Why is the Sacrament of the Eucharist considered to be the pinnacle of Christian worship?

In the sacrament of the eucharist, the believer, along with his heavenly friends, sets off to Golgotha where he sees his soul’s heavenly Groom, offering His blood as a dowry. The believer then remembers the death and resurrection of His life-giving Groom, not just in words and thoughts but by actively partaking of His body and blood that are offered for him; the secret of his life and his continuous spiritual growth.

In the sacrament of the eucharist, the Holy Spirit offers us the crucified body of the Lord who rose from the dead, and His precious blood, to be in Him and He in us. Through Him, we are worthy to enter before His divine throne, abiding in Christ’s righteousness, as members of His body. Christ the Lord says, “For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him … so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me” (John 6:55–57). The Church hides in this Holy Sacrifice, and therefore bears Christ’s holiness and righteousness.

1480 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians 24.7 (NPNF I/12:142) amended.

1481 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians 3.

1482 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians 3 (NPNF I/13:65) amended.

She becomes a spotless bride (Song. 4:7) to her Holy Groom. St. John Chrysostom says, “with this gift do we adorn ourselves, with this we are beautified.”¹⁴⁸³ He also says, “This blood is the salvation of our souls, by this the soul is washed, by this is beautiful, by this is inflamed.”¹⁴⁸⁴

Then he says, “For this Table is the sinews of our soul, the bond of our mind, the foundation of our confidence, our hope, our salvation, our light, our life … when you see It set before you, say to yourself, ‘Because of this Body am I no longer earth and ashes, no longer a prisoner, but free: because of this I hope for heaven, and to receive the good things therein, immortal life, the portion of angels, converse with Christ.’”¹⁴⁸⁵

“This fountain is a fountain of light, spouting forth rays of truth. By it stand the Powers on high looking upon the beauty of its streams … They who share this blood stand with Angels and Archangels and the Powers that are above, clothed in Christ’s own kingly robe, and having the armor of the Spirit. Nay, I have not as yet said any great thing: they are clothed with the King Himself.”¹⁴⁸⁶