One of the elements that is part of our Paschal celebration, is the Artos, a large round loaf of bread, with an icon of the Resurrection, either stamped on it or placed beside it. The Artos is positioned on the Ambon in front of the Iconostas, for the Paschal vigil and liturgy and by tradition, remains there throughout the rest of the week (it moves in front of the open Royal Doors when services are not being conducted). Indeed there is something special about the Artos given its specific placement, and this is further emphasised by the specific prayers blessing this bread following the service.
There are in fact two prayers. One prayer is said on the feast of Pascha, and the second on Bright Saturday (although it is generally deferred to Sunday). In the first prayer, a connection is made between the exodus of Israel and the Lord’s Resurrection. The commandment to slay a lamb for Israel’s exodus from Egypt – the Lord’s liberation of His people—prefigures the Lord’s sacrifice, “the Lamb of God” (Jn.1:29) who willingly was slain upon the Cross, taking away the sins of the world, and providing our release from the enemy’s eternal slavery and hell’s indissoluble bonds. There is also a connection between the kissing and tasting of this bread, and our participation in this heavenly blessing, from He who is the “Fountain of blessings, and the Bestower of healings.” The second prayer expresses the foundational principles that Jesus Christ is not only the “Bread of eternal life” (Jn. 6:35), but also the source of superabundant mercy and nourishment. As He blessed those five loaves in the wilderness and fed the five thousand (Mt. 14:13-21), we pray that the Lord would bless this bread granting bodily and spiritual blessings and health to those who partake of it in faith.
Given this, the question arises: What makes this bread any different from the Eucharist, let alone the blessed bread offered after a Litya/Artoklasia or memorial, or even the Antidoron (bread offered after the Liturgy)? Furthermore, what makes this bread so different that it is specifically prayed over on Pascha, and then offered to the faithful on the following Saturday or Sunday?
Well first off, this bread is not communion. In the Eucharist, the bread (and wine) is offered, and is mystically changed (Gk. μεταβολή, Metabole ) to become the Body of Christ in the form of bread (St. Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Lecture 22.3); the Artos at Pascha is bread, that is blessed (Gk. Εὐλογημένος, Eulogemenos) to be just that, blessed bread. Secondly, what differentiates Artos from those other blessed breads is that they aren’t necessarily connected to any feast, or event, and can be offered throughout the year. Whereas Artos is prayed over, sprinkled/splashed with holy water, and offered on the feast of feasts – the day without end (thus the full week on the Ambon) – its very context is Pascha, and for good reason.
In the same way that the disciples Luke and Cleopas had thier eyes open when their companion (the risen Lord – Lk. 24:30-31), blessed and broke bread; we too, are compelled to open the eyes of our hearts, in the blessing and breaking of this Artos bread, and realize the reality of the Resurrection and the abiding presence of the risen Lord, who has journeyed with us, is journeying with us, and will journey with us through life.
Following the Liturgy the Artos will be cut up and distributed to the faithful. Various customs exist regarding the handling of the Artos. Some families cut it further into smaller pieces, let the particles dry, and keep them in their family Icon corner (or in the freezer). Just like our storage and use of the blessed water from Theophany, the Artos should be piously eaten when one is sick or unable to attend Church. Alternatively, there are some that eat the Artos immediately.
Whatever the customs surrounding the Artos we might observe, we are compelled to reference its context – the Resurrection. This was beautifully explained by an older friend of mine, who would say that any time she ate the Artos, she would say a prayer of thanksgiving, cross herself, consume the tiny bit of dried bread, and then sing “Christ is Risen,” regardless of the time of year.