Orthodox Christianity has long been aware of the custom of taking water and bread, consecrated in the temple. It is believed that the Creator himself performed the ritual for the first time while immersing himself in the waters of the Jordan, after which they became saints. Scripture teaches that a person, taking the blessed products inside, drives away unclean demons from himself. His body and spirit are filled with a special glow and light up in order to serve the Lord. It is easier for such a believer to fast and be prone to virtues of any kind.
Why take holy water and prosphora?
Priests say that consecrated water is a metaphor for the image of higher grace, a symbol of heavenly power. Her mission is to cleanse the flesh and take on the metaphysical filth that she carries away. Of course, if you just drink holy water without reinforcing the action with any spiritual foundation, you should not wait for the indulgence of grace. Tfaith alone fills the ritual with meaningtherefore prayer is necessary before the reception of holy water.
Since the water consecrated in the temple has powerful protective characteristics, it is also customary to sprinkle the corners in the house and things that need to be sanctified. It is believed that this makes them inaccessible to evil spirits and dark spirits. Many believers use water taken from the ice hole at Baptism in order to cure health problems. It is noted that holy water does not deteriorate for a long time, even if it is stored without special conditions.
Prosphora or prosvira, as it is commonly called in Russia, is a small, hand-baked bread. It may look like an ordinary roll or a small cookie, be flat or have a convex shape. There are many recipes for making prosphora, but texture or color is not as important as its figurative meaning. Translated from Greek, the word means "offering." The correct prosphora consists of two parts, symbolizing the daily bread (earthly) and heavenly, which speaks of the dual nature of Christ.
The classic recipe for prosphora involves baking both parts separately. In some cases, you can print on the outside the image of the cross, but this is not significant.
Interesting fact: Prosvira is baked in holy water and yeast - the second ingredient symbolizes the power of the Holy Spirit, which bestows the life of all creatures.
Why are the prosphora bisected? It is believed that this is how we celebrate the invisible division of human nature into flesh (flour) and spirit (yeast with blessed water). As a result, they combine into one, and this is the best way to express a religious metaphor. Flashing should be round: it is a symbol of infinity.
Where to get the prosphora to the believer? At the beginning of the Liturgy, submit a note “On Health” or for peace, and then contact the clergyman and receive bread in your hands. The prosphora issued to you is considered a shrine: You just cannot throw it away - when the baking goes bad, burn it, let it flow down the river or take it back to church.
How to eat them right?
There should not be any difficulties with how to take proswire and blessed water.However, if a person is a convert in the Orthodox faith, he should adhere to certain rules. It is believed that the optimal time for admission is the morning hours. Use holy symbols on an empty stomach. This is necessary so that they do not mix with other products and maintain a homogeneous structure, assimilated by the body in the full sense of the word.
If for a certain reason it is not possible to take prosphora with water in the morning, use them at any time of the day, but with an interval from the main meal.
Those who ignore this rule do not commit sin from the point of view of the church, but they should ask forgiveness for the misconduct. The key condition is the preservation of pure thoughts and a light soul at the moment when you absorb prosvira and drink agiasma. Prayer for the adoption of prosphora and holy water is pronounced clearly, aloud.
It's important to know: prosphora is tasted over a plate or paper - it is unacceptable that the crumbs fall to the floor and fall under the feet.
What prayers to read?
Prayer for the adoption of holy water is unique, it has no analogues. Since the text of the prayer is very short, it is recommended to memorize it and read it without hesitation. Try not to make mistakes or reservations, do not insert words from yourself or add extraneous requests.
If you want to have a sufficient supply of blessed water on hand, you need to order water sanctuary. The church holds such a rite throughout the entire calendar year and calls it small sanctification. Everyone who participated in the order of the prayer, at the end of it, receives his portion of the blessed liquid.
Holy water has a second name - “agiasma”. It is given to her in accordance with the ritual of great sanctification. She is credited with amazing properties: storage for a year until the next holiday with the conservation of all properties. Science has proven that holy water has an almost perfect molecular level structure.
During the blessing of water, a special thanksgiving prayer is read:
“Great Named God, work miracles, there are no numbers!” Come now to Thy servant praying to You, O Lord, and have eaten your Holy Spirit and sanctify this water: and the rain that drank from her and the servant who receives and sprinkles it, the change is passionate, the forgiveness of sins, the healing of the disease, and the liberation from all evil, and affirmation and the sanctification of the house and the purification of all filth, and the reprobation of the devil: as if blessed and glorified Your most honorable and magnificent Name, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and forever and ever. Amen".
Also, during the ritual, the clergyman can turn to the Mother of God, Nicholas the Good, the Blessed Matron or the miracle worker Ksenia of Petersburg.
The text of the prayer for the adoption of prosphora and holy water
Having tasted the holy water and prosvira, do not forget to pray by saying the appropriate words.
The prayer for the adoption of the prosphora is as follows:
“Lord, my God, may Your holy gift be your holy prosphora and holy water for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my soul and body forces, for the health of my soul and body, for the conquest of my passions and weaknesses according to the boundless Thy mercy through the prayers of Thy Most Holy Mother and all Your saints. Amen".
Having said a prayer and consumed the consecrated foods, sit in silence alone with yourself, surrender to your inner sensations. Do not rush to return to your usual affairs. Take the time to fill yourself with spiritual light from within, because it is for this that you performed the ritual.
