What is antidor when it is distributed. What is antidor? And what to do with it? When to eat prosphora

Prosphora, Antidor and Artos - how to use correctly? Bread in the Church is a symbol of Christ. He Himself said about this: “I am the Bread of Life” (John 6:48). If earthly bread nourishes human life, then Christ, the heavenly Bread, introduces human life to the fullness of Divine life in eternity. And bread is also a symbol of the Church itself. This is how it is said in the ancient Eucharistic prayer: “Just as this bread was scattered over the hills and, being gathered, became one, so will Your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth into Your Kingdom” (Didache, ch. 9)

The origin of prosphora goes back to ancient times. Its prototype was the showbread in the tabernacle of Moses. In the first centuries of Christianity, believers themselves brought with them bread, wine, oil (that is, olive oil), wax for candles - everything they needed to perform divine services. This offering (in Greek prosphora), or donation, was accepted by the deacons; The names of those who brought them were included in a special list, which was prayerfully proclaimed during the consecration of the gifts. Relatives and friends of the deceased made offerings on their behalf, and the names of the deceased were also remembered in prayer. From these voluntary offerings (prosphora), part of the bread and wine was separated for transfusion into the Body and Blood of Christ, candles were made from wax, and other gifts, over which prayers were also said, were distributed to the believers. Subsequently, only bread used for the liturgy began to be called prosphora. Over time, instead of ordinary bread, they began to specially bake prosphora in the church, accepting money as a donation in addition to ordinary offerings.

The prosphora consists of two parts, which are made from dough separately from one another and then joined together. On the upper part there is a seal depicting a four-pointed equilateral cross with the inscriptions above the crossbar IC and XC (Jesus Christ), under the crossbar HI KA (victory in Greek). Prosphora, made from flour from the grains of countless ears of ears, means both human nature, consisting of many elements of nature, and humanity as a whole, consisting of many people. Moreover, the lower part of the prosphora corresponds to the earthly (carnal) composition of man and humanity; the upper part with the seal corresponds to the spiritual principle in man and humanity, in which the image of God is imprinted and the Spirit of God is mysteriously present. God's presence and spirituality permeate the entire nature of man and humanity, which, when making prosphoras, is reflected by adding holy water and yeast to the water. Holy water signifies the grace of God, and yeast signifies the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, which gives life to every creature. This corresponds to the words of the Savior about spiritual life striving for the Kingdom of Heaven, which He likens to leaven put into flour, thanks to which the whole dough gradually rises.

The division of the prosphora into two parts visibly signifies this invisible division of human nature into flesh (flour and water) and soul (yeast and holy water), which are in an inseparable, but also unfused unity, which is why the upper and lower parts of the prosphora are made separately from one another , but then connect so that they become one. The seal on the top of the prosphora visibly denotes the invisible seal of the image of God, which penetrates the entire nature of man and is the highest principle in him. This arrangement of the prosphora corresponds to the structure of man before the Fall and the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, who restored in Himself this structure broken by the Fall.

The prosphora can be received at the candle box after the liturgy by submitting a note “On health” or “On repose” before the start of the service. The names indicated in the notes are read at the altar, and for each name a particle is taken out of the prosphora, which is why such a prosphora is also called “taken out.”

At the end of the liturgy, the antidor is distributed to the worshipers - small parts of the prosphora from which the Holy Lamb was taken out at the proskomedia. The Greek word antidor comes from the words anti - instead of and di oron - gift, that is, the exact translation of this word is instead of gift.

“Antidorus,” says Saint Simeon of Thessalonica, “is sacred bread that was offered as an offering and the middle of which was taken out and used for sacred rites; this bread, as sealed with a copy and having received the Divine words, is taught instead of the Terrible Gifts, that is, the Mysteries, to those who have not partaken of them.”

The antidorus should be received reverently, folding your palms crosswise, right over left, and kissing the hand of the priest giving this gift. According to the rules of the Church, the antidoron must be eaten in church, on an empty stomach and with reverence, because this is holy bread, bread from the altar of God, part of the offerings to the altar of Christ, from which it receives heavenly sanctification.

The word artos (in Greek leavened bread) means consecrated bread common to all members of the Church, otherwise it means whole prosphora.

Artos, throughout Bright Week, occupies the most prominent place in the church along with the image of the Resurrection of the Lord and is distributed to believers at the conclusion of Easter celebrations.

The use of artos dates back to the very beginning of Christianity. On the fortieth day after the Resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven. The disciples and followers of Christ found consolation in prayerful memories of the Lord - they recalled His every word, every step and every action. Gathering for common prayer, they remembered the Last Supper and partook of the Body and Blood of Christ. When preparing an ordinary meal, they left the first place at the table to the invisibly present Lord and placed bread in this place. Imitating the apostles, the first shepherds of the Church established that on the feast of the Resurrection of Christ, bread should be placed in the church as a visible expression of the fact that the Savior who suffered for us became for us the true bread of life.

The artos depicts the Resurrection of Christ or a cross on which only the crown of thorns is visible, but not the crucified Christ, as a sign of Christ’s victory over death.

The artos is consecrated with a special prayer, sprinkling with holy water and censing on the first day of Holy Easter at the liturgy after the prayer behind the pulpit. On the sole opposite the royal doors, an artos is placed on a prepared table. After censing around the table with the artos, the priest reads a special prayer, after which he sprinkles the artos three times with holy water with the words “This artos is blessed and sanctified by sprinkling sowing sacred water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

The consecrated artos is placed on the sole in front of the image of the Savior, where it lies throughout Holy Week. On all days of Bright Week, at the end of the liturgy with artos, a procession of the cross around the temple is solemnly performed. On Saturday of Bright Week, at the end of the liturgy, the priest says a special prayer, during the reading of which the artos is crushed, and when kissing the cross, it is distributed to the people as a shrine.

Particles of artos received in the temple are reverently kept by believers as a spiritual cure for illnesses and infirmities. Artos is used in special cases, for example, in illness, and always with the words “Christ is Risen!”

The prosphora and artos are kept in the holy corner near the icons. Spoiled prosphora and artos should be taken to church.

PRAYER FOR ACCEPTING PROSPORA AND HOLY WATER

Lord my God, may Thy holy gift be: prosphora and Thy holy water for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities according to Thy infinite mercy through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.

Content

An important church treat is prosphora, the use of which in the church is treated with particular scrupulousness. Essentially, these are unleavened breads made with holy water, wheat flour, which for some parishioners become a source of holiness. In reality, you need to know exactly what prosphora is so that one day in church you don’t get into an awkward situation. This topic needs to be given special attention among the masses.

What is prosphora in the Orthodox Church

Prosphora, translated from Greek, means “offerings” and has taken its strong position in the Orthodox religion. Essentially, it is a bread made from wheat flour, the main ingredients of which are yeast, holy water, and salt. According to the church laws of Orthodoxy, such unleavened baked goods symbolize the union of the human and divine essence in Jesus Christ. It is necessary to know what prosphora is and why it is eaten in Orthodoxy, so as not to show to the priest your own lack of education in church affairs.

Appearance and taste

Not all believers know for certain that the prosphora symbolizes the bread of the Last Supper, which Jesus Christ once divided among his disciples. Externally, this is a small round cookie, on the top side of which you can see a cross with equal sides and letters in the corners: IS XC NI KA. This inscription also has its own meaning and interpretation, and is translated as “Jesus Christ conquers.” Prosphora is a seal of the image of the Lord, which extremely rarely can become moldy, dry out, or become unusable.

Species

Before using such bread in church, it is important to know its purpose and all the existing varieties. According to church laws, the classification is as follows:

1. Mother of God prosphora. This is a large triangular-shaped loaf of bread that has the inscription “Mary” or “Holy Mother of God”. It is placed on a special dish along with the lamb, and is consumed mainly on religious holidays.
2. Agnic. This is a large cube-shaped bread, which during the liturgy becomes the true body of Jesus Christ. Externally, the prosphora is equipped with a cross, from which a lamb is cut out with a special knife. The unused part of the bread, called antidor, is distributed free of charge to parishioners after the service.
3. Nine-day. From a seal of this type, 9 particles are taken out, which are dedicated to all the saints. It is required to use for John the Baptist, Joachim and Anna, the prophets, saints, apostles, Archdeacon Stephen and the martyrs, the unmercenaries, Methodius and Cyril, Prince Vladimir, all saints. Dedicated to the holy author of the liturgy, for example, John Chrysostom or Basil the Great.
4. Zazdravnaya. The sacred bread is divided into two symmetrical parts and eaten for all participants in the liturgy after the service in the church.
5. Funeral. For such a case, only one particle is taken from the upper part of the prosphora, which must be eaten for all the dead and deceased. This cannot be done in the cemetery after the funeral service and burial of the newly appointed servant of God; it is strictly forbidden to crumble the bread on the graves.

Artos and Antidorus in Orthodoxy

When studying the varieties of prosphora, it is worth highlighting such a church concept as “artos”. This is the Greek word “arto”, which literally translates as “leavened bread”. So what is artos and why is this concept important in the Orthodox religion? Such a prosphora is placed in front of the altar on Easter Bright Week, consecrated on Easter, and divided and distributed to believers on Saturday of Bright Week. Such bread is supposed to be kept at home, and eaten if a believer is suddenly overtaken by illness, he falls ill.

Antidoron (translated as “instead of communion”) is the unused part of the bread, which after the completion of the liturgy is distributed to all parishioners who wish. From the point of view of Christianity, this is the memory of the suffering of Christ on the cross. Therefore, it is necessary to use antidor carefully and carefully. It is important to clarify that such a portion of the sacred bread should not be given to unbaptized people. If artos is a symbol of the resurrection of Christ and a reminder of his stay on earth, but antidor is the eternal memory of his suffering for human sins.

How to eat prosphora at home and store it

This liturgical liturgical bread is supposed to be eaten only on occasion, so prosphora should not become part of the parishioners’ usual diet. The loaf should be kept at the altar in the church or at home near the holy icons. It is necessary to consume prosphora internally slowly, chewing each crumb thoroughly. If there are crumbs left after a meal, you must pick them up and eat them too. Other rules for using and storing this sacred bread are presented below:

1. It is important not to swear or use foul language if there is bread or prosphora on the table. Complete silence and spiritual subjugation are required.
2. The bread should not remain on the table; after eating, it must be carefully placed in a special bag.
3. Eating the sacred bread inside is allowed only after accepting the Orthodox faith and completing events serving God.
4. Prosphora can be brought home and consumed only after fervent prayer with pure thoughts and always on an empty stomach.
5. Such a meal is conducive to good deeds, helps to feel spiritual holiness and lightness, and allows a person to start a new life in the right way of thinking.

When to eat prosphora

Prosphoras, like sacred bread, sanctify the one who eats them. Such bread should be stored in special molds; it is advisable not to remove them from the icons, but to be consumed internally mainly on an empty stomach. If a woman is having her period, it is important to remember that during her menstrual period it is better for her not to appear in church at all and, especially, not to eat this sacred bread. The same restriction applies to Good Friday, when it is also undesirable to sanctify one’s own body. Below are other rules for the correct use of this church ingredient:

1. It is important not to mix the consumption of sacred mallow with other dishes during the main meal.
2. Before putting a piece in your mouth and slowly experiencing it, you should pray fervently.
3. Before eating such bread, after the service in church, you need to lay a clean and snow-white tablecloth on the table and pour about three sips of holy water into a glass.
4. When consuming, it is important to be especially vigilant so that not a single crumb remains on the floor.
5. After chewing the prosphora, you need to drink about three sips of holy water and not choke.

Bread in the Church - a symbol of Christ. He Himself said about this: “ I am the Bread of Life"(John 6:48). If earthly bread nourishes human life, then Christ, the heavenly Bread, introduces human life to the fullness of Divine life in eternity.

And bread is also a symbol of the Church itself. This is how it is said in the ancient Eucharistic prayer: “ Just as this bread was scattered over the hills and, being gathered, became one, so will Your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth into Your Kingdom"(Didache, chapter 9).

Prosphora Its origin goes back to the first centuries of Christianity, when believers themselves brought bread, wine, oil (that is, olive oil), wax for candles - everything they needed to perform worship. This is an offering (in Greek prosphora), or donation, was accepted by the deacons; The names of those who brought them were included in a special list, which was prayerfully proclaimed during the consecration of the Gifts. From these voluntary offerings (prosphora), part of the bread and wine was separated for transfusion into the Body and Blood of Christ, candles were made from wax, and other gifts, over which prayers were also said, were distributed to the believers. Subsequently, only bread used for the celebration of the Liturgy began to be called prosphora. Over time, instead of ordinary bread, churches began to specially bake prosphora, accepting money as a donation in addition to ordinary offerings.

The prosphora can be received at the candle box after the Liturgy by submitting a note “On health” or “On repose” before the start of the service. The names indicated in the notes are read at the altar, and for each name a particle is taken out of the prosphora, which is why such a prosphora is also called “taken out.”

At the end of the Liturgy, the worshipers are given antidor- small parts of the prosphora from which the Holy Lamb was taken out at the proskomedia. Greek word antidor comes from the words anti– instead of and dear– gift, that is, the exact translation of this word – instead of giving .

« Antidor, says Saint Simeon of Thessalonica, there is sacred bread, which was brought in offering and the middle of which was taken out and used for sacred rites; this bread, as sealed with a copy and having received the Divine words, is taught instead of the Terrible Gifts, that is, the Mysteries, to those who have not partaken of them».

Word artos(in Greek leavened bread) means consecrated bread common to all members of the Church, otherwise - whole prosphora .

In memory of the fact that the Lord, after His Resurrection, repeatedly appeared to the apostles and ate food with them, the apostles, even after His Ascension, had the custom of leaving the middle place unoccupied at the meal and placing part of the bread in front of it, as if for the Lord present among them. This bread represents the artos now used in the Church. During Bright Week, he lies in the church on a lectern, in front of the iconostasis, and outside the service - in front of the open Royal Doors, reminding of the appearances of the risen Lord to the apostles and of His presence with us. In accordance with the meaning of Easter, which combines the events of the death and Resurrection of the Lord, the artos depicts the sign of Christ’s victory over death, or a cross crowned with thorns, or an icon of the Resurrection of Christ.

The artos is consecrated with prayer, sprinkling with holy water and censing on the day of the Holy Resurrection of Christ at the Liturgy after the prayer behind the pulpit. It is placed on the sole opposite the royal doors on a prepared table. After censing around the table with the artos, the priest reads a special prayer, after which he sprinkles the artos with holy water three times with the words “ This artos is blessed and sanctified by sprinkling sowing sacred water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen».

On all days of Bright Week, at the end of the liturgy, a procession of the cross around the temple with an artos is solemnly performed. In monasteries, it is supplied daily for meals and placed on a special table or lectern to remind the monks that among them, as once among the apostles, the Lord Himself, the true Bread of Life, is invisibly present. In the rite of artos, troparia are sung, which speak of the Resurrection of Christ and His presence with us.

On Saturday of Bright Week, at the end of the Liturgy, the priest says a special prayer, during the reading of which the artos is crushed, and when kissing the cross, it is distributed to the people as a shrine.

Particles of artos received in the temple are reverently kept by believers as a spiritual cure for illnesses and infirmities. Artos is usually used in special cases, for example, in illness, always with the words “Christ is Risen!”

Artos, by grace, is lower than antidor, but higher than prosphora. Those. If a believer wants to take artos, antidor and prosphora at once, then first he eats the antidor, then the artos, and then the prosphora. Saint Innocent of Kherson, in a word before distributing the artos, said: “It should be used with reverence as a shrine, but one should not attach any greater significance to it. Some people think that this bread can replace the divine Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. This opinion is sinful; a Christian must know and remember that nothing, no shrine can replace the Most Pure Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, there is no need to store this bread for a whole year, as some do, attributing to artos a meaning that it does not have. This is also prohibited by the church authorities (Decree of the Holy Synod of 1723, June 15).”

5.1. What is "holy water"? This is water of ordinary composition and original origin (well, spring, lake, river, tap), miraculously acquiring sanctifying (graceful) and healing properties after performing a special prayer service called water blessing. 5.2. Why does the Church sanctify water and bread? It is difficult to find something that would be so necessary for people in their earthly life and constitute such an urgent need as bread and water. Bread is the simplest and natural food for man, supporting and strengthening his strength. A person uses water to quench thirst and prepare food, and washes the body and things it uses with it. These two essential substances for a person in his physical life turn out to be integral elements for him in his spiritual life. Bread, consisting of many grains, personifies the Church - One with the plurality of its members. Bread serves the greatest Sacrament - Holy Communion.

By consecrating water, the Church returns to the water element its primitive purity and holiness, and by the power of prayer and the Word of God brings down the blessing of the Lord onto the water. Blessed water is an image of God's grace: it cleanses believers from spiritual impurities, sanctifies and strengthens them for the feat of salvation in God, extinguishes the flames of passions, and drives away evil spirits.

Therefore, holy water is necessarily present during the consecration of temples and all objects used in worship, during the consecration of residential buildings, buildings, and any household item. Believers are sprinkled with holy water during religious processions and prayer services.

5.3. What is agiasma?

– Translated from Greek “agiasma” means shrine. This is the name given to water consecrated according to a special great rite on the feast of the Epiphany.

5.4. How does Epiphany water differ from Epiphany water?

– There is a misconception that these are different waters: the water that is blessed on January 18 is Epiphany water, and the one that is blessed on January 19 is Epiphany water. On both the 18th and 19th of January, the water is blessed with the same great rite. This blessing of water is called great, both in comparison with the other, smaller one, performed on August 1/14 on the Feast of the Origin (removal) of the Venerable Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, and on other days, and because of the special solemnity of the rite, imbued with the memory of the Baptism of the Savior by John in the river Jordan.

The blessing of water performed on the eve of Epiphany on January 18 serves as a monument to the fact that in ancient times on the eve of Epiphany the blessing of water was performed for the baptism of the catechumens, and therefore it is performed in churches where the catechumens were baptized.

After the Liturgy on January 19, the blessing of water is performed in remembrance of the Baptism of the Lord, therefore there is a solemn procession with a cross, the Gospel, lamps and banners, with bells ringing and the singing of the troparion to water sources.

This holiday is called Epiphany because at the Baptism of the Lord the Divine Holy Trinity appeared: God the Father spoke from heaven about the Son, the Son of God was baptized by John and witnessed by God the Father, and the Holy Spirit descended on the Son in the form of a dove. Since ancient times, this holiday has also been called the day of enlightenment and the holiday of lights, because God is Light and appeared to enlighten "those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death"(Matt. 4:16).

5.5. How to use Epiphany water?

– Epiphany water is a shrine that should be in every home of an Orthodox Christian. It is carefully kept in the holy corner near the icons. Holy water remains incorruptible for many years and has the property of not deteriorating.

Out of reverence for the shrine, they usually take Epiphany water on an empty stomach. However, in case of illness or attack by evil forces, you can drink it at any time. You can also anoint sore spots with holy water and sprinkle your home.

5.6. What to do if holy water has spoiled?

- Spoiled holy water is poured into a stream or river - where there is a current, into the so-called living, static (flowing) water.

5.7. What is artos? When is it distributed?

– Artos (translated from Greek as “bread”) is leavened bread, a special prosphora blessed on Easter night. Invoking God's blessing on the artos, in a special prayer the priest asks the Lord to heal every ailment and illness, and to grant health to all who partake of it.

Throughout Bright Week, the artos remains on the lectern opposite the Royal Doors of the altar and is worn daily for Easter. On Bright Saturday, it is crushed with special prayer and distributed to believers. Artos is a symbol of the Risen Christ and reminds of His stay on earth.

5.8. What is antidor? When and to whom can it be taken?

– Antidor (translated from Greek as “instead of a gift”) are particles of the main prosphora used for the Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is distributed to those present at the Liturgy for the blessing and sanctification of soul and body - so that those who have not partaken of the Holy Mysteries may taste the consecrated bread.

Antidor is a shrine that became it through the prayer of the priest and the remembrance of the Savior’s suffering on the cross. Therefore, it is established to use antidor only on an empty stomach with attention and caution so as not to spill crumbs on the floor. It is best to eat this sacred bread in the temple, but you can also take it home. Antidor should not be given to unbaptized people.

5.9. What is prosphora and what does it symbolize?

– Prosphora in the present Church is a small round loaf of bread used during worship. It is prepared only from leavened wheat dough. The prosphora is two-part (has an upper and lower part) - as a reminder of the unity of the two natures of the Lord Jesus Christ: divine and human.

The upper part of the prosphora is imprinted with a seal depicting a four-pointed cross with the words “IC.XC.NIKA”, meaning “Jesus Christ the Victorious”. There are prosphoras with images of the Mother of God and saints of God. A prosphora consecrated in the altar, from which a piece is taken out, is a shrine.

5.10. What does the word “prosphora” mean?

– Translated from Greek, the word “prosphora” means “offering”, since in ancient times the best bread was brought to the temple. Part of it was intended for the celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the other part was eaten at a fraternal meal.

5.11. How to handle prosphora?

– Since consecrated church bread is sacred, it is customary to eat it on an empty stomach, not allowing the crumbs to fall to the floor. Eating prosphora reverently and with faith brings mental and physical health.

It is advisable to burn the paper in which the church bread was wrapped, as crumbs may remain in it. It is better to use special bags for storing prosphora, which are sold in church shops. Blessed bread must be stored with appropriate care, in a certain place (in the holy corner next to the icons), avoiding mold. If, as a result of careless storage, the consecrated bread nevertheless spoils, then it must be burned.

5.12. Is it possible to eat prosphora at the cemetery?

– Prosphora is not eaten “for the dead” or “for the living.” This shrine serves to sanctify only those who partake of it. There is no need to eat prosphora at the cemetery, but rather eat it at home, having first read the prayer “For the use of prosphora and holy water,” which is in Orthodox prayer books.

5.13. Is it possible to crumble prosphora at the grave?

- Since prosphora is a sacred thing, it is not good to crumble it. The deceased do not need bodily food, they only need prayers for them.

5.14. What kind of bread is distributed at the all-night vigil?

– This is also consecrated bread. Previously, services lasted quite a long time (and the all-night vigil lasted all night), and Christians ate bread to strengthen their strength. Although the duration of the services has now been reduced, this custom has been preserved.

5.15. When is Christmas water blessed and given?

– There is no special blessing of water on Christmas Day.

5.16. What happens if you add Epiphany water to ordinary water?

- Epiphany water will sanctify ordinary water, and all of it will become sanctified.

5.17. Is it possible to make soup from the remaining holy water?

– Holy water can be added to food to sanctify it; it can be sprinkled on food.

5.18. What is the benefit of taking prosphora and holy water?

– If a person uses prosphora and holy water with faith and reverence, then the unclean spirit does not approach him, his soul and body are sanctified, his thoughts are illuminated to please God, and he is more disposed to fasting, prayer and all virtues.

Not only Church Tradition, but also the personal experience of believers convinces of the miraculous power of holy water. The grace of God descending on the water through the prayers of the priest gives it the power to heal illnesses (whether it be headaches or insomnia, irritation or what is called a “stressful state”), quench passions and weaken emerging sinful inclinations, free from all evil, cleanse from filth. Any item used by an Orthodox Christian is blessed with holy water.

5.19. Is it possible to drink holy water of minor consecration during the day or is this only allowed on an empty stomach?

– You can drink the water of minor consecration throughout the day.

A practical guide to parish counseling. St. Petersburg 2009.

Priest Andrei Chizhenko explains.

The word "antidor" is of Greek origin. It consists of two words: “anti” and “di oron”. “Anti” is translated into Russian as “instead”, “di oron” - “gift”. That is, the literal translation of the word is “instead of donation.”

What does it mean? We know that five prosphoras are used in proskomedia. So to speak, one of them is the best and most important. It's called lamb. From it in a certain way, with certain prayers, the priest cuts out a lamb - the core of the prosphora with a seal at the top in the form of a cross. This carved prosphora has a trapezoidal shape. Later, at the Liturgy, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, she will be transformed into the Body of Christ.

The trimmings and remnants of this prosphora, which were not included in the lamb, are essentially called antidor. It is also a great shrine. Saint Simeon of Thessalonica wrote about him: “Antidorus is sacred bread, which was offered as an offering and the middle of which was taken out and used for sacred rites; this bread, as sealed with a copy and having received divine words, is taught instead of terrible Gifts, that is, the Mysteries, to those who have not partaken of them.”

In other words, it is a shrine because it participated in one of the main sacred rites of the Orthodox Church - the preparation of the Lamb for the Body of Christ.
He began to be called Antidorus from the following liturgical and historical premises...

In ancient times, during the time of the first Christians, believers received communion at almost every Liturgy. More recent practice indicates that people began to receive communion much less frequently.

The times of the Church of the 1st century are a special period in the history of Christianity - a period of holiness, a period of enormous grace-filled gifts of the Holy Spirit, a period of holy martyrs.

Later, believers began to receive communion during the four great annual fasts and as internally necessary, but not at every Divine Liturgy. But in order not to deprive them of the shrine and, so to speak, the moment of contact with the Body and Blood of Christ, often in almost every church after the dismissal of the Liturgy, a dish with antidoron cut into pieces is brought out, which is distributed to the believers.

Hence the name - “antidor”, that is, eating instead of the Body and Blood of Christ for those who for some reason did not receive communion during the Holy Eucharist.

You should know that the antidor is not the Body and Blood of Christ. Therefore, apart from the prayer for accepting holy water and prosphora, you do not need to read any specific prayers to partake of it. You just need to consume the antidor, just like prosphora and holy water, on an empty stomach and reverently, remembering that this is a shrine. After all, the antidor participated in the proskomedia and a lamb was prepared from it for the Body of Christ.

Dear brothers and sisters, if you take antidor and prosphora home (and this is very good), I speak from experience: try to cut them into small pieces right away, before they have dried, and dry them thoroughly so that they do not bloom. In addition, it will be more convenient for you to consume them in small pieces with holy water. You also need to understand that prosphora is a sacred thing; crumbs should also not be dropped on the floor, eaten carelessly or like simple bread.

Crumbs from prosphora or prosphora that have bloomed should be thrown into running water - a river or sea. Careless handling of shrines also needs to be confessed.
There is a very good and pious tradition among believers - after morning prayers, every day on an empty stomach, eat holy water and prosphora (antidor, artos). It seems to me that in this way we receive the gracious help of the Holy Spirit in the coming day and come into contact with that Paschal joy that permeates every Divine Liturgy. Her gifts are precisely prosphora, artos and antidor.

Priest Andrey Chizhenko