Prosphora is a small round bread that consists of two parts. One is a symbol of nature, and the second is a symbol of man. This bread is baked with yeast or live kvass. Always use fresh and clean wheat flour. Water and a little salt are added to the dough. There is a seal stamped on the top of the prosphora. Most often this is an image of the letters “IS.” and "HS." - Jesus Christ.
What is this?
Prosphora take part in the liturgy. This bread is taken out from the altar and distributed to believers after the service. It happens that the church bakes a large number of prosphoras. Therefore, they can be seen for sale in a candle shop.
This is not ordinary bread. It belongs to the shrines because it participates in worship. After the liturgy, you can take the prosphora home with you. But it is better to store them in a specially designated place. The most convenient place for this is near the icons.
How to use it correctly?
They must be eaten on an empty stomach and washed down with holy water. Believers often do this together with saying a prayer. In prayer, words are spoken about asking for well-being, the retreat of an illness, a person repents about committing certain sins. This is the best and most unique moment when you can be alone with yourself and talk through prayer with the Lord. It is best to do this early in the morning, if the family is large, then for each family member. When eating, you should be careful about crumbs that may fall. This cannot be allowed. The prosphora must be completely eaten, without specks or crumbs.
How to store?
An unpleasant moment happens when the prosphora becomes moldy. What to do? Every second person asks this question. Because not everyone knows what to do in this situation. It is necessary to immerse such prosphora in running water.
Why does it get moldy?
Why the prosphora became moldy will remain a mystery to any person. After all, this is a sacred product that simply cannot be spoiled. But, unfortunately, this can happen. According to the experience of many people, there are various methods to store this product. The prosphora must be cut into small pieces and placed in a linen bag. They will dry out and turn into crackers. In this form they can be eaten gradually. If you put them in a plastic bag, you cannot close them and leave them without air. And in a dried state, such pieces can be stored for at least several years. If the prosphora is moldy, what does it mean? Mold may appear on sacred bread due to the fact that there is some moisture inside it, and this is the best environment for bacteria to accumulate.
Pieces of Lamb
Many people who believe in God go to church and pray. These are sacred rituals, using the right meal, keeping a fast. Small pieces of Lamb are cut out from a piece of prosphora. They are served in any churches during or after services. The meaning of the prosphora is similar to the antidora. Antidora means "communion". So prosphora is used for remission of sins and cleansing of the soul. People cannot take communion every day, but every person can afford to eat a piece of prosphora. This is the symbol of communion.
It is necessary to take the prosphora with your hands crossed crosswise. Then kiss the hand of the priest who gave the prosphora.
What to do with moldy sacred bread?
Many people ask this question. What to do with moldy prosphora? There are several methods that help. It can be floated down a river or thrown into a lake, but only so that it does not wash ashore. After crumbling into small crumbs, the prosphora can be given to the birds. In this case, it is important that it is not placed on the ground. In this case, you need to use a board. Prosphora can be buried in the ground. But only in a place where people don’t go. There are rules and customs that should not be done. It is not allowed to take moldy prosphora to church, as it will be burned there, and this can harm human health. You cannot feed animals with this bread.
Believers begin to become very worried if they suddenly notice that the prosphora has become moldy. This sign is not bad and does not carry negative emotions and events. On any holy holiday, this small piece of bread is distributed in the church. It is considered an offering. Since it consists of two parts, you definitely need to eat them.
The prosphora recipe does not include anything special. It is prepared only with holy water, yeast, and the addition of salt. The famous seal is placed on top, on which the inscription “Jesus Christ” is depicted. These two parts symbolize his essence, namely the divine and human essence.
Many people are interested in: “What to do with moldy prosphora?” Of course, you don't need to eat it. Therefore, in the near future you just need to remove it from the house. This is not a sin and does not bring sad events with it. It’s just important to understand that it is baked for consumption, and many people do not eat it right away.
What to do if the prosphora becomes moldy? Answer from priest Anthony Skrynnikov
A prosphora was given in the church, they simply put it in a bag and tied it, and then simply forgot about it. What to do next? This situation describes a careless attitude towards the shrine. After all, prosphora is distributed to people to cleanse the soul. A person cannot take communion every day, but he can eat the sacred prosphora. She cleanses the soul and conducts confession of sins. When the prosphora becomes moldy, it can be dipped in the river. It can also be buried in the ground, but away from places where people walk.
It is best to ask temple servants about what to do with moldy prosphora. The priests will definitely give an answer.
Lamb prosphora
Various types of sacred prosphora can be distinguished. They are divided by type of holiday. Lamb prosphora is a large bread with a cross on it. A lamb is also carved on it with a large knife. According to the liturgy, this is considered the true body of Jesus Christ. Afterwards, the bread is distributed in small pieces to all believers present. The Mother of God prosphora is also baked for sacred holidays. It depicts the seal “Mary” or the image of the Mother of God. It is cut into triangular shapes and placed next to the lamb.
Nine-day, health and funeral prosphora. What are they needed for?
The Nine Day Prosphora was dedicated to all holy people. After the seal is placed, nine particles are removed from the bread. The health prosphora is baked for the health of the participants in the liturgy. A similar one is a funeral service; it is used by believers for the repose of dead people.
Some types of prosphora listed here cannot mold. Because they are baked in large sizes and cut into small pieces for ease of distribution to everyone participating in the liturgy.
Easter and sacred prosphora
There are several types of prosphora. They are all made like bread, but have different purposes. In addition, they are made for various church holidays. On Easter night, with the help of these prosphora and liturgy, the priest asks for a blessing so that there are no illnesses, and for those who have illnesses, so that they retreat quickly.
This prosphora is baked in advance. Next is at the altar. After the service has been held, the priest divides it into several pieces and distributes it to believers and church servants. This prosphora symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ and recalls his presence on earth.
Preparation of prosphora. Peculiarities
We have already found out what to do if the prosphora becomes moldy. The priest's answer is discussed above. Now let's talk about making this bread. Using the following recipe, you can make your own sacred prosphora. This recipe is used directly in churches, cathedrals and temples.
You need to take a container. Pour liquid into it. There must be holy water. Add fresh sifted wheat flour to it. Mix everything well so that the dough is not very tight, but similar to semolina. After this, leave to stand for a while. When the dough has cooled, add dry yeast and a little salt. Then leave for another thirty minutes. Roll out the dough into one layer. It is important to understand that the bottom layer should be slightly thicker than the top layer of the prosphora. Cut the layer into even circles.
The dough should not dry out during the cooking process. If you do it at home, you need to understand that the baking sheet needs to be lubricated with natural wax. The oven must be preheated to two hundred degrees. The prosphora is baked for about fifteen minutes. Afterwards, they must be folded carefully on the table and covered with a warm towel, blanket or gauze in several layers. The prosphora should remain in this state for about an hour. Then they will be soft baked goods that can be handed out to people.
Features of use
It is necessary to use prosphora correctly. The most important thing is that it should be early in the morning, and be sure to eat on an empty stomach. You can only drink it with holy water. Initially, place water and bread on a clean white napkin. Say a prayer and only after that consume everything. You need to eat very carefully so as not to drop a single crumb.
How to properly deal with prosphora that has become unusable
As you know, prosphora is a special liturgical bread, which is primarily used to celebrate the sacrament of the Eucharist. In addition, he is quite often present during wakes. It is noted that when making prosphora, wheat flour, blessed water, boiled water, and a small amount of salt are used. In this regard, liturgical bread, like other products, can spoil.
According to statements by modern ministers of Christian churches, prosphora can spoil both for natural reasons and because of a sin. In the second case, an Orthodox believer is obliged to visit church and repent of the sin he has committed, pray to the Lord and light a candle. In the future, ministers recommend avoiding sins related to prosphora.
In the event that the prosphora has spoiled, regardless of the reasons, it must be dealt with in a certain way. It is recommended to burn the liturgical bread, and shake out the remaining ashes into river, lake water or any other source with a current. Also, spoiled prosphora can be buried in the ground. In this case, the place must be carefully selected: people and animals should not walk on it.
Church rules also state that spoiled prosphoras are strictly prohibited from simply being thrown into the trash. This is considered a great sin, and in order not to lead the soul to it, it is necessary to prevent this kind of action. Ministers of Christian churches also recommend eating them as quickly as possible to avoid spoilage of prosphoras. They can only be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.
Good Friday and prosphora. Peculiarities of consumption of sacred bread during Lent
Good Friday is a period of strict fasting that requires increased attention. According to church laws, you cannot consume any drinks or food on this day. You cannot eat bread, eggs and many other foods. The exception in this case is prosphora and holy water. You can only eat bread and drink fresh sacred water. Therefore, prosphora is perfect for eating. You can and should eat it and you shouldn’t refuse it. But it is best to do this once a day, namely early in the morning on Good Friday.
What can you do with an old calendar consecrated in church?
Representatives of the Christian church also often ask questions about how best to deal with the calendar consecrated in the temple when its validity has expired. Also, in the life of every Orthodox person, other situations may arise in which this souvenir may deteriorate. Thus, the calendar may become wet, torn, dirty, or something else may happen to it that affects its suitability.
According to the rules of the Russian Orthodox Church, Christian believers can do the same thing with a calendar previously consecrated in the temple as with some other objects, namely, burn them. This can be done using a specially prepared or purchased church candle. After all the paper burns out and turns into ash, it must be carefully collected and poured into a natural source. You can also bury the former calendar.
It is noted that Christian believers can also take the already damaged blessed calendar back to the place where it was previously purchased. Any Orthodox church can be suitable for this. There, the clergy will either offer options on how to deal with the damaged shrine, or they will take it away and do as the rules of the Christian Church say.
As you know, modern representatives of the Christian Church recommend doing this not only with blessed calendars, but also with many other souvenirs that are often sold in churches. However, some items can serve a person for many years. Such souvenirs include refrigerator magnets, postcards, or collectible books.
Prosphora is not ordinary bread
The word “prosphora” itself is translated from Greek as “offering,” because previously parishioners actually baked this bread at home and brought it to church. Nowadays, prosphora is made mainly at churches, and believers do not bring baked goods there, but, on the contrary, take them from there.
The prosphora consists of 2 parts in memory of the dual, divine-human nature of Jesus Christ. A special seal is placed on top of the bread with the image of a cross, the Mother of God, saints and the name of the Savior.
Prosphora is used during the Liturgy, to commemorate the souls of the departed and in prayers for the living. To do this, a piece is taken out of the prosphora, after which the bread becomes consecrated. At the end of the service, bread is usually distributed to the parishioners. Since Jesus told his disciples to remember him with bread (“This is my body, which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19)), and also because the prosphora is involved in the divine service, then This food should be treated with respect.
How, according to church rules, to deal with other consecrated objects
Pectoral cross
It is noted that Christian believers, like many other people, may lose something. So, according to the clergy, quite often frightened people who have lost or broken their pectoral cross turn to them for help. However, contrary to many prejudices, this event is not fateful: in case of loss of a shrine, it is necessary to buy a new one and consecrate it.
A consecrated cross that has become blackened or otherwise damaged must either be repaired or, according to the rules of the Christian Church, melted into another product. Also, if something happens to the cross, it can be taken to an Orthodox church. The same rules apply to other items consecrated in the church: rings, chains, and so on.
Icon
It is noted that the icon, like many other objects created by human hands, can deteriorate over the years or when certain circumstances arise. So, according to practice, most often they get dirty, crack, fade or, conversely, darken. According to church rules, in such a case the icon must be restored.
Otherwise, the shrine can be taken to the territory of a Christian temple. In such places, damaged icons either find a specific use or are burned in specially created ovens.
What are the prohibitions?
Deacon Pavel Serzhantov writes on the Pravoslavie.ru website that prosphora is not so much a ritual food as a spiritual one. According to the priest, only Orthodox Christians can eat this bread. Therefore, according to the deacon, feeding prosphora to animals and birds, of course, should not be done.
Priest Andrei Chizhenko on the “Orthodox Life” portal warns believers that prosphora must be consumed carefully, not littered, and not scatter bread crumbs everywhere. Before eating, it is best to place the prosphora on a napkin previously spread on the table. This way, particles of consecrated bread will not even accidentally fall on the floor.
You should also not eat prosphora in a cemetery, much less crumble it on the graves of the deceased. Anatoly Badanov on the website “I Breathe Orthodoxy” points out the fact that the dead do not need food, but exclusively the prayers of their family and friends.
Was it stored correctly?
Use dark glass bottles. One of the reasons for damage is improper storage.
First of all, you should treat the storage of holy water with due reverence, sincerely revering it as a shrine. When going to the temple to pick it up, the believer must prepare clean dishes.
It is best to use dark glass containers with lids that screw on tightly. The best solution is glass bottles with metal caps for mineral water. Even if the selected container seems clean, it needs to be washed and allowed to dry.
At home, treat the container with agiasma reverently. Place it closer to the icons, next to them or behind them.
Has it turned green, cloudy or bloomed?
Still, if the water spoils, one cannot do without explaining simple natural phenomena that also occur by the will of the Lord. If, due to improper storage:
The reason may also be that the person made too much of a reserve for the Great Blessing of Water so as not to visit the temple for a whole year. Overcome your greed and laziness. Collect enough holy water so that there is enough of it from one blessing to another,
after all, small water blessings are held several times a year. Don’t be lazy to come to the temple for your next portion of holy water.
If all storage conditions are met, but the water has spoiled, then you probably shouldn’t blame the water, the temple, or the priest. It is worth looking for the reason, first of all, within yourself, in your life and actions.
Question: Father, hello. I'm desperate. We have a seriously ill child
The baby's condition is very serious. He is not being discharged from the hospital because... he may die due to a seizure, and we will not have time to help and bring him to the hospital in time... The solution: either refuse, or live with him for years in the hospital (the baby has a severe form of cerebral palsy and epilepsy). We abandoned it on paper, but not in our hearts. We travel, visit, bring everything we need. But how can I get over the feeling that I have betrayed what is most precious to me? I’m still not around, I don’t look after her myself, I don’t want to live. After all, he feels bad there.
Answer: Let my words not seem offensive to you, but I will still say what the Gospel and the Church say. Christ, throughout his life, gave us a huge number of examples of behavior in certain situations. One of the aspects of Christ’s life is a merciful attitude towards sick, abandoned and disadvantaged people. Christ called for a merciful attitude towards everyone, including people we do not know. Love and compassion are the feelings by which a Christian should LIVE. A Christian should be glad to help his neighbor, since this is one of the best opportunities to become more perfect and learn love. Through love for people, a person learns to love God. One of the reasons why people are not in a hurry to help their neighbor (raise a drunk, help a disabled person, etc.) is their reluctance to strain themselves and sacrifice a comfortable, carefree life. Pain, suffering - a person does not want to see any of this, because it interferes with living for his own pleasure! If at the moment there are no obstacles for you to care for your child, and you do not do this only for the above reason, this is wrong. If possible, you should do your best to alleviate his suffering. Perhaps at the moment it is more appropriate for the child to be in the hospital and there is no urgent need for your presence. But if at some point his condition stabilizes and the doctors do not mind you taking him, then you should do it. You say that you feel betrayed and ask how to get rid of this feeling. I will answer. Do everything in your power - give up comfort and a carefree life. Yes, it will be physically harder, but your conscience will be clear and your soul will calm down. And it will be much easier for him too. Strength to you and God's help!
