Which section says God gave us the great mystery of His Body and Blood in bread and wine?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox Liturgy, the specific concept of God providing this "great mystery" of His Body and Blood under the forms of bread and wine is most clearly articulated in the Liturgy of Saint Gregory the Theologian.

Specifically, this is found in the section of the Gregorian Fraction (the prayer said during the breaking of the Holy Oblation). In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, the Gregorian Liturgy is addressed directly to the Son (Jesus Christ) rather than the Father.

In this prayer, the priest says:

"For He has set before us this great mystery of His benevolence by giving us His own Body and His own Blood for the remission of our sins."

Furthermore, the Liturgy of Saint Basil (the most commonly prayed liturgy) emphasizes this in the Confession at the very end of the service. The priest holds the Espadikon (the central part of the bread) and declares:

"I believe, I believe, I believe and I confess to the last breath, that this is the Life-giving Flesh which Your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, took from our Lady, the Lady of us all, the holy Mother of God, Saint Mary."

Why "Bread and Wine"?

As noted in the Church traditions (such as the Paradise of the Holy Fathers), the mystery is described as God’s condescension to our human nature. Because human beings would be unable to consume living flesh and blood in their natural form, He hid His Glory and His Life-giving Body under the forms of bread and wine.

The specific phrasing you are looking for—referring to it as a "Great Mystery"—is a cornerstone of the Gregorian Anaphora, which focuses deeply on the Incarnation and the love of God for humanity.