As I mentioned in my last post (click here to read), the priest prepares the bread, called prosphora, for the Divine Liturgy in a special serviced called Proskomedia.
During that service he cuts out a section of the bread that will become the lamb. This is what is consecrated during the Divine Liturgy. While he does that, he recites several biblical verses that recall Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
The priest also remembers all the saints of the church, as well as the living and departed members of the local community.
This reinforces the idea that the Body of Christ is everyone gathered together, around the communion table. It’s a beautiful image!
After the priest does all of this, he’s ready to cover the gifts with the star, the veils, and the aer (the what?).
Why does the priest do this?
What sort of prayers go along with these actions?
What’s the meaning of this, and why does the priest cover them?
Good questions, let’s find out!
FIRST THE PRIEST COVERS THE BREAD WITH THE STAR
The star, or the asterisk, is made up of two metal brackets that are affixed together to form a “star.” Functionally, they hold up the cover that goes over the paten.
Some priests will say this as they put the star on the paten,
And the star came and stood over the place where the child was with Mary His mother.
This prayer recalls that the Table of Oblation, the place where this service takes place, is a symbol of Bethlehem. From here Christ is born and enters the world (in our case, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, which is brought out among the people).
However, there’s a more ancient prayer, and it is,
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made firm, and by the Spirit of his mouth, all their power.
This prayer is Psalm 33:6.
It’s beautiful because the Christian conviction is that the word of the Lord is none other than Christ! Recall John 1,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. (Jhn 1:1-3 RSV)
Through Christ the world is transformed and recreated. The bread covered by the star will become the very body of Christ, and when we partake of it, we too will be transformed and recreated.
So, it’s appropriate that this first prayer recalls that God created through his Word, Jesus Christ.
NEXT THE PRIEST COVERS THE PATEN WITH A VEIL
Now that the star is covering the gifts, the priest can cover the entire paten with a veil.
As he does this he says,
The Lord reigns: he has clothed himself in glory. The Lord has robed and girded himself with strength. For he has made firm the world, and it shall not be moved.
You will probably recognize this as Psalm 93:1.
This prayer can probably be understood in a number of ways.
I take comfort understanding that the “robing and girding with strength” is the Word becoming flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. It is, in this way, that the Lord clothes himself in glory.
St. John tells us,
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (Jhn 1:14 RSV)
Through the Incarnation of Christ the world is made firm, and it shall not be moved.
The priest covering the paten with the veil symbolizes all of this.
NEXT THE PRIEST COVERS THE CHALICE WITH A VEIL
After the priest covers the paten, he then covers the chalice, which contains wine mixed with a few drops of water.
As he does this, he says,
Your glory has covered the heavens, and the earth is full of your praise.
This prayer is taken from Habakkuk 3:3.
God’s glory, through the crucified messiah, has shown over all the earth through the preaching of the gospel. The world has been redeemed through Jesus Christ, and now all the earth sings his praises.
This is a beautiful prayer to pray just before the Divine Liturgy, which is living out this hymn: singing God’s praises.
NOW THE PRIEST COVERS THE PATEN AND THE CHALICE WITH THE AER
Now that the paten and chalice both have veils over them, the priest can cover both with the aer.
The aer is simply a large veil. This is what the priest waves over the gifts while the congregation recites the Creed.
As he places the aer over the gifts, he prays,
Cover us in the shelter of your wings; drive away from us every warlike foe; bring peace to our life. Lord, have mercy on us and on your world, and as a good and loving God save our souls.
Though this prayer doesn’t come from scripture, it is very scriptural. One may recall Psalm 61,
Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to thee …for thou art my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in thy tent for ever! Oh to be safe under the shelter of thy wings! [Selah] (Psa 61:1-4 RSV)
The prayer reminds me that partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ is putting my trust in him.
Life may be rough, and things may not go well for me, but I know that I am in Christ’s embrace, sheltered by his wings.
The aer reminds me of this, and it gives me hope.
P.S. THE LAST PRAYER IS A SUMMARY REMINDING US THAT CHRIST SANCTIFIES US
The last prayer, I believe, summarizes the entire service of Proskomedia very nicely.
Here’s what it says,
O God, our God, you sent the heavenly bread, to nourish the whole world, our Lord and God Jesus Christ, as redeemer and benefactor, blessing and sanctifying us. Will you now bless this Oblation and accept it at your altar above the heavens. As a good and loving Lord, remember those who have offered these gifts and those for whom they were offered; and hold us blameless in the performance of your divine mysteries.
WOW!
What a powerful prayer!
I many ways, I think this prayer sums up the entirety of the Divine Liturgy: we offer our lives, faith, and hope to God in the form of bread and wine; in turn he accepts our gifts, transforms them, and offers them back to us as the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ; when we partake, we too are transformed and saved.
Beautiful! It’s absolutely beautiful!
I now invite all of you to come this Sunday (10:30 am @ 2001 Asbury Rd, Dubuque) and be nourished by the living bread, Jesus Christ, who empties himself so that we can be made whole!
(Or find your nearest Orthodox Church by clicking here.)