21.  In approaching Cat. xviii. 32:  “with what reverence and order you must go from Baptism to the Holy Altar of God.” therefore, come not with thy wrists extended, or thy fingers spread; but make thy left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King Cyril appears to be the earliest authority for thus placing the hands in the form of a Cross.  A similar direction is given in the 101st Canon of the Trullan Council (692), and by Joh. Damasc. (De Fid. Orthod. iv. 14).  Dict. Chr. Ant. “Communion.”  That the communicant was to receive the Bread in his own hands is clear from the language of Cyril and other Fathers.  Cf. Clem. Alex. Strom. I. c. i. § 5:  “Some after dividing the Eucharist according to custom allow each of the laity himself to take his part.”  See the passage of Origen quoted in the next note, and Tertull. Cor. Mil. c. iii.  “The Sacrament of the Eucharist, which the Lord commanded both (to be taken) at meal-times and by all, we take even in assemblies before dawn, and from the hand of none but the presidents.”.  And having hollowed thy palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen.  So then after having carefully hallowed thine eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest thou lose any portion thereof Origen. Hom. xiii. in Exod. § 3:  “I wish to admonish you by examples from your own religion:  ye, who have been accustomed to attend the Sacred Mysteries, know how, when you receive the Body of the Lord, you guard it with all care and reverence, that no little part of it fall down, no portion of the consecrated gift slip away.  For you believe yourselves guilty, and rightly so believe, if any part thereof fall through carelessness.”; for whatever thou losest, is evidently a loss to thee as it were from one of thine own members.  For tell me, if any one gave thee grains of gold, wouldest thou not hold them with all carefulness, being on thy guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss?  Wilt thou not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from thee of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?