Apaten ordiskos is a small plate used for the celebration of theEucharist (as in amass). It is generally used during the liturgy itself, while thereserved sacrament are stored in thetabernacle in aciborium.
In many Western liturgical denominations, the paten is typically either a simple saucer-like plate or a low bowl. A smaller style paten will often have a depression that allows it to securely sit on top of thechalice, as shown in the illustration on the left here.
TheGeneral Instruction of the Roman Missal lays down rules for patens:
Sacred vessels should be made from precious metal. If they are made from metal that rusts or from a metal less precious than gold, they should generally be gilded on the inside.[1]
However, provisions for vessels made from non-precious metals are made as well, provided they are "made from other solid materials which in the common estimation in each region are considered precious or noble."[2]
Some call thecommunion-plate a "paten",[3] but the English translation of theGeneral Instruction of the Roman Missal approved by the English-speakingepiscopal conferences and confirmed by theHoly See uses "communion-plate" to speak of this object (numbers 118 and 187) and reserves the term "paten" for the other object (numbers 84, 117, 141, etc.).[4] The two correspondingLatin terms arepatina (communion-plate) andpatena (paten).[5]
Patens are also used amongAnglicans[6] andLutherans.[7]
In the United Methodist Church, during the Order for the Ordination of Elders, eachelder receives a stole, along with a chalice and paten, from thebishop after the part of the liturgy in which the bishoplays his hands and prays over the ministerial candidates.[8] This is because the newly ordained elders are now able to celebrate the Sacraments, such as Holy Communion. In the Methodist service of the Holy Communion, the bread is placed upon a paten during theoffertory and once again after itconsecrated, specifically following thefraction. The paten, along with the chalice, lies on thealtar during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.[9]
In theByzantine RiteEastern Orthodox andByzantine Rite Catholic Churches, the paten is called adiskos[10] and is elevated by a stand (or "foot") permanently attached underneath. The diskos is usually more ornate than itsLatin counterpart, and must always be made of gold or at least be gold-plated. The diskos may be engraved with anicon ofJesusChrist, theNativity of Christ, theCross, or most frequently theTheotokos.
When a diskos is made, it is usually accompanied by a matchingasterisk (small, folding metal stand used to keep theAër from disturbing the particles on the diskos), aspoon (for distributingHoly Communion to the faithful), and aspear (used to cut theLamb during theLiturgy of Preparation).
For Christians of historicallyEastern church families, the diskos symbolises theEver-virgin Mary, who received God the Word into her womb and gave birth to him, as well as theTomb of Christ, which received his body after the Crucifixion and from which he resurrected.
During theDivine Liturgy it is not only theLamb (Host) that is placed on the diskos, but also particles to commemorate the Theotokos, theSaints, the living and the departed. Thus, on the diskos is represented the entire Church: theChurch Militant and theChurch Triumphant, arrayed around Christ. At theGreat Entrance the deacon carries the Diskos, holding the foot of the diskos at his forehead. He then kneels at the side of theHoly Table, and the priest takes the diskos from him and places it on theAntimension. During theAnaphora, only the Lamb is consecrated.[citation needed]
AtHoly Communion, the clergy partake of their portions of the Lamb directly from the diskos, but for the Communion of the faithful, the remainder of the Lamb is cut into small portions and placed in the chalice, from which the priest distributes Communion using the spoon. After Communion, the Deacon holds the diskos above the holy chalice and recites hymns of the Resurrection. Then he wipes the remaining particles (for the saints, living and departed) into the chalices saying the words:
"Wash away, O Lord, the sins of all those here commemorated, by Thy precious Blood, through the prayers of all Thy saints."[citation needed]
Sometimes, when a bishop celebrates the Liturgy, a smaller diskos is prepared for him with a smallprosphoron from which he takes particles to commemorate the living and the departed before theGreat Entrance.[citation needed]
During theConsecration of a Church, a diskos is used to hold therelics of thesaints which will be sealed in the Holy Table and antimension by the bishop.
When a priest isordained, a portion of the Lamb will be placed on a small diskos and given to him, as a sign of theSacred Mysteries which are being entrusted to his care.
In the Russian tradition, there is a special liturgy of blessing used to sanctify a diskos before its first use at Liturgy. The diskos may be blessed separately or together in a set with the other sacred vessels. The blessing is normally done immediately before beginning of the Liturgy of Preparation, after which the priest carries the diskos into the sanctuary and begins the liturgy, using the newly blessed vessel in that Liturgy.
Up until the first time a diskos is used in the Divine Liturgy it is considered to be an ordinary vessel, and may be touched by anyone. However, after having been used in the Divine Liturgy, a diskos may be touched only by a deacon, priest or bishop. Asubdeacon may touch the sacred vessels, but only if they are securely wrapped in cloth.
When not in use, the chalice, diskos, and all the sacred vessels should remain on theTable of Oblation (prothesis), wrapped in their cloth bags—either sitting on top and covered with a cloth, or stored securely in a cabinet built into the prothesis.
In the usage of theAlexandrian Rite, the diskos usually has a flat bottom with no foot. Additionally, it has a raised edge, forming a relatively high rim, preventing particles of the offered elements from falling to the floor.
The supplemental document Living into the Mystery, which attends to more practical issues in our celebration of Holy Communion, provides additional guidance: The Lord's Table should be set with "a plain white linen to cover the table, a chalice for the wine, and a paten (plate) for the bread. Some traditions in our church would add a plain white cloth to cover the chalice and paten as well."
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.