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CyberTypicon Definitions  --  Elements in the Divine Liturgy  --  Glossary  --  Primer for Melkite Worship and Ritual

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Holy Seal for Qurban for Holy Eucharist and the Antidoron

Holy God
the Son
in Holy
Trinity/
Our Lord
God and
Savior
Jesus Christ		 Great
and
Holy
Thurs.		 Holy
Mys-
tery
of
Holy
Eucha-
rist		 Great
and
Holy
Fri.		 Divine
Body
Thurs.
after
1st
Sun.
after
Pentecost
 Qurban Holy
Seal
for
Qurban		 Recipe Recipe
Hints

 

The Holy Seal for Qurban (bread) for Holy Eucharist and the Antidoron is almost six inches in diameter. The Holy Seal has two sides. The large side is almost six inches in diameter. The small side is three and one-quarter inches in diameter.

ItemLarge sideSmall side
Number squaresNineOne
"The Lamb"
IE|XE NI|KA or IC|XC NI|KA		Center squareOnly square
Bread meant forDivine LiturgyFamily
AntidoronUsually usedCan be used

 

On the Holy Seal for the qurban facing upwards, the nine squares are in this arrangement.
Rays
Can be Holy Communion for the people or Antidoron		small IE|XE NI|KA or
IC|XC NI|KA
Particles for the Living
But, if not all of the square is required for the living,
can be Holy Communion for the people or Antidoron
4th square cut		Rays
Can be Holy Communion for the people or Antidoron
Nine small triangles
angels, prophets, apostles, pontiffs and doctors, martyrs, fathers, wonderworkers, ancestors of God (Joachim and Anne) and saints, and the saint whose Liturgy is being celebrated
3th square cut		 "The Lamb"
or IE|XE NI|KA or IC|XC NI|KA
Holy Communion for the clergy
But, if not all of "The Lamb" is required for the clergy, particles from it may be Holy Communion to the people.
1st square cut		 One large triangle
The Theotokos
2nd square cut
Rays
Can be Holy Communion for the people or Antidoron		Small IE|XE NI|KA or
IC|XC NI|KA
Particles for the Dead
But, if not all of the square is required for the dead,
can be Holy Communion for the people or Antidoron
5th square cut		Rays
Can be Holy Communion or Antidoron

 

On the Qurban facing upwards, the nine squares on the large side are in this arrangement.
Rays
Can be Holy Communion for the people or Antidoron		Small IE|XE NI|KA or
IC|XC NI|KA
Particles for the Living
But, if not all of the square is required for the living,
can be Holy Communion for the people or Antidoron		Rays
Can be Holy Communion for the people or Antidoron
On "The Lamb's" right hand
One large triangle
The Theotokos		 "The Lamb"
or IE|XE NI|KA or IC|XC NI|KA
Holy Communion for the clergy
But, if not all of "The Lamb" is required for the clergy, particles from it may be Holy Communion to the people.		On "The Lamb's" left hand
Nine small triangles
angels, prophets, apostles, pontiffs and doctors, martyrs, fathers, wonderworkers, ancestors of God (Joachim and Anne) and saints, and the saint whose Liturgy is being celebrated
Rays
Can be Holy Communion for the people or Antidoron		Small IE|XE NI|KA or
IC|XC NI|KA
Particles for the Dead
But, if not all of the square is required for the dead,
can be Holy Communion for the people or Antidoron		Rays
Can be Holy Communion or Antidoron

Large IE|XE NI|KA or IC|XC NI|KA Square - "The Lamb" is in the center on the Holy Seal and on the Qurban.

Letters

The center square with the IE|XE NI|KA or IC|XC NI|KA impression is symbolic of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, the center square is called "The Lamb". "The Lamb" is cut out of the qurban with the "Lance". Next, "The Lamb" is pierced by the "Lance".

The words written in Greek, transliteration, Latinized and Anglicized.

The center square has four quadrants. In each of the quadrants, there are two Greek letters. These letters are separated by a cross.

Language/form of lettersLetters
Greek using Greek letters"IE" (Iota and Sigma), "XE" (Chi and Sigma), "NI", and "KA"
Anglicized Greek using English letters"IC" (Iota and Sigma), "XC" (Chi and Sigma), "NI", and "KA"

The letters "IE|XE" or "IC|XC" (with the bar above them) is the Greek contraction/abbreviation for Jesus Christ.

NameContraction/abbreviationContraction/abbreviation lettersWord letters
Iêsous (Jesus)"IE" or "IC"Iota and Sigma.Ioto, Epsilon, Sigma, Omicron, Upsilon, and Sigma.
Christos/Kristos (Christ)"XE" or "XC"Chi and Sigma.Chi, Rho, Iota, Simga, Tau, Omicron, and Sigma.

These letters appear as:

IE|XE
-------
NI|KA		 IC|XC
-------
NI|KA		 The letters IC|XC and NI|KA The letters IC|XC with the abbreviation bar

Bar above the Letters

In Greek, the bar above the letters means a contraction/abbreviation.
(On icons of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, often the "IE" or "IC" (with the bar above them) is on the left of Him and the "XE" or "XC" (with the bar above them) is on the right of him.)

Translation

The word "NIKA" is the Greek word for "conquers" or the verb for "victory", a possibility is "is is victorious. The word "nike" is the name of the Greek god of victory.

The usual literal translation of "IE|XE NI|KA" or "IC|XC NI|KA" is "Jesus Christ conquers". The translation is sometimes "Jesus Christ is victorious". What Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, conquered / was victorious over was death on Feasts of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha.

Name of the Holy Seal

The Holy Seal is sometimes called the "IE|XE NIKA" or "IC|XC NIKA" Stamp or IE XE NI KA or IC XC NI KA Stamp.

Ceremony of Preparation of the Oblations or Prothesis before the Divine Liturgy

During the Ceremony of Preparation of the Oblations or Prothesis before the Divine Liturgy, the priest prays and cuts the Qurban based on the nine squares of the large side of the Holy Seal impression.

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center
Martha Liles
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles) and Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000 and Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-givng Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Sunday, December 25, 2005, 16:14:16, PST
The current date and time is: Monday, December 01, 2008, 11:45:58, PST or Monday, December 01, 2008, 19:45:58, GMT