Tabernacles

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MarcusAndreas

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I’m wondering, are tabernacles used in the east? I thought they weren’t until I saw some picture of some Byzantine churches with ones behind the altar. Is this traditional practice or a Latinization?
 
I’m *fairly *sure the Byzantine rite uses tabernacles…
 
I’ve heard the term “kivot” or “Kovtchég” for the Tabernacle. In Russian and in Greek Churches I have been in the kivot is on the Holy Table, Altar, and generally made in the shape of the church building. Unlike the fixed tabernacle in the Latin Churches the kivot can be lifted up off the Holy Table, and is when the cloths are changed.

I believe the Lamb for Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is reserved in a separate “Artophorion” or pyx on the Table of Preparation.
 
5Loaves said:
“Kovtchég” for the Tabernacle. In Russian and in Greek Churches .
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"Kovcheg" is the recessed space on an ikon, just inside the border, where the ikon is painted.

Hope this helps…😃
 
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

See just over the shoulder of H.B. Lubomyr is the red light for the tabernacle in our parish. It is in the form of a Ukrainian church.
 
Patchunky said:
"Kovcheg" is the recessed space on an ikon, just inside the border, where the ikon is painted.

Hope this helps…😃
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Yes. And it is used for the tabernacle as well. See this article on the Istok Orthodox Church Supplies website.
Atop the altar (holy table) is the tabernacle (Kovtchég), a miniature shrine sometimes built in the form of a church, inside of which is a small ark containing the Reserved sacrament for use in communing the sick.
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and Wikipedia
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Holy Mysteries (reserved Sacrament) are kept in a Tabernacle or Ark (Slavonic: Kovtchég) on the Holy Table (Altar) at all times.
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And in the Russian Ikon Painter’s Dictionary, the “*kovcheg” *is the recessed area inside the border where the ikon is painted.😃
 
MarcusAndreas said:
I’m wondering, are tabernacles used in the east? I thought they weren’t until I saw some picture of some Byzantine churches with ones behind the altar. Is this traditional practice or a Latinization?
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Traditional.

Look for the mini-church on the altar table. You’re less likely to see them in some of the Orthodox Churches due to more solid iconostasi.
 
I’m aware of a the concept of tabernacles from descriptions in the Bible.
 
Oh my, no…no…no…
Absolutely there is a tabernacle in Eastern Rite chuches. They are exactly where they are supposed to be, on the altar, front and center. Where all worship is directed.
 
After a Litrugy follwing a 2 day retreat for Latin Rite Catholics to introduce Eastern Catholic Spiritual life co-sponsored by a Local Latin Parish, and Melkite Parish; the Melkite priest explained that a portion of the consecrated bread is kept on the altar in a small casket like tablernacle until the following year From one Easter to the next. There is also a Chapel at the priest’s residence with a tabernacle in which the Eucharist is kept and renewed weekly for communion of the sick.

I don’t know if this is just a Melkite custom, but it is what the priest explained to us Latins who stayed after the Liturgy for a Question and Answer period.
 
Filioque said:
After a Litrugy follwing a 2 day retreat for Latin Rite Catholics to introduce Eastern Catholic Spiritual life co-sponsored by a Local Latin Parish, and Melkite Parish; the Melkite priest explained that a portion of the consecrated bread is kept on the altar in a small casket like tablernacle until the following year From one Easter to the next. There is also a Chapel at the priest’s residence with a tabernacle in which the Eucharist is kept and renewed weekly for communion of the sick.

I don’t know if this is just a Melkite custom, but it is what the priest explained to us Latins who stayed after the Liturgy for a Question and Answer period.
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I never heard of a priest keeping a second tabernacle in his home…but yes the sacrement is reserved in the tabernacle from 1 year to the next…on Holy Thursday an extra lamb is consecrated to be reserved to be used for the sick throughout the year…this is then dried out so that it does not mold…and then is stored in the tabernacle to be used.

There is also the tradition of the tabernacle shaped like a dove that is hung over the alter table.
 
Just remember, Michael, not being able to see them through the iconostas doesn’t mean they aren’t there… but at the OCA-RO parishes, you are not going to see it except during the readings.

At Ruthenian Catholic parishes, you’re likely to be able to see it even when the doors are closed.
 
ciero said:
I never heard of a priest keeping a second tabernacle in his home…but yes the sacrement is reserved in the tabernacle from 1 year to the next…on Holy Thursday an extra lamb is consecrated to be reserved to be used for the sick throughout the year…this is then dried out so that it does not mold…and then is stored in the tabernacle to be used.

There is also the tradition of the tabernacle shaped like a dove that is hung over the alter table.
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I’m not sure that the practice this Melkite priest discussed was typical or not for the Melkite, two things that may have influenced the practice are, the priest has an Irish last name, and speaks english with a Midwest American accent. Secondly, I do not think the rectory is very near the Church building.
 
Filioque said:
I’m not sure that the practice this Melkite priest discussed was typical or not for the Melkite, two things that may have influenced the practice are, the priest has an Irish last name, and speaks english with a Midwest American accent. Secondly, I do not think the rectory is very near the Church building.
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In my experience with the Melkites and it is quite extensive…it is the “American” priests who are much more in tune with the traditions.
 
ciero said:
In my experience with the Melkites and it is quite extensive…it is the “American” priests who are much more in tune with the traditions.
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I’ve found that to be true in most cases among Eastern parishes I’ve been to. Latin Rite, and US born members of the congregations usually are more motivated to preserve the traditions of the Rite they are attending, could be because they left the Latin Rite in large part due to the reforms there. I don’t suppose to know the mind of this priest, I was only speculating. I may ask him the next time I go there though.
 
Aramis said:
…not being able to see them through the iconostas doesn’t mean they aren’t there… but at the OCA-RO parishes, you are not going to see it except during the readings.
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I don’t know if this was addressed to me, but I agree with you.

I posted a picture to show a tabernacle.

Interesting to me that most of the Orthodox parishes I have been in, the tabernacle is covered by a glass or plexiglass ‘case’, which one can just make out in the picture I posted. I think it keeps the smoke and dust away. A modern touch, I am sure.

Most BCC parishes I have been to did not make use of such a thing.
Aramis said:
At Ruthenian Catholic parishes, you’re likely to be able to see it even when the doors are closed.
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I have seen that.

As I recall the local ACROD parish in Chicagoland has a very open ‘filigree’ style iconostasis, basically white. Quite beautiful, actually.

The local BCC parish has a very solid ‘old style’ iconostasis, but the doors are mostly kept open and there was no curtain when I attended.
 
Hesychios said:
I don’t know if this was addressed to me, but I agree with you.

I posted a picture to show a tabernacle.

Interesting to me that most of the Orthodox parishes I have been in, the tabernacle is covered by a glass or plexiglass ‘case’, which one can just make out in the picture I posted. I think it keeps the smoke and dust away. A modern touch, I am sure.
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Yes, it was… it was unclear to me which side your photo posted was aimed at…

as for the case… that’s one I’ve never seen… but then, most of the Orthodox parishes I’ve been to are in small towns. The kind of parish where the first question isn’t “First time here?” but “Who are you related to in town?”
 
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