These three volumes are the results of two conferences on the Christian eucharist and its context in the traditions of sacred and communal meals; the first conference was held at the University of Kiel, the second at the University of Agder's Study Center at Metochi (Lesbos). Scholars from around the world form an international, interdisciplinary and interdenominational collaboration from various fields including History of Religion, Classics, Old and New Testament, Judaism, Patristics, Archeology, and History of Art. Images, illustrations and indexes complete the volume. The broad scope covered by these studies invites readers not only to a clearer interpretation of the origin of the Eucharist and its development in the early church, but also enables them to reach a better understanding of the religious and cultural background of sacred and communal meals in general in ancient societies. Contributors: Jostein Adna, Peter Altmann, Gerhard Baudy, Anja Bettenworth, Hans Dieter Betz, Jerker Blomqvist, Karin Blomqvist, Vemund Blomkvist, Lukas Bormann, Rudolf Brandle, Samuel Byrskog, John Granger Cook, Juliette Day, Kees den Biesen, Bernhard Domagalski, Paul Duff, Benedikt Eckhardt, Ulrike Egelhaaf-Gaiser, Goran Eidevall, Anders Ekenberg, Gunnel Ekroth, Allan Fitzgerald, O.S.A., Jorg Frey, Fritz Graf, Gunnar af Hallstrom, Kirsten Marie Hartvigsen, David Hellholm, Jonas Holmstrand, Anders Hultgard, Naomi Jacobs, Felix John, Lutz Kappel, Thomas Kazen, James Kelhoffer, Dietrich-Alex Koch, Ulrich H. J. Kortner, Andrea Kucharek, Ulrich Kuder, Michael Lattke, Clemens Leonhard, Jutta Leonhardt-Balzer, Hermann Lichtenberger, Andreas Lindemann, Hermut Lohr, Hugo Lundhaug, Judi Magness, Daniel Marguerat, Andrew McGowan, Candida Moss, Andreas Muller, Peter Muller, Christa Muller-Kessler, Oyvind Norderval, Markus Ohler, Nils Arne Pedersen, Enno Edzard Popkes, Il aria Ramelli, Gerhard Rouwhorst, Jorg Rupke, Peter Ruggendorfer, Dieter Sanger, Karl Olav Sandnes, Reinhart Staats, Einar Thomassen, Hakan Ulfgard, Knut Usener, Tor Vegge, Joseph Verheyden, Konrad Vossing, Cecilia Wassen, Jurgen Wehnert, Lothar Wehr, Hans-Ulrich Weidemann, Mikael Winninge, Norbert Zimmermann