Description
Prosfora (προσφορά), which means “offering to God” is the bread used by the priest during the Divine Liturgy of the Greek Orthodox Church. Bread is a basic, nourishing food and very significant in the Church as a symbol of the Body of Christ when consecrated during the Divine Liturgy.
Prosforo is a leavened bread made with four ingredients (wheat flour, yeast, salt and water). Before baking, it is stamped with a special seal called sphragis, with the image of a cross with the Greek letters ΙΣ ΧΣ ΝΙΚΑ (Jesus Christ conquers). During the Liturgy, the priest cuts out the center section (the Lamb) and it is consecrated into the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Eucharist. The rest of the Prosforo that is not consecrated is cut up for the Antidoron, the blessed bread which is distributed at the end of the Liturgy.
“I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever; and the Bread that I shall give is My Flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” – John 6:51
