Changes

{{stubliturgy}}[[Image:Proscomidiar.jpg|thumb|left]]The '''Proskomedia''' (or from the Greek προσκομιδή, “offering”), sometimes referred to as ''prothesis'' (from the Greek πρόϑεσις, "setting forth") or ''proskomide'') , is the '''Office of Oblation''' celebrated by the [[priest]] prior to the [[Divine Liturgy]] during which the bread and wine are prepared for the [[Eucharist]]. The Proskomedia is a prerequisite for the Divine Liturgy. The priest conducts the Office of Oblation behind the [[Iconostasis]] at the '''[[Table of oblation]]''' or '''Table of OblationPreparation''' (also '''Prothesis''', or sometime sometimes Proskomide) that is located to the left of the [[Altar]] Table. The Table of Oblation represents the cave of Bethlehem where our Lord and Savior was born. Proskomedia, when translated to English, means "preparation."

[[Image:Proscomidiar.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The Proscomidiar]]The Prothesis (Table of Oblation) represents the cave of Bethlehem where our Lord and Savior was born. Originally, the Prothesis was located in the same room as the altar table, being simply a smaller table placed against the eastern wall to the north of the altar table. During the Office reign of Oblation the offered Emperor [[Justin II]], the Prothesis came to occupy its own separate chamber to the north of the altar, in a separate apse, and joined to the altar by a door way. Another apse was added on the south side for the [[Diaconicon]]. From this time on many large Orthodox churches were built with three apses on the eastern end of the church building. However, most smaller churches continued to be built having only one apse containing the altar, the Prothesis and the Diaconicon. [[Image:Discos Chalice.jpg|left|thumb|150px|The Chalice with the Diskos and Star]]The bread and wine is are prepared for use during the Divine Liturgy where liturgy on the Prothesis. The [[chalice]] and a round plate on a stand called the diskos or paten that holds the bread is consecrated into are kept on this table. These vessels are normally decorated with iconographic engravings, Christian symbols, and the body sign of Christ and the wine cross. The top of each loaf is consecrated into impressed with a seal bearing the blood sign of Christthe cross.  The breadGreeks usually use one large loaf for the Liturgy of Preparation, with a large round seal on it inscribed not only with the square seal (from which the Lamb will be taken), but also called prosphora or offeringmarkings indicating where the portions for the Theotokos, the Ranks, the Living and Dead will be removed. Those churches which follow Slavic usage will typically use five small loaves, recalling the five loaves from which Christ fed the multitude (John 6:5-14). Normally all will be stamped with a small square seal, though special seals for the Theotokos are sometimes used. Also on this table is baked from pure wheat floura special liturgical knife, watersymbolically called the [[spear]], that is used for cutting the eucharistic bread ([[prosphora]]) and leavening. The wine is a sweet pure grape wineliturgical [[spoon]] for administering holy communion to the people. Usually, there There are five loaves representing our Lord’s miracle of feeding also special covers for the ''five thousand men besides women chalice and diskos and children'' with only five loaves a cruciform piece of metal called the [[asterisk]] or star that holds the cover over the eucharistic bread (Matton the diskos. 14:17-21)A sponge and cloths for drying the chalice after the liturgy are also usually kept here. The top of each loaf Prothesis is impressed with decorated in a sealmanner similar to that of the altar table. Above the Prothesis may be found various [[icon]]s, often one of Christ praying in Gethsemene: "Let this cup pass..."

{{Liturgy/wide}}[[Category:Liturgics]] [[fr:Proscomidie]][[mk:Проскомидија]]