| abstract | - The Blood of Christ in Christian theology refers to (a) the physical blood actually shed by Jesus Christ on the Cross, and the salvation which Christianity teaches was accomplished thereby; and (b) the Eucharistic blood used at Holy Communion. The ancient Christian churches (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Roman Catholic) believe that in the Eucharist, the faithful receive Jesus' blood under the species of wine. Ancient Christian Churches (Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox Churches the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Church of the East) together with some Anglicans, believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The Roman Catholic Church uses the term "Transubstantiation" to describe the change of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. Eastern Orthodox too have authoritatively used the same term to describe the change, as in The Longer Catechism of The Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church and in the decrees of the 1672 Synod of Jerusalem. The Lutheran churches follow the teaching of Martin Luther in defining the presence of Christ in the Eucharistic elements as sacramental union (often misconstrued as consubstantiation), meaning that the fundamental "substance" of the body and blood of Christ are present alongside the substance of the bread and wine, which remain present. Lutherans also believe in and teach the Real Presence. Most Protestant churches do not believe in the Real Presence, but observe Communion rites as Memorials.
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