The Orthodox Church teaches us that God'sGrace is poured out on people in different ways. Sometimes it happens through material and quite real objects, for example, icons or objects of church utensils. Sometimes - through the blessing of the priest. Sometimes the blessed energy is received by believers through prosphora and holy water, namely believers, since only by faith can God's help be sent down. Therefore, prosphora and holy water are inseparable from prayer.
Those who visited the church saw these smallround loaves decorated with a cross on the top or other sacred symbolism. They are received in a candle store and taken home for themselves and their loved ones. Taste of such loaves is preceded by a prayer for the adoption of prosphora and holy water. They came to us from the first centuries of Christianity. In Greek, "prosphora" means "offering." Once believers, going to the general prayer service, brought with them as a donation of bread. The deacons accepted him and added the names of the donors to special lists. Then special prayers were raised about them. From these depths of history came and prayer before the adoption of prosphora.
To consecrate water, a specialthe rite. The priest lowers the cross three times into the water, accompanying his actions with a special prayer. This is not a prayer before the adoption of holy water, but prayer and its illumination. As a result, water becomes the bearer of Divine energy. With her help, illnesses are cured and an evil force is driven away. In the houses, sprinkled with holy water, the spiritual atmosphere improves.
According to tradition, prosphora and holy watertake in the morning on an empty stomach. The reason lies not in the physiology of our body, it's not about ordinary medicines. The meaning here is purely symbolic: the day begins with a shrine. In addition, having got into the stomach, the carriers of holiness should not mingle with ordinary food.
However, the most important component of this morningThe rite is a prayer for the adoption of prosphora and holy water. But it should not be a formal, not a mechanical reading of the text, but an appeal to God with sincere faith and love. Without this, all efforts are in vain. The Lord sends grace to all people, but only a believing person is capable of receiving it.
The prayer begins with the request of the Almightyenlightenment of the mind. This is understandable, because in the mundane life, and even more so in the spiritual one needs clarity and sobriety of thought. A person with a sleeping mind is equally far from both material and spiritual values.
Next, a prayer for the adoption of prosphora and holy waterincludes a very important point, it is a plea for the sending down of spiritual and physical forces. Religiously, there is no contradiction between them - both for ordinary earthly life and for the service of the Lord, both are required.
Following the request for strength for the soul and bodyhealth is claimed for them. Here, health should be understood not only as the absence of infirmities, but also as the deliverance from sins, for according to the teaching of the church it is for sins that diseases are sent to us. The Lord preserves us from them, but, having become bogged down in sins, we ourselves turn from His help.
The prayer completes the petition to remove from us the destructive passions, as well as bodily and spiritual infirmities. In the sending of the beggar, the hope is expressed for the prayers of the Blessed Virgin and all the saints.
Prayer for the adoption of prosphora and holy waterSmall in volume, but unusually deep in content. Reason, spiritual and physical strength, health and freedom from pernicious passions and infirmities - that is what is necessary for human happiness. On granting all this, they ask the Lord to read the prayer.
Today, prosphora is cooked in small bakeries,created at the temples. They are called prosforni. Very strictly set the rules for their baking and the composition of incoming components. This is a responsible business, and therefore they are entrusted only to pious people. Prosforas are also needed at the Liturgy for the preparation of holy firewood, which are then used during the sacrament of the Sacrament.
