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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Holy Seal for Qurban (Holy Bread) for Holy Eucharist and the Antidoron

Holy Eucharist - Consecrated Leavened Qurban (Holy Bread)
Holy God
Jesus Christ
Vespers
Great
and
Holy
Fri.
Holy
Mystery
Consecration
Transubstantiation
Receive
Prayers
Receive
Procedures
Divine Body
Thurs. after
1st Sun. after
Pentecost
     
Antidoron - Blessed Leavened Qurban (Holy Bread)
Antidoron Divine Liturgy - Kissing the cross and receiving the Antidoron Memorial Service (Jennaz with the "Evlogitaria of the Dead")
Leavened Qurban (Holy Bread)
Qurban
Holy Bread
Holy Seal Holy Seal
Cut particles
Arrangement
Prothesis
(Preparation)
Prothesis
Text Lamb
Particle
Prothesis
Text Theotokos
Particle
Prothesis
Text Angels Saints
Particles
Prothesis
Text Living
Particles
Prothesis
Text Dead
Particles
Prothesis
Text Holy Eucharist
Particles
Recipes Recipe
Newton 1
Recipe
Newton 2
Recipe
St. Joseph
Church
Recipe
Traditional
Recipe
Hints
Recipe
Ingredients
     

 

The Holy Seal for Qurban (Holy 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
IE XE NI KA or IC XC NI KA
IEXE NIKA or ICXC NIKA
Center squareOnly square
Bread meant forDivine LiturgyFamily

Diagrams of the Nine Squares on the Large Size of the Holy Seal

A diagram of the Holy Seal is within the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, page 17, published by Eparchy of Newton (Our Lady of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) in Roslindale, Massachusetts), United States, 2009

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 possible meaning 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.

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

During the Prothesis or Ceremony of Preparation of the Oblations before the beginning of 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), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
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-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Wednesday, June 03, 2020, 16:48:06, CDT
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