An Offering to God: Baking Prosphera (Altar Bread)

Matthew 5:23-24

If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath any thing against thee; Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.

Bread stamps available at: Prosphora.org

From prosphora.org:

In the ancient Tradition of the Orthodox Church, Holy Mystery of Communion is carried out through the mediums of wine and leavened bread. The bread is specially baked for the purpose of communion, and it is called “Prosphora” (meaning “that which is offered” in Greek.)

From Prosphora Baking Saints:

The Monks Spiridon and Nikodim, Prosphora-Makers of Pechersk (XII), for 30 years fulfilled their obedience — they baked prophora. The Monk Spiridon came to the monastery during the time of the hegumen Pimen (1132-1141), already no longer young a man. The ascetic combined his work with unceasing prayer and the singing of psalms. Even during his life the Monk Spiridon was glorified by miracles. An instance is known, when he extinguished his mantle which had caught fire from the oven — the fire was put out, but the mantle remained whole. Saint Nikodim toiled together with the Monk Spiridon and led a very strict life. Their relics are located in the Antoniev Cave. The fingers of the right hand of the Monk Spiridon are positioned together three-fingered.

Resources for teaching children about prosphora and how to bake it:

• Prosphora: An Offering to God
• The Holy Art of Prosphera Baking
• Prosphora.org (scroll down to find recipes, bread stamps, technical help, history, bread science, etc)
• Why Orthodox use leavened bread

It is possible to request from the priest, extra antidiron (the blessed bread handed out after the Divine Liturgy). This then can be cut up into small cubes and dried in a 200 degree oven until it is the texture of small croutons. It can be consumed, one cube per person per day, along with holy water after morning prayers. The following prayer can be said at this time:

Prayer Before Consuming Prosphora and Holy Water

O Lord my God, may Thy holy gift and Thy holy water be unto the enlightenment of my mind, unto the strengthening of my spiritual and physical powers, unto the health of my soul and body, unto the taming of my passions and weaknesses, according to Thy limitless mercy, through the prayers of Thy Most-pure Mother and of all Thy Saints. Amen.

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