Zeon carved

Zoe carved bronze gilt or silver plated

Dimensions: 15,00 x 15,00 x 26,00 cm

The zion is an integral element of the celebration of every Divine Liturgy, according to the Byzantine liturgical rite.

Zion is defined as the boiled water (hot water), which the minister pours into the Holy Communion Cup after filling the cup with the portion of the Sacrament, one of the four portions of the Body of Blood and its union with the Blood.

The minister, after putting the portion of lamb in the cup, saying: “Fullness of the cup of faith, of the Holy Spirit”, he blesses the vessel with his juice: “Blessed is the juice of thy saints always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages,” and pours the hot water into the cup, while at the same time confessing: “Life of faith, Holy Spirit”.

The symbolism of the use of zéodos is twofold. On the one hand, the zephyr symbolizes the heat of the blood and water that came out of Christ’s side on the Cross. Jesus, now dead, should have had rigor mortis and coldness.

But none of the symptoms of the dead human body applied in his case, since he retained unnatural vitality and his body was still warm. The heat of the water, on the other hand, recalls the fervour of faith with which every believer ought to approach and receive the Holy Gifts.

Its main symbolism, however, is the presence of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, by whose action the Eucharistic species (bread, wine, water) are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.