The Sacrifice

The lecture explains the spiritual and liturgical meaning of the holy bread (Qurban) in the Coptic Orthodox Church, emphasizing its holiness, the proper way of preparing it, its theological symbolism, and its direct connection to the sacrament of the Eucharist, while stressing the importance of respecting church rites and avoiding treating the Qurban as ordinary bread or a commercial item.

1. The Meaning and Holiness of the Qurban
The Qurban is not ordinary bread but an offering through which a person draws near to God. Therefore, it must not be sold or bought, but given freely in the church, with voluntary offerings.

2. The Proper Time for Distribution
The correct practice is to receive the Qurban after entering the church or upon leaving, since believers enter the church fasting, and it is not appropriate to eat it before prayer.

3. The Origin and Symbolism of the Qurban
The Qurban is made from pure wheat, symbolizing Christ who likened Himself to a grain of wheat. It points to Christ’s incarnation and redemption, not merely to food.

4. Who Prepares the Qurban and Where
The Qurban must be prepared by a deacon or a consecrated person, in a designated church place called “Bethlehem,” symbolizing Christ’s birth.

5. The Spiritual State of the One Who Prepares It
The person preparing the Qurban must be pure in body and spirit, spiritually connected to God, reciting psalms and hymns, because this work is dedicated to God.

6. The Lamb Bread and Its Distinction
The Lamb bread is the only one that enters the sanctuary and is placed on the altar. It represents Christ in His redemption and His bearing of human sins, and therefore must be carefully chosen to be without blemish.

7. The Symbolism of Leaven
Leaven is used in the Lamb bread not as a symbol of Christ, but as a symbol of the sins of humanity which Christ carried on our behalf in His redemption.

8. Respect for the Church Rite
The lecture strongly emphasizes strict adherence to the church rite in preparing, offering, and distributing the Qurban, because any negligence diminishes the holiness of the divine mystery.

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