A peristerium, or Eucharistic dove in the Western church, is a metallic vessel, in the shape of a dove (pigeon), which can be hung over an altar, most often in Eastern Christian churches.[1]
Western eucharistic doves were used in medieval churches to keep consecrated hosts from the Eucharist (the Blessed Sacrament). These consecrated Hosts are in the Pyx, which could be put into it by a flap in the back of the dove's body. Many were made in Spanish or Limoges enamel, with generally only the wings and eyes in enamel, the rest being gilded.
German theologian Matthias Joseph Scheeben wrote of the significance of using a peristerium to hold the Eucharist in The Mysteries of Christianity: "How striking and well devised was the ancient usage of reserving the Eucharist in a receptacle symbolic of the Holy Spirit in a vessel fashioned in the form of a dove — in the so-called peristerium! How beautifully the Holy Spirit was thus symbolized as He who brings and fashions the gift contained in that receptacle; as He who, encompassing and permeating that gift as fire does the coal, dwells therein with His essence and His power!"[2]
Iconedit
The dove is a widely used symbol of the Christian Church. It symbolizes the Holy Spirit, is an attribute of the Virgin Mary, and was later one of the apostles. As a symbol of resurrection, pigeons were placed in the tombs of the martyrs. Also grave lamps in the form of doves were common.
Literatureedit
Bonaparte: Iconography of the pigeons, Paris, 1857.
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eucharistic doves.
^Mackenzie Walcott (1968). Sacred archæology: a popular dictionary of ecclesiastical art and institutions. p. 158.
^Scheeben, Matthias (1951). The Mysteries of Christianity. St Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. p. 530.
February 27, 2024
peristerium, peristerium, eucharistic, dove, western, church, metallic, vessel, shape, dove, pigeon, which, hung, over, altar, most, often, eastern, christian, churches, limoges, enamel, dove, walters, museum, contents, purpose, icon, literature, referencespur. A peristerium or Eucharistic dove in the Western church is a metallic vessel in the shape of a dove pigeon which can be hung over an altar most often in Eastern Christian churches 1 Limoges enamel dove Walters Art Museum Contents 1 Purpose 2 Icon 3 Literature 4 ReferencesPurpose editWestern eucharistic doves were used in medieval churches to keep consecrated hosts from the Eucharist the Blessed Sacrament These consecrated Hosts are in the Pyx which could be put into it by a flap in the back of the dove s body Many were made in Spanish or Limoges enamel with generally only the wings and eyes in enamel the rest being gilded German theologian Matthias Joseph Scheeben wrote of the significance of using a peristerium to hold the Eucharist in The Mysteries of Christianity How striking and well devised was the ancient usage of reserving the Eucharist in a receptacle symbolic of the Holy Spirit in a vessel fashioned in the form of a dove in the so called peristerium How beautifully the Holy Spirit was thus symbolized as He who brings and fashions the gift contained in that receptacle as He who encompassing and permeating that gift as fire does the coal dwells therein with His essence and His power 2 Icon editThe dove is a widely used symbol of the Christian Church It symbolizes the Holy Spirit is an attribute of the Virgin Mary and was later one of the apostles As a symbol of resurrection pigeons were placed in the tombs of the martyrs Also grave lamps in the form of doves were common Literature editBonaparte Iconography of the pigeons Paris 1857 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eucharistic doves Mackenzie Walcott 1968 Sacred archaeology a popular dictionary of ecclesiastical art and institutions p 158 Scheeben Matthias 1951 The Mysteries of Christianity St Louis MO B Herder Book Co p 530 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Peristerium amp oldid 1195296898, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
