THE SACRED VESSELSTHE SACRED VESSELS

The Church of the New Testament, as The Church of the New Testament, as Christ’s Bride, offers several special vessels Christ’s Bride, offers several special vessels to be used in God’s House, being aware to be used in God’s House, being aware they are God’s own. They are consecrated they are God’s own. They are consecrated by prayers, the word of God and by crossing by prayers, the word of God and by crossing them by the anointment of Chrism. When them by the anointment of Chrism. When consecrated, they are only to be used for consecrated, they are only to be used for God’s service.God’s service.

1. THE CHALICE1. THE CHALICE

The Communion Cup, into which wine mixed The Communion Cup, into which wine mixed with water is poured, is consecrated into the with water is poured, is consecrated into the Blood of the Lord through the Liturgy of the Blood of the Lord through the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Lord Himself used the chalice Eucharist. The Lord Himself used the chalice (Mt. 26:26, 27) and the Apostles imitated Him. (Mt. 26:26, 27) and the Apostles imitated Him. St. Paul the Apostle calls it “the Cup of Blessing” St. Paul the Apostle calls it “the Cup of Blessing” and “the Cup of the Lord”. (1Cor. 10:16,21). and “the Cup of the Lord”. (1Cor. 10:16,21). Tertullian refers to it as having the shape of a Tertullian refers to it as having the shape of a lamb engraved on the outside, to remind us of lamb engraved on the outside, to remind us of the Lamb of God who purchased His Church the Lamb of God who purchased His Church and adorned her entirely with His Holy Blood.and adorned her entirely with His Holy Blood.

2. THE PATEN2. THE PATEN

A small round tray, without a stand and having no A small round tray, without a stand and having no engraving. It is usually made of silver or gold. engraving. It is usually made of silver or gold. Some people believe that the Lord did not use a Some people believe that the Lord did not use a paten, but rather consecrated the bread upon His paten, but rather consecrated the bread upon His hand. However, as the Liturgy takes time, the hand. However, as the Liturgy takes time, the church prefers to use the paten in order that the church prefers to use the paten in order that the bread is not held for too long a time in the bread is not held for too long a time in the celebrant’s hand. This paten has a symbolic celebrant’s hand. This paten has a symbolic meaning, as it represents the Lord’s manger and meaning, as it represents the Lord’s manger and tomb. tomb.

3. THE DOME (STAR)3. THE DOME (STAR)

Consists of two silver arched bands, held by Consists of two silver arched bands, held by a screw, crossed over each other into the a screw, crossed over each other into the shape of a cross, usually surmounted by a shape of a cross, usually surmounted by a small cross. It is said that St. John small cross. It is said that St. John Chrysostom had introduced this article, Chrysostom had introduced this article, which is placed upon the paten to keep the which is placed upon the paten to keep the holy bread in a prescribed order, and to holy bread in a prescribed order, and to support the coverings. It represents the support the coverings. It represents the shape of the tomb and also reminds us of shape of the tomb and also reminds us of the star that appeared to the Wisemen. the star that appeared to the Wisemen.

4. THE SPOON4. THE SPOON

In it, the Blood of Christ is administered to In it, the Blood of Christ is administered to the communicants. It is said that in early the communicants. It is said that in early centuries the celebrant used to put the Body centuries the celebrant used to put the Body in the hands of the communicants or in the in the hands of the communicants or in the mouths, and the Blood was drunk directly mouths, and the Blood was drunk directly from the Chalice. Only in the sixth century from the Chalice. Only in the sixth century was the Spoon (Mysteer) used. was the Spoon (Mysteer) used.

5.THE ARK5.THE ARK

In the middle of the Altar, there is a wooden In the middle of the Altar, there is a wooden box, called in Coptic ‘pitotc’ which means ‘a box, called in Coptic ‘pitotc’ which means ‘a seat’ or ‘a throne’, and is used as a Chalice-seat’ or ‘a throne’, and is used as a Chalice-Stand. Usually it is cubicle in shape, about Stand. Usually it is cubicle in shape, about thirty centimeters high and twenty-five thirty centimeters high and twenty-five centimeters wide, the top is closed with high centimeters wide, the top is closed with high flaps. The beautiful carving is inlaid with flaps. The beautiful carving is inlaid with ebony and ivory and is decorated with four ebony and ivory and is decorated with four small icons.small icons.

6.THE BOOK OF GOSPEL6.THE BOOK OF GOSPEL

A copy of the New Testament covered with A copy of the New Testament covered with silver or gold and decorated by icons, has in silver or gold and decorated by icons, has in the middle of one side, the icon of the the middle of one side, the icon of the Resurrection or Crucifixion and the other Resurrection or Crucifixion and the other side, there is the icon of the Patron Saint or side, there is the icon of the Patron Saint or St. Mary and the Child Jesus. Sometimes on St. Mary and the Child Jesus. Sometimes on the corners, there are the four Evangelists the corners, there are the four Evangelists with their symbols.with their symbols.

7.THE CENSER7.THE CENSER

Censing is a symbol of the Presence of God among his Censing is a symbol of the Presence of God among his people, when we smell it we deeply say, “While the King people, when we smell it we deeply say, “While the King was on His couch my hand gave forth its fragrance” (Cant. was on His couch my hand gave forth its fragrance” (Cant. 1:12).1:12).

It symbolizes praying (Exod. 30:1 - 8) as a sacrifice of It symbolizes praying (Exod. 30:1 - 8) as a sacrifice of love. According to the Coptic rite, liturgies of Eucharist, love. According to the Coptic rite, liturgies of Eucharist, Baptism, Healing, Marriage, Funerals are correlated with Baptism, Healing, Marriage, Funerals are correlated with this sacrifice of love. In the fourth century, St.Chrysostom this sacrifice of love. In the fourth century, St.Chrysostom in his homily on St. Palagia of Antioch, alludes to the use of in his homily on St. Palagia of Antioch, alludes to the use of incense in the Funeral procession, and the act of the incense in the Funeral procession, and the act of the “Martyrdom of St. Peter of Alexandria” (311 AD) mentions “Martyrdom of St. Peter of Alexandria” (311 AD) mentions the same.the same.

8.THE BOX OF INCENSE8.THE BOX OF INCENSE

9.THE ALTAR BOARD 9.THE ALTAR BOARD

On the surface of the Coptic Altar, an oblong On the surface of the Coptic Altar, an oblong rectangular slot is engraved to a depth of about rectangular slot is engraved to a depth of about 2.5 cm, in which a consecrated Altar-Board is 2.5 cm, in which a consecrated Altar-Board is loosely embedded. The Board is generally made loosely embedded. The Board is generally made of wood, or rarely of marble, upon which the of wood, or rarely of marble, upon which the following are painted:following are painted:

1. 1. A Cross or a number of crosses.A Cross or a number of crosses. 2. 2. The first and last Greek alphabetical The first and last Greek alphabetical “a w”.“a w”. 3. 3. Occasionally, a few selected Psalms such as:Occasionally, a few selected Psalms such as:

– ““His foundation is in the holy mountains… His foundation is in the holy mountains…

It is highly likely that Altar Boards date back It is highly likely that Altar Boards date back to the times of persecution, to facilitate to the times of persecution, to facilitate celebrating the Liturgy of Eucharist celebrating the Liturgy of Eucharist wherever they were possible. On the other wherever they were possible. On the other hand, others believe that it came in hand, others believe that it came in replacement of Portable Altars. replacement of Portable Altars.

10.THE CRUETS10.THE CRUETS

Cruets (Bottles) are two vessels used in Cruets (Bottles) are two vessels used in holding the wine and water for the Eucharist. holding the wine and water for the Eucharist. They are mentioned in the inventory of gifts They are mentioned in the inventory of gifts made by Constantine to the Churches of made by Constantine to the Churches of Rome.Rome.