Artophorion

The artophorion was made of silver-toned metal with gold spraying.

The fragment is one of the tiers of the artophorion, with a rectangular, stepped base, decorated on all sides at the center with cartouches bordered by a floral ornament, and at the corners with acanthus leaves. Set on it is a box with a pull-out drawer (now lost); on three sides are chased Gospel scenes: "The Lamentation of Christ," "Christ in the Tomb," and "The Ascension." The upper part of the tier is stepped, ornamented in the same way as the lower part. At one of the corners is a round column, wound with a ribbon.

The artophorion belonged to the pre-war collection of the Sloboda Ukraine Museum named after H. S. Skovoroda. During the Second World War it was evacuated and returned to Kharkiv in November 1944.

Note: the artophorion is a sacred vessel used in Christian churches to store the Holy Gifts (the Body and Blood of Christ) intended for the communion of the faithful. It is the most sacred object in the church and is usually placed on the altar table in the sanctuary. The artophorion is made in the form of a small church, chapel, or domed tower, inside which is a box for the Holy Gifts.