Chalice and paten standing on the proskomedia table. On the paten are the Lamb (center) surrounded by commemorative particles of the Theotokos (left), Elizabeth and other saints (right), and the Orthodox living and departed (front). Very small particles are piled on either side of the living and departed for those parishioners who have requested prayer by the priest.
As our small group of four (priest, deacon, choir director, and altar server) prepares to offer the Divine Liturgy, all of our parishioners are encouraged to provide the names of those they love to be commemorated at the proskomedia.
This is a part of the Liturgy that occurs before the opening proclamation “Blessed is the Kingdom . . .” It takes place at a small table in the northeastern corner of the sanctuary. During it, the priest prepares the bread and wine that will be offered at the anaphora, the central part of the Liturgy when the Holy Spirit descends on us and transforms the offered gifts into the body and blood of Christ.
At the proskomedia, the priest cuts a large cube-shaped piece of bread called the Lamb and places it at the center of the plate called the paten. He then surrounds the Lamb with particles of bread taken from the prosphora loaves. These include particles commemorating saints including the Virgin Mary, the Apostles, Saint Elizabeth, and many others. The priest also takes particles from the prosphora commemorating our ruling hierach, the clergy, and various others. These others include “this God-protected land and its Orthodox people” as well as “all Orthodox Christians who have departed this life in hope of the resurrection, of life eternal, and of communion with thee O Lord.” But the commemorations of the proskomedia do not end there.
In fact, the greatest number of names offered do not belong to specific saints or members of the clergy. They belong to the members of our parish who are, with the saints, members of the body of Christ. A membership list is kept by the proskomedia table for this purpose.
But the commemorations do not end with parish members either. They continue with all those people parishioners have asked the priest to pray for. This is why every member of our church is encouraged to send in names for commemoration. And, finally, even those who are not Orthodox are remembered at the proskomedia, not with particles of bread (for these particles are eventually placed within the chalice and therefore symbolize eucharistic union with Christ), but by name over the paten.
This is the purpose and meaning of the proskomedia. Even when many of our parishioners can not attend the Liturgy, as in these days of pestilence, they can be assured that they are being remembered in prayer and that through prayer they are being united with Christ in the Eucharist.