The Service of preparation is called the Proskomide (Ἡ Ἀκολουθία τῆς Προσκομιδή), meaning “offering” or “preparation”, and prepares the bread and wine that will later be consecrated as the Body and Blood of Christ during the Eucharist.  It takes place during the Orthros prayer after the Exapsalmos has ended and is performed quietly by the priest at the Table of Preparation inside the sanctuary.

The Table of Preparation represents the cave of Bethlehem, where Christ was born, while the preparation of the Lamb also foreshadows His sacrifice on the Cross. Thus, the service links Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection with the Eucharist celebrated in the Divine Liturgy.

Prosphoro:

The bread called ‘prosphoro’ (πρόσφορο, meaning “offering”) is offered by the faithful and becomes the bread from which the Eucharist is prepared during the Proskomide. It is always leavened bread, reflecting the risen Christ, and ordinary bread, symbolizing that Christ truly took on human nature and became fully human through His birth from the Virgin Mary.  It is symbolic of the womb of the Theotokos (Mother of God), from whom Christ was born.  The act of removing the Lamb from the loaf recalls the mystery of the Incarnation, when God entered the world as a human being.

During preparation, the dough is split into two separate but equal loaves (before rejoining), symbolizing Christ’s dual nature as perfect man and perfect God as well as the unification of heaven and earth.

Preparation:

In preparation for handling the offering, the Priest washes his hands and asks to be cleansed.  He then lifts the prosphoro and asks for the blessing – at this moment, the angels are present but only the priest is permitted to touch the Holy gifts. 

The Lamb

Then with the lance (liturgical spear), the Priest makes the sign of the cross three times over the seal, saying each time “In remembrance of our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ”.  The Priest then pierces the prosphoro on the right-hand side of the seal, then proceeds to cut the ‘Lamb’ from the prosphoro (taking care to keep the seal intact) reflecting the crucifixion.  Then the Priest pierces the seal with the lance, saying “One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance, and at once there came out blood and water…”  At this point the Priest pours wine and water into the chalice, blesses them and covers the chalice.

The Holy Theotokos

Next the Priest takes another or the same prosphoro and cuts out the piece

representing the Virgin Mary and places it on the paten on the right of the Lamb near the middle.

The Saints & Bodiless Hosts of Heaven

Then, taking the same, or a third prosphoro, he cuts smaller particles for the nine ranks of the Saints, and places them on the paten, to the left of the Lamb, and prays for the:

First Rank:

1. Angels and Archangels and all the Bodiless Powers of heaven
2. Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John as well as the Old Testament Prophets
3. Apostles

Second Rank:

• Clergy amongst the Saints, great Hierarchs and Ecumenical teachers
• Holy martyrs
• First monks and all holy ascetics

Third Rank:

• Holy wonderworkers and Unmercenary Saints
• Righteous Forebearers and Saints, at whose intercessions visit us
• Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Basil the Great (who gave us the texts of the Divine Liturgy)

The Archbishop and all Priests

The priest repeats the process, placing a piece below the Lamb in commemoration of the Archbishop, and the whole priestly and monastic order.

The Living

He then commemorates the living (helpers of the Church and their families, the names he is given to bless and all Orthodox Christians), placing particles below the Lamb.

The Departed

He does the same for the departed “For remembrance and forgiveness of sins of the blessed founders of this holy house” and for “all our fellow Orthodox who have fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection to everlasting life…”

The Priest

Finally, the Priest cuts a particle for himself, asking for forgiveness of his sins as he holds the Holy Gifts in his hands.

This arrangement symbolizes Christ as the head and centre of the entire Church, with all creation gathered around Him. 

The Lamb is taken from the prosphoro just as Christ came forth from the Virgin Mary; He is then offered for the life of the world and stands at the centre of the gathered Church.

Censing:

Incense is then put in the censer, and the priest blesses the incense and then the:

• Star which is then placed on the paten above the holy bread
• The first veil which is then placed over the paten
• The second veil which is then placed over the chalice
• The large veil (Aer) which is then placed over both the paten and chalice and the ribbons crossed

The Priest says the ‘Prayer of the Offertory’ before the Dismissal and the censing of the altar and, from the Holy Doors, the Icons and the People.