[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Yes, of course, there is historical evidence that the bread was received in the hand in the past (in a reverent way, as your quotation from St. Cyril shows -- not in the casual way of taking it in one hand and popping into one's mouth like a gumdrop that I see done by most parishioners in Catholic churches.)

I have read the Shroud of Turin has wine stains and is believed to have been used as the tablecloth at the Last Supper. Apparently there was a custom at the time where the host fed his guests the first bite of food and drink. If true, it would explain the wine stains and provide another historical link against Communion in the hand.

[Agrarian]

I'm afraid I don't follow. How would winestains on the tablecloth of the Last Supper prove that Christ fed the disciples their first communion directly with his own hand?

I've never heard, BTW, that the Shroud doubled as a tablecloth. Keep in mind that my own personal leanings are that the Shroud is not authentic, so I tend to be skeptical of the Shroud being used as evidence for anything.