This practice reflects the unique nature of Christ, “the Only Begotten.” The odd number also symbolizes: • 3: The Holy Trinity and Christ, who is one of the Trinity and became the sacrificial Lamb. It also symbolizes humans’ body, soul, and spirit, as Christ shared in our nature except for sin. • 5: The five acceptable sacrifices in the Old Testament. • 7: The five sacrifices plus the two birds used for the purification of a leper. • 13: The twelve apostles and Christ. Additionally, Christ sent His disciples in pairs (even numbers), and He is the odd one accompanying them. For example, if there are seven loaves, it symbolizes six disciples sent in pairs, and Christ as the seventh among them.
Why is the number of bread loaves (prosphora) in the offering dish an odd number?
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