A monstrance is one of the obligatory attributes of every Orthodox church. It is a vessel with the consecrated host — the consecrated wine and the special church bread, symbols of the flesh and blood of Christ. They are used in the sacrament of communion, or Eucharist. The monstrance is placed at the altar, on a special table where the Gospel and the Cross are kept. Only clergymen may touch the vessel.
Monstrances were made in the form of temples, domes, crosses or bell towers. This exhibit from the collection of the House of Bishops is kept under a glass cover that resembles the outlines of a church building. Its upper part is crowned with five tiny gilded domes with four-pointed crosses.
Inside the case there is the vessel itself, which consists of several tiers. The bottom one has the square form and rests on four legs in the form of a lion’s paw. On the front of this tier are two relief gilded figures — Peter the Apostle and John the Theologian. Peter holds the keys with which it was believed that he unlocks the gates of paradise for the righteous souls. John the Theologian holds the Bible in one hand and with the other he points to an enamel miniature — an image of the “the Lord”s Supper’ in a gilded frame. The other sides of the lower tier are also decorated with small enamel images: ‘Laying in the Bier’, ‘Christ Carrying the Cross’, ‘the Agony in the Garden’. All of them are devoted to the Gospel events connected with the execution of Jesus.
The middle tier of the monstrance has a gilded relief crucifixion of Christ with the figures of angels on either side. Above Jesus' head there is an oval enamel miniature ‘The Ascension of Jesus’ in a gilded frame resembling a halo of many rays.
The monstrance was traditionally made of wood or metal. They were prepared for them once a year, on Holy Week before Easter, on Holy Thursday. The Gospel tells us that it was on this day that the Lord’s Supper with the apostles took place, at which the Savior first administered the sacrament of communion.
Monstrances were made in the form of temples, domes, crosses or bell towers. This exhibit from the collection of the House of Bishops is kept under a glass cover that resembles the outlines of a church building. Its upper part is crowned with five tiny gilded domes with four-pointed crosses.
Inside the case there is the vessel itself, which consists of several tiers. The bottom one has the square form and rests on four legs in the form of a lion’s paw. On the front of this tier are two relief gilded figures — Peter the Apostle and John the Theologian. Peter holds the keys with which it was believed that he unlocks the gates of paradise for the righteous souls. John the Theologian holds the Bible in one hand and with the other he points to an enamel miniature — an image of the “the Lord”s Supper’ in a gilded frame. The other sides of the lower tier are also decorated with small enamel images: ‘Laying in the Bier’, ‘Christ Carrying the Cross’, ‘the Agony in the Garden’. All of them are devoted to the Gospel events connected with the execution of Jesus.
The middle tier of the monstrance has a gilded relief crucifixion of Christ with the figures of angels on either side. Above Jesus' head there is an oval enamel miniature ‘The Ascension of Jesus’ in a gilded frame resembling a halo of many rays.
The monstrance was traditionally made of wood or metal. They were prepared for them once a year, on Holy Week before Easter, on Holy Thursday. The Gospel tells us that it was on this day that the Lord’s Supper with the apostles took place, at which the Savior first administered the sacrament of communion.
