Iconography wasn’t exactly universal and it shouldn’t necesarily be universal. The Church of the East is one Church that has absolutely no iconography. Their tradition is just as ancient as that of the Byzantines. I agree with your perspective that the Eucharist is meant to be eaten but remember that theology isn’t exclusively Greek. And it would be a mistake to think that all the ancient Christians were like the modern Byzantines. They weren’t.
You bring up a good point on this one Jimmy.
My original point was that iconograhical veneration as found in Byzantium today is a later development, that not all eastern churches (or even the early west) approached in the same fashion as the modern Byzantines. You underscore this in pointing to the CotE as being absent this style of devotion and prayer at all.
Not all things that are modern or later developments in Christianity can or should be so easily dismissed for not being rooted strictly in Apostolic times. If we are going to use that as our litmus test, this Byzantine will need some time to prepare for a DL that is much plainer, with far simpler vestments & tones, and far more local variation. I can promise you our bishops ain’t gonna look like what we think bishops should look like anymore either! And don’t get too attached to that new-fangled iconscreen!
The pride of place in where and how the Holy Gifts are preserved in the Byzantine tradition - in the tabernacle, on the altar, of course behind the iconscreen… A compelling case can be made that in the postures and prayers of Royal Hours (as well as the rest of office), a prototype of adoration is found in the orientation of the celebrant - most often standing in front of the Royal Doors with a posture of where the Eucharist is reserved - on the holy table.
Father John Hardon writes:
Under the impact of this faith, the early hermits reserved the Eucharist in their cells. From at least the middle of the third
century, it was very general for the solitaries in the East,
especially in Palestine and Egypt, to preserve the consecrated
elements in the caves or hermitages where they lived.
The immediate purpose of this reservation was to enable the hermits to give themselves Holy Communion. But these hermits were too conscious of what the Real Presence was not to treat it with great reverence and not to think of it as serving a sacred purpose by just being nearby.
Consider also the postures of approach to receive the Eucharist - a humble approach with an awareness of what is about to take place and Whom you are approaching. Also how common it is to see the faithful kiss the chalice after communing. This gesture, on the face of it, doesn’t correlate well to the most narrow mentality of “don’t consider past the aspect of consumption” Surely at the time they are kissing the chalice, the Eucharist is still in their mouths!
Worth considering also is the reverence shown empty chalices which the unordained should not touch… or the kissing of a priest’s hand - a sign of respect for the Awesomeness it has enthroned…
Worth considering again is the fact that Byzantine hierarchs who were the soled authorities in approving western rite services have approved this service in their WRO chapels… That in and of itself doesn’t speak to uniform acceptance, but tells us at least some are unbothered by it.
It is a funny thing that I should end up feeling compelled to defend a practice I don’t partake in… Yet in doing so, I think I am more defending a sense of catholicity which is a hallmark of our faith and has been since the Apostles went different directions to the four corners.
). Hopefully this time next year I will begin the application process to join the order!!! Its unfortunate that you were unable to attend. I would have been very pleased to have to the opportunity to meet the world famous Ghosty!!!