The Orthodox liturgical bread known as prosphora and prosvira is widely known even among people far from the Church.
But for what and from what are prosphora baked?
How and from what prosphora are made
Prosphora is made from only four ingredients: wheat flour, yeast, salt and holy water.
However, it is very likely that salt was not used at all during the early Christian era.
It is believed that any member of the church who is a true believer and whose conscience is clear can bake prosphora. Often in parish churches, prosphora are baked by female parishioners, and in monasteries, monks are appointed by the abbot (abbot).
Saints Spyridon and Nicodemus (Prosphora Pechersk) who lived in the XII century are known for baking prosphora for 30 years, which was their obedience.
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As a rule, special kitchen appliances are used for the manufacture of prosphora, which are not used for any other purpose. During the entire process, special prayers can be recited by the baker, pronounced both before starting and during cooking.
The baking sheet itself is greased not with oil, but with wax.
Despite the fact that the finished product looks one in appearance, in fact, the prosphora consists of two separate round parts, placed on top of each other and baked together to form a single bread, symbolizing the two natures of Christ: human and Divine.
Before baking, each prosphora is “certified” with a special seal depicting a cross, Mother of God or a saint (although more varied variations are often found).
The use of prosphora in liturgical practice
Proshora are an integral part of the Eucharist (the rite of consecration of bread and wine with their subsequent use) and commemoration of the living and the dead during the Proskomedia.
Maundy Thursday. Stepan Kolesnikov.
According to Slavic practice (Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian and other Churches), five small prosphora are used for the Proskomidia rite, in memory of the five loaves that Jesus used to feed the people.
It is noteworthy that during the rite itself, only one prosphora is fully used (during communion) from the rest, only particles are removed.
Miracle with bread and fish. Giovanni Lanfranco, 1620s.
However, according to the Greek tradition, not five small ones, but one large prosphora are used, since in the First Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians it is said that all the portions are contained in one bread.
After the service, the remaining prosphora are either eaten by parishioners immediately, or taken home so that the believer can eat the prosphora on an empty stomach on a day when he cannot visit the temple.
Both the prosphora themselves and their particles are absolutely unacceptable to throw away or even more so to give to animals.
