Bread is an extremely important element of Bulgarian traditional culture and each of the objects used in making ritual bread also enjoys special attention and respect.
One of these objects is the prosphora seal, which sanctifies the bread and gives it the opportunity to be part of the Holy Liturgy.
“The seal used in the ritual process of bread making is subject to very strict requirements,” Dr. Iglika Mishkova from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies of the Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences says. “Usually the seal itself is divided into strictly canonical fields through the shape of the cross. In the center there is a sign reading IC XC NIKA, which means ‘Jesus Christ Conquers.’ One part of the seal is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, while another is dedicated to all angelic ranks. Without these symbols bread cannot be used in religious ceremonies.”
As a rule, canonical prosphora seals, as well as seals with the images of different saints, used for the respective holidays, are made by monks or people who are aware of religious symbolism. But besides them, there are also home-made seals, which are used for various types of ritual and festive breads prepared at home.
“A large part of these seals were made by shepherds,” Iglika Mishkova explains. "These seals are very interesting. Their upper part is usually shaped as a cross and they were placed at altars. Most of the Christian symbols can be seen on them, although in a more primitive form. Decoration is also interesting. Makers used separate colors to fill the space. There are seals showing the year in which the seal was made, many sun symbols, crosses, the names of the people whom the seal was given to, and others. It all depends on the skills and knowledge of those who make the seals.”
Unfortunately, this knowledge is lost today. In the past, people were better acquainted with nature and they knew at what time of the year wood was suitable for carving, in order for the seal to be preserved and used for a longer period of time.
“Looking at the oldest stamps in the museum collections, it is obvious that their creators knew very well the qualities of wood, and the seals are in very good condition, unlike seals that were made much later. Apparently, knowledge was already missing and just a random piece of wood was used, but that piece really remains a soulless piece and it can hardly be used as a high-quality seal and it is not durable enough,” Iglika Mishkova explains.
In the past, prosphora seals were passed on by inheritance, usually to the eldest son, and there were practices when old seals were split between children in the family because even a small
