The Proskomide Service (Preparation of the Gifts)
The
Proskomide is the service of preparing bread and wine for the Mystery of Holy Communion. It is
performed at the side-altar to the left of the Holy Altar behind the Templon (often
called the Icononstas). It is also called Prothesis, the place and the act of
placing and preparing the gifts. The Priest does the Proskomide most often
during Orthros. Before the Priest begins the Proskomide, he begins by standing
before the Beautiful Gates he reads the Kairon making petitions before the
icons for forgiveness and strength to fulfil worthily his duties and
obligations as celebrant of the Divine Liturgy. Then he enters the altar, reverences
the Holy Table, vests and being the Proskomide.
The
Priest takes a loaf of bread called Prosphoron (sing.) which means
"offering". This has been specially prepared and has a seal impressed
on the top. The center square of the seal has the initials of Jesus Christ and
the Greek verb NIKA, which means "victorious", and represents the
Lord, the Lamb of God. It is this which will be consecrated as the Body of
Christ. The large triangle to the left represents the Virgin Mary. The nine
smaller triangles to the right represent the Orders of Angels, Prophets,
Saints, and Martyrs. The lower part of the Cross is removed and particles are
taken from it to represent the souls of the living and of those departed this
life. The Priest takes the Spear (photo #2) which represents the spear used by the Roman
soldier who pierced the side of our Lord as He hung upon the Cross. With this the
Priest cuts around the Lamb (the center square) and places it on the Diskos (a
gold plate supported by a base). While piercing the left side of the "lamb - prosphoron") with the Spear,
he says, "One of the soldiers pierced His side and forthwith came there out blood and water". At the same time he pours wine and water into the
Potirion (Cup). Then he cuts out the triangle representing the Virgin Mary as
well as the nine smaller triangles representing the Heavenly Hosts. At this
point he mentions the names of the living and departed, placing a particle on
the Diskos for each one. Finally the Priest offers a prayer for himself, and
places an additional particle there. Then he places over the Diskos the
Asteriskos (Star – not shown). This object is formed of two strips of metal
(either gold-plated or silver-plated), joined at the center and bent at the
ends so that it will stand on the Diskos. The Asteriskos symbolizes the Star of
Bethlehem. Now the symbolism is complete: the newly born Christ surrounded by
His Holy Mother, the ranks of the heavenly Hosts, and the earthly visitors who
were privileged to see the Christ child, while over Him hangs the Star of
Bethlehem. As the Priest places the Star over the Lamb, he recites the words,
"And the star came and stood over the place where the child was lying with Mary His mother."
(St Matt. 2:19). Then he censes the Gifts. The smoke from the incense symbolizes
prayer. As the smoke rises to Heaven, so the Prayers of the Priest and the
faithful rise to Heaven. Next the Priest takes two small covers (Veils) shaped
like crosses, and places one over the Diskos and the other over the Potirion.
Then he takes a large rectangular cover called the Aer and places this over the
two together. Meanwhile he recites Psalm 92 praising the wonders of the
universe. The covers represent the layers of the firmament. Aer means
"air", which in terms of our modern concept of the universe would be
"space". The Proskomide ends with the prayer of dismissal. The
Gifts have been prepared and remain at the side altar until the proper time for
their removal during the Liturgy of the Faithful.
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