I appreciate the posting of the text of the Revised Divine Liturgy. Is there a text for the Proskomedia service? You would think there would be some revisions--like "Theotokos" for "Mother of God" and changes for "mankind" in it. No doubt there are other changes.

I noticed in the text of the Revised Liturgy there are directions on how to distribute the Lamb for Communion. (You have to really magnify the text to see that in the illustration on page A-32.) Is this normally done now in parishes where they use pre-cut pieces? I don't know myself but wonder.

I think the Revised Liturgy should also include the text for the Proskomedia Service, perhaps as an appendix. The faithful should know more about this service. I also think this would be a great time for the Metropolia to restore traditional prosphora practices and ban the use of pre-cut pieces.

Nec

I could only publish the text that I received - Everything that I received, you have. I trustingly assume that some sort of Prothesis is intended.

Fr. Serge

I agree that it would be intended. One would think it would be part of the publication of the Revised Liturgy also, however.

Does anyone know if the suggested distribution of the Lamb for Communion from the picture in the text is done in parishes which use pre-cut pieces?

I've seen the text of the revised Proskomedia/Prothesis. Besides some of the "inclusive" language there is not much difference than the previous edition.

However, were a few needed corrections that were made: In the commemoration of the saints at the cutting of the particles, the names of a couple of the martyrs was corrected: formerly the text spoke of the great martyrs Gregory, and Theodore of Tyre. They are now properly: George and Theodore the Recruit.

These correction are among only a few improvements that have been made to the text. Many of the other "improvements" are problematic as our discussions manifest.

Thank you, Lazareno, for the input. Was there any indication in the text about the rubics for the prosphora and the cutting of it?

Meanwhile, I've just done the first draft of a translation of the Prothesis as it appeared in the 1629 service-book published in Kyiv.

Fr. Serge

From the revised Proskomedia:

The priest takes a prophora in his left hand and lance in his right and makes the sign of the cross three times with the lance over the seal of the proshora, saying: In remembrance... (3x)

As the priest makes four incisions, the deacon says for each one: Let us pray to the Lord.

The priest thrusts the lance into the side of the seal(the priest's left) and says while cutting:
Like a lamb led...

Then into the left side (the priest's right):
And like a sheep...

Then into the upper side of the seal:
In his humiliation, judgment was taken agains him.

Then into the lower side:
Who shall declare...

Deacon: Reverend Father, lift it out.

The priest inserts the holy lance obliquely into the right side of the prosphora and lifts out the holy bread, saying:
For his life is taken...

The priest places it seal downward on the holy discos

Deacon: Reverend Father, offer it.

Then the priest offers it, cutting into the Lamb in the form of a cross, saying:
Priest: The Lamb of God who takes away...

He turns it over so that the seal is upwards.

Deacon: Reverend Father, pierce it.

Then the priest pierces it with the lance on the right side (IC), saying:
Priest: One of the soldiers pierced his side...

Then the deacon takes wine and water and says to the priest:
Deacon: Reverend Father, bless this holy union.

The deacon, having obtained the blessing over them, pours wine together with a little water into the holy chalice.

Second Prosphora.

The priest then takes the second prosphora in his hand, saying:
In honor and memory of our most blessed Lady...

The priest, cutting off a particle, places it to the right of the holy bread, close to the middle, saying:
The Queen stood at your right hand...

Third prophora.

The priest takes the third prosphora and cutting off the first partice, he places it to the left of the holy bread, thus starting the first column with it, saying:
The honorable and heavenly angelic powers.

Cutting off a partice, he places it properly below the first particle, saying:
The honorable and glorious prophet, forerunner...

He places the third particle below the second, thus completing the first column, saying:
The holy, glorious, and illustrious apostles...

Cutting off the fourth particle, he plaes it near the first particle, in this way beginning the second column, saying:
Our holy fathers, the hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory...

Taking the fifth particle, he places it below the first particle of the second column, saying:
The holy apostle, first martyr, and archdeacon Stephen...

In the same way cutting off the sixt particle, he places it below the second particle, thus completing the second column, saying:
Our venerable and God-bearing fathers Anthony...

Cutting off the seventh particle, he place it at the top, beginning a third column, saying:
The holy and charitable wonder-workers: Cosmas and Damian...and all charitable workers.

He places the eighth particle in order below the first particle, saying:
The holy and just ancestors of God...

Likewise cutting off the ninth particle he places it at the end of the third column in order to complete it, saying:
In memory of the holy (names of saint/s of the church and of the day)...

Fourth prosphora.

The priest takes the fourth prosphora and cutting off the first particle, he places it below the holy bread, saying:
Remember, O loving and kind Master, our holy father...

He mentions by name those of the living for whom he wishes to pray, including his ordaining bishop if living; and for each name he cuts off a particle, saying:
Remember, O Lord, (Name).

Taking particles in that way, he places them below the holy bread.

Fifth prosphora.

The priest takes the fifth prosphora and cutting off the first particle, he says:
For the blessed memory and remission...

He then makes mention of his ordaining bishop if deceased, and others of the departed for whom we wishes to pray. At the mention of each name he cuts off a particle, saying:
Remember, O Lord, the soul(s) of your departed...

Taking particles in that way, he places them below the row for the living.

Finally, he says:
Remember also, O Lord, my unworthiness...

Taking the sponge he gathers the particles together below the holy bread on the diskos so that they be secure and none fall off.

End text.
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From this point on the text deals with the incensing and veling of the gifts.
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I think when referring to only one loaf one should speak of a prosphoron, as prosphora is plural?? May Fr. Serge could clarify.
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Finally, instead of the "charitable" workers they could have used the term "unmercenaries", in Greek, Anargyri. This is an uncommon term, but this would not be heard by the people but by the priests.

Sorry for some the typos that I am responsible for.

Text itself seems to have eliminated some commas, etc.

In English "prosphora" is sometimes used in the singular, I must admit, although "prosphoron" is probably better. You might prefer my own usage: a loaf of Prosphora. But then, I've always liked to loaf.

"Mercenary" is a reasonably common English word, so "unmercenary" shouldn't pose much of a problem to most literate English-speakers.

Fr. Serge