prosphora

A prosphora (, offering, or in Demotic Greek πρόσφορον) is a small loaf of leavened bread used in Orthodox Christian, Eastern Lutheran and Greek Catholic (Byzantine) liturgies. The classical plural form is prosphorai (). The term originally meant any offering made to a temple, but in Orthodox Christianity, as well as Byzantine Rite Lutheranism and Catholicism, it has come to mean specifically the bread offered at the Eucharist during Divine Liturgy.

==Baking== thumb|Greek-style prosphora seal, for one large loaf: in the center is the Lamb (liturgy)|Lamb (symbol: IC XC NI KA Christogram), to the viewer's right is the [[Panagia (symbol: ()), to the left are the Nine Angelic Ranks (symbol: nine triangles), and on the top and bottom are extra Lambs for Presanctified (symbol: said Christogram). The positions of the Panagia and Nine Ranks will be reversed when the impression is made.]] thumb|Russian-style prosphora seal, for five small identical loaves thumb|Mount Nebo (Jordan) 5th-century monastery Prosphora inscription in Greek: "Offering of Caesarios, at the time of Alexios and Theophilos, priests" thumb|Saints Spyridon and Nicodemus, prosphora bakers of the Kyiv Caves Monastery A prosphoron is made from only four ingredients, wheat flour (white), yeast, salt, and water. Salt was not used in early times and is still not used in the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem.