Ehtoolliselle

Ehtoolliselle is a Finnish term used to refer to going to or taking part in the Holy Communion, the Eucharist. Grammatically, it is the illative case form of ehtoollinen, and it appears in phrases such as mennyt ehtoolliselle or mennä ehtoolliselle, meaning to go to the Eucharist or to partake in the Lord’s Supper.

In Christian theology, the Eucharist (also called the Lord's Supper or Communion) is a sacrament commemorating Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples. Most Finnish churches practice the rite by consecrating bread and wine (or grape juice) and distributing them to communicants. The exact manner of distribution varies by denomination and congregation, but common elements include the consumption of bread and wine, with accompanying liturgical words and prayers. In the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, which forms the majority of Finnish church life, the rite is integral to regular worship and may be conducted with communicants coming forward to receive the elements or receiving them at the pews, depending on local custom.

The term ehtoolliselle thus signifies more than physical movement toward a ritual; it denotes participation in the sacrament itself and the associated acts of remembrance, grace, and unity with Christ and the community of believers. As a facet of Finnish liturgical language, ehtoolliselle appears in service orders, hymnals, and religious instruction, reflecting the central place of the Eucharist in many Finnish Christian communities.