Among the symbolic objects used in worship, the prosphora occupies a special place. It is associated with the body of the Lord and is a partaking of the sacrament of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, made by Him for the salvation of people. Having great cult value, the prosphora, however, became a ritual bread long before the crucifixion. The history of rites with its use goes back centuries.
Meaning of the word
First, let's find out more precisely, prosphora - what is it? The word itself has ancient Greek roots and translates as “offering”. Its second name is bread for the liturgy, liturgical. The main purpose is used during the Eucharist for sanctification and tasting together with wine as particles of the body and blood of Christ. It is widely used for the rite of Proskomidia prosphora. What does this mean: during a special liturgy, the birth and death of Christ are remembered, all Christians, living and dead, are remembered. In addition to the words of Jesus uttered at the Last Supper, the ceremony is also based on a miracle when He fed several thousands of hungry breads. But long before the birth of Christ, the sacrificial prosphora was mentioned in Old Testament texts. What it was supposed to be for bread was stated directly: leavened, i.e. yeast. This is written in the Book of Leviticus. The Moses tabernacles (camp temple) also used sacred bread, only unleavened, cooked in a special way. Its two parts mark the human, earthly beginning and the highest, heavenly.
Ancient cult
In the time of the first Christians, believers brought food, olive oil, wax for candles to churches or houses of worship, which were necessary for liturgies and other rites or just services. Obligatory was also obligatory. That it was not ordinary bread, but a special, symbolic one, confirmed by facts such as, for example, a description of common meals - agapas. At the dawn of Christianity, in the era of slavery, it was decided by all members of the local churches to gather for joint eating. At one table sat free citizens and slaves. The Agapas played the role of the Last Supper, during which the Eucharist took place, so the meals were strictly religious in nature. At the same time, they emphasized that in the face of Christ all are equal, regardless of social status. The audience kissed the world, prayed, sent messages to other similar churches and communities. Later, when such “suppers” began to be made separately from the Liturgies, the prosphora was not called food brought at all, but only bread needed for the Eucharist.
Taste of bread
How are the prosphora prepared? The recipe may be different, but the technology is the same for everyone. It is necessarily wheat flour, salt, water, alum or yeast that is taken. Prosphora does not require any fatty additives - milk, whey, oil. And its taste should be just slightly brackish. On the upper crust of bread special symbolic images on religious subjects are applied. The prosphora consists of two parts - halves, as described above. Their sacred meaning indicates the connection of the world of man and the Lord. Flour, bread and salt are associated with the Holy Trinity, and alum - with the life of the spirit. Saint Simeon of Solunsky also draws such an analogy: flour and sourdough (dough) is the soul, water is its baptism, and salt is the great word of God. Jesus called his disciples "salt." And the baking process is compared with the Lord’s union with us, people, “human nature”. Because whole-bread, moldy for the role of prosphora is not suitable.
Recipe and recommendations
How can you bake prosphora? The recipe, which was used in antiquity, contains the following instructions: kneading dough is done with the addition of holy water, baking is accompanied by prayers, singing psalms, the work is done by pious women specially invited for this. They are called prosophores. The process is as follows. For one batch of baking, flour-grains of 1200 are required. Carefully reseat it so that it is lush, filled with air. Pour a little blessed water into the basin where you are going to knead the dough. Then pour about 400 g of flour and pour boiling water over it. Why they do this: firstly, so that the wheat gives the dough its sweetness, because sugar is not put in such bread. Secondly, so that the prosphora does not mold for a long time. The mass should be mixed and allowed to cool a little. Then salt is diluted in holy water (a few tablespoons), it is poured into the flour gruel, 25 g of yeast is added, they are dissolved and thoroughly kneaded. Now cover the basin and leave the dough for half an hour to lift. Add the remaining flour, knead again and let the dough come back. After the specified time, if the mass rose well, it should make an excellent prosphora. What to do with it - read on.
Baking products
Put the dough on the desktop, sprinkling it well with flour. Roll out a layer 3 cm thick. Cut mugs of larger and smaller diameter from it with special molds. Touch them up to make every future prosphora neat. What to do with her now, more precisely, with them? Cover with a damp waffle towel, dry on top, and leave for half an hour again for “relaxation”. Then apply stamps to smaller circles, combine with large ones, having previously wetted slightly surfaces with water. To prevent voids from forming during the baking, each holy prosphora must be pierced through and through. Then transfer them to a baking sheet sprinkled with flour and place in a preheated oven.
How to bake prosphora? They should brown, but not burn. Time - from 15 to 20 minutes. Put the finished pastries on the table, cover with dry, wet and dry towels and something warm. In this form, the prosphora should cool. They are put in special baskets and used for their intended purpose. Store in the refrigerator.
Living Prayer Word
As already noted, the whole process of working with the test is accompanied by prayer. Prosphora is holy bread, but with God every matter is debated. The first prayer, traditional for any business: “Lord, help!” It precedes the beginning of work. During the kneading one should read five-digit prayers, addresses to saints Spyridon, Nicodemus and Prokhor, as well as to the Lord. When prosphora is pierced, the action is accompanied by the traditional: “In the name of the Father, the Son ...” While the baking is going on, one should read: “Virgin Mary ...” The work ends with a grateful appeal to God. There is also a prayer for the adoption of prosphora.
Holy seal
On the upper part of the holy bread a special drawing is applied - the “seal”. How she looks like? Outlines of the cross are drawn - four-pointed, equilateral. The initials of Christ, IC XC, are cut out above the crossbar, and below it is the word “victory” in ancient Greek: nick. Naturally, by hand all this is done for too long, especially if you need to bake a large number of products. Good help will serve you as a seal for prosphora. You can buy one in church shops. Impressions made by her are clearly visible on the test. And when the prosphora is already baked, the picture looks beautiful on a browned crust.
Lamb of sacrifice
It should be noted that during the service the bread is not used entirely, but its particles. “Spear” (in memory of how the heart of Christ was pierced on the cross with this instrument) the prosphora is divided into pieces that mark the Lamb of God, a sacrifice made by Jesus for the sake of people. Usually 5 bread rolls are baked for Proskomidia. One is used as the Lamb, and during the liturgy, believers receive communion with them. The rest are separated by a priest in memory of the Mother of God. Particles of these prosphora eat, remembering about it, about the holy martyrs, about the compilers of the liturgy. But this amount is focused specifically on the official part of the ministry. For the needs of the church, the parish, as many prosphores are baked as the parishioners submit a note “For Health” and “For Peace”.
Proper use of sacred bread
As a rule, parishioners try to bring home pieces of prosphora from the church so that everyone in the family can take communion. But its use is governed by several rules. Firstly, they eat such bread before the main food, without mixing them. Secondly, you must definitely pray before putting a piece in your mouth. So, having returned from the liturgy, lay a clean tablecloth on the table. Put prosphora on a plate. Pour a little holy water into glasses or cups - about 3 sips. Then the eldest in the family should read the very prayer that is intended for the reception of the saint's bread. It begins as follows: “Lord God, may Your holy gift be, Your holy water will be an obstacle to my sins, the enlightenment of my mind, the strengthening of my strength of spirit and flesh ...” After reading these treasured words, every household needs to bring a plate. He must carefully so that not a tiny bit falls on the floor, put the particle in his mouth, chew it slowly, drink it with blessed water. Thinking at this moment, of course, is desirable not about worldly vanity, but about the Lord, Jesus, the holy Church, feeling itself a member. After all, the prosphora is heavenly bread, it must be accepted humbly and in fear of God. Even George Zadonsky preached that tasting it and drinking it with holy water favors good deeds, protects a person from evil thoughts and deeds, from the temptations of unclean and other filth.
Here is such an interesting story at the prosphora - Orthodox and Catholic.