The Making of the Communion Bread or Nuskhar

According to the tradition of the Armenian Church the Communion bread (host or wafer) called Nushkhar is made with flour and water only. It is to the celebrant of the Divine Liturgy to prepare it, either the day before or on the day of the liturgy. The nushkhar is a flat wafer, whose diameter is about 2.5 inches.

The preparer of the bread begins by saying the Lord's Prayer and during the process recites psalms.

He mixes a sufficient amount of flour and water to create a simple dough ball, which is allowed to rest for a few minutes.

Then the priest rolls out the dough to the desired thickness.

With a cookie cutter having the same diameter as the nushkhar stamp he cuts out as many circles as possible.

The remaining dough is made into a ball and covered with a damp cloth.(to be rolled out again for additional wafers).

He then takes each circle of dough and affixes it to the stamp and

applies equal pressure to insure that the imprint will be clear and even.

Prior to this a small amount of flour may be sprinkled on the dough to prevent it from sticking to the stamp.

While the dough is still on the stamp, he pierces the entire back of the dough with a special needle pointed object. This act has two purposes: Symbolically we remember the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ and practically piercing the dough prevents the formation of bubbles during the cooking process.

The nushkhars then are cooked (always print side up) on a preheated frying pan. With low heat and at the slightest sign of browning they are ready.

The nushkhar  stamp is usually carved out of wood. The stamp is carved with the crucifixion, with grains of wheat and bunches of grapes, as well as the Armenian initials of Jesus Christ (Ú¯ê  ø¯ê).

When a priest is called to bless a home he presents the family with an unconsecrated nushkhar, which is kept in the house as a sign of the blessing. Often it is placed in a rice or flour jar.

It is also customary for the priest to place a nushkhar on the chest of the deceased at the time of the wake service.