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Aciborium (pluralciboria;Medieval Latinciborium "drinking cup", from theAncient Greek κιβώριονkibōrion, "drinking cup"[1]) is a vessel, normally in metal. It was originally a particular shape of drinking cup in ancient Greece and Rome, but the word later came to refer to a large covered cup designed to holdhosts for, and after, theEucharist, thus the counterpart (for the bread) of thechalice (for the wine).
The word is also used for alarge canopy over the altar of a church, which was a common feature of Early Medievalchurch architecture, now relatively rare.
The ancient Greek word referred to the cup-shaped seed vessel of the Egyptian water-lilynelumbium speciosum and came to describe a drinking cup made from that seed casing,[1] or in a similar shape. These vessels were particularly common inancient Egypt and theGreek East. The word "ciborium" was also used in classical Latin to describe such cups,[2] although the only example to have survived is in one ofHorace's odes (2.7.21–22).[3]
In medieval Latin, and in English, "Ciborium" more commonly refers to a covered container used inRoman Catholic,Anglican,Lutheran and related churches to store theconsecratedhosts of thesacrament ofHoly Communion. It resembles the shape of achalice but its bowl is more round than conical, and takes its name from its cover,[clarification needed] surmounted by a cross or other sacred design. In theearly Catholic Church, Holy Communion was not kept in churches for fear of sacrilege or desecration; the religion was still largely illegal and subject to frequent persecutions. Later, the first ciboria were kept at homes to be handy for theLast Rites where needed. In churches, a ciborium is usually kept in atabernacle oraumbry. The ciborum may be veiled to indicate the presence of the consecrated hosts, as shown in this article's photo gallery. It is typically made, or at least plated, in aprecious metal.
Other containers for the host include thepaten (a small plate) or a basin (for loaves of bread rather than wafers) used at the time of consecration and distribution at the main service ofHoly Eucharist. Apyx is a small, circular container into which a few consecrated hosts can be placed. Pyxes are typically used to bring communion to the sick or housebound.
The dictionary definition ofciborium at Wiktionary