In classical times, a κλίβανος was a covered earthen vessel, wider at the bottom than at the top, used for baking bread. A fire was lit within, after which the bread was baked from the radiant heat remaining in the vessel. “If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven (κλίβανος); how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Luke 12:28)
In the Homily in Praise of Mary the Theotokos, attributed to Epiphanius of Cyprus, the κλίβανος is seen as a figure of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Eucharist.
Χαῖρε, παναγία Παρθένε, ἡ τὸ πῦρ τῆς θεότητος ἀφλέκτως, ὡς νοερὰ βάτος, κατέχουσα, ἡ νοερὰ κλίβανος, ἡ τὸ πῦρ καὶ τὸν ἄρτον τῆς ζωῆς θερμὸν τῷ κόσμῳ πρὸς βρῶσιν ἐνέγκασα· περὶ οὗ λέγει ὁ Σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου Χριστός· Λάβετε, φάγετε· τοῦτό μου ἐστὶ τὸ σῶμα, τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν κλώμενον εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.
Rejoice, O all-holy Virgin, spiritual bush containing the fire of the Godhead without being burnt, spiritual oven, having borne the fire and the warm bread of life for food for the world, concerning which Christ the Saviour of the world saith: Take, eat: this is my body, broken for you for the remission of sins.
Beautiful bread! is this your work?
When I first took over the responsibility of making prosphora, I did not realize there would be so much to learn. The fathers here prefer prosphora made with natural yeast (‘sourdough’) starter. My first attempts were not very good, but over time, a method emerged. Making prosphora is now an enjoyable routine, though it seems there is always room for improvement.