in ecclesiastical history, the love-feast, or feast of charity, in use among the primitive Christians; when a liberal contribution was made by the rich to feed the poor. The word is Greek, and signifies love.—St Chrysostom gives the following account of this feast, which he derives from the apostolical practice. He says, "the first Christians had all things in common, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles; but when that equality of possessions ceased, as it did even in the Apostles' time, the agape, or love-feast, was substituted in the room of it. Upon certain days, after partaking of the Lord's supper, they met at a common feast; the rich bringing provisions, and the poor who had nothing being invited." It was always attended with receiving the holy sacrament; but there is some difference between the ancient and modern interpreters as to the circumstance of time, viz. Whether this feast was held before or after the communion. St Chrysostom is of the latter opinion; the learned Dr Cave of the former.—These love-feasts, during the three first centuries, were held in the church; but at length such abuses were committed at them, that the councils of Laodicea and Carthage prohibited the practice for the future.