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Last Supper

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Our Lord and the Faith › Last Supper

The question

Why in the Divine Liturgy, do we say that 'our Lord Jesus Christ mixed the cup of wine and water' at the Last Supper even though it is not mentioned in any of the four Holy Gospels that he did so?

The answer

Although it is not mentioned in the Holy Bible, yet our liturgical tradition records that in the Last Supper, our Lord used wine mingled with water. The Church Fathers had plenty to say about this matter. Traditon as well as our Lord’s passion on the cross tell us that the wine- to- be blood is to be mixed with water. From the stroke of the lance there flowed from His side blood and water. "But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out" (John 19:34).

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 281 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.