AGAPE. This was a love- or charity-feast cele brated among the early Christians, in imitation, it is thought of common meals held among the Greeks (Ervcroiria). It is mentioned in the New Testament. In the Epistle of Jude (vs. 12) it Is said : " These are they who are hidden rocks (or spots) in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves." And it is referred to in I Corinthians xi. Rich and poor shared equally In the feast, the materials being supplied by those who could afford to contribute. " The Eucharist was always the chief act of worship. In the beginning it was celebrated at the end of a cor porate meal. This is what we call the Agape. In the second century the Agape was already distinct from the Eucharist. It took place in the evening. while the Eucharist was celebrated at the morning meeting. A corporate meal, however frugal, was only suitable for restricted groups : as soon as the churches became crowded assemblies, it would be difficult to organize such banquets so as to secure order and decorum. The
Agape was still kept up, but less as an expression of a real corporate life than as a memory of the past, and also as a work of charity; but soon no one went to it except the poor and the clergy, and the latter took part in it rather as part of their duty than for their own benefit. Its recurrence did not coincide with that of the ordinary liturgical service. The Agape became more and more rare, and finally fell Into disuse " (Mgr. Duchesne). According to Duchesne, this must be distinguished from another kind of Agapm of remote origin. This was a banquet in commemoration of deceased persons. It was still observed In the third and fourth centuries. See Louis Duchesne, Hist.; W. Soltau, Das Fortleben des Heidentums in der altchristlichen Kirche, 1906; Oath. Dict.; Prot. Dict.