In the past, the gifts were prepared not behind the Iconastasis but in a side chapel. People would bring the bread and wine. As is the tradition in the Orthodox Church, people who were desirous of the priest praying for someone, would bring a small loaf of bread and a slip of paper   containing the names of those from whom they were asking him to pray. He would then cut a small host out of the loaf for each of the people he was asked to pray and place it on the paten. In Orthodox Churches small loafs are still sold to people in the vestibule.

This custom tells us that the bread that we consecrate represents not only Christ but also all the people for whom we pray. You are a host, a small piece of bread, on the paten and you (your life) is not only consecrated but offered to God together with Jesus.

In the Eastern Church there is great symbolism connected to the bread and wine that we consecrate. The bread is made out of many grains of wheat. The wine is made out of many grapes. This is to symbolize that we are all together, with Christ, in offering our lives to Him in deep thanksgiving for the gift of life.

The Great Entrance symbolically tells us that the purpose of our life’s journey is to return to heaven (the altar area). It is a good practice, and we rightfully do it, to follow the priest carrying the bread that represents us through the temple and to the very Throne of God. I believe this   symbolism to be very powerful, if we think about it. I would encourage all to think about this as the Great Entrance is made. Visualize the gifts representing your body and blood as they do the Body and Blood of Jesus.

Mystical Supper

In the early Church it was after the Great Entrance that the potential converts were dismissed from the temple. They were not allowed to recite the Creed. In fact the old text of the Liturgy had these words: The doors, the doors, in wisdom let us be attentive to introduce the Creed. The Catechumens (i.e., those preparing to be initiated into the Church) were dismissed at this time and the doors locked so that non-believers could not see or hear what transpired next, namely the recitation of the things that the Christians believe and then the consecration of the gifts.

As I shared with you in the last issue, before the Creed is recited the celebrant exhorts those present to love one another so that all present can profess belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit through the recitation of the Creed.

One of the reasons why we do not sing the Creed is to make sure all present can recite it. I would exhort all to recite the Creed with great thoughtfulness. Please don’t rush it but pray it thoughtfully. It contains a statement of what we believe.