Alavaster

Alavaster, exposition of the Patriarchal Palace in the Moscow Kremlin

Alavaster ( Greek ἀλάβαστρος - alabaster vessel or bottle) - in the Orthodox Church, a vessel for the preservation of the world . Usually round, with a long narrow neck and without a handle.

The name comes from the vessel used to hold incense made from alabaster, used in antiquity in the Mediterranean countries. Such a vessel is mentioned in the New Testament when describing the anointing of Jesus by the world (for example, Matthew 26: 7 ).

In the Byzantine liturgical tradition, the vessels in which the world was sanctified were called the Alawaster. In the practice of the Russian Orthodox Church, a vessel stored in the Cross Church of the Moscow Patriarchate with the already sanctified world stored in the Church, according to tradition, according to succession from the apostles with the addition of peace from each new consecration, is called an alavastaster. When the new world is consecrated, the patriarch adds a little of the ancient world to each vessel from the Alavastra, and also replenishes the Alawaster with the newly consecrated world. Alavaster, used until 1917, is currently kept in the collection of the Moscow Kremlin Museums and is on display at the Kremlin Patriarchal Palace .