Antimins

The antimins (from the Greek Ἀντιμήνσιον, Antimension: "instead of the table"), is a special corporal required to be on the altar in many Eastern Christian liturgical traditions.^[1] It was originally used as a portable version of an altar.^[2]

It is a rectangular piece of cloth of either linen or silk, typically decorated with representations of the Descent of Christ from the Cross, the Four Evangelists, and inscriptions related to the Passion. A small relic of a martyr is sewn into it. In the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, an altar stone serves a similar function^[1] and in the Coptic Church, it has been replaced by a wooden altar-board or altar-slab.^[2]

Syriac practice

A wooden tablet, the ţablîtho, is the liturgical equivalent of the antimins in the churches of Syriac tradition.

See also

• Tabot
• Corporal (liturgy)
• Antependium
• Sthathicon