As soon as the bread and wine are set upon the alter they show forth a symbol of the death of the Son, also of His resurrection; wherefore that Spirit which raised Him from the dead comes down now and celebrates the Mysteries of the resurrection of His Body.
-St. Narsai Harp of the Spirit
For when the time of the passion of the Lifegiver of all was arrived, He ate the legal passover with His disciples. He took bread and blessed and brake and gave to His disciples, and said, This is My Body in truth, without doubt. And he took the cup and gave thanks and blessed and gave to His apostle’s, and said, This is My true Blood which is for you. And He commanded them to receive and drink of it, all of them, that it might be making atonement for their debts for ever.
-St. Narsai Harp of the Spirit
All the Priests who are in the sanctuary bear the image of those apostle’s who met together at the sepulchre. The alter is a symbol of our Lord’s tomb, without doubt; and the Bread and Wine are the Body of our Lord which was embalmed and buried
-St. Narsai Harp of the Spirit
Whoever does not voluntarily withdraw himself from the causes of the passions is involuntarily drawn away by sin. These are the causes of sin: wine, women, riches, and robust health of body. Not that by their nature these things are sins, but that nature readily inclines towards the sinful passions on their account., and for this reason man must guard himself against them with great care.”
+ St. Isaac of Nineveh, The Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 5, “On Keeping Oneself Remote From the World and From All Things that Disquiet the Intellect
“When you sit down to eat, pray. When you eat bread, do so thanking Him for being so generous to you. If you drink wine, be mindful of Him who has given it to you for your pleasure and as a relief in sickness. When you dress, thank Him for His kindness in providing you with clothes. When you look at the sky and the beauty of the stars, throw yourself at God’s feet and adore Him who in His wisdom has arranged things in this way. Similarly, when the sun goes down and when it rises, when you are asleep or awake, give thanks to God, who created and arranged all things for your benefit, to have you know, love and praise their Creator.”
+ St. Basil the Great, from Homily V. In martyrem Julittam
