The Oblation
Without Honey or Sugar
The oblation is made from wheat flour.
And the grain of wheat had been a symbol of the incarnation of the Lord Christ.
And He Himself said about His death and resurrection: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24).
But here, it is not merely wheat, but flour “ground for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5).
And the grain offering in the Book of Leviticus was a symbol of Christ in the flesh (Leviticus 2).
And the grain offering was without honey.
Honey or sugar symbolizes beloved desires, and may symbolize pleasure, while the life of Christ on earth was suffering for our sake.
The presence of honey or sugar in the oblation does not agree with what the Scripture says about the Lord Christ, that He is “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).
We say this because it has come to our knowledge that one of the churches in Cairo coats its oblation with some sugar to sweeten its taste. This action is against the rite and against the symbol, and it is subject to reproach. If it occurs, it should be stopped, and the one responsible is the priest first and last…
Flour is a symbol of Christ in the flesh, and so also is the Passover lamb. And the Scripture commanded that the Passover lamb be “eaten with bitter herbs” (Exodus 12:8).
And bitter herbs are not suitable with honey or sugar, or anything sweet.
The oblation is bread, so what is its relation to leaven?
And if leaven in the Scripture symbolizes evil, is it appropriate to put leaven in the oblation bread?
We will meet in answering this question in the next issue, God willing.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine – Year Eight (Issue Six) – 11-2-1977
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