The Eucharist as a ‘true ontology’ of the person: a study of the eucharistic ecclesiology of John Zizioulas

The principle in eucharistic ecclesiology that the Eucharist is constitutive of the Church has led to the insight that the Eucharist offers an existential aspect as a ‘true ontology’ of the person. Drawing inspiration and insight from the Christian writers of the first four centuries, Metropolitan John D. Zizioulas has presented much original thinking around eucharistic ecclesiology and relational ontology. This article shows that the celebration of the Eucharist, as the constitutive locus of the church, calls upon the Holy Spirit to realise the Body of Christ as an existential reality in the eucharistic gathering. The Church offers to believers the sacramental path that leads to realisation of the ecclesial mode of being (hypostasis) and authentic personhood. That these ideas are relevant to churches in today’s troubled time can be of little doubt. In recognition of the possibilities Zizioulas’ ideas offer to modern churches, this study gives them renewed consideration.