The sacrament of confirmation indicates that a boy or girl (usually aged seven or more) is mature enough to accept the principles of Christian faith and partake of the host (consecrated bread). In the Eastern (Orthodox) Church, however, it is conferred on infants immediately after baptism.
The Latin Catholic community affiliated with the Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem organizes classes of children for confirmation, which, as is increasingly common in the Catholic world, is divided into two ceremonies held several years apart. On both occasions bread plays a central role. The initial ceremony, for seven-year-old children, marks their First Communion (al-awwal munawale in Arabic) - the first time in their lives that they may partake of the host.

Gifts of bread offered to Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah at a
Confirmation ceremony in the church of the Redeemer (St. Savior)
Jerusalem , 2003
Photo courtesy of Father George Khazem

The second ceremony, the Confirmation (al-tathbit, literally "the Anointment"), takes place when the boys and girls are about fourteen years old. At both ceremonies they are dressed in white to symbolize purity, and march to the church in a procession headed by bearers of gifts for the altar - including a large plaited loaf of bread.