Artophorion

THOMAS KITSON

The Artophorion (Greek for “bread carrier”) is a container reserved in the altar area of an Orthodox church (usually on the holy table itself) that holds the consecrated Eucharist, preserved for the seriously ill and dying. Usually made from a non-corrosive or gilded metal in the form of a church (sometimes called “Zion” or “Jerusalem” in the Russian tradition), it symbolizes the presence of the New Covenant, by analogy with the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant in Moses’ tabernacle and Solomon’s temple (Mt. 26.28; Mk. 14.27; Jn. 16.32; Heb. 9.1–12). A small box called the “tomb” within the larger vessel holds the actual elements.