Malkā – the Assyrian Sacrament of the Holy Leaven. Notes in the margin of discussion

Abstract

The Assyrian Church of the East is one of the most original, i.e. very different from the other Christian communities. These differences are multifaceted, including among them her diverse sacramental discipline. One of its phenomena is the tradition of the Holy Leaven, without which it is impossible to prepare, in a valid way, the future Eucharistic bread. The tradition of the Church of the East sees in this practice the apostolic roots. The goal of this study is to present the origins of the Holy Leaven, the analysis of the historical materials concerning it, the attempt of its verification, as well as the explanation of its theological sense. The final reflection focuses on the sacramentality of the Holy Leaven and the possibility of its potential reinterpretation.