EULOGIA, in church history. When the Greeks have cut a loaf or piece of bread to consecrate it, they break the rest into little bits, and distribute it among the persons who have not yet communicated, or send it to persons that are absent; and these pieces of bread are what they call eulogies. The word is Greek, εὐλογία, formed of εὖ, bene, "well," and λογία, λόγος, "I say, I speak;" q. d. benedictum, "blessed."

The Latin church has had something like eulogies for a great many ages; and hence arose the use of their holy bread.

The name eulogy was likewise given to loaves or cakes brought to church by the faithful to have them blessed.

Lastly, The use of the term passed hence to mere presents made to a person without any benediction. See the Jesuit Gretier, in his treatise de Benedictionibus et Maledictionibus, lib. ii. cap. 22, 24, &c. where he treats of eulogies thoroughly.

From a passage in Bolandus, on the life of St Melaine, cap. 4, it appears, that eulogies were not only of bread, but any kind of meat blessed and hallowed for that purpose. Add, that almost everybody blessed and distributed eulogies; not only bishops and priests, but even hermits, though laymen, made a practice of it. Women also would sometimes send eulogies.

The wine sent as a present was also held an eulogy. Bolandus remarks farther, that the eucharist itself was also called eulogy.

likewise means an encomium on any person, on account of some virtue or good quality.