Object ID
2003.27.1
Object Name
Chalice
Material
Brass
Object Entities
Object Description
A large, embellished chalice made from brass. The cup itself constitutes only about a fourth of the entire chalice and has a large base that is round with eight lobes. The top face of each lobe has been decorated with alternating patterns on the triangular sections. The smaller sections have a winding floral motif while the large sections depict Christ and each of the four evangelists. Each slice has a different symbol for each evangelist: the angel for Matthew, the lion for Mark, the bull for Luke, and the eagle for John. Tall, slim tree accents separate each of those eight sections. The shaft of the handle has a series of decorated bulbs. The bottom two are decorated with petal patterns while the topmost, and largest, have four wreathed faces. Since these faces are directly above the evangelist's animal symbols they could represent the men. The cup is highly decorated with an intertwining floral scene and a wreath of vines bordering the top band. The lower portion is punctuated by four circular portraits. One is of Christ Pantocrator, the next is of Christ holding a long staff with a cross at the end, the next is of the cross itself with a rod, scroll, skull, and ladder surrounding it, and the last image is of Mary.
Origin
This chalice was used to hold and administer the "blood of Christ" for communion. Many Greek Orthodox chalices are highly decorated in the Byzantine tradition with images of Christ and ornate and intricate carving.

Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church was founded in 1927 at its current location on Winona Street, on the north side of Chicago. Demetrios was sainted for his faith in the face of Roman persecution. He used his position as a public figure to convert many Greeks in Thessaly and was openly defiant to the Emperor.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Chalice, National Hellenic Museum, https://hellenic.whirlihost.com/Detail/objects/6917. Accessed 04/28/24.