Cult objects

The chalices, among other cultic silver objects, are dominant by their number and functional variety. Thus, the so-called liturgical vessels or sacred vessels have a great importance, as they are an integral part of the ritual of the Anaphora, meant to prepare the gifts - the communion bread and the wine - for the Eucharistic sacrifice on the side altar table. The whole ritual of the Anaphora symbolically reconstitutes the biblical biography of Our Saviour from birth to His Resurrection. Each of the objects has its own special significance. Thus, the side altar table stands for Bethlehem, Jesus’ birthplace, but also for Golgotha, the place of His crucifixion; the altar table and the liturgical plate stand for the stable and manger where He was born, but also for the ointment table on which He was prepared for burial; the little star, covering the liturgical plate, above the mystical lamb, stands for the guiding star which stood over Bethlehem to show the Wisemen His birthplace, and also the seal of His grave; the removal of the Holy mystical lamb from the communion bread with the sacrificial knife symbolises His birth, but also the piercing of His body with the spear; the wine mixed with water which is poured into the chalice for the ritual of the Anaphora is suggestive of the blood and water which flowed from His wound; the crumbled communion bread - His body that was broken for the sinners’ salvation; the Holy Gifts brought back into the altar and placed on the altar table stand both for His burial and His Resurrection, as the altar table itself is evocative of the Saviour’s grave and the throne of His heavenly glory.

The Christian cultic vessels of the medieval epoch, made of gold and silver, date back in Romania from the 14th century. The oldest cultic objects preserved at Putna Monastery date back from 1567 and belonged to Alexandru Lapusneanul - a font, renewed by Lapusneanul from an older one from the time of Stephen the Great, and a plate for the funeral wheat porridge, commissioned and given by Alexandru Lapusneanul to Putna Monastery. A special place is held by the crowns from the old icon of Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus, possibly belonging to Maria of Mangop, and the buckles from Abbot Sila.


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