The '''Proskomedia''' (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 Preparation''' (also '''Prothesis''', or sometime sometimes Proskomide) that is located to the left of the [[Altar]] Table. Proskomedia, when translated to English, means "preparation."

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 apse containing the altar, the Prothesis and the Diaconicon.