Liturgical implements at the Prophet Elias Skete

Photographer

Horlbeck, Frank R.

Date

• June 14, 1994

Summary

• Liturgical implements held at the skete (monastic dependency) of Prophet Elias (Elijah). On the left and right are two chalices. In the middle (front) is a cup usually used for drinking wine right after receiving the Holy communion. Behind the cup is the diskos and the asterisk. The diskos is the sacred vessel which holds the eucharistic bread during the liturgy. It corresponds to the Western-rite paten, but it has a deeper dish, and is raised up on a metallic foot. It is sometimes engraved with scenes of the Nativity. Asteriskos means ‘little star’. It is a sacred eucharistic vessel made of two arched bands of metal that are bound with a central rivet, allowing them to swivel closed or open. When opened, they form a cage that is laid over the Lamb on the diskos in the Proskomedia ritual, so as to prevent the aer disturbing the particles. The asteriskos is removed during the course of the Anaphora. The skete belongs to the Pantocrator Monastery a short distance away. It was founded in 1759 by the Ukrainian monk Paisius Velichkovsky. Within the complex are a main church (built 1903) and three chapels. The complex contains an extensive library and two miracle-working icons. One of the miracle-working icons is visible in this photo in the center.