Orthodox Glossary · Term

Chalice

The sacred cup that holds the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, treated with profound reverence as a vessel of divine life.

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Defined Term
C
Chalice
LexiconOrthodox Christianity 101
§ 01 - How to Study This Term

From definition into prayer.

The Orthodox tradition does not separate vocabulary from worship. Pair this term with Scripture, the Liturgy, and the lived life of the Church.

  1. 01
    Look for the word in worship

    Listen for it inside the Divine Liturgy, the daily prayers, or the hymns of the feast it belongs to.

  2. 02
    Trace it through the Fathers

    The same word usually echoes across centuries - Athanasius, the Cappadocians, Maximus, Gregory Palamas.

  3. 03
    Pair it with a prayer

    Vocabulary becomes piety when it lives inside a single, repeated prayer of the Church.

Where the term lives
§ 02 - Related Terms

Words that travel together.

Entries from the lexicon that share the same corner of Orthodox worship and thought as Chalice.

GlossaryAerA large veil used to cover the chalice and paten during the Divine Liturgy, representing the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and the hidden mystery of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.GlossaryPatensThe sacred plates that hold the bread to be consecrated in the Eucharist, treated with reverence as they bear the Body of Christ.GlossaryCiboriumA covered vessel for reserving the Eucharist for the sick and homebound, emphasizing Christ’s abiding presence and pastoral care beyond the Liturgy.GlossaryElevation ClothA cloth used during the elevation of the Holy Gifts, underscoring the reverence due when the consecrated Body and Blood are shown to the faithful.
✦   Where to next?

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