The
Eucharist (also called
Holy Communion, the
Lord's Supper, and other names) is a
rite considered by most
Christian churches to be a
sacrament. According to the
New Testament, it was instituted by
Jesus Christ during his
Last Supper. Giving his disciples bread and wine during the
Passover meal, Jesus commanded his followers to "do this in memory of me" while referring to the bread as "my body" and the wine as "my blood". Through the Eucharistic celebration Christians remember
Christ's sacrifice of himself once and for all on the cross.