The Rite of Artoklasia in the Eastern Orthodox Church: A Sacred Connection between Pre-Eucharistic and Eucharistic Table

Abstract

This study deals with the rite of artoklasia in the Eastern Orthodox Church, as an integral part of the monastic all-night vigil, in order to indentify its historical origins and stages of teleturgical development, and also to give the appropriate, theological and liturgical, interpretation of this akolouthia. Blessing of the five loaves of bread, wheat, wine and oil has been constituted in the East in order to strengthen the assembled Christians in a physical and spiritual way toward liturgical heed, watching and praying on the eve of the second coming of Messiah, which is being foretasted at the holy liturgy after the monastic agrypnia. Artoklasia was gradually introduced into all monasteries and parish churches of the Eastern Church under the impact of Typikon of Mar Saba's Lavra, starting probably from the period of the 10th-11th century, and still holds a unique place in the liturgical life of the Eastern Orthodox Christians.