Eucharistic Miracle Lanciano
Lanciano - a small ancient Italian city, located 30 kilometers from the motorway Pescara - Bari, along the Adriatic Sea in the Abruzzo region. The city center is the church, once dedicated to Saint Longinus, the centurion, protknuvshemu his spear heart of the crucified Christ. Now it is the church of St. Francis - as it is officially called, but all road signs in this city bear a duplicate name of the church - the Church of the Eucharistic Miracle (La chiesa del miracolo eucaristico) ...
It was the VIII century after Christ. In the church of San Legontsy in the ancient Italian city of Lanciano the sacrament of the Eucharist was being performed. But in the heart of one hieromonk who served the liturgy that day, there suddenly appeared a doubt whether the Lord's Body and Blood hidden under the appearance of bread and wine were genuine. No chronicles have reached us with the name of this hieromonk, but the doubt that originated in his soul caused a Eucharistic miracle that is revered to this day.
The priest drove doubts away from himself, but they persistently returned back again and again. "Why must I believe that bread ceases to be bread and wine becomes Blood? Who will prove this? Especially since by their looks they change in no way and have never changed. Perhaps this all is only symbols, only the memory of the Last Supper ..."
... In that night when He was betrayed, He took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat: this is my body,... which is being broken up for you for the remission of sins. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
With fear the priest pronounced the sacred words of the Eucharistic canon but doubts continued to torment him, yes, He, the sacrificial lamb, could – through His divine power – turn wine into blood and bread – into flesh. He Who came by the will of the Heavenly Father could do anything. But he was gone a long time, leaving this sinful world and giving it as consolation His holy words and His blessing ... And, perhaps, His flesh and blood? But is it possible? Has not the true sacrament of communion gone away together with Him up into the heavenly world? Has not the Holy Eucharist become a rite - and nothing more [than that]? The Priest tried in vain to restore peace and faith in his soul.
... Meanwhile, trans-substantiation did occur. With the words of the prayer, he broke the Eucharistic bread, and then a cry of amazement filled the small church. Under the fingers of the hieromonk the bread being broken suddenly turned into something else - he did not realize immediately what it was exactly. And also in the cup it was no longer wine - it had a thick crimson liquid, remarkably similar to ... blood.
The stunned priest looked at the thing that was in his hands: it was a thin slice of flesh resembling the muscle tissue of the human body. The monks surrounded the priest, struck by the miracle, unable to contain their amusement. And he confessed to them his doubts, resolved now in such a miraculous way.
After completing the sacred liturgy, in silence he fell on his knees and plunged into a long prayer. What did he pray then for? Did he give thanks for this sign given from on high? Did he ask forgiveness for his lack of faith? We will never know this. But we truly know one thing: ever since, in the town of Lanciano, for twelve centuries they have kept the miraculous flesh and blood that materialized during the Eucharist in the Church of San Legontsy (now San Francesco). News of the miracle quickly spread through the then closely adjacent towns and provinces, and brought a stream of pilgrims into Lanciano.
Centuries have passed – and the miraculous gifts have become the object of attention of scientists. Since 1574 various experiments and observations have been conducted over the holy gifts, and since the early 1970s, scientific experiments began to be conducted. But the data obtained by some scientists did not satisfy other scientists.
A Professor at the Medical Faculty of the University of Siena Odoardo Linoldi, a prominent specialist in the field of anatomy, pathological histology, chemistry and clinical microscopy, conducted studies with his colleagues in November 1970 and in March 1971 and came to the following conclusions: The Eucharist kept in Lanciano since the VIII century do represent genuine human flesh and blood. The flesh is a fragment of muscle tissue of the heart, it contains a section of the myocardium, endocardium and a vagus nerve.
Possibly the flesh fragment also contains the left ventricle - this conclusion may be drawn due to the significant thickness of the myocardium, which is in the flesh tissues. Both the flesh and blood belong to a single blood type: AB. This is also the case with the blood found on the Shroud of Turin. The blood contains proteins and minerals in normal ratios for human blood.
Scientists especially emphasized: most amazing fact of all is that the flesh and blood have for twelve centuries been preserved under the influence of physical, atmospheric and biological agents without artificial protection or the use of special preservatives. In addition, the blood when turned into the liquid state, remains suitable for transfusion, possessing all the properties of fresh blood.
Ruggero Bertelli, professor of normal human anatomy at the University of Siena conducted research in parallel with Odoardo Linoli and obtained the same results. During repeated experiments carried out in 1981 using more sophisticated equipment and taking into account new scientific achievements in the field of anatomy and pathology, these results were reaffirmed ...
According to eyewitnesses of the miracle, the materialized blood later clotted into five balls of different shapes, which then solidified. Interestingly, each of these balls, taken separately, weighs as much as all five together. This contradicts the basic laws of physics, – it is a fact that scientists have failed to explain to date.
Placed in an antique bowl from a single piece of rock crystal, the wonderful blood has for twelve centuries now has been displayed on exhibit for all pilgrims and travelers visiting Lanciano to see.
http://orthodoxy-news.livejournal.com/422713.html
Translation kindly provided by Vladimir Djambov
Vladimir Djambov, Eng
00359.885.455.189 - M/cell
Translation kindly provided by Vladimir Djambov
Vladimir Djambov, Eng
00359.885.455.189 - M/cell
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