Leavened or Unleavened Bread in the Eucharist?
From a podcast by Fr. Thomas Hopko
Fr. Thomas Hopko looks at the significance of using leavened bread and real wine for the Eucharist in his June 10, 2014, podcast “The Bread and the Wine” from the “Worship in Spirit and Truth” series of lectures. Here is a summary:
I. Central Theme
Leavened bread and real wine are essential materials in the Eastern Orthodox Eucharist.
Their preparation and use express offering, sacrifice, resurrection, communion with the living Christ, and participation in the Kingdom of God.
Differences between leavened and unleavened bread reflect broader historical and theological differences between Eastern and Western Christianity.
II. Preparation of the Gifts
Location
The bread and wine are prepared at the table of oblation, traditionally to the left of the main altar.
The table may stand inside the sanctuary, in an alcove, or in a separate room.
Terminology
The preparation rite is called the prothesis or proskomedia.
The Eucharistic loaf is called prosphora, meaning “offering.”
The bread rests on a disk or paten, and the wine is placed in the chalice.
Role of the Celebrant
When a priest is the chief celebrant, most preparation is completed before the Divine Liturgy begins.
When a bishop presides, a priest performs much of the initial preparation, and the bishop completes it during the Cherubic Hymn.
The gifts are covered before being carried in procession.
The Great Entrance
The clergy carry the bread and wine through the church in a solemn procession.
The gifts are placed on the main altar for the Eucharistic offering and meal.
The procession represents the movement and offering of the whole Church, not merely a practical transfer of the elements.
III. Historical Development of the Preparation Rite
The earliest Christians brought ordinary bread and wine without an elaborate preparatory ritual.
The highly developed rite appeared relatively late, especially around the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Coptic, Syriac, and Armenian traditions preserve forms of ritual preparation.
Details and interpretations vary among local churches.
IV. The Eucharistic Bread
Ancient Practice
Leavened bread appears to have been the usual Eucharistic bread throughout Christianity’s first millennium in both East and West.
It resembled ordinary bread eaten at meals.
Ingredients
The loaf is made primarily from wheat flour, water, yeast, and a small amount of salt.
It is baked specifically for liturgical use.
The Seal
The loaf is stamped before baking.
The central seal bears the Greek abbreviation for “Jesus Christ conquers” in Greek: ΙΣ-ΗΣ NI-KA.
The central portion is called the Lamb and is used for Holy Communion.
Other portions commemorate the Mother of God, the saints, the living, and the departed.
Who Prepares the Bread
Special customs developed concerning who could bake the loaf and what prayers should accompany the work.
At various times, baking was assigned to clergy or designated bread makers.
Some later customs restricted younger women from preparing the bread, although these restrictions have been disputed.
Baptism and participation in Holy Communion provide a theological basis for the full participation of the faithful in preparing the offering.
V. Symbolism of Leaven
Positive Meaning
Leaven represents growth, vitality, and the transforming power of God’s Kingdom.
A small amount of leaven permeates the entire loaf, echoing biblical images of the Kingdom spreading through creation.
The risen loaf symbolizes resurrection, glorification, and communion with the living Christ.
Negative Meaning
Scripture also uses “old leaven” to represent malice, corruption, hypocrisy, and sin.
The contrast is not simply between leavened and unleavened bread, but between the old life of sin and the renewed life found in Christ.
Liturgical Emphasis
The Eucharist is celebrated in the light of Christ’s resurrection, not only his suffering.
Leavened bread is therefore associated with life in the Kingdom rather than only with affliction and death.
VI. Biblical Foundations
Melchizedek
Genesis presents Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, offering bread and wine.
His offering is understood as a foreshadowing of the Eucharist.
Psalm 110 identifies a priesthood “according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews applies this eternal priesthood to Christ.
Christ as Priest and Lamb
Christ is the great High Priest who offers the sacrifice.
Christ is also the Lamb who is offered.
He is both the sacrificial and the victorious Lamb who conquers death.
Christ as the Bread of Life
John 6 identifies Christ as the Bread of Life and the living bread from heaven.
The Greek word artos, commonly associated with leavened bread, is used in Eucharistic and bread-of-life passages.
The Last Supper narratives also use the word artos.
The Lord’s Prayer
The request for “daily bread” can also be rendered “supersubstantial bread.”
This bread is understood as the bread of the coming Kingdom and as Christ himself.
The Lord’s Prayer is therefore recited shortly before Holy Communion.
VII. The Eucharistic Wine
The chalice contains real grape wine rather than grape juice.
Red wine is customary because of its visual connection with blood, and a somewhat sweet wine is often preferred.
A small amount of ordinary water is mixed with the wine before the offering.
The mixture recalls the blood and water flowing from Christ’s side and signifies the union of Christ with his people.
Before Communion, hot water called the zeon is added in the Byzantine rite.
The warmth signifies life, fervent faith, the risen Christ, and the life-giving Holy Spirit.
VIII. Theological Meaning of the Divine Liturgy
The Liturgy remembers the entire saving work of Christ: the cross, tomb, resurrection, ascension, heavenly enthronement, and future coming.
It is not a mere reenactment of the Last Supper or a repetition of Golgotha.
Holy Communion is participation in the risen and glorified Christ and in the life of the Kingdom.
The faithful offer themselves with Christ and become his living presence in the world.
The Eucharist is the action of the whole baptized assembly, led by bishops and priests.
Clergy preside, but the offering does not belong to the clergy alone.
IX. Eastern and Western Historical Differences
Change in Western Practice
The West gradually adopted unleavened bread, especially during the early second millennium.
The Latin tradition developed thin wafers that were easy to reserve, distribute, and display.
Western Eucharistic theology increasingly emphasized the Passion, sacrifice, and connection with Passover.
Eastern Objections
The East retained leavened bread as a sign of resurrection and life.
Unleavened bread was criticized as “dead bread” and as a return to Old Testament or Judaizing practice.
The debate became connected with differing understandings of Christ, priesthood, sacrifice, and the participation of the faithful.
The Schism of 1054
The type of Eucharistic bread became one of the fiercest disputes between East and West.
The controversy stood alongside issues of papal authority and the filioque.
Liturgical practice was treated as evidence of deeper theological division.
Later Practice
Eastern Catholic churches generally retain leavened bread while remaining in communion with Rome.
Armenian, Maronite, Anglican, Lutheran, and other traditions developed varying practices regarding Eucharistic bread.
The difference ultimately reflects contrasting emphases: Christ’s sacrifice and suffering, and Christ’s resurrection and living presence.
X. Concerns About Later Liturgical Interpretation
Later Byzantine interpretations sometimes treated the preparation rite as a symbolic dramatization of events in Christ’s earthly life.
This approach could make worship appear to be something performed by the clergy and watched by the laity.
A more ancient understanding emphasizes the active offering, consecration, and communion of the entire gathered Church.
Questions remain about which portions of bread are consecrated, what is distributed in Communion, and how later symbolism affected the rite.
XI. Summary
Eastern Orthodox Eucharistic bread is leavened, made from wheat flour, water, yeast, and usually salt.
The chalice contains real wine mixed with water, with hot water added before Communion.
The bread and wine begin as gifts offered by the faithful and are carried to the altar for thanksgiving and communion.
Leaven, wine, water, and warmth together express life, resurrection, sacrifice, the Holy Spirit, and the coming Kingdom.
The Eucharist is the common offering of the whole Church and participation in Christ’s complete saving work.
Source: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/spiritandtruth/the_bread_and_the_wine
