Spoon (liturgy)

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The Spoon (Greek: Κοχλιάριον; Slavonic: Lzhítza) is a liturgical implement used during the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches.

In the Byzantine Rite, when it comes time for the Communion of the faithful, the Lamb (Host) is cut into smaller portions and placed in the Chalice, and thus distributed to the faithful using the Spoon. In this way, the faithful receive both the Body and the Blood of Christ, without taking the Mysteries into their hands. At the end of the Liturgy, the deacon will use the Spoon to consume the remaining Gifts (Body and Blood of Christ), and then ablute the Spoon, Spear and Chalice using wine and hot water (the Diskos is usually abluted only with hot water).

Since the Spoon is one of the Sacred Vessels it is usually kept on the Table of Oblation (Prothesis), where the bread and wine are prepared for the Eucharist. Often when a Chalice and Diskos (Paten) are made, an Asterisk, Spoon, and Spear will be made to match them.

The Spoon is also used to prepare the Presanctified Gifts at the Sunday Liturgies during Great Lent, and the Reserved Mysteries on Great Thursday of Holy Week. The priest will take up the Lamb in his left hand and hold it over the Chalice. With the Spoon in his right hand, he will pour some of the Blood of Christ onto the underside of the Lamb, where the cross had been cut with the Spear during the Proskomedie.

The Spoon, being a sanctified object, may not be used for any purpose other than the liturgical uses for which it is appointed.