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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 reign of the 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 aspe containing the altar, the Prothesis and the Diaconicon.

The bread and wine are prepared for the liturgy on the Prothesis. The [[chalice]], a cup that contains pure sweet grape wine, and a round plate on a stand called the diskos or paten, that holds the bread that is made of pure wheat flour, are kept on this table. Usually, there are five loaves representing our Lord’s miracle of feeding the ''five thousand men besides women and children'' with only five loaves of bread (Matt. 14:17-21). These vessels are normally decorated with iconographic engravings, Christian symbols, and the sign of the cross. The top of each loaf is impressed with a seal bearing the sign of the cross.