Orthodox interpretation of John 6?

[LizaMarie]

Is the Eastern Orthodox interpretation of John 6: 50-58 the Same as the Roman Catholic?
When I was studying the RCC my understanding is their interpretation of this passage is that it is Eucharistic, i.e. Jesus is literally making a description of eating his real flesh and blood and that if you do not do this, you will have no life in you. (And this is why some disciples turned away.) I must say I have no problem with this as it is the most literal interpretation.
However the current Lutheran interpretation is that this passage is about faith in Christ, not his literal flesh and blood.
So Lutherans, although they are the only Protestant denomination that still holds to the Real Presence, (excepting Anglicans)does not consider this passage eucharistic, but about FAITH in Christ, only, as our faith is both our food and drink. I say it could be both.
What is the Orthodox view?
What got me thinking about this is this was our Gospel reading and Church sermon this Sunday. ( and no, it wasn't our communion Sunday, that's the last Sunday of the month.)

 

[ArmyMatt]

it's literal, especially in the Greek.

 

[HTacianas]

Is the Eastern Orthodox interpretation of John 6: 50-58 the Same as the Roman Catholic?
When I was studying the RCC my understanding is their interpretation of this passage is that it is Eucharistic, i.e. Jesus is literally making a description of eating his real flesh and blood and that if you do not do this, you will have no life in you. I must say I have no problem with this as it is the most literal interpretation.
However the current Lutheran interpretation is that this passage is about faith in Christ, not his literal flesh and blood.
So Lutherans, although they are the only Protestant denomination that still holds to the Real Presence, does not consider this passage eucharistic, but about FAITH in Christ, only as our faith is both our food and drink. I say it could be both.
What is the Orthodox view?
What got me thinking about this is this was our Gospel reading and Church sermon this Sunday. ( and no, it wasn't our communion Sunday, that's the last Sunday of the month.)

The Orthodox view of John 6:50-58 is the same as the Roman view. It was the unanimous view of all of Christianity for 1500 years. It is still the unanimous view of all of the original Churches.

 

[LizaMarie]

Thanks! Obviously changed with the Reformation then.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Is the Eastern Orthodox interpretation of John 6: 50-58 the Same as the Roman Catholic?
When I was studying the RCC my understanding is their interpretation of this passage is that it is Eucharistic, i.e. Jesus is literally making a description of eating his real flesh and blood and that if you do not do this, you will have no life in you. (And this is why some disciples turned away.) I must say I have no problem with this as it is the most literal interpretation.
However the current Lutheran interpretation is that this passage is about faith in Christ, not his literal flesh and blood.
So Lutherans, although they are the only Protestant denomination that still holds to the Real Presence, (excepting Anglicans)does not consider this passage eucharistic, but about FAITH in Christ, only, as our faith is both our food and drink. I say it could be both.
What is the Orthodox view?
What got me thinking about this is this was our Gospel reading and Church sermon this Sunday. ( and no, it wasn't our communion Sunday, that's the last Sunday of the month.)

You only receive communion once a month? I thought Lutherans did every Liturgy, as we do?

It's strange to me now how seldom some of my former fellowships have communion. Most of them were 4-6 times a year or less. I haven't counted in our parish but I'd say we are closer to 100 times a year - certainly every Sunday.

It's difficult to see how his disciples could leave Him because He said they had to have faith in Him. If it was such a hard saying, you'd think it would literally be a difficult thing to accept.

 

[FenderTL5]

You only receive communion once a month..

(I know this is an aside but...) that's another in a long list of reasons why I became Orthodox.. my former church only celebrated 'The Lord's Supper' on the evenings of the 5th-Sunday in a month.. no more than 3x a year at an evening service. There's only one 5th-Sunday this year.

I agree with the previous posts; real presence. imho, any other understanding diminishes the significance, which I would presume is why the remembrance is pushed into the margin of what happens in the churches (like I described in my former tradition).

 

[~Anastasia~]

(I know this is an aside but...) that's another in a long list of reasons why I became Orthodox.. my former church only celebrated 'The Lord's Supper' on the evenings of the 5th-Sunday in a month.. no more than 3x a year at an evening service. There's only one 5th-Sunday this year.

I agree with the previous posts; real presence. imho, any other understanding diminishes the significance, which I would presume is why the remembrance is pushed into the margin of what happens in the churches (like I described in my former tradition).

I remember my husband objected to the idea of weekly communion because he said then that it "wouldn't be special". I understand in a way where he was coming from. We had attended a fellowship where crackers and juice were on a table off to the side every week and if you wanted communion, you just went over and got it. But that is SO far removed from the Divine Liturgy where essentially we are focusing on the Eucharist for half the service.

It's one of those things that just doesn't "translate" ... each "side" can't even understand the other because their basic foundation is so very different.

 

[Lukaris]

Communion has been provided unevenly to the laity in Orthodox jurisdictions over time.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Communion has been provided unevenly to the laity in Orthodox jurisdictions over time.

I actually know this is true ... I should not assume things have always been as they are.

In our own parish there are some - incorrect assumptions - about Communion, based on the time under persecution when many of the older people were only able to receive about once a year.

But I believe the standard understanding is that the Eucharist is a primary purpose for us to assemble.

 

[Lukaris]

I actually know this is true ... I should not assume things have always been as they are.

In our own parish there are some - incorrect assumptions - about Communion, based on the time under persecution when many of the older people were only able to receive about once a year.

But I believe the standard understanding is that the Eucharist is a primary purpose for us to assemble.

I agree but I know in America it was uneven for at least a generation. There was no persecution except for some isolated secular ethnic prejudices. My father, 1st generation Syrian/American, used to refer to the prejudices between the ethnics (Catholics, Prots, Orthodox ) & that of the WASPS.

 

[LizaMarie]

You only receive communion once a month? I thought Lutherans did every Liturgy, as we do?

It's strange to me now how seldom some of my former fellowships have communion. Most of them were 4-6 times a year or less. I haven't counted in our parish but I'd say we are closer to 100 times a year - certainly every Sunday.

It's difficult to see how his disciples could leave Him because He said they had to have faith in Him. If it was such a hard saying, you'd think it would literally be a difficult thing to accept.

Twice a month actually. There was a controversy in our church some of us(like me) wanted it every week, others wanted it once a month as it used to be before a decade ago. Twice a month was the compromise the council came to.
We approach communion much more reverently then the non-denominational church I used to go to, We go up front and kneel at the rail and can receive either on the hand or on the tongue(unleavened wafers like the RCC) and real wine. (non alcoholic wine is available on request)There was also an issue about that during my years at that church as we at first only offered real wine, we had to ask permission of the synod to offer non alcoholic wine.
Some Lutheran congregations do have it once a week.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Twice a month actually. There was a controversy in our church some of us(like me) wanted it every week, others wanted it once a month as it used to be before a decade ago. Twice a month was the compromise the council came to.
We approach communion much more reverently then the non-denominational church I used to go to, We go up front and kneel at the rail and can receive either on the hand or on the tongue(unleavened wafers like the RCC) and real wine. (non alcoholic wine is available on request)There was also an issue about that during my years at that church as we at first only offered real wine, we had to ask permission of the synod to offer non alcoholic wine.
Some Lutheran congregations do have it once a week.

Thank you for the information. I can see how that might happen. The only experience I had of Lutheranism is a small local parish and they do receive Communion weekly, last I knew.

I just can't understand how their service lasts only about 45 minutes start to finish. I felt like I still needed to go to church after it was over. But the Protestant fellowships I attended the most tended to have services that lasted two to several hours, so that part of Orthodoxy especially suited me.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I agree but I know in America it was uneven for at least a generation. There was no persecution except for some isolated secular ethnic prejudices. My father, 1st generation Syrian/American, used to refer to the prejudices between the ethnics (Catholics, Prots, Orthodox ) & that of the WASPS.

Forgive me, but I have no knowledge of that. Since we have had a Church and a priest, we have had the Divine Liturgy and the Eucharist. Before that I do not know - our community is over 100 years old.

 

[Lukaris]

Forgive me, but I have no knowledge of that. Since we have had a Church and a priest, we have had the Divine Liturgy and the Eucharist. Before that I do not know - our community is over 100 years old.

Another post I made in TAW with reference from an old catechism. I just like to provide references not really elaborating anymore. https://www.christianforums.com/threads/frequent-communion.8037294/page-2