View source for Antimins

{{Short description|Altar covering in Eastern Christianity}}
{{More footnotes|date=July 2020}}
{{Eucharist}}
The '''antimins''' (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] {{lang|grc|Ἀντιμήνσιον}}, ''Antimension'': "instead of the table"), is a special [[Corporal (liturgy)|corporal]] required to be on the [[altar]] in many [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christian]] liturgical traditions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Antimensium |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01563a.htm |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref> It was originally used as a portable version of an altar.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Archbishop Basilios |date=1991 |title=Antimension |url=https://ccdl.claremont.edu/digital/collection/cce/id/149/rec/1 |journal=Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia |publisher=Claremont Graduate University. School of Religion |volume=1 |via=The Claremont Colleges Digital Library}}</ref>

It is a rectangular piece of cloth of either linen or silk, typically decorated with representations of the [[Descent from the Cross|Descent of Christ from the Cross]], the [[Four Evangelists]], and inscriptions related to the [[Passion (Christianity)|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<ref name=":0" /> and in the [[Coptic Orthodox Church|Coptic Church]], it has been replaced by a wooden altar-board or altar-slab.<ref name=":1" />

== Syriac practice ==
A wooden tablet, the [[Thabilitho|''ţablîtho'']], is the liturgical equivalent of the antimins in the churches of [[Syriac Christianity|Syriac tradition]].

==See also==
* [[Tabot]]
* [[Corporal (liturgy)]]
* [[Antependium]]
* [[Sthathicon]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01563a.htm Antimensium] article in the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]]
*[http://ccdl.libraries.claremont.edu/cdm/ref/collection/cce/id/110 Coptic Antimensium] article in the [[Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia]]

[[Category:Eucharistic objects]]
[[Category:Altars]]
[[Category:Eastern Christian liturgical objects]]
[[Category:Descent from the Cross]]
[[Category:Christian relics]]