Eucharist in churches, how early?

[Arbitrage]

I am looking for information about the development in the early church concerning the Eucharist. And more specifically about the fact that in the Bible it is described as something that took place in the homes. So the question is what early church fathers are describing the development of the Eucharist taking place in churches and a more fixed liturgy. How early did the Eucharist take place in churches and stoped take place in homes?

The question came up as a Pentecostal pastor claimed that it has been a tradition to celebrate the last supper in the homes and not in the church. Personally I think it is a strange thing to say for the first thing as they didnt have any churches early on. I have been looking for information about the transaction from homes to churches but cant find anything.

How would you respond to such a claim?

 

[mhazell]

“Since, in the days of the Apostolic Church, there were no churches or chapels, private houses with suitable accommodation were appointed for the solemnization of “the breaking of bread” (cf. Acts 2:46; 20:7 sq.; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 2). During the era of the persecutions the Eucharistic services in Rome were transferred to the catacombs, where the Christians believed themselves secure from government agents. The first “houses of God” reach back certainly to the end of the second century, as we learn from Tertullian (Adv. Valent., iii) and Clement of Alexandria (Stromata I.1). In the second half of the fourth century (A.D. 370), Optatus of Mileve (De Schism. Donat. II, iv) could already reckon more than forty basilicas which adorned the city of Rome. From this period dates the prohibition of the Synod of Laodicea (can. lviii) to celebrate Mass in private houses. Thenceforth the public churches were to be the sole places of worship. In the Middle Ages the synods granted to bishops the right of allowing house-chapels within their dioceses.”

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia, entry on Sacrifice of the Mass.

So, in answer to your question about how early were churches first used instead of houses, it would seem to be at least the end of the second century, probably earlier.

 

[yinekka]

*The Mass of the Early Christians *by Mike Aquilina might be of help.

Christians were persecuted and so had to go secretly to houses or to the catecombs to celebrate the breaking of the bread. When Christianity became first tolerated and then the official religion, churches began to be built.

 

[Joannm]

The first churches were actually Roman civic meeting halls or “basilicas.” Once Christianity was made legal by the Edict of Milan, then these basilicas were given to accomodate the growing numbers of Christians who could no longer gather in house churches to worship. The idea that Christians hid in the catecombs to worship is problably not that accurate since the catacombs were not secret places and the stench would probably keep them away. Early Christians did go to the catacombs or burial places on the anniversary of the death of family members or a martyr so that is probably where the notion comes of Christians seceretly celebrating Mass there. But even pagan Romans visited the tombs of family members and would often have a meal there as is depicted in catacomb art and furnishings. There is an interesting book by Fr. Ed Foley, “From Age to Age: How Christians Have Celebrated the Eucharist”. In fact it has just been expanded and I need to get the new edition since it is almost doubled in size. He goes through the centuries and talks about buildings, vessels, vestments, books, music, and more, and how they have changed and developed since the dawn of Christianity.

 

[japhy]

The question came up as a Pentecostal pastor claimed that it has been a tradition to celebrate the last supper in the homes and not in the church.

How do you discern a “tradition” from a “cultural necessity”? Was it tradition that the Eucharist was celebrated in people’s homes, or were people’s homes the only places the Church could celebrate the Eucharist in safety? Was it tradition that they 1st-century clothing and didn’t have Bibles, or was it simply that they wore what was customary at the time and didn’t have Bibles yet?

 

[yinekka]

Fr. Ed Foley, “From Age to Age: How Christians Have Celebrated the Eucharist”

Is this author orthodox? Has the book received any reviews from orthodox Catholics?

 

[Joannm]

Fr. Ed Foley, “From Age to Age: How Christians Have Celebrated the Eucharist”

Is this author orthodox? Has the book received any reviews from orthodox Catholics?

Fr. Foley is a liturgical historian and is extreamly methodical in his research. The book is about historical facts regarding the celebration of the Eucharist from the time of the apostles. It is not a theology book in the sense that he presents doctrine about the Eucharist.