Historical prospective of the liturgy

1. Historical Prospective
of the Liturgy-Part X
DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
PREPARATION OF THE BREAD
Ipodiakonos Zoran j. Bobic

2. Preparation of the gifts: BREAD
 It begins with 3 small bows before the table of preparation;
 Prayers;
 Hosts from small loaves of fresh leavened bread;
 Loaves are called: “prosphory”;
 5 used total; = this represents 5 thousand people which Christ
fed;
 Christ used unleavened bread on the Last Supper (paschal
meal);
 Until 7th century – no distinction between “unleavened” and
“leavened” bread;
 We use leavened bread from 6th century;

3.  On top IC XC NI KA = Jesus Christ Conquers;
 Constantine the Great: “In hoc signo vinces”;
 Historically: Pagans often stamped their bread with symbols or inscriptions;
 Our first inscription came in 11 century;
 Preparation of the bread and wine was the function of the Deacon;
 The covering was reserved for priest;
 The change came in 15th century;

4.  Cut the large host with liturgical lance (“kopia”);
 Every time make the sign of the cross with the prayer;
 Cuts four sides and lifts out the square;
 Place the square on “diskos”;
 In “proskomidia” priest acts as prophet;
 The above actions remained since 886 A.D.;
 Square = “lamb”;
 “lamb” borrows from The Book of Revelation;
 St. John calls Son of God a “lamb” 27 times;
 In OT lamb was offered in the Temple;
 The blood of the lamb saved the firstborn of the Israelites;
 In Liturgy bread and wine will be changed into body and blood
of Christ;

5.  “proskomidia” prepares, prophesies and prefigures what
will take place in the Eucharist Sacrifice – like in OT;
 Cutting of the cross prefigures the un-bloody Sacrifice of
the Eucharist Lamb;
 The sense of oblation and immolation was present since 8th
century;
 We do not know when the words were added exactly, but
they certainly date back to 10th or 11th century;
 Piercing of the bread with liturgical lance symbolize
piercing of Christ’s side on Calvary.