Antimension

The antimension takes the form of a rectangular sheet of light-colored silk fabric (satin), with a printed image executed in black. The compositional center is the scene of the "Entombment" (Lamentation): the body of Christ lies on a stone slab, surrounded by the figure of the haloed Mother of God (with the inscription "MR ΘU" by her head), the Myrrh-Bearing Women, holy men (one kneeling at the feet, another supporting the head), and two winged angels on either side. In the background is a large Golgotha cross. The composition sits within a frame of Classicist cartouches. In the four corners are round medallions with bust-length images of the four Evangelists and their symbols. In the side cartouches are depictions of the instruments of the Passion (a spear, a reed, a ladder, a lantern, a rooster on a column, and so on). At the top is a framed Church Slavonic text: "This Antimension. This is the sacred table for the offering of the bloodless sacrifice. In the Divine Liturgy it is sanctified by the Grace of the Most Holy Spirit; for this reason authority is granted to perform the sacred rites upon it in the church." At the bottom is text with the dedicatory formula: "By command... of Emperor Nicholas Pavlovich... By the blessing of the Most Holy... Synod, consecrated by His Grace Nikanor, Bishop in the city of St. Peter, on the 25th day of March, 1827" (text in Russian, printed with a handwritten addition; the numerals rendered in Cyrillic characters). Part of the text, including the consecrating bishop's name/title, was added by hand in the lower right margin: "Vicar of Revel and St. Petersburg," and the date "1827."

On the reverse of the sheet is a handwritten attestation in ink: on the top line, a cross and the words "By the Grace of God"; below, an extended signature reading: "The humble Serafim, Metropolitan of Novgorod and St. Petersburg." At the center of the reverse is a sewn-on rectangular pocket for the relics of a saint.

The object entered the museum's holdings in 1956.

Note: an antimension is a consecrated liturgical cloth depicting the Entombment of Christ. It is placed on the altar table and is required for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox tradition.

Antimensia were made by printing (an engraving on fabric) sacred images and specific texts; on the reverse was sewn a tiny pouch containing a particle of a saint's relics, mixed with a compound of wax, incense, and other fragrances. The finished cloth was signed by hand on the front and finally consecrated by a bishop, who indicated the church, the date, and his own name. The antimension then became the authorization to celebrate the Liturgy.