Azymite

Azyma ( gr ἄζυμα, " unleavened ", " no yeast " ) is a term for unleavened bread, which is used in Eucharistic celebrations of the Armenian and Latin churches.

History

The use of unleavened bread in religious activities has its origins in the Jewish Chametz prohibition. The flatbread known as Azyma in the Septuagint were offering, and food for the Passover in the Old Testament cult.

The use of Azyma in the first four centuries has only been confirmed in Greek polemics against Judaizing sects. Since Justin Greek Church Fathers called leavened bread in the Eucharist, in contrast to Jewish-Christian practices.

In the Armenian Church, the use of Azyma is detected since the 6th century, but the custom is likely to be older. From the 9th century also favored the Latin Church Azyma, since the 14th century communion wafers. Was in the Byzantine Rite and the other hand is used leavened bread. When Emperor Maurikios in 591 the Armenian Catholicos Moses II invited to a council, replied that he " would never cross the river Azat to eat of the bread baked of the Greeks ." When Trullanum year 692 of the Armenian custom of Azymagabe has not been challenged, nor objected Photios the Latin.

The rejection of Azyma in the Latin Rite is a result of the so-called Azymastreits in the 11th century. Michael I. Kerullarios, Patriarch of Constantinople, Opel, and Leo of Ohrid Archbishop of Ohrid, criticized in 1054 in a circular "to the Franks " the practices of Latin Azymagabe and Samstagsfastens as heretical. Cardinal Humbert of Silva Candida excommunicated then Michael and Leo as " prozymitische heretics " by which the Oriental schism in 1054 began.

A popular argument against Azyma in the Byzantine church is the parable of the leaven of the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 13,33 EU), which states, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven ". Furthermore, it is stated in the Byzantine literature that Jesus celebrated its supper before the dawn of the Jewish Passover, and the Scripture says: "Jesus took bread " (gr. artos ). Azyma ( gr singing azymon. ) Had no bread. Only sourdough bread bring the "life" and corresponds to Christ's human nature, body and Nous. The rejection of the leaven was therefore an expression of apollinarischen heresy.