The word 'Eucharist' is derived from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning

'thanksgiving.' This term originated in the 1st or 2nd century A.D. as early
Christians commemorated Christ's Last Supper with thanksgiving. Christians
participate in the Eucharist, also known as communion, Holy Communion, or the
Lord's Supper, by eating a piece of bread, which represents Christ's body, and by
drinking a small amount of wine (or in some cases grape juice), which represents
Christ's blood. By eating and drinking the bread and wine, Christians
commemorate Christ's 'Last Supper' and are reminded of his death on the cross.

There are a variety of theological views about the Eucharist, many of which are
very abstract. While not all Christians agree on some of these theological
particulars, the Eucharist is generally understood as a remembrance of Jesus
Christ's crucifixion.

Before we dig any deeper into the theology surrounding the Eucharist, let's
review the Last Supper. Perhaps you're familiar with the famous painting The
Last Supper', by Leonardo da Vinci.

According to the Bible, the night before Christ was crucified, he and his twelve
apostles sat down and ate a meal of bread and wine. During the meal, Christ
instructed his disciplines to eat and drink in his remembrance. Corinthians 11:23-
26 describes this incident:

...that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when
he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body which is for you. Do
this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper,
saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink
it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
The bread was meant to symbolize Christ's crucified body, while the wine was
meant to symbolize Christ's blood. Christians believe that Christ's death on the
cross is the means by which salvation is brought to the human race. Therefore,
his death on the cross is imbibed with spiritual symbolism.
Eucharist References
Within the Christian religion there are a variety of ways for naming the Eucharist.
Many liturgical Protestant churches (such as the Anglicans, Lutherans,
Presbyterians, and United Methodists) use the term 'Eucharist.' Baptist churches
refer to the practice as 'Communion' or 'Holy Communion.' In the Roman Catholic
Church, the Eucharist is sometimes referred to as 'Mass,' although Mass also
means the entire church service.