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{{Short description|Ecclesiastical footed drinking cup, often with a central knop}}{{hatnote group|{{Other uses}}{{Redirect|Goblet|drinking goblets intended for everyday use|stemware}} }}A chalice (from Latin 'mug', borrowed from Ancient Greek ({{transl|grc|kylix}}) 'cup') or goblet is a footed cup intended to hold a drink. In religious practice, a chalice is often used for drinking during a ceremony or may carry a certain symbolic meaning.File:Chalice.jpeg|thumb|right|Chalice in the vestry of the Ipatevskii Monastery in Kostroma. Photographed by Sergey Prokudin-GorskySergey Prokudin-Gorsky

Religious use

Christian

The ancient Roman calix was a drinking vessel consisting of a bowl fixed atop a stand, and was in common use at banquets. In Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Lutheranism and some other Christian denominations, a chalice is a standing cup used to hold sacramental wine during the Eucharist (also called the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion). Chalices are often made of precious metal, and they are sometimes richly enamelled and jewelled. The gold goblet was symbolic for family and tradition.(File:German - Chalice with Saints and Scenes from the Life of Christ - Walters 44116.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Chalice with Saints and Scenes from the Life of Christ)Chalices have been used since the early church. Because of Jesus' command to his disciples to "Do this in remembrance of me." ({{bibleverse||Luke|22:19|KJV}}), and Paul's account of the Eucharistic rite in {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|11:24-25|KJV}}, the celebration of the Eucharist became central to Christian liturgy. Naturally, the vessels used in this important act of worship were highly decorated and treated with great respect. A number of early examples of chalices have a large bowl and two handles. Over time, the size of the bowl diminished and the base became larger for better stability. Eventually, official church regulations dictated the construction, blessing, and treatment of chalices. Some religious traditions still require that the chalice, at least on the inside of the cup, be gold-plated.WEB,weblink Chapter VI: The Requisites for the Celebration of Mass | USCCB, www.usccb.org, In Western Christianity, chalices will often have a pommel or node where the stem meets the cup to make the elevation easier. In Roman Catholicism, chalices tend to be tulip-shaped, and the cups are quite narrow. Roman Catholic priests will often receive chalices from members of their families when first ordained.(File:PotirMuzeuCJ.JPG|thumb|Silver chalice in the museum of the Romanian Orthodox Archbishopy of the Vad, Feleac, and Cluj)In Eastern Christianity (Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches), chalices will often have icons enameled or engraved on them, as well as a cross. In Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholicism, all communicants receive both the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ. To accomplish this, a portion of the Lamb (Host) is placed in the chalice, and then the faithful receive Communion on a spoon. For this reason, eastern chalices tend to have larger, rounded cups. In the Russian Orthodox Church, the faithful will often kiss the "foot" (base) of the chalice after receiving Holy Communion. In other traditions, they will kiss the cup. Although Orthodox monks are not permitted to hold personal possessions, the canons permit a hieromonk (i.e., a monk who has been ordained to the priesthood) to keep a chalice and other vessels necessary to celebrate the Divine Liturgy.In the early and medieval church, when a deacon was ordained, he would be handed a chalice during the service as a sign of his ministry. In the West the deacon carries the chalice to the altar at the offertory; in the East, the priest carries the chalice and the deacon carries the paten (diskos). Only wine, water and a portion of the Host are permitted to be placed in the chalice, and it may not be used for any profane purpose.The chalice is considered to be one of the most sacred vessels in Christian liturgical worship, and it is often blessed before use. In the Roman Catholic Church and some Anglo-Catholic churches, it was the custom for a chalice to be consecrated by being anointed with chrism, and this consecration could only be performed by a bishop or abbot (only for use within his own monastery).{{Citation

The Holy Chalice

File:Chalice Burgos VandA 132-1873.jpg|thumb|upright|Chalice with the inscription: "Sanguis meus vere est potus" ('My blood is drink indeed'; John 6:55, KJV), made for the church St John the Baptist in Salinas, Spain]]In Christian tradition, the Holy Chalice is the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine. New Testament texts make no mention of the cup except within the context of the Last Supper and give no significance whatsoever to the object itself. Herbert Thurston in the Catholic Encyclopedia 1908 concluded that "No reliable tradition has been preserved to us regarding the vessel used by Christ at the Last Supper. In the sixth and seventh centuries pilgrims to Jerusalem were led to believe that the actual chalice was still venerated in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, having within it the sponge which was presented to Our Saviour on Calvary." Several surviving standing cups of precious materials are identified in local traditions as the Chalice.

Holy Grail

An entirely different and pervasive tradition concerns the cup of the Last Supper. In this highly muddled though better-known version, the vessel is known as the Holy Grail. In this legend, Jesus used the cup at the Last Supper to institute the Mass.Other stories claim that Joseph of Arimathea used the cup to collect and store the blood of Christ at the Crucifixion.

Unitarian Universalism

At the opening of Unitarian Universalist worship services, many congregations light a flame inside a chalice.{{Citation |last=Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations |url=http://www.uua.org/visitors/6901.shtml |title=Our Symbol: the Flaming Chalice |date=March 1, 2007 |access-date=2007-07-19}} A flaming chalice is the most widely used symbol of Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism (UU), and the official logo of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and other Unitarian and UU churches and societies.Unitarian Universalist Association,"The History of the Flaming Chalice" The design was originated by the artist Hans Deutsch, who took his inspiration from the chalices of oil burned on ancient Greek and Roman altars. It became an underground symbol in occupied Europe during World War II for assistance to help Unitarians, Jews, and other people escape Nazi persecution.{{Citation |last=uuworld.org—liberal religion and life |title=Wartime origins of the flaming chalice |url=http://www.uua.org/visitors/6901.shtml |access-date=2007-07-19}} The chalice is often shown surrounded by two linked rings. The two linked rings were used as an early symbol for the Unitarian Universalist Association, signifying the joining of Unitarianism and Universalism.There is no standardized interpretation of the flaming chalice symbol. In one interpretation, the chalice is a symbol of religious freedom from the impositions of doctrine by a hierarchy and openness to participation by all; the flame is interpreted as a memorial to those throughout history who sacrificed their lives for the cause of religious liberty. In another interpretation, the flaming chalice resembles a cross, symbolic of the Christian roots of Unitarian Universalism.{{Citation |last=Unitarian Universalist Association |url=http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/chalice.html |title=The History of the Flaming Chalice |year=2007}}

Wicca

In Wicca, a chalice, as a feminine principle, is often used in combination with the Athame (ceremonial black-handled knife), as male principle. Combining the two evokes the act of procreation, as a symbol of universal creativity. This is a symbol of the Great Rite in Wiccan rituals. A chalice is also used in the Small Rite.

Neo-Paganism

Some other forms of Neo-Paganism make use of chalices in their rituals as well. A chalice may be placed on an altar or on the ground. The chalice may contain wine, whiskey, water, or other liquids. It is used to represent the genitalia of the goddess or female deity.

Rastafarian

Rastafaris sometimes smoke ganja in a chalice (waterpipe or bong) during an activity called reasoning intended to put participants in touch with peaceful feelings, unity, and "consciousness."{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

Poisoned chalice

The term "poisoned chalice" is applied to a thing or situation which appears to be good when it is received or experienced by someone, but then becomes or is found to be bad. The idea was referred to by Benedict of Nursia in one of his exorcisms, found on the Saint Benedict Medal: Vade retro Satana! Nunquam suade mihi vana! Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse venena bibas! (Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!).William Shakespeare uses the expression in Act I Scene VII of Macbeth. It occurs in the opening soliloquy of the scene when Macbeth is considering the ramifications of the murder he is plotting.But in these casesWe still have judgment here; that we but teachBloody instructions, which, being taught, returnTo plague the inventor: this even-handed justiceCommends the ingredients of our poison'd chaliceTo our own lips.

Heraldry

The use of chalices as heraldic devices is not unusual, especially in ecclesiastical heraldry. A number of cities and regions also make use of the chalice. For instance, the coat of arms of the municipality of Fanas in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the Swiss canton of Graubünden bears a gold chalice on a solid blue background. The coat of arms of Staufen im Breisgau contains the three golden chalices (i.e. drei staufen in ancient German) of the Lords of Staufen ((:de:Staufen (Adelsgeschlecht)|de)), advocates of the monastery of St. Trudpert. A golden chalice (or in some instances three or five) on blue background has been used as coat of arms for the Kingdom of Galicia since at least the late Middle Ages, and is still central in its renewed heraldry.

Gallery

File:Tutankhamun Treasure in Paris coupe au lotus-cropped.jpg|Alabaster chalice found in Tutankhamun's tomb, 14th century BCImage:NavdatoliGoblet1300BCE.jpg|Ceramic goblet from Navdatoli, Malwa, 1300 BCE; Malwa cultureImage:Bucchero chalice Louvre C627.jpg|Etruscan bucchero chalice, early 6th century BCFile:Trésor de Gourdon 04.JPG|Treasure of Gourdon, 6th century ADFile:TassilokelchSchreibmayr-2.jpg|Tassilo Chalice, {{Circa|780}} (reproduction)File:Calice d'argento, da reerasta, ardagh, contea di limerick, viii secolo 04.jpg|Ardagh Chalice, 8th centuryFile:Byzantine - Chalice with Apostles Venerating the Cross - Walters 57636 - Profile.jpg|Chalice with Apostles Venerating the Cross, Byzantine Empire (Walters Art Museum)Image:Calice du sacre Tau.jpg|Palais du Tau, treasure of the Cathedral of Reims, 12th centuryImage:Kalk från Borgå domkyrka, omkring år 1900.jpg|Chalice from Borgå Cathedral (Porvoo Cathedral), {{Circa|1250}}Image:Vfk kalk.jpg|Medieval chalice from Our Lady's church, Trondheim, NorwayImage:KelchbarockSchreibmayr.jpg|Baroque chalice with a patenImage:KelchmodernSchreibmayr.jpg|Modern chalice with patenImage:Fractio-panis1.JPG|Large modern chalice and patenImage:Wine Goblet, mid-19th century.jpg|Wine Goblet, mid-19th century. Qajar dynasty. Brooklyn Museum.Image:French_12th_Century_(mounting);_Alexandrian_2nd-1st_Century_B.C.(cup)_,_Chalice_of_the_Abbot_Suger_of_Saint-Denis,_NGA_1437.jpg|Chalice of the Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis, National Gallery of Art

Other usage

File:Alexander Coosemans - Allegory of the Eucharist.jpg|thumb|upright|Allegory of the Eucharist by Alexander CoosemansAlexander Coosemans

Québec

In French-Canadian culture, particularly in and around Quebec, the use of the names of holy objects such as "câlice" (a variation of calice, which is the French word for chalice) can be an alternate form of cursing. Somewhat equivalent to the American word "goddam" or the phrase "God damn it", the use of "câlice" or "tabarnak" (a variation of tabernacle) as an interjection is not uncommon in Quebec. For example: "Câlice! I forgot to lock the front door" or muttering "tabarnak" under one's breath after they get a flat tire. This is presumably a derivation of "taking the Lord's name in vain".Gordon, Sean (December 12, 2006). "Quebec swears by its English curses: But church-related expletives spoken in French not accepted on TV". Toronto Star

Czech Republic

With reference to the Hussite movement in the Kingdom of Bohemia, besides religious use, the chalice also became one of the unofficial national symbols of the Czechs. It is frequently used in Czech national symbolism and it is part of many historical banners.

See also

{{div col}}

• Ablution in Christianity
• Ardagh Chalice
• Chalice of Crossdrum
• Ciborium
• Communion under both kinds
• Corporal (liturgy)
• Derrynaflan Chalice
• Holy Grail
• Intinction
• Paten
• Tassilo Chalice
• The Oxburgh Chalice
• The Silver Chalice
• Treasure of Gourdon

{{div col end}}

Notes

{{Reflist}}

External links

• {{Wiktionary-inline|chalice}}
• {{Commons category-inline|Chalices}}
• "Chalice" article from the Catholic Encyclopedia
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20061108055459weblink">Stem glass classification
• Material Culture of the Mendicant Orders in Ireland, a selection of photographs of and detailed information about religious artefacts, mainly chalices, belonging to the Irish Franciscans. A UCD Digital Library Collection.

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