Antidoron
M. C. STEENBERG
Antidoron (lit. “instead of the gifts”) is bread blessed during the course of the divine liturgy and distributed to the faithful at its conclusion. In practice it is normally the excess portions of the prosphora used in the Proskomedie. In the Greek Orthodox traditions it is blessed by the priest after the consecration of the gifts.
Antidoron is not to be confused with the consecrated bread (the Lamb) received in Communion. Traditionally, it was given to those who did not receive Communion at the service; however, today it is often received by all. Differing traditions hold to different practices on whether antidoron may be received by non-Orthodox, and whether one must fast in order to receive it.
SEE ALSO: Divine Liturgy, Orthodox; Eucharist; Fasting; Proskomedie (Prothesis).