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Originally Posted by lilmissimpatient@c  They're beautiful! And big! I've only received catholic communion, which is a small wafer. Is each one broken and given to different people? Or does one person take the whole thing?
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Oh, sorry, I should have explained that! The "Lamb" (cube shaped center of one of the loaves) is cut out and placed in the chalice full of wine. We receive Communion - a very small piece of bread with wine - via a spoon from the priest.
The rest of the bread is cut up into small pieces and is given to people either right after they receive Communion - with a swallow of warm wine in the Russian tradition - or at the very end of the service after they venerate the Cross the priest holds. This bread is not consecrated, although it is blessed. It is often given to non-Orthodox attending services (only properly-prepared Orthodox are allowed to receive Communion in an Orthodox Church), although that can vary by parish.
I wouldn't say those loaves are big, they're actually pretty small. bottom when I cut them out is 4" in diameter (I use an empty, clean, 28 oz can with both ends and label removed as a cutter), top is 3.25" (my priest prefers these larger loaves as we have a lot of people who receive Communion in my parish).
