[unspun]

The Greeks called it meta-physical....

I do believe that we are mandated by God to engage in rites of believer's baptism and the Communion of the New Covenant. He is certainly present there!

Have you ever studied the OT covenant rite, signified by sharing bread and wine (e.g., Melchizedek & Abraham) also performed at the engagement and wedding feast of Hebrews? Fascinating stuff!

We also recall how Jesus said His body is and is not our bread and how His blood is our salvation. It's about who He is and what He has done for us! (Not about what rite we perform.) The former is the celebration of the prior "...in rememberance of Me."

[Destro]

The "ritual" as you called it was acted out by Jesus himself. This was carried out by the Apostles themselves who taught their designated successors the meaning of the holy Eucharist and how to prepare it. Some Greeks a few centuries later did not make this up as some Protestants like to think. The strength of Orthodoxy is it goes back right to Jesus and his Apostles DIRECTLY.