Memorial tables and church banners are two very widely recognized pieces of Orthodox furniture. Both of them serve very different purposes and have very different structures. Let us look at each of these items in detail.
Significance of church banners
Church banners originated as a visual means of declaring the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, through which salvation of the world and victory
over death has been secured. On on hand, church banner was a replica of the
processional images which the Roman legions were carrying on march. On the
other hand, they originate from processing the Holy Arch in the Old Testament.
In any instance, the icons on the church banners symbolize the presence of the
Saints depicted on those icons with the believers. Over time church banners
became a medium of declaring to the world what the church is celebrating. One
can find church banners in various colors and sizes and with the images of
Jesus Christ, or the cross, or other saints, depending upon the occasion.
Different types of church banners
The first variety when it comes to church banners is with respect to color. While red and
gold are the most commonly found combination of colors on church banners,
green, purple-blue, etc., are also available in the market and used widely in
Orthodox churches. The next variety is with respect to the size. Depending on
who is carrying the church banner, they are available in smaller ones for
children and bigger ones for adults. The most important variety is with respect
to the material – velvet and brass are the most commonly used materials in
making church banners.
Significance of memorial table
Memorial tables are used in the memorial services held
by the Orthodox Church to remember the dead. Candles are placed on the memorial
tables as a symbol of reverence and remembrance. It is a symbol of remembering
the ones who have passed away and celebrating what their life taught the
living.
Different types of memorial tables
Memorial tables come in different sizes, are made of different
materials, and have various capacities for holding candles. One can find
memorial tables that can hold from 40 to 60 candles, depending on the need. A
traditional Orthodox church memorial table is made of the following materials –
plywood that is water-resistant, stainless steel overlaid with Titanium
Nitrine, brass, chasing, casting, enamel, and velvet, amongst others.
No comments:
Post a Comment