www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Feast of the Inexhaustible Cup

Dear Friends,

Today, according to the OC, is the feast of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God the "Inexhaustible Cup" ("Neupyvayemaya Chasha" - thanks Diak!) and here is a copy:

http://www.days.ru/Images/im2434.htm

This icon is especially venerated with akathists, prayers and molebens throughout Russia and Ukraine for people who are addicted to drunkenness. I was myself once asked for a copy by a woman from Ukraine for her husband who suffered from this addiction.

The theme of this beautiful icon is surely the great Gift of Christ Himself to us in Holy Communion through His Incarnation in the spotless Womb of His Most Holy Mother.

I think the Western image that comes closest to this icon is that of "Our Lady of the Blessed Eucharist."

Alex

Most Holy Theotokos of the Inexhaustible Cup, save us!

A truly most beautiful icon. The Akathist can be found at http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/services/akathist_inexhaustible_cup.htm

Z'Praznikom! Christos Voskrese!

Let us ask the Ever-Virgin to entreat her Son on behalf of all those struggling with alcoholism and addictions of all kinds.

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Presvjataja Bohorodice, spasi nas!

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I have always been fascinated by this particular icon. It is like a combination of the Oranta/Theotokos of the Sign and Jesus Christ "The Bread of Life." The Eucharistic theme is undeniable. It seems to be gaining recognition in the United States in recent history. I recall that several years ago, the now-reposed Bishop Innocent (Gula) placed the state of Alaska under the protection of the Mother of God "Inexhaustible Cup."

Dave

There is another icon similar to the "Inexhaustible Cup" icon. It is the "Your Lap Has Become A Holy Table" icon from the 19th century. Below is a contemporary version:

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I know the history of the "Inexhaustible Cup" icon, but does anyone know the the history of YLHBAHT icon? There any connection between these two icons besides their similarities?

Dear GC,

Just one more post, and I'm gone . . .

(The Forum is like that old orange drink, "Start" where it was said, "The trouble with 'Start' is to stop ).

The two icons are indeed linked by a common, Eucharistic theme, as we know.

The one you have is by Fr. McNichols, I believe.

It is the older of the two and was based on a number of Eucharistic Miracles that were prevalent in the Eastern Church.

This series of miracles involved moments when, during the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Gifts on the altar took on the form of the Child Jesus!

In St Peter Mohyla's formal directives to Orthodox priests, he makes mention of the possibility of a Eucharistic Miracle occuring during the Divine Liturgy where the Gifts could take on the appearance of a "Child" or else of real Flesh and Blood.

He then states that the priest should know that the Holy Gifts are no longer "Holy Communion" since the forms of bread and wine have disappeared, but that this is a miraculous appearance that has occurred by which God shows His displeasure at a lack of faith exhibited possibly among the people etc.

In fact, the ongoing Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano first occurred in 800 AD when a priest had doubts about Holy Communion etc.

St Peter then directs the priest to cover the Miracle up and continue with the Divine Liturgy - checking back at times to see if the forms of bread and wine haven't returned.

If they haven't, then Peter directs the priest to take other bread and wine and consecrate them separately . . .

The name of that icon is itself a proper name for the Mother of God who is a "Holy Table" on which came to rest the Bread of Life.

See y'a!

Alex

Dear Alex,

Thank you so much for your post! As always, you are an encyclopedia of infromation for me, and you have come through in answering my many curiosities and inquiries. I am very grateful for all your help. But don't go just yet!

Are there any books written on the Eucharistic miracles that have occurred in the East? What a shock the priests must have had to see a tiny Child Jesus in the chalice!!

I have seen a "Bread of Life" icon which depicts an adult Jesus sitting in the chalice. Are "Bread of Life" icons then based on Eucharistic miracles in which an adult Christ has appeared in the chalice as well?

God bless you,

griego

Dear Griego,

Yep, that's just what I said!

Alex

Dear Griego,

O.K., I'll stay for a little while longer!

The icons that portray the adult Christ standing in Chalices reflect theological truth only.

There are those that do portray Him as a Child and these, according to Mohyla, do indeed represent the experiences of priests and bishops over the centuries via Eucharistic Miracles.

Joan Carroll Cruz, as we know, wrote an excellent book on Western Eucharistic Miracles.

I've never known of any collection of such in the East and there is a good reason for this.

The Eucharistic Miracles, for the East, are always, as Mohyla also states, a "negative" expression of God's anger at, for example, a lack of faith in the fundamental miracle of Transubstantiation/Transmutation of the elements, or of a lack of respect for the Eucharist etc.

The Eucharistic Miracle in the East is ALWAYS an expression of God's displeasure, including the Lanciano miracle.

I daresay having read Cruz's book, there is also not one such miracle that is not likewise connected to an act of disrespect or blasphemy against the Holy Eucharist.

For example, when the priest who was in a hurry to bring the Eucharist to a sick person, placed a consecrated Host between the pages of his prayerbook (!) and closed it as he rushed off.

When he got to the home of the ill person and opened his prayerbook, he saw that the Host had MELTED into Blood - the stained pages are still on display, as Cruz recounts.

It is also true that of all the miracles that occur through miraculous icons and images etc., Eucharistic Miracles are, by far, the most numerous - but they are not nearly as widely reported as the others are.

And for that reason - no one wants to point themselves or others in their parish out as having occasioned such a miracle through lack of fervour or belief in the Eucharist.

Alex