When artos is distributed in a year. Artos is the holy Easter bread. What is an antidor? When and who can take it
The word artos (in Greek - leavened bread) - consecrated bread common to all members of the Church, otherwise - the whole prosphora. Throughout the entire Bright Week, Artos occupies the most prominent place in the temple, along with the image of the Resurrection of the Lord, and, at the conclusion of the Easter celebrations, is distributed to believers.
The use of artos begins from the very beginning of Christianity. On the fortieth day after the Resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. The disciples and followers of Christ found comfort in prayerful remembrances of the Lord - they remembered His every word, every step and every action. When they converged common prayer, they, remembering the Last Supper, partake of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Preparing an ordinary meal, they left the first place at the table to the invisibly present Lord and put bread on this place. Imitating the Apostles, the first pastors of the Church established on the feast of the Resurrection of Christ to lay bread in the temple, as a visible expression of the fact that the Savior who suffered for us has become for us the true bread of life. The artos depicts a cross, on which only the crown of thorns is visible, but there is no Crucified One - as a sign of Christ's victory over death, or an image of the Resurrection of Christ.
An ancient church tradition is also connected with the artos, that the Apostles left a piece of bread at the table - a share of the Most Pure Mother of the Lord as a reminder of constant communion with Her - and after the meal they reverently shared this part among themselves. In monasteries, this custom is called the Chin o Panagia, that is, the remembrance of the Most Holy Mother of the Lord. In parish churches, this bread of the Mother of God is remembered once a year in connection with the fragmentation of the arthos.
The artos is consecrated by a special prayer, sprinkling with holy water and censing on the first day of Holy Pascha at the Liturgy after the ambo prayer. On the sole, against the Royal Doors, on the prepared table or lectern, an artos is placed. If several artos are prepared, then all of them are consecrated at the same time. After censing around the table with the arthos installed, the priest reads a prayer: “God Almighty and Lord Almighty, even Thy servant Moses in the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, and in the liberation of Thy people from the bitter work of Pharaoh, Thou commanded to slaughter the lamb, foreshadowing on the Cross the slain by the will of us for the sake of Lamb, who takes away the sins of the whole world, Thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ!
You and now, we humbly pray to you, look at this bread, and bless, and sanctify it. For we, too, are Thy servants in honor, I give glory, and in remembrance of the glorious Resurrection of the same Son of Thy Lord our Jesus Christ, who, from the eternal work of the enemy and from hellish unresolved bonds, permission, freedom and conduct of the best, before Your Majesty now in this all-bright, glorious and saving day of Pascha, this we bring: we who bring this, and that kiss and eat from it, partakers of Your heavenly blessing to be, and every disease and illness from us by Your power of rejection, giving health to everyone. You are the source of blessing and giver of healing, and we send glory to You to the Beginningless Father, with Your Only Begotten Son, and Your Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever.
After the prayer, the priest sprinkles the artos with holy water, saying: “This artos is blessed and sanctified by sprinkling this holy water, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen" (three times). The lectern with the artos is placed on the salt in front of the image of the Savior, where the artos lies throughout the Holy Week. It is preserved in the temple throughout Bright Week on a lectern in front of the iconostasis. On all days of Bright Week, at the end of the Liturgy, a procession around the church is solemnly performed with the artos.
On Saturday of Bright Week, according to the prayer behind the ambo, a prayer is read for the fragmentation of the arthos: “Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, the Bread of the Angels, the Bread of Eternal Life, descended from Heaven, nourishing us in these bright days with the spiritual food of Your Divine good deeds, for the sake of three days and saving Resurrection !
Look now, we humbly pray to Thee, to our prayers and thanksgiving, and as if you blessed five loaves of bread in the desert, and now bless this bread, as if it were, eating from it, bodily and spiritual blessings and health will be honored by the grace and bounty of Your philanthropy. Thou art our sanctification, and we send glory to Thee, with Your Father without beginning and the All-Holy, and the Good, and Your Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever.
Artos is broken up and at the end of the Liturgy, when the Cross is kissed, it is distributed to the people as a shrine. The arthos genus on the lower degree of consecration represents Easter cake, church-ceremonial food, but not worldly luxury at all.
About eating prosphora, antidor and arthos
The prosphora, which is given after the end of the Liturgy, is a shrine and is reverently eaten by believers before taking any food. According to the rules of the Church, antidoron should be eaten in the temple, on an empty stomach and with reverence, because it is holy bread, bread from the altar of God, part of the offerings to the altar of Christ, from which it receives heavenly sanctification.
Artos particles received in the temple are reverently kept by believers as a spiritual cure for illnesses and infirmities. Artos is used in special occasions, for example, in illness, and always with the words "Christ is Risen!".
Prosphora and artos are kept in the holy corner near the icons. Spoiled prosphora and arthos should be burned by yourself (or taken to the church for this) or put into the river with clean water.
Artos is a holy bread common to all members of the church. During Bright Week, it is installed next to the image of Christ opposite the gates of the temple. Artos: when they are distributed in the church, a large number of people gather, because many want to receive a piece of the body of Christ for the treatment of ailments and the restoration of the soul. Artos is distributed to parishioners and believers on Saturday after Easter.
Distribution of artos
Distribution of artos - what is it and when does it happen? This custom dates back to the advent of Christianity. After the resurrection of Jesus and the ascension to heaven, the followers of his teachings gathered together for a common prayer. Imitating the Last Supper, they put bread in the place of Jesus.
Further, in the churches on Easter day they began to exhibit bread, which symbolized the strength for life that the Savior gave us. The artos depicts a cross with a crown of thorns, and the absence of the Crucified symbolizes the victory of life over death. During the crushing and distribution of the arthos, which occurs once a year, the parish churches use the term Our Lady's Bread. Sintered artos are placed opposite the gates of the temple on a special table, illuminated with a special prayer, after which they are sprinkled with sacred water. This process takes place at the liturgy after the prayer is read on the first day of Easter. Then the holy artos is installed opposite the image of Christ, where it lies until the end of the Holy Week.
With the onset of Saturday, a special prayer is read for crushing and distributing the artos. There is a process of fragmentation after the liturgy with the kissing of the Cross. After that, particles of artos are distributed to the people and parishioners as a shrine. When the artos is distributed to the parishioners, a lot of people gather, as many people want to receive such a holy symbol, which, according to beliefs, is able to heal ailments and improve health.
Storage and use of arthos
Since bread symbolizes the body of Christ, its particles are used by believers as a remedy for the treatment of ailments, weaknesses and strengthening spiritual health. After receiving the particles of artos in the temples, believers store them and use them to restore spiritual well-being. These parts are mainly used for various diseases, and before you eat a piece, you must say "Christ is risen!". You need to store parts of the artos in the corner where the icons are. If a piece of arthos has deteriorated, then it is necessary to burn it or send it to a river with clean water.
Easter in 2016
In 2016, Easter will be celebrated on May 1, Sunday. Saturday will be marked by the sacred process of crushing the artos. On Sunday, a large number of believers will gather for the distribution of arthos in 2016 in order to sanctify themselves, food, and get rid of sins.
Translated from Greek as "leavened bread" - consecrated bread common to all members of the Church, otherwise - whole prosphora. Throughout the entire Bright Week, Artos occupies the most prominent place in the temple, along with the icon of the Resurrection of the Lord, and, at the conclusion of the Easter celebrations, is distributed to believers.
Where did the tradition of using artos come from?
The use of artos begins from the very beginning of Christianity. On the fortieth day after the Resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. The disciples and followers of Christ found comfort in prayerful recollections of the Lord, they remembered His every word, every step and every action. When they came together for a common prayer, they, remembering the Last Supper, partake of the Body and Blood of Christ. Preparing an ordinary meal, they left the first place at the table to the invisibly present Lord and put bread on this place.
What does artos symbolize?
Imitating the apostles, the first pastors of the Church established on the feast of the Resurrection of Christ to put bread in the temple as a visible expression of the fact that the Savior who suffered for us has become for us the true bread of life. The artos depicts a cross, on which only the crown of thorns is visible, but there is no Crucified One - as a sign of Christ's victory over death, or an image of the Resurrection of Christ.
An ancient church tradition is also connected with the artos, that the apostles left a piece of bread at the table - a share of the Most Pure Mother of the Lord - as a reminder of constant communion with Her, and after the meal they reverently divided this part among themselves. In monasteries, this custom is called the Chin o Panagia, that is, the remembrance of the Most Holy Mother of the Lord. In parish churches, this bread of the Mother of God is remembered once a year in connection with the fragmentation of the arthos.
How is artos consecrated?
The artos is consecrated by a special prayer, sprinkling with holy water and censing on the first day of Holy Pascha at the Liturgy after the ambo prayer. Artos relies on the solea, against the Royal Doors, on a prepared table or lectern. After the consecration of the artos, the lectern with the artos is placed on the salt in front of the image of the Savior, where the artos lies throughout the Holy Week. It is preserved in the temple throughout the Bright Week on a lectern in front of the iconostasis.
On all days of Bright Week, at the end of the Liturgy, a procession around the church is solemnly performed with the artos. On Saturday of Bright Week, after the ambo prayer, a prayer is read for the fragmentation of the artos, the artos is crushed, and at the end of the Liturgy, when the Cross is kissed, it is distributed to the people as a shrine.
How to store and take Artos?
Artos particles received in the temple are reverently kept by believers as a spiritual cure for illnesses and infirmities. Artos is used in special cases, for example in illness, and always with the words "Christ is risen!".
The word artos (in Greek - leavened bread) - consecrated bread common to all members of the Church, otherwise - the whole prosphora.
Throughout the entire Bright Week, Artos occupies the most prominent place in the temple, along with the image of the Resurrection of the Lord, and, at the conclusion of the Easter celebrations, is distributed to believers.
The use of artos begins from the very beginning of Christianity. On the fortieth day after the Resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. The disciples and followers of Christ found comfort in prayerful remembrances of the Lord - they remembered His every word, every step and every action. When they came together for a common prayer, they, remembering the Last Supper, partake of the Body and Blood of Christ. Preparing an ordinary meal, they left the first place at the table to the invisibly present Lord and put bread on this place. Imitating the Apostles, the first pastors of the Church established on the feast of the Resurrection of Christ to lay bread in the temple, as a visible expression of the fact that the Savior who suffered for us has become for us the true bread of life. The artos depicts a cross, on which only the crown of thorns is visible, but there is no Crucified One - as a sign of Christ's victory over death, or an image of the Resurrection of Christ. An ancient church tradition is also connected with the artos, that the Apostles left a piece of bread at the table - a share of the Most Pure Mother of the Lord as a reminder of constant communion with Her - and after the meal they reverently shared this part among themselves. In monasteries, this custom is called the Chin o Panagia, that is, the remembrance of the Most Holy Mother of the Lord. In parish churches, this bread of the Mother of God is remembered once a year in connection with the fragmentation of the arthos.
The artos is consecrated by a special prayer, sprinkling with holy water and censing on the first day of Holy Pascha at the Liturgy after the ambo prayer. On the sole, against the Royal Doors, on the prepared table or lectern, an artos is placed. If several artos are prepared, then all of them are consecrated at the same time. After censing around the table with the arthos installed, the priest reads a prayer: “God Almighty and Lord Almighty, even Thy servant Moses in the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, and in the liberation of Thy people from the bitter work of Pharaoh, Thou commanded to slaughter the lamb, foreshadowing on the Cross the slain by the will of us for the sake of Lamb, who takes away the sins of the whole world, Thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! You and now, we humbly pray to you, look at this bread, and bless, and sanctify it. For we, too, are Thy servants in honor, I give glory, and in remembrance of the glorious Resurrection of the same Son of Thy Lord our Jesus Christ, who, from the eternal work of the enemy and from hellish unresolved bonds, permission, freedom and conduct of the best, before Your Majesty now in this all-bright, glorious and saving day of Pascha, this we bring: we who bring this, and that kiss and eat from it, partakers of Your heavenly blessing to be, and every disease and illness from us by Your power of rejection, giving health to everyone. You are the source of blessing and giver of healing, and we send glory to You to the Beginningless Father, with Your Only Begotten Son, and Your Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever.
After the prayer, the priest sprinkles the artos with holy water, saying: “This artos is blessed and sanctified by sprinkling this holy water, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen" (three times). The lectern with the artos is placed on the salt in front of the image of the Savior, where the artos lies throughout the Holy Week. It is preserved in the temple throughout Bright Week on a lectern in front of the iconostasis. On all days of Bright Week, at the end of the Liturgy, a procession around the church is solemnly performed with the artos.
On Saturday of Bright Week, according to the prayer behind the ambo, a prayer is read for the fragmentation of the arthos: “Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, the Bread of the Angels, the Bread of Eternal Life, descended from Heaven, nourishing us in these bright days with the spiritual food of Your Divine good deeds, for the sake of three days and saving Resurrection ! Look now, we humbly pray to Thee, to our prayers and thanksgiving, and as if you blessed five loaves of bread in the desert, and now bless this bread, as if it were, eating from it, bodily and spiritual blessings and health will be honored by the grace and bounty of Your philanthropy. Thou art our sanctification, and we send glory to Thee, with Your Father without beginning and the All-Holy, and the Good, and Your Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever.
Artos is broken up and at the end of the Liturgy, when the Cross is kissed, it is distributed to the people as a shrine.
The genus of arthos at the lower degree of consecration is represented by Easter cake, church-ceremonial food, but not worldly luxury at all.
About eating prosphora, antidor and arthos
The prosphora, which is given after the end of the Liturgy, is a shrine and is reverently eaten by believers before taking any food.
According to the rules of the Church, antidoron should be eaten in the temple, on an empty stomach and with reverence, because it is holy bread, bread from the altar of God, part of the offerings to the altar of Christ, from which it receives heavenly sanctification.
Artos particles received in the temple are reverently kept by believers as a spiritual cure for illnesses and infirmities. Artos is used in special cases, for example, in illness, and always with the words "Christ is risen!".
Prosphora and artos are kept in the holy corner near the icons. Spoiled prosphora and arthos should be burned by yourself (or taken to the church for this) or put into the river with clean water.
Prosphora its origin goes back to the first centuries of Christianity, when believers themselves brought bread, wine, oil (i.e. olive oil), wax for candles - everything you need to perform worship. This is an offering (in Greek prosphora), or a donation, was accepted by the deacons; the names of those who brought them were entered into a special list, which was proclaimed with prayer during the consecration of the Gifts. From these voluntary offerings (prosphora), part of the bread and wine was separated for c, candles were made from wax, and other gifts, over which prayers were also said, were distributed to believers. Subsequently, only the bread used to celebrate the Liturgy began to be called prosphora. Over time, instead of ordinary bread, they began to specially bake prosphora in temples, accepting money as a donation in addition to ordinary offerings.
Prosphora can be received at the candle box after the Liturgy by submitting a note “On health” or “On repose” before the start of the service. The names indicated in the notes are read in the altar, and for each name a particle is taken out of the prosphora, why such a prosphora is also called “taken out”.
At the end of the Liturgy, the worshipers hear antidoron- parts of the prosphora from which it was extracted. Greek word antidoron comes from words anti- instead of and di oron- a gift, that is, the exact translation of this word - instead of a gift.
- says the saint, - to eat the sacred bread which was brought into the offering and whose middle was taken out and used for the sacrament; this bread, as sealed with a copy and having received the Divine words, is taught instead, that is, the Mysteries, to those who did not partake of them».
Artos(from the Greek ἄρτος - bread) - a large prosphora with the image of the Resurrection of the Lord or the Cross, consecrated on Easter day, then placed in the temple on the lectern, where the entire Bright Week is stored, crushed and distributed to believers on Bright Saturday for the purpose of reverent consumption.
In memory of the fact that the Lord, after His Resurrection, repeatedly appeared to the apostles and ate food with them, the apostles, even after His Ascension, had the custom to leave the middle place unoccupied at the meal and put a piece of bread before it, as if for the Lord present among them. It is this bread that represents the artos now used in the Church. Throughout the Bright Week, he lies in the temple on, in front of the iconostasis, and outside the service - in front of the open Royal Doors, recalling the appearances of the risen Lord to the apostles and His presence with us. In accordance with the meaning of Easter, which combines the events of the death and the Resurrection of the Lord, the artos depicts a sign of Christ's victory over death, or a cross crowned with thorns, or an icon of the Resurrection of Christ.
The artos is consecrated by prayer, sprinkling with holy water and incense on the day of the Holy Resurrection of Christ at the Liturgy after the ambo prayer. It is placed against the royal doors on the prepared table. After burning incense around the table with the artos, the priest reads special prayer, after which he sprinkles artos with holy water three times with the words " This artos is blessed and sanctified by sprinkling this sacred water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen».
On all days of Bright Week, at the end of the liturgy, a religious procession is solemnly performed around the temple with the artos. In monasteries, it is daily served for a meal and relies on a special table or lectern to remind the monks that among them, as once among the apostles, the Lord Himself, the true Bread of life, is invisibly present. In the rank of artos, troparia are sung, which speak of the Resurrection of Christ and of His presence with us.
On Saturday of Bright Week, at the end of the Liturgy, the priest says a special prayer, during which the artos is broken up, and when the cross is kissed, it is distributed to the people as a shrine.
Particles of arthos received in the temple are reverently kept by believers as a spiritual cure for illnesses and infirmities. Artos is usually used in special cases, for example, in illness, always with the words "Christ is Risen!"
Artos by grace is lower than antidoron, but higher than prosphora. Those. if a believer wants to take arthos, antidoron and prosphora at once, then first antidoro is eaten, then artos, and then prosphora. The saint in a word before the distribution of the arthos said: “It should be used with reverence as a shrine, but one should not attach any greater importance to it. Some people think that this bread can replace the divine Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Such an opinion is sinful, a Christian must know and remember that nothing, no shrine can replace the Most Pure Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, there is no need to keep this bread for a whole year, as some do this, attributing to the artos a meaning that it does not have. This is also prohibited by the church authorities (by the Decree of the Holy Synod of 1723, June 15).
How to store consecrated bread?
While it is fresh, cut it into small pieces, put them in a linen bag to dry (you can also use plastic, just do not close it so that there is air access). When the particles dry out, they can be stored for a long time. Small pieces are more convenient to eat; in addition, whole prosphora will become moldy much faster, because moisture is stored inside it.
