The ceremony observed by Christians—in obedience to Jesus's command to "do this in remembrance of me" (Lk 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24-25)—recalling the last supper Jesus had with his disciples, and His explanation of what His death means to us. And in that remembrance we give thanks, from which the word 'eucharist' (Greek, eucharistia for 'thanksgiving') came eventually to be applied to the ceremony. Paul refers to it as the the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:20), while Luke refers to it simply as "breaking of bread (Acts 2:42). It is also commonly referred to as the Holy Communion. It is, together with baptism, recognized by reformed churches as one of two sacraments of the church.
Over the centuries various interpretations (and not a little superstitions) have crept in regarding the specific meaning of Jesus's command and their significance; these will be explored in a full article that is being prepared.
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