Here are some of our standard recipes for Prosphora and Artoklasia (also called Litya-bread). As in everything else in the Church, there are some variations in these recipes according to the practices of the various local traditions within the Orthodox Tradition. These recipes are the standard ones used here at St. James.
Another important aspect of these recipes is that they produce the standard amounts of bread for our use at St. James. A standard Prosphora recipe makes sufficient Prosphora for one week, which includes our usual Sunday and Wednesday Liturgies. The Artoklasia recipe makes sufficient bread for one Litya service.
10-12 cups unbleached flour
1 tablespoon salt
4 cups warm water (110-115 degrees)
2 tablespoons yeast
1 Prosphora seal (stamp)
Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Add salt and flour and knead until smooth. Place in bowl, cover, and let rise while pre-heating the oven to 375 degrees. Punch down dough. Shape into two larger and two smaller round loaves. Place on baking sheet (no grease, parchment paper recommended). Dip seal in flour and stamp bread. Poke holes in loaves (around edges) with a fork and/or toothpick. Bake for about 35 minutes until top and bottom are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool on racks.
1 cup water
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon yeast
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup golden flaxseed
Mix. Knead. Form into five (5) small circles. Stamp with small stamp on Prosphora seal before baking. Bake at 350 degrees approximately 20 minutes.
Dear Lord, this bread that we will bake (have baked) represents each one of us in this family and in our congregation. We are offering ourselves to You, our very life, in humble obedience and total commitment to You. We place ourselves on Your holy altar through this bread to be used by You in any way that You feel will help enlarge Your kingdom. Accept our gift and make us worthy to receive the greater gift that You will give us when You consecrate this bread and give it back to us as Your Precious Body. Amen.
(This prayer is said, with the appropriate substitution, before and after baking)