BAKING BREAD

Baking bread is the most rewarding thing for me. From the moment that I measure, the flour into the big round glass bowl adding the yeast, the water and lastly the salt right up to the turning out of the pan a steamy hot loaf of bread.  Bread dough is something that is alive. It is a living breathing system and for me, it is a life giving experience to bake bread.

Bread has been the emblem of God’s providence for us, throughout humanity’s history. Both physical (bread as food) and spiritual - the επιούσιον (epiousion) or “supersubstantial” bread of the Lord’s prayer, the bread of Holy Communion. our daily bread. Bread must be baked daily I think. I think that is the whole intention to make bread daily and to be similarly mindful that this bread is a gift of God. Grateful for the bread, grateful for our health to be able to eat this bread and grateful for the goodness and loving care of our heavenly Father that has provided us with this bread.

Since the Last Supper, before every Divine Liturgy, one or more of the faithful prepare and bring bread to church to be used as the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. The Orthodox church is liturgical. For those of us who bake prosphoro, the liturgy begins as we prepare to bake!

Prosphoro is an offering to God, made from His material gifts to us, and prepared lovingly and prayerfully.