Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In the Gr. Ch., bread forming part of the holy loaf, blessed in the prothesis, but not sacramentally consecrated, and distributed at the close of the service to those who have not communicated.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A piece of ordinary leavened bread from the remnants of the loaves used for the Eucharist. It is blessed, but not consecrated, and distributed in churches that use the Byzantine Rite.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Ancient Greek Ἀντίδωρον

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Examples

  • It should be noted that the antidoron was a part of worship in Western Europe until the I think 10th century.

    Philocrites: Ah, Byzantium! 2003

  • I did not take communion, but when Mrs Philocrites' grandmother told us to take some of the "antidoron" thanks for telling me its name!

    Philocrites: Ah, Byzantium! 2003

  • My one regret from my 1998 trip to Jerusalem was not taking the antidoron offered me at the Syriac church of St. Mark over the traditional site of The Upper Room -- I didn't know what it was then, and didn't want to falsely present myself as being in communion with that church.

    Philocrites: Ah, Byzantium! 2003

  • A certain Coptic rite church that meets in a certain Universalist church I know has been known to (but no longer does) leave out biscuit-sized hunks of antidoron, which has gone for the corporal (if not spiritual) benefit of vermin.

    Philocrites: Ah, Byzantium! 2003

  • But taking the antidoron lit. "not the gift" are we, Philo?

    Philocrites: Ah, Byzantium! 2003

  • The Armenians, like the Latins, use unleavened bread, in the form of a wafer or small thin round cake, for consecration; but like the Greeks they prepare many wafers, and those not used for consecration in the Mass are given afterwards to the people as the antidoron.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 13: Revelation-Stock 1840-1916 1913

  • There is no distribution of the antidoron or blessed bread at the end of Mass in the Ruthenian Rite.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 13: Revelation-Stock 1840-1916 1913

  • In the Greek Catholic churches of Austria and Hungary the antidoron is given only on rare occasions during the year, chiefly on the Saturday in Easter week; while among the Greek Catholics of Italy and Sicily it is usually given only on Holy Thursday, the Feast of the Assumption, that of St. Nicolas of Myra, and at certain week-day masses in Lent; although according to some local customs it is given on other days.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

  • They have besides the antidoron another kind of blessed bread -- the kolyba eaten in honour of some saint or in memory of the dead.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 4: Clandestinity-Diocesan Chancery 1840-1916 1913

  • This bread is called eulogia, because it is blessed and because a blessing accompanies its use; it is also called antidoron, because it is a substitute for the doron, the real gift, which is the Holy Eucharist.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 2: Assizes-Browne 1840-1916 1913

Comments

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  • The Antidoron (Greek: Ἀντίδω�?ον, Antíd�?ron) is ordinary, blessed, but non-eucharistic and non-consecrated, leavened bread seen in Eastern Orthodox and other Christian churches. It comes from the remains of the loaves of bread (prosphora) from which portions are cut for consecration as the Eucharist during the Divine Liturgy. Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite also follow the practice of blessing and distributing antidoron.

    _Wikipedia

    February 6, 2008

  • All well and good, but does this provide useful, practical help to the miserable wretch faced with the ultimate altar boy nightmare - what is the correct procedure for disposal of a consecrated host which has been allowed to fall on the ground and has become besmirched with filth? (Hint: don't even think about invoking the 5-second rule).

    February 6, 2008