The Holy Orthodox Church: Chapter IV
The Table of Oblation, the Vessels, Incense, etc.
The next in order will be to tell you of the things required on the Credence Table or holy Prothesis—where the bread and wine are brought and prepared for the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Beside the Holy Cup or Chalice is placed the holy diskos—i.e. a plate (which is sometimes fixed upon a handle-like stand). On it is placed the bread—prepared to become the stricken Lamb of God. This paten at the same time represents both the grave—which was prepared by Joseph of Arimathea -and the manger in the cave of Bethlehem, wherein the Lord of all things visible and invisible had found a place of shelter. The asterisk or a star-like top, which is put over the bread, while protecting the bread, also reminds us of the star which led the Magi to Bethlehem. Over the paten and holy cup at last two veils or cloths are put, and these represent the cloth in which our Lord’s head was enveloped while lying in the grave. The third and largest veil which is placed over the two coverings is typical of the large stone rolled to the door of the tomb and sealed there. It also has the form of a canopy, and denotes the firmament, meaning that the blessing of God rests upon our heads. On the table of offerings, we also find a sponge, used for wiping the vessels, but it is to remind us of the sponge with which one of the guards offered vinegar to Jesus up on the cross, and for that reason, no cloth is used with which to dry the vessels. There is also a knife, in the shape of a spear, used for cutting the bread, and this plainly explains the words of the Gospel, which tells us that a soldier pierced His side, out of which there flowed blood and water. You also noticed the priest incensing the Gifts and the Altar, the holy pictures, and the congregation. Incense is a striking emblem of prayer, which should ascend to heaven from hearts burning with love, just as the fragrant smoke ascends from the censer. Let my prayer, says the Royal Prophet, ascend like incense in thy sight. God enjoined in the Old Law the use of incense: Aaron shall burn sweet-smelling incense upon the altar in the morning. Hence we see the priest Zachariah offer incense on going into the temple of the Lord. And all the multitude were praying without at the hour of incense.
There is one spot on earth which can never be too richly adorned, and that is the sanctuary in which our Lord vouchsafes to dwell among us. Nothing is too good, nothing too beautiful, nothing too precious for God. He gives us all we possess, and the least we can do in return is to ornament that spot which He has chosen for His abode upon earth. The Almighty, it is true, has no need of our gifts. He is rich without them. The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof. Nevertheless, He is pleased to accept our offerings when they are bestowed upon Him as a mark of our affection, just as a father joyfully receives from his child a present bought with his own means. Our Savior gratefully accepted the treasures of the Magi, though He could have done without such gifts. Some persons, when they see our sanctuary sumptuously decorated, will exclaim: Had it not been better to give to the poor the money spent in purchasing these things? So complained Judas (though caring not for the poor) when Mary poured from an alabaster vase the precious ointment on the feet of an approving Savior. Why should not we imitate Mary, by placing at His feet, around His sanctuary, fresh flowers, rich cloth finely decorated, beautiful paintings, and the such like?
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