Unleavened vs. Leavened: An Exegesis on the Bread of the Eucharist
By †Gabriel Obiano, D.D. The act of sharing bread and wine in communion, or the Eucharist, is central to Christian worship. Yet, a subtle but significant difference in practice has long distinguished the Western and Eastern traditions. While both believe the bread becomes the Body of Christ, the Roman Catholic Church uses unleavened bread, whereas the Eastern Orthodox Church uses leavened bread. This divergence is not merely a matter of culinary preference; it is rooted in profound theological and historical interpretations of the Last Supper. The Roman Catholic Tradition: Unleavened Bread (Azymes) In the Roman Catholic Church, the bread used for the Eucharist is a thin, unleavened wafer, often referred to by its Latin name, azymes. This practice is tied directly to the historical context of the Last Supper. Exposition: The Roman Catholic position holds that the Last Supper was a Jewish Passover Seder. The Gospel accounts (Matthew 26:17, Mark 14:12, Luke 22:7) describe Jesus's pre...