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Spear (liturgy)

 

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Spear (liturgy)



 
 
The Spear (Greek: ?????; Slavonic: Kopyó) or Lance is a liturgical implement used during the Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy

The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine church tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches....
 of the Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 225 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the Four Marks of the Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago....
 and Greek-Catholic Churches.

The Spear symbolizes the lance that was used at the time of Christ's death on the Cross to pierce his side, from which flowed blood and water . This event is traditionally interpreted as prefiguring the Mysteries of the Eucharist
Eucharist

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names, is a Christianity sacrament commemorating, by consecrating bread and wine, the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest, and eventual crucifixion, when he gave them bread saying, "This is my body", and wine...
 and Baptism
Baptism

In Christianity, baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted as a full member of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered....
.

The Spear is one of the Sacred Vessels usually kept on the Table of Oblation (Prothesis), where the bread and wine are prepared for the Eucharist.






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The Spear (Greek: ?????; Slavonic: Kopyó) or Lance is a liturgical implement used during the Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy

The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine church tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches....
 of the Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 225 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the Four Marks of the Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago....
 and Greek-Catholic Churches.

The Spear symbolizes the lance that was used at the time of Christ's death on the Cross to pierce his side, from which flowed blood and water . This event is traditionally interpreted as prefiguring the Mysteries of the Eucharist
Eucharist

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names, is a Christianity sacrament commemorating, by consecrating bread and wine, the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest, and eventual crucifixion, when he gave them bread saying, "This is my body", and wine...
 and Baptism
Baptism

In Christianity, baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted as a full member of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered....
.

The Spear is one of the Sacred Vessels usually kept on the Table of Oblation (Prothesis), where the bread and wine are prepared for the Eucharist. Often when a Chalice
Chalice (cup)

A chalice is a goblet intended to hold a drink. In general religious terms, it is intended for quaffing during a ceremony....
 and Diskos (Paten) are made, an Asterisk
Asterisk (liturgy)

The Asterisk , or Star-cover , is one of the holy vessels used in the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches Churches....
 and a Spoon
Spoon (liturgy)

The Spoon is a liturgical implement used to distribute Holy Communion to the laity during the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite....
 and Spear will be made to match them.

The Spear is used when the priest cuts the Lamb out of the Prosphoron
Prosphora

A prosphoron is a small loaf of bread used in Eastern Orthodox Church Liturgy. The plural form is prosphora . The term originally meant any offering made to a temple, but in Orthodox Christianity has come to mean specifically the bread offered at the Divine Liturgy....
 (loaf of leavened bread) which will be consecrated to become the Body of Christ. The Spear is also used before Holy Communion to cut the Lamb into pieces for the clergy and faithful to communicate from.

In the Euchologion
Euchologion

The Euchologion is one of the chief liturgical books of the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches, containing the portions of the services which are said by the bishop, priest, or deacon ....
 there is also a special Prayer of the Spear which may be said by the priest when one is sick.

The Spear, being a sanctified object, may not be used for any purpose than the litugical uses for which it is appointed.