Alter Vessels
What are the vessels that are allowed on the Coptic Alter?\
(Hint: Anointed with something)
Only the vessels that are consecrated (anointed with the Holy Myron), are to be put on the altar. These vessels should not be taken out of the Church.
What is the function of the star and what are its spiritual meanings?
It is made of silver or gold and it is like two ribbons intersecting as a cross but curved like a bow. It is laid over the paten and it holds the covering veil from touching the holies. It resembles the star that appeared over the manger in Bethlehem.
What are the uses of the mesteer?
In the past, the believers used to partake of the blood directly from the chalice.
In the sixth century, they started to use the mesteer as it facilitates the process.
It is made of silver or gold.
What is the purpose of using the paten?
The paten is made of silver or gold and is rounded in shape and has an elevated edge. The bread that will change to the Holy body is kept in it.
What are these?
Throne
Chalice
Mesteer
Star
Paten
Box of Sacraments
Free 200 Points!!!
YAAAAY
What is the book of the Gospel and what are its uses?
It is a closed box that contains the 4 gospels.
What are the pictures that can be displayed on each side?
This box is formed from silver or gold and engraved on it pictures of the 4 evangelists or the Theotokos holding the child Jesus.
On the other side we may find a picture of the intercessor of the church.
What are these?
Cross
Gospel
Censor
Incense Box
Cruets
From which material the chalice is made of? And where we keep it during the liturgy?
It is a medium sized cup that has a neck ends in a circular base. In old times, a picture of a lamb was to be drawn on it.
The chalice was made from wood or glass in the past. Now it is made of silver or gold to avoid spilling of the blood from it.
In the time of the persecution, and because of the robbing of the churches, the chalice was made of clay.
Free 300 Points?
YAAAAAAAAAY
What must be done to the vessels at the end of liturgy?
This a ritual expression that means at the end of the liturgy, the deacon serving the altar dries the vessels and wrap them in a veil and keep it on the altar to be ready for the next service. The vessels should be kept unused for 9 hours before used again in the next service.
What does the Chalice stand in? What is the Throne made of?
The chalice is to stand inside the ark or the throne which is a wooden box, made of precious wood and it is cubicle or circular in shape.
This box is covered by pictures of saints, angels, or the Lord’s last supper picture.
What are the symbols in the chalice?
It is a symbol for the spiritual struggle.
It is also a symbol for the rock that Moses struck with his staff, and out of which came water. We are also to drink from the blood of Christ as the Israelites drank from the rock.
The chalice is to stand on the right of the Altar (Ez.47:1) and on the right of the paten signaling to the blood that came from the right side of our Redeemer, the Lord Christ.
The box of the sacraments
It is a small metal box that has a cover. It serves to hold small parts of the holies that are to be given to the believers who are sick and could not make it to the church.
This box is to be carried by the priest only and the holies should be consumed in the same day of the liturgy.
Free 400 points!!!!
YAAAAAAAAAAY
Free 500 points!
YAAAAAAAY
What is another way for us calling a Throne?
This box is called the throne as it is a symbol for God’s throne. It is also called the ark as it is likened to the Ark of the Covenant that had the box of the manna inside it.
What are the Cruets?
These are 2 small bottles; one for the wine and the other for the water that are going to be mixed in the chalice after choosing the lamb.
What are the 4 Oils inside the Alter?
There are other different bottles that could be kept in the altar. For example, the bottle that has the Holy Myron, the one that has the oil of joy (the gallilaon), another bottle for the oil of the unction of the sick and another bottle for the oil that is kept from the night of Apocalypse.