Communion under both kinds

Man of Sorrows from Prague, c. 1470. Jesus Christ is taking out a host from his wound while his blood is flowing down into a chalice. The depiction of Christ, symbolically offering his body and blood, clearly demonstrates the practice of receiving the Communion under both kinds, which was crucial for the Bohemian Reformation of the 15th century.

Communion under both kinds in Christianity is the reception under both "species" (i.e., both the consecrated bread and wine) of the Eucharist. Denominations of Christianity that hold to a doctrine of Communion under both kinds may believe that a Eucharist which does not include both bread and wine as elements of the religious ceremony is not valid, while others may consider the presence of both bread and wine as preferable, but not necessary, for the ceremony. In some traditions, the second element may be grape juice in place of wine containing alcohol.