antimins

An antimins is a liturgical vestment used in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches. It is a square piece of cloth, typically made of linen or silk, which is laid on the altar during the Divine Liturgy. The antimins is embroidered with representations of the Entombment of Christ, the four Evangelists, and the words of the Gospel. Crucially, it contains relics of a saint sewn into it. Without an antimins, the Divine Liturgy cannot be celebrated. The bishop is the one who consecrates and blesses the antimins, and it is given to priests for use in their churches. The priest kisses the antimins before placing it on the altar. During the liturgy, the chalice and paten are placed directly upon the antimins. After the liturgy, the antimins is carefully folded and placed back in its original position on the altar. The presence of relics signifies that the Church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and martyrs, and that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. The antimins serves as a reminder of the sacrifice of Christ and the communion of saints.