Liturgy of Preparation

The Liturgy of Preparation, also Prothesis (Greek "Προθησις" a setting forth) or Proskomedia (an offering), is the name given in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Byzantine-rite Eastern Catholic Churches to the act of preparing the bread and wine for the Eucharist. The Liturgy of Preparation is done quietly before the public part of the Divine Liturgy begins, and symbolizes the "hidden years" of Christ's earthly life.

Eucharistic Elements

Only very specific elements may be offered at the Divine Liturgy:

Bread

The bread used for the Liturgy is referred to as prosphora. A prosphoron is a round loaf of leavened bread baked in two layers to represent the two natures of Christ. It has a square seal on the top side which has inscribed on it a cross and the Greek letters IC (an abbreviation in Greek for "Jesus") XC ("Christ") and NIKA ("Conquers"). The portion of the loaf that is cut out along this seal is the Lamb, from which all are communicated, and therefore must be proportionately large for the number of communicants.

Prosphora must be made using only the finest wheat flour, water, salt, and yeast. It should be freshly baked and without blemish.

The Greeks will use one large loaf for the Liturgy of Preparation, with a large round seal on it inscribed not only with the square seal mentioned above (from which the Lamb will be taken), but also indicating where the portions for the Theotokos, the Ranks, the Living and Dead will be removed (see Proskomedie, below).

Those churches which follow Slavic usage will use five small loaves, recalling the five loaves from which Christ fed the multitude (
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