Sacramental bread 1359030 225790959 2008-07-15T12:29:01Z 146.191.228.11 undo vandalism [[Image:Patene-byzantine.jpg|thumb|300px|The [[Lamb (liturgy)|Lamb]] and particles placed on the [[diskos]] during the [[Divine Liturgy]].]] [[Image:Hostia i komunikanty.JPG|thumb|Roman Catholic [[Azymes|unleavened]] Host for the Celebrant and [[wafer]]s for the communicants.]] [[Image:Kleste na hostie.jpg|thumb|right|Tongs used for baking hosts.]] [[Image:Kleste na hostie detail.jpg|thumb|right|Detail of tongs for baking hosts.]] [[Image:Vykrajovatko na hostie.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jagger]] for making hosts.]] [[Image:Methodistcommunion6.jpg|thumb|[[United Methodist]] [[Elder (Methodism)|Elder]] presiding at the Eucharist, using a leavened loaf of bread.]] '''Sacramental bread''', sometimes called '''[[Lamb (liturgy)|Lamb]]''' or '''Host''' is the bread which is used in the Christian ritual of the [[Eucharist]]. ==Eastern Orthodox== {{main|Prosphora|Azymes}} The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] continues the ancient practice of using [[leaven]]ed bread for the Eucharist. Thus, the sacramental bread symbolizes the [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrected Christ]]. The sacramental bread, known as ''prosphora'', may be made out of only four ingredients: *the finest (white) [[wheat flour]] *pure water *yeast *salt Sometimes, [[holy water]] will be either sprinkled into the dough or on the kneading trough at the beginning of the process. The baking may only be performed by a believing Orthodox Christian in good standing—having preferably been recently to [[Confession]], and is accompanied by prayer and fasting. Before baking, each loaf is formed by placing two disks of dough, one on top of the other, and stamping it with a special liturgical seal. The prosphora should be fresh and not stale or moldy when presented at the [[altar]] for use in the [[Divine Liturgy]]. Often several prosphora will be baked and the priest shall choose the best one for the [[Lamb (liturgy)|Lamb]] (Host) that will be [[consecrated]]. ==Roman Catholic== A '''host''' is a portion of bread used for [[Holy Communion]] in many [[Christian]] churches. In [[Western Christianity]] the host is often a thin, round [[azymes|unleavened]] [[wafer]]. Most of the [[Eastern Christian]] churches use a host cut from a [[leaven]]ed loaf of bread (see [[Lamb (liturgy)|Lamb]]). The word host is derived from the [[Latin language|Latin]], ''hostia'', which means "victim" or "sacrificial animal". The term can be used to describe the bread both before and after [[consecration]], though it is more correct to use it after consecration - "altar bread" being preferred before consecration. Western theology teaches that at the [[Words of Institution]] the bread is changed ([[transubstantiation|transubstantiated]] into the [[Body of Christ]], while Eastern theology sees the [[epiclesis]] as no less necessary. Hosts are often made by [[nun]]s as a means of supporting their religious communities. In the [[Latin Rite]], [[unleavened bread]] is used as in the Jewish [[Passover]] or Feast of Unleavened Bread. The [[Byzantine Rite]] [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] (like the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]) use leavened bread for [[Prosphora]] (the Greek word for Eucharistic altar bread). The [[Armenian Catholic Church]] (like the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]]), the [[Syro-Malabar Church]] and the [[Maronite Church]] have adopted the use of unleavened bread (see [[liturgical latinisation]]). Some traditions proscribe the use of spiced, flavored or sweetened hosts, while others allow it.{{fact|date=June 2008}} However, both Eastern and Western traditions insist that the bread must be made from wheat. The [[Canon law (Catholic Church)|Code of Canon Law]], Canon 924 requires that the hosts be made from wheat flour and water only. The [[General Instruction of the Roman Missal]] §321 recommends that "the eucharistic bread ... be made in such a way that the priest at Mass with a congregation is able in practice to break it into parts for distribution to at least some of the faithful. ... The action of the [[fraction (religion)|fraction]] or breaking of bread, which gave its name to the [[Eucharist]] in apostolic times, will bring out more clearly the force and importance of the sign of unity of all in the one bread, and of the sign of charity by the fact that the one bread is distributed among the brothers and sisters." ==Protestant== In the varying [[Protestant]] denominations, there is a wide variety of practices concerning the sacramental bread used. Some use leavened loaves of bread, some continue to use unleavened [[wafer]]s like the Roman Catholics, and some use [[matzo]]. Even among those who use the unleavened wafers, there is a great deal of variation: some are square or triangular rather than round, and may even be made out of whole wheat flour. ==Notes== {{Reflist}} == Bibliography == * Tony Begonja, ''Eucharistic Bread-Baking As Ministry'', San Jose: Resource Publications, 1991, ISBN 0-89390-200-4. ==See also== *[[Body of Christ]] *[[Sacramental wine]] *[[Prosphora]] *[[Opłatek]] *[[1825]] [[Anti-Sacrilege Law]] (France) *[[Liturgical latinisation]] *[[Lamb (Liturgy)]] ==External links== * [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01349d.htm New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: Altar Breads] {{Baked goods with religious iconography}} [[Category:Eucharist]] [[Category:Ceremonial food and drink]] [[Category:Catholic liturgy]] [[Category:Eastern liturgy]] [[Category:Catholic Mass]] [[cs:Hostie]] [[de:Hostie]] [[es:Hostia]] [[fr:Hostie]] [[ko:면병]] [[hr:Hostija]] [[id:Hosti]] [[it:Ostia (liturgia)]] [[la:Hostia]] [[li:Hostie]] [[ml:ഓസ്തി]] [[nl:Hostie]] [[pl:Hostia]] [[ru:Хостия]] [[sq:Ostja]] [[sl:Hostija]] [[fi:Öylätti]] [[sv:Hostia]]