Evangelical Protestants, notably the Reformed types, frequently point to the doctrines of the Real Presence and the Eucharist as a sacrifice as heinous idolatry and heresy. This is problematic, because Christians from the very earliest centuries believed both.

Even the Anglicans and Lutherans, who at least give assent to a general idea of the Real Presence, have no substantial theology of the Eucharist as an unbloody sacrifice. Let us turn to the Fathers. Attached you will find the words of Ignatius of Antioch who knew the Apostles.

Here are the words first of Clement of Rome c. 100AD describing Apostolic Succession and the duties (literally, “offerings”), of the bishops and priests. Also attached are words from Justin Martyr in the midst of describing the early Church worship services, writing around 150AD.

Finally, the canons of the Council of Nicea leave no doubt that the faithful truly receive the body of Christ in communion. See attached photo. If Protestants are right, the earliest Christians after the Apostles and the men who drew up the Nicene Creed were heinous heretics.

Any one who honestly studies Church history will learn very quickly the the early Christians were nothing like Protestants. They were relic keeping, incense swinging, Saint venerating, tradition loving people. In light of this, why accept the creeds and definitions they drew up?

How can you maintain on the one hand that they were pillars of Orthodoxy bravely defending the faith against the Arians and other heresies, while at the same time believing they were themselves the worst kinds of idolaters?

Here is canon 18 of the Council of Nicea. I forgot to attach it before.