Prosphora Baking Class 3/5/2010

Prosphora Bakers Enjoy the Day. Yesterday our religious education department sponsored a prosphora baking workshop taught by Judy Weston and Rebekah Olechnowicz. Ms. Weston has a long history of making the prosphora for use during the Holy Liturgy here and Rebekah brings skills learnt from various bakers at St. Nektarios Monastery as well as from St. Nicholas Church in Ann Arbor. Together, the students learned to bake both large “Greek style” loaves as well as the smaller “Russian style” breads for use in the proskomidi and for the Holy Communion. Participants in the class were: Helen Knapp, Helen Dalbo, Sabeth Dalbo, Pam Bemis, Donellen Fickling, Martha Ealy, and Presvytera Joleen-Elisabet. The faithful providing prosphora for use in the Holy Liturgy is a long-standing tradition in the Orthodox Church. It is an honour to prepare this special bread. And, when prepared, it is normally given with a list of names to be commemorated during that particular Liturgy. Everyone is invited to offer this bread and more than one bread can be used during a Liturgy so there is no need to “schedule” your offering. For more information on offering, bread, wine, charcoal, incense or oil for use in the church, please contact Fr. Iakovos at the rectory.