The "Antemension"

One of the joys of researching our parish history is the opportunity to speak with so many good people, to hear so many interesting stories, and to see so many fascinating things. Today I spoke with our parish priest, Father Stavrevsky about his life in our parish, and the history of the last fifty years. Father invited me to come into the altar area and as we discussed some of the items found there, such as the beautiful altar built by church members (more on that in a future post,) he unfolded and showed me the "antimension." This liturgical item is a piece of linen, given by the bishop to the priest, and in part serves as the priest's "license" from the bishop to celebrate the divine liturgy and holy mysteries.

The antimension is essential to conducting the service, the Eucharist cannot be celebrated without it. It is unfolded during the liturgy and serves to catch any crumbs that might fall from the bread. It may be used in special situations as a substitute for an altar table, and in fact when a military chaplain Father Ken used an antimension in just such manner when out in the field.

Father Ken unfolded the antimension that I might see and photograph it. It is about 16"x16", and has the imagery typical of these items, namely the four evangelists, one at each corner, and in the center the entombment of Christ. The sense here is that out of Christ's death comes life for all of us. As is the custom there is a small relic (St. Herman of Alaska) sown into the back of the cloth. On the front, under the imagery, one can see, although faded by time, the signature of Metropolitan Ireney, the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church of America at the time this was given in 1972.