-
PARMA, Ohio — Prosphora, which means “a specific offering,” is the bread used for Eucharist in the Byzantine Catholic Church. Since this bread is very special, it cannot be just any bread, made from any combination of ingredients. It also must be able to withstand being soaked in wine.
Prosphora is baked according to ancient recipes that are very simple — wheat flour, water, salt and yeast — but a special kneading process is required so that the bread remains rather dense.
About 18 parishioners of the Cathedral St. John the Baptist gathered on the first Saturday of Philip’s Fast to learn how to bake prosphora.
They began with a prayer and then Deacon Robert Cripps of Holy Spirit Parish taught them how to make the prosphora. It was the first time baking prosphora for most of the participants, who baked enough to stock the cathedral until summer — about 33 loaves for Sunday liturgy and many smaller loaves for daily liturgy.
After baking, the participants gathered for Divine Liturgy.
Caption: Christine Bratnick (left) and Sharon Rayokovich were among 18 cathedral parishioners to learn to make prosphora. (Photo: Deacon Gregory Loya)
As published in Horizons, Jan. 21, 2018.
Sign up for the Horizons e-newsletter.
