In Orthodox churches there are several types of prayer remembrance of people. For example, an order for health for a liturgy or a prayer service, memorial services for a memorial service. Commemoration at the proskomedia is also one of the options for church remembrance, which is in great demand among believers.
Proskomidia is the preparation of a substance for the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. About 15 to 20 minutes before the start of the liturgy, the priest at the altar performs a certain sequence in which he prepares bread and wine for the future application of the latter into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
The rank of proskomidia consists of several parts. First, a large particle is removed from the main prosphora. This is the so-called lamb. It is this bread that is attached to the Body of Christ. Then the priest takes out from other prosphora small particles in memory of the Mother of God, the angels, John the Baptist and other saints. Next, the priest takes out particles in memory of living people. During this, notes are read with the names of people ordered for health. Then the dead are commemorated. This is precisely the commemoration of the proskomedia. For each name, a separate small particle is taken out, which is placed on the diskos next to the larger particles (lamb, particles in memory of the Mother of God). Also, during the proscidium, wine is poured into the holy cup (chalice), which is then added to the blood of Jesus Christ.
An attractive feature of the commemoration at the proskomedia is that at the end of the liturgy, when the sacrament of the Eucharist was already performed and people partook of the Body and Blood of Christ, the particles taken out in memory of the commemorated are lowered into the holy cup with the Blood of Christ. The priest pronounces that the Lord washed with his honest blood the sins of all those who have commemorated here.
Believers see one of the most effective prayers for their loved ones in commemoration at the proskimide.
