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Text Box: sealed up in it by the bishop, and if the altar is of wood this stone is inserted just in front of the Tabernacle. The altar stone reminds us of the early history of the Church, when the martyrs' tombs were used for altars by the persecuted Christians. It also reminds us that Christ is the foundation stone of the Church. The antimensium also serves this purpose, it being the cloth, usually with a red outside and icons on the inside, upon which the altar vessels are placed during Divine Liturgy (Mass). Q. 938. What lesson do we learn from the practice of using martyrs' tombs for altars? A. From the practice of using martyrs' tombs for altars we learn the inconvenience, sufferings and dangers the early Christians willingly underwent for the sake of hearing Divine Liturgy (Mass). Since the Divine Liturgy (Mass) is the same now as it was then, we should suffer every inconvenience rather than be absent from Divine Liturgy (Mass) on Sundays or holy days. Q. 939. What things are used with the chalice during Divine Liturgy (Mass)? A. The things used with the chalice during Divine Liturgy (Mass) are: 1. The purificator or cloth for wiping the inside; 2. The paten which may be a small silver or gold plate or a plate with a stand used in handling the bread; 3. The pall or white card used for covering the chalice; 4. The corporal or linen cloth on which the chalice and paten rest; 5. The asterisk or star which is placed over the paten; 6. One small veil for the paten and another for the chalice, and the large veil wich covers both. Q. 940. What is the host? A. The host is the name given to the thin wafer of bread used at Western Rite Divine Liturgy (Mass). This name is generally applied before and after

Text Box: Consecration to the large particle of bread used by the priest, though the small particles given to the people are also called by the same name. In the Eastern Rite, it is called the phospora, and is a small bread usually with designs on the top. Q. 941. Are large and small hosts consecrated at every Divine Liturgy (Mass)? A. A large host is consecrated at every Divine Liturgy (Mass), but small hosts are consecrated only at some Divine Liturgies (Masses) at which they are to be given to the people or placed in the Tabernacle for the Holy Communion of the faithful. Q. 942. What vestments does the priest use at Divine Liturgy (Mass) and what do they signify? A. The vestments used by the priest at Divine Liturgy (Mass) are: In Western Rite: 1. The Amice, a white cloth around the shoulders to signify resistance to temptation; 2. The Alb, a long white garment to signify innocence; 3. The Cincture, a cord about the waist, to signify chastity; 4. The Maniple or hanging vestment on the left arm, to signify penance; 5. The Stole or long vestment about the neck, to signify immortality; 6. The Chasuble or long vestment over all, to signify love and remind the priest, by its cross on front and back, of the Passion of Our Lord. In the Eastern Rite: 1. The Cassock, or White Sticharion, or Stikhar, or Podriznik, a long white garment, to signify purity and innocents; 2. The Stole, or Epitrakhil, is the vestment worn over the back of the neck and joined together in front of the Priest (or for Deacon, Orar - but it is worn in various ways at different times during different liturgies.) It indicates the consecrating Grace of the Priesthood for Priests, and the service of

Text Box: the angelic Cherubim and Seraphim for the Deacons. 3. The Cuffs or Porutchi, for the Priest signify the binding of Our Lord’s hands, for the Deacon, that he relies on God’s strength, and not his own; 4. the Zone, or Belt, or Poyas, is worn over the Stole, and signifies the gift of strength and exhorts the Priest to a blameless life; 5. The Sword, or Epigonation, or Nabedrennik, is a rectangular cloth worn at the right hip (unless the Priest also has a Palitza in which case it is worn at the left hip) and signifying the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and also signifies the towel with which our Lord girded himself to wash the disciples’ feet. It is conferred as a reward of honor; 6. The Palitza is a diamond shaped cloth suspended from a corner at the right hip, conferred as a reward like the Epigonation, for zeal for the faith and salvation of Christ’s flock; 7. The Chasuble, or Phelonion, or Felon, covers all the other garments, is open in the front, and signifies the Lord’s promise “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light”; 8. The Bishop does not wear a Chasuble. He wears a Dalmatic, or Sakkos, symbolic of our Lord’s coat without seams, over which is worn a Stole, or Omofor, or Omophorion, or Pall, which hangs down in front and back, signifying the wanderng or lost sheep which gives the Bishop the image of our Savior, the Good Shepherd, bearing the wandering lost sheep back to the flock; 9. Mitre, Cross, Panagia, Mantle, Crozier, Eagle, Dikiri, Trikiri, are other items are more appropriately considered in a full studyof the Divine Liturgy. +

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