www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall What's it called?

I know I've come to the right place. I've scoured the Internet but it's hard to search when I don't know its name.

My question is what are those two paddles called during the Divine Liturgy? What are they for and who holds them?

Can't wait to hear back.

Pax Christi

are you talking about the Liturgical fans that are place behind the Holy Table?

if so, one name for them are the Ripidia

Herb

The Ripidia are liturgical fans that once were real fans, used to keep the celebrants cool and the flies away in the days when liturgy was performed in warm climates without air conditioning. They were, I think, originally carried by deacons, and thus were decorated with icons of the Cherubim and Seraphim, emblematic of the heavenly hosts. They serve that function today (but are typically carried by acolytes or altar servers), when carried in the processions of the Little Entrance and Great Entrance, and when extended over the deacon's or priest's head during the reading of the Gospel.

In some Churches, such as the Melkite, the deacon also uses a small hand fan during the unveiling of the Gifts--this really does appear to have been intended to keep flies off of the Diskos and out of the Chalice.

I have also been told that their use is also symbolic or our prayers being lifted up to Heaven by the angels

They are also call hexapteryga from the Greek meaning six-winged.

At ordination, the deacon is presented with the orarion (stole), the kadilo (censer) and a ripidion; each presentation by the bishop is announced by his Axios! which is then echoed by the clergy and the people.

The liturgicon (Ruthenian Recension) states after the diaconal admonition before the Anaphora:
And at the subsequent sing of the Holy, holy, holy:
And at the epiklesis:
As I recall, the Archieratikon (Pontifical) designates six deacons at the Great Entrance: one with the kadilo, one with diskos and bread, two with ripidia over the diskos and two with ripidia over the cup.

Also, here's an interesting diaconal picture showing a ripidion in hand:

[Linked Image]

I was wondering about the angel angle.

The one time I went to Our Lady of Wisdom (as part of an honor guard from the KofC for the bishop's visit), the Ripidia (though they use a different word) were indeed waived during a portion of the liturgy--the anaphora, I think. I don't know whether that is a local habit or greco-italo-albanian in general.

hawk

Wow that's all very interesting! Thanks for all the great information everyone!

Pax Christi!

Oddly enough, for the ordination of a Deacon, the Greeks use a very small ripidion - which seems strange, since almost any Greek Orthodox Church is supplied with lovely, full-size ripidia.

Fr. Serge

A deacon being given the ripidion at ordination (Ruthenian): [Linked Image]

To what Church does the Protodeaconess belong? ie what rite is she? The vestments look byzantine.

I thought I read somewhere that women deacons of the byzantine churches wore their orars crossed in the front?

Herb

The caption gives the location as Jerusalem. Her stole (was it referred to as an orarion?) is not crossed in the photo.

In the West Syriac Churches these are called "marvahatho" and they have little bells attached to the ends and are waved usually two (very rarely four for solemn feasts) in unison.

http://www.stignatious.com/qurbana/fan.jpg

http://www.stignatious.com/qurbana/qurbana.html