Christians of the Western Church, who prefer the unusual bread1 for the Eucharist, question representatives of the most ancient among Churches2 for the reason of insisting upon the use of the usual3 bread in the Eucharist. In reply we would say that in our opinion this is a question which could not in a serious manner affect the essential doctrine of the Catholic Church and interfere with the peace of the same, when the West returns to Orthodoxy and the intercommunion of Churches becomes officially authorized, nor will the question of Liturgics, in my opinion, prevent the oneness of the Church. The North may celebrate according to Chrysostom, the South may use St. James’ Liturgy, the long-haired priests of the East may follow their ritual as beautified by the Great Basil, while the shaven beard saint in the West may chant the glory of God with Gregory.
It is true that our Eastern Church insists upon the use of leavened bread, but she does so only with regard to her own children. She could not insist upon others, over whom she has no jurisdiction, to comply with her reasonable desire in this worthy matter. Why, what is the reason, that this word insist in this instance should be interpreted to mean demand, and also as if the demand was made with intention of controlling other autonomous bodies? This is not the spirit of the Orthodox East, where eleven independent Churches live in holy communion! Is it not the expression of the Western mind, where Rome comes near being the only one and all?
Since the question of leavened or unleavened bread is brought up, we may not avoid it. To briefly review the history, it was in Spain during the seventh century that this innovation was introduced by some, and when it spread and became a custom in quite a number of Dioceses in the West, the Patriarch Michael Cerularius of Constantinople canonically presented the matter for correction to the Patriarch of the West, i.e., the so-called Pope of Rome; but when Leo IX in 1054 had seen that the anti-apostolic practice had taken root in so many influential churches, and it would not be of any avail for him to condemn it, he actually gave his sanction for this way of Communion or celebrating the Eucharist, and recommended it for all those who would be of one mind with him, but in opposition to the four Orthodox patriarchs and the Apostolic Church from the beginning.
Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the mystery of communion before the feast of the Passover, consequently, at the time when the Jews ate leavened bread, for only during the Paschal week they were required to use unleavened bread. The Redeemer was delivered up to the Scribes and High Priests after His last supper; moreover, He was crucified, He died, and was buried before the Jews partook of their supper of roast lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. In describing the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the Holy Scriptures contain the Greek word Artos; in the Greek language only leavened bread is called Artos.
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i.e., wafers or unleavened bread
The Orthodox Church of Palestine officially holds the title: Mother of Churches.
Leavened