Antimension
Definition
A rectangular linen or silk cloth printed with the scene of the entombment of Jesus Christ and containing sewn-in particles of holy relics, consecrated by a bishop and absolutely mandatory for celebrating the Divine Liturgy in Orthodox churches. In a structural and liturgical sense, it represents the delegation of direct hierarchical authority granted by the bishop to the serving priest to perform the sacraments.
Bilingual Equivalents
- Antimension
- Antimins
Grammatical & Source Details
| Inflection Type | Regular neuter noun with standard technical plural variations ending in '-uri'. |
| Formation | Byzantine Greek compound combining 'anti-' (instead of) with the Latin noun 'mensa' (table/altar), meaning 'instead of a consecrated table'. |
| Spelling / Pronunciation | [ˌæn.tɪ.ˈmɪn.si.ən] |
| Source | Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Theology, Liturgical Objects, and Church Canon Laws |
Contextual Usage Examples
RO: Preotul a desfășurat cu mare evlavie sfântul antimis pe masă din altar înainte de a începe sfințirea darurilor.
EN: The priest unfolded the holy antimension with great piety upon the altar table before beginning the consecration of the gifts.
RO: Fără un antimis sfințit de episcopul locului, nicio comunitate nu poate întemeia structural o parohie canonică.
EN: Without an antimension consecrated by the local bishop, no community can structurally establish a canonical parish.
RO: În timpul persecuțiilor, creștinii foloseau un antimis portabil pentru a putea sluji liturghia în catacombe sau în păduri.
EN: During persecutions, Christians used a portable antimension to be able to serve the liturgy in catacombs or forests.
Idioms & Phrases
Desfășurarea antimisului / Unfolding of the antimension
RO: Moment liturgic solemn ce marchează trecerea la Liturghia Credincioșilor, pregătind masa altarului pentru jertfă.
EN: A solemn liturgical moment marking the transition to the Liturgy of the Faithful, preparing the altar table for the sacrifice.
Sfințirea antimisului / Consecration of the antimension
RO: Ritual episcopal complex prin care pânza este spălată cu apă de trandafiri, unsă cu Sfântul Mir și prevăzută cu moaște.
EN: A complex episcopal ritual whereby the cloth is washed with rosewater, anointed with Holy Chrism, and provided with relics.
Părticică de antimis / Antimension structural element
RO: Zonă din pânză sau buzunar special sigilat unde sunt încorporate moaștele martirilor pentru a atesta temelia jertfei.
EN: A zone of the cloth or a special sealed pocket where the relics of martyrs are incorporated to attest the foundation of sacrifice.
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