"I am the bread of life." (John 6:48)

Christ is Risen!

"I am the bread of life." (John 6:48)

At every Divine Liturgy we are nourished both, physically and spiritually by bread and wine which, through the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, are transformed into the very Body and Blood of Christ. For centuries, the Orthodox Church has maintained strict guidelines concerning the bread that is used in the celebration of the Eucharist. It must be leavened, made of pure wheat flour, and well baked (not undercooked or doughy). We refer to this bread as PROSPHORA, a Greek word meaning "offering." The Church teaches that Christ Himself offered leavened bread at the Mystical Supper when He proclaimed, "Take and eat, this is My Body," because He used the term "artos" (which refers to a leavened-bread) and not pita, meaning "unleavened."

Fr. John