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Table of Comparison
| Aspect | Paten | Antimensium |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Small, flat plate used to hold the Eucharistic bread during communion | Consecrated cloth containing relics, placed on the altar for liturgical services |
| Material | Typically made of metal (gold, silver, or brass) | Cloth, often silk or linen, embroidered with religious images |
| Function | Supports the bread during the Eucharist | Serves as an altar covering essential for the Divine Liturgy, symbolizing the tomb of Christ |
| Religious Tradition | Common in Western Christianity (Roman Catholic, Anglican) | Primarily used in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches |
| Significance | Holds Eucharistic elements with reverence | Contains relics of saints; essential for validity of liturgy |
Paten vs Antimensium: Key Differences Explained
The paten is a small, flat plate used during the Eucharist to hold the bread or host, while the antimensium is a consecrated cloth containing relics, essential for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches. The paten physically supports the bread, emphasizing its utility in the sacrament, whereas the antimensium symbolizes the altar itself and is required for the validity of the liturgy, highlighting its ceremonial and theological significance. These distinct roles underline the paten's function in Western liturgical practices compared to the antimensium's central place in Eastern rites.
What Is a Paten? A Brief Overview
A paten is a small, flat plate typically made of metal, used in Christian liturgical services to hold the Eucharistic bread during Communion. It symbolizes the body of Christ and is often crafted from precious metals such as gold or silver to emphasize its sacred purpose. The paten is distinct from the antimensium, which is a consecrated cloth placed on the altar, highlighting their separate roles in the liturgy.
Understanding the Antimensium in Christian Liturgy
The Antimensium, a consecrated cloth containing relics of saints, serves as a portable altar in Christian liturgy and is essential for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, especially in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions. Unlike the Paten, which is a metal plate used to hold the Eucharistic bread during the Mass, the Antimensium symbolizes the presence of Christ and the unity of the Church by being placed on the altar before the Liturgy begins. Its consecration and use underscore the theological significance of the altar as Christ's body, making the Antimensium a vital liturgical element for valid Eucharistic worship when a fixed altar is unavailable.
Historical Origins: Paten and Antimensium
The paten, originating in early Christian worship, is a small, flat plate traditionally made of precious metals used to hold the Eucharistic bread during Mass. The antimensium, derived from the Greek term meaning "against the table," is a consecrated cloth historically used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgies as a portable altar covering containing relics of saints. Both artifacts emerged to ensure the sanctity and proper handling of the Eucharistic elements, reflecting distinct liturgical traditions across Christian denominations.
Symbolism Behind Paten and Antimensium
The paten symbolizes the body of Christ through the bread used in the Eucharist, reflecting purity and the sanctity of the sacrament within Christian liturgy. The antimensium, a consecrated cloth containing relics, symbolizes the burial shroud of Christ and serves as a portable altar, emphasizing the presence and sacrifice of Jesus during the Divine Liturgy. Both objects represent central theological themes of sacrifice, holiness, and the tangible connection between the divine and the earthly in Christian worship.
Liturgical Use: How Paten and Antimensium Function
The paten serves as a small plate, traditionally made of precious metal, used to hold the Eucharistic bread during the Divine Liturgy, emphasizing the sacredness of the sacrament. The antimensium, a consecrated cloth containing relics of saints, is essential for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches, symbolizing the altar and ensuring the validity of the Eucharist. Both objects function as indispensable liturgical vessels, with the paten directly supporting the Eucharistic elements and the antimensium sanctifying the altar space for sacramental rites.
Material and Design: Paten vs Antimensium
The paten is typically crafted from precious metals such as gold or silver, designed as a small, flat, and round plate used to hold the Eucharistic bread during Communion. In contrast, the antimensium is a cloth, often made of linen and embroidered with religious imagery, containing a relic sewn into it, and serves as an altar covering essential for celebrating the Divine Liturgy in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches. While the paten emphasizes durability and sacred metalwork for direct contact with the host, the antimensium focuses on symbolic cloth craftsmanship integral to liturgical tradition.
Canonical and Ecclesiastical Rules
The Paten and Antimension serve distinct liturgical roles governed by canonical and ecclesiastical rules within the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Paten, a small plate used to hold the Eucharistic bread, must be consecrated and treated with reverence according to liturgical norms outlined in the Typicon and canon law. The Antimension, a cloth containing relics and signed by the bishop, is essential for the validity of the Divine Liturgy, symbolizing hierarchical authority and adherence to ecclesiastical regulations, as its absence invalidates the celebration of the Eucharist.
Role in Eastern vs Western Christian Traditions
The paten, a small plate used to hold the Eucharistic bread, holds central liturgical significance in Western Christian traditions, especially within the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches, where it symbolizes the sacrifice of Christ during the Mass. In contrast, the antimensium serves as a consecrated cloth containing relics, essential for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches, underscoring the unity of the altar and the bishop's authority. Both objects highlight theological emphases distinct to their traditions: the paten focusing on the Eucharistic elements themselves, and the antimensium emphasizing ecclesiastical continuity and sacred presence.
Modern Practices and Relevance Today
Modern practices in liturgical settings show the paten remains a central Eucharistic vessel, typically a small, flat plate made of precious metal designed to hold the bread during Communion. The antimensium, a consecrated cloth containing relics and signed by a bishop, is essential in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic rites as a portable altar when a fixed altar is unavailable. Both artifacts maintain their relevance today by embodying the theological and canonical requirements for valid Eucharistic celebration across diverse Christian traditions.
Paten Infographic
