antimension: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / SpecialistFormal, Ecclesiastical, Technical (Liturgical)
Quick answer
What does “antimension” mean?
A liturgical cloth, analogous to an altar cloth, used in Eastern Christian churches, which contains relics and an icon of the entombment of Christ. It is consecrated by a bishop and serves as a portable altar.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A liturgical cloth, analogous to an altar cloth, used in Eastern Christian churches, which contains relics and an icon of the entombment of Christ. It is consecrated by a bishop and serves as a portable altar.
In a broader historical or theological sense, it represents the authority and permission granted by a bishop to a priest to celebrate the Eucharist, especially when a fixed consecrated altar is not available.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional differences in meaning or usage, as the term belongs to a specialized international religious lexicon.
Connotations
Carries the same highly specific ecclesiastical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse in both regions, encountered only in theological, historical, or art-related contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “antimension” in a Sentence
The priest unfolded the antimension.The antimension bears the signature of the bishop.The liturgy requires an antimension on the altar.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in papers on Byzantine studies, theology, liturgical history, or Christian art.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in Eastern Christian liturgy and ecclesiology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “antimension”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “antimension”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “antimension”
- Misspelling as 'antimention' or 'antimensium'.
- Confusing it with a simple napkin or tablecloth.
- Using it in a non-liturgical context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a specific type of altar cloth with embedded relics and a bishop's signature, making it a consecrated object required for the Eucharist, not just a decorative covering.
In Eastern Orthodox and Catholic practice, the Eucharist cannot be celebrated on a fixed altar without an antimension placed upon it, nor on a portable surface without one.
It comes from Medieval Greek 'antimension', from Latin 'antimensium', itself likely from Late Greek 'antíminsion', meaning 'instead of the table'.
It is kept folded in the centre of the altar, often within another cloth called the eileton, and is only unfolded during the preparation for the Eucharistic liturgy.
A liturgical cloth, analogous to an altar cloth, used in Eastern Christian churches, which contains relics and an icon of the entombment of Christ. It is consecrated by a bishop and serves as a portable altar.
Antimension is usually formal, ecclesiastical, technical (liturgical) in register.
Antimension: in British English it is pronounced /ˌantɪˈmɛnsɪɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæntɪˈmɛnʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an ANTIQUE DIMENSION (sounds like 'antimension') accessed through a sacred, portable cloth used in ancient Christian rituals.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A PORTABLE OBJECT (The cloth physically represents the bishop's permission and the church's presence).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of an antimension?