THE ORDER FOR THE MAKING OF PRISTA
Baking the Oblation Bread
§ The Prista is baked fresh for every Qurbana by the priest who will be offering it. The dough should be made the night before, just before the priest retires for the night. The ingredients and the pans and bowls and such must be used only for the baking of the Prista. Use only pure white wheat flour, a little salt, the same of yeast, a few drops of olive oil, and water. Such is the tradition of the Syrian Church. The Malka, a portion of dough that is reserved from every baking of the Prista, is also added once the dough is formed from the above ingredients. Always bake more than one Prista, starting from a handful of flour for each, and if more than two make always an even number. The number of Priste on the Paten ought to be an odd number if more than two, according to our canons and tradition. The best are used for the Oblation, and the remaining are used for the Bourktha, each according to the number of those expected to receive the Holy Communion.
† In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God, to Whom be glory and upon us, weak and sinful, be mercy and compassion in both worlds unto the Aeon of aeons. Amen.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Tzevaoth, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. † Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
† Holy art Thou, O God! Holy and mighty, holy and immortal, Who was crucified for us: have mercy on us!
† Holy art Thou, O God! Holy and mighty, holy and immortal, Who was crucified for us: have mercy on us!
† Holy art Thou, O God! Holy and mighty, holy and immortal, Who was crucified for us: have mercy on us!
O Christ, hear us! O Christ, our God, hear us and have mercy! O Christ, our God and King, hear us and have mercy and compassion on us! Barekhmar!
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for † Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Peace be with thee, Virgin Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blest is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners in both worlds. Amen.
The Proper for the Making of Prista
Most merciful Father, that didst cause Thy Logos to knead and shape the first of our kind from the clay and to put within him the wit to be the salt of the earth, that breathedst into him the leaven of the breath of life by Thy Living Holy Spirit and that pouredst upon him the oil of Thy mercy; bless Thou the baking of this bread for Thy worship which Thou hast commanded according to the new and everlasting covenant of Thy Son. † And unto Thee and Thine Onlybegotten Son and Thine All-Holy Spirit be all glory and honor and worship in both worlds unto the Aeon of aeons. Amen.
§ Mix together the flour and salt and yeast in the mixing bowl. Pour in the olive oil and then, as the mixture is stirred, add the water until the dough begins to form strands. Then add the Malka and pick up the dough and shape it into a ball and then begin to knead it while saying:
Psalm 50
(1) The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. (2) Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. (3) Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. (4) He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. (5) Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. (6) And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. (7) Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. (8) I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. (9) I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. (10) For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. (11) I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. (12) If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. (13) Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? (14) Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: (15) And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (16) But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? (17) Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. (18) When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. (19) Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. (20) Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. (21) These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. (22) Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. (23) Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
† GLORY be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, One God, in both worlds unto the Aeon of aeons. Amen.
§ After the dough is kneaded, remove one pinch for the Malka and reserve it in a jar. Put the remaining dough in the mixing bowl once again and cover it with a towel. Allow it to rise overnight. In the morning, roll the dough into a sheet and cut it into rounds of four inch diameter and stamp firmly it with the seal. Bake it in the oven until it is brown, and allow it to cool before the Qurbana.