www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Deacons holding small church while censing

Hello all,
I've been a forum member for some time now but have never started a topic. So here goes--
Can anyone enlighten me (I'm sure others would also like to know) as to what the small church shaped boxes that the deacons in this photo are holding? I have only seen them used like this twice in my life-- both times in Greece. Once was during a Divine Liturgy in Thessaloniki, St. Sophia church I think, the other was at Holy Cross monastery in Thebes. I don't remember at what point in the Liturgy it happened (must have been one of the appointed times for incense), but a nun was holding one of these little church models/boxes/containers in her left hand and a hand censer in her right and censed the whole church in the usual manner. I also don't remember her coming out or going into the altar.
In this photo they are Ukrainian Orthodox deacons(MP)in the Dormition church of the Pecherskaya Lavra.
Any answers will be appreciated!
Thank you all!

In Christ,

Nino

Censing photo [pravoslavie.ru]

Oops! Sorry,that is the Pochaev Lavra.
Nino

I am guessing. It may be a Hierachial Divine Liturgy. The deacon represents the bishop and the church. Actualy the deacons purpose is to serve the bishop and the church, so sometimes it seems like the priest is left standing alone when the bishop is in town. Not really, but it always seems a bit odd to me, since we are so use to seeing our priests in action.

Anyway, if you notice on an icon of a deacon, often times you will see the censor in one hand and the church in the other, with their hands covered. It shows that they are servants of the Church.

http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/hierarchical_services_rubrics.htm

Hopefully, the deacons will come along and give you the right answer

Just venturing a guess:

The deacon have aers on their left shoulders indicating it is the Great Entrance, it appears it is Palm Sunday, given the green vestments and palms on the floor and other greenery, the little churches appear to be artophorions(pyxs) to reserve the Holy Gifts in for Presanctified Liturgy on Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Dear Fr. Deacon,
The photo is from Met.Laurus' visit to Ukraine after the re-unification of ROCOR with the MP.This Liturgy took place on Pentecost Monday,so I don't think it was for the Presanctified gifts.The times that I have seen this was also a non fasting period. So - I think we have to wait and see what others have to say.
Thanks!

Nino

Dear Pani Rose,
Your answer is more along the lines of what I was thinking.This picture IS from a Hierarchical Liturgy,but the ones that I attended were not.There has to be a name for them and rubriks for usage,so we will wait and see.

Thank you,
Nino

I forget where I've read this, so it needs verification, but...

Pani Rose is correct that this mirrors what is seen in icons. In the ancient Byzantine church, the pyx would contain incense so that the deacon would not run out during his censing.

I think there may also be a correlation between this practice and monasteries.

Dave

Looks like Pentecost and not Flowery Sunday. There is a lot branches and the people are in short sleeves and no coats.

I asked about this on the Ustav and Typikon yahoo groups and I got the following responses:

1) The little churches are "Sions" (Zions) and are now used as incense-holders.

2) There is speculation that, in earlier days, these may have had been artophorions or reliquaries.

Apparently, this tradition has died pretty much everywhere, except in Mount Athos and Sinai... and, as we now see, in some temples in Russia and Ukraine.

Here is a picture from Sinai:

http://www.sinaimonastery.com/photos/big/sina_t056_f02_b.jpg

Incidentally, this picture shows an interesting liturgical peculiarity. It shows the Sinaite petseta or towel, which is cape-like and has a neckline, covering both shoulders.

In the earlier photos the deacon's hand holding the "Zion" is covered and in this one from Sinai the hands are not able to be covered.

Interesting, Thanks!

Thank you ALL (Pani Rose,Fr.Deacon Lance,Dave,John,Pavel,and especially asianpilgrim) who answered my question.I think it is fascinating to learn about our churches and the many different customs and traditions that we each have and sometimes share.
I also think that is one of the great things about this forum -to teach,to learn,to share,and to pray.A cyber space mission!
In Christ,

Nino

Just to add:

Please go to this, the photo gallery of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria:

http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/index.php?module=gallery&cid=003

If you will click on the top leftmost picture (14/03/2008) you will notice the hand of a deacon at the left side of the picture, steadying a big church-like box on his left shoulder (so big the hand could scarcely hold one side of it).

When I have the time, I'll look for a video in www.patriarchia.ru [patriarchia.ru], with excerpts from a liturgical service presided over by Patriarch Kirill, which shows two deacons holding really big "churches" on their left shoulders while censing. The church-like boxes seemed to be lot higher than the deacons' heads!