiritual, intellectual and liturgical heritage, we remain Catholic, i.e. an integrant part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and in full communion with the Holy Father, successor of St. Peter. In this respect we form a bridge between the Eastern and the Western Church. That is precisely our specificity as Melkites. We take what is good and profitable for our souls, wherever and whenever we find it, incorporate it, while jealously keeping our identity.
Another typical example is the Solemn Communion. Since the first communion is given to our children at the moment of their Baptism, we let them pursue their Christian education at the Sunday School. And when they are mature enough to be aware of the Divine Eucharist, we give them what can be called their Solemn Communion. This event is so popular in the Near East, that even our Orthodox brethren who first were critical, have quickly followed us.
Fr. Alam