why do Eastern Catholics and Orthodox use leavened bread for eucharist. Wasn't the last supper the feast of passover, aka feast of unleavened bread?

What I've come to understand is that the "risen" nature of leavened bread is symbolic of our "Risen" Lord.

Others here, more learned than me, may have other explanations... others?

a pilgrim

Because Christ is RISEN! :-) Actually, that *is* the reason, as far as I know. The leavened cubes are put into the chalice, and a little gold spoon is used to drop the "wine"-soaked Hosts into the mouths of the faithful.

In recalling the "Last" supper (what we call, the "Mystical Supper") the gospel writers use the Greek word "artos" for the bread, which is the word for leavened bread, instead of the Greek word "azymes" which is the word for unleavened bread. Unleavened bread, according to the scriptures, is the bread of affliction. (Although our Lord also gives the illustration of the "leaven of the Pharasees" and St. Paul speaks of the "leaven of malice and wickedness". In both examples, the idea is that, hypocricy and evil can grow, like yeast.) Leavened bread, it is sometimes reasoned, is "alive" because of the activity of the yeast.

It is said that the scriptures sometimes use the word "artos" for unleavened bread (I think, in the Septuagint version of the OT) but I have not investigated this.

Ultimately, it boils down to two differing traditions.

Priest Thomas
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church

Fr. Thomas,

You are correct that it boils down to two different traditions. The Latin Church, growing out of a Judaic tradition (the Church in Rome was established by Jewish converts to Christianity) retained the use of unleavened bread while the Greek communities tended to use leavened bread.

Today, as far as I know, in the East only the Chaldeans and Maronites use unleavened bread.

Edward, deacon and sinner

The Copts use unleavened bread.

Paul

Paul,

Thanks, I had forgotten about them...for that little mistake I'll whip myself with some wet spaghetti.

Edward, deacon and sinner

Dear Friends,

The tradition in the East that our Lord Himself used leavened bread during the Mystical Supper is so strong that it is said that when the RC crusaders sacked Constantinople, they broke into a reliquary there that was said to have contained fragments of the bread actually used during the Mystical Supper . . .

It is said that the RC clergy accompanying the crusaders were shocked to see that it was leavened and not unleavened . . .

As Fr Meyendorff wrote, after the Consecration during the Divine Liturgy, however, there is no more bread on the altar but the Body and Blood of OLGS Jesus Christ - whether leavened or unleavened.

Unless, of course, one wishes to go along with what Andrew Rubis says here . . .

Alex

Hello:

The Armenians (Catholic and Orthodox) legitimately use unleavened bread.

Traditionally the Chaldeans have used leavened bread but have started using unleavened bread due to most likely a latinization.

Paul, are you referring to the Catholic Copts or the Orthodox ones?

God bless,

CC

The Coptic Catholic cathedral in Cairo certainly uses leavened bread and so do all the Coptic Orthodox I've ever run across.
Christ is Risen!
Incognitus

Christos Voskrese!

Yes, consecrated leavened bread is the Risen Christ.

Another reason very hot water is added to warm the wine prior to consecration - to also recognize the Risen Christ.

JoeS