Prosphoro is made from only four ingredients, wheat flour, yeast, salt, and water. Salt was not used in early times and is still not used in the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem. Any member of the church who is in good standing and whose conscience is clean may bake prosphora. Often in a parish church the women will take turns baking the prosphora; in monasteries, the task is often assigned by the Hegumen to one or several monastics of virtuous life. It is common but not necessary to go toconfession before baking prosphora, and it is often done in the morning while fasting. Sometimes, special kitchen implements are used for making the prosphora which are used for no other purpose. There may be special prayers said before commencing, and the baker tries to maintain a religious state of mind throughout, often saying the Jesus Prayer. Usually enough prosphora for a number of services are baked at the same time. A prosphoron is made up of two separate round pieces of leavened dough which are placed one on top of another and baked together to form a single loaf. This double-loaf represents the two natures of Christ: human and divine. Before baking, each prosphoron is stamped with a special seal called sphragis or Panagiari, usually bearing, among other things, the image of a cross with the Greek lettersIC XC NIKA around the arms of the cross. This impression is baked into the bread and serves as a guide for the priest who will be cutting it. In the Slavic practice five smaller prosphora are used. In the Greek practice one larger prosphoron is used.
Divine Liturgy
Panagia
The Prosphoron from which a particle is removed in honor of the Theotokos is called Panagia and is solemnly blessed in her honour during the Divine Liturgy. This prosphoron is often stamped with an icon of the Theotokos. Before cutting this prosphoron, the priest makes the Sign of the Cross over it three times with the liturgical spear, saying:
In honour and commemoration of our most blessed Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary; through whose intercessions accept, O Lord, this sacrifice upon Thy most heavenly Altar.
He then removes a large, triangular particle and places it to the side of the Lamb, as he says:
"At Thy right hand stood the queen, arrayed in vesture wrought of gold and diverse colours."
The remainder of the prosphoron is blessed over the holy table, before the blessing of the antidoron, with the phrase
Today, this practice is usually performed only in some monasteries. After the Liturgy, a triangular portion is cut from the prosphoron by the refectorian. The Panagia is then cut in half and laid crust downwards on a dish in a small table in the refectory. After the meal, the refectorian takes off his epanokamelavkion and kamilavkion, saying,
Two hymns are then sung while the refectorian, accompanied by a cleric with a hand censer, offers the Panagia to those assembled. Each takes a piece between his finger and thumb, passes it through the incense, and then eats it.
Artoklasia
There are also loaves which are baked for blessing and distribution to the faithful outside of the Divine Liturgy. These are generally called artos and are usually made from a single round of dough rather than two. They may be stamped with the same seal used at the Liturgy, though usually they have only a simple cross or an icon such as the patron saint of the local church or monastery. Five loaves are usually made, and they are blessed at a service called the Artoklasia. These loaves, together with wheat, wine, and oil, are blessed and distributed to the faithful during the All-Night Vigil.
