The Essence of Communion Cups
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is usually the first thing that comes to mind when the layman hears of communion cups.
There is no denying the fact that pop culture has portrayed some of the most significant religious items in a very unorthodox manner, however, the great thing is that because of this they have allowed ordinary people to get acquainted with these same religious items.
In the movie, Indiana Jones was looking for Jesus’ cup. For believers, this is called the Holy Grail, the ultimate communion cup which was used by Christ himself.
In most literary works, you will find that the Holy Grail came to be portrayed as the cup that Christ had used; this also stood for the plate and dish that was used in the Last Supper he had with his disciples.
As centuries passed, however, the meaning of the Holy Grail became synonymous with what we now call as our communion cup.
Nevertheless, even if people actually know about it, the use of communion cups all over the world has expanded and is very varied. The cups that are used are usually made from different kinds of materials depending on the people who make it as well as the country they are from.
Today, we have come a long way from the glass communion cups that were used before during communion masses. Some small congregations still use glass cups, but it’s a very time consuming process to have to wash each cup after service. Hence, most churches, especially big ones, go for plastic communion cups instead.
No matter what communion cups are made for, they serve one major purpose, and that is to symbolize the faith that people have in Christ.
Some small churches still go for glass cups, but it can take up time since they require washing and cleaning up. Thus, plastic communion cups are deemed more favorable by most big churches.
In the end, one important purpose for the communion cups that we use is to represent the blood that Christ shed on our behalf. Thus, no matter what they are made of, they are an integral part of the Christian faith.
History is an integral part of communion cups, whether it be the silver cups that the Egyptians and Sumerians used or the plastic cups that most churches use now. They are an important piece of element for the people that use them.
As mentioned, the Holy Grail or the Chalice is an important sacred vessel used by the church. It is often blessed before it is used.
Even if the cup is hardly mentioned in the Last Supper or given any extra significance, believers still uphold it as a sacred item. Another sacred cup is also upheld by Pilgrims in Jerusalem, this was a cup that was supposedly venerated in the Holy Sepulcher.
It is thought to contain the sponge that Christ had used during Calvary. This is different from the tradition and actual belief surrounding the cup from the last supper.
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