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A pyx or pix (Latin: pyxis, transliteration of Greek: πυξίς, boxwood receptacle, from πύξος, box tree) is a small round container used in the Catholic, Old Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican Churches to carry the Eucharist, to the sick or those who are otherwise unable to come to a church in order to receive Holy Communion.[1] The term can also be used in archaeology and art history to describe small, round lidded boxes designed for any purpose from antiquity or the Middle Ages, such as those used to hold coins for the Trial of the Pyx in England.[2]
Usage
[edit]The word pyx comes from the Greek word πυξίς, pyxis 'box, receptacle'.[2] (The Greek-like plural, pyxides, has given way to pyxes in English.) While the word may be applied to any covered carrier, in modern usage the term "pyx" usually denotes a small, flat, clamshell-style container, often about the size of a pocket watch and usually made of brass or other metals,[3] traditionally lined with gold.[4] A fabric or leather pouch for carrying a pyx is known as a burse. Typically, this kind of burse can be securely closed and is fixed with cords so that the priest, deacon, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion can affix it to his or her person during transport to prevent the consecrated host(s) from being accidentally lost.
These objects, and others, such as the lunette (and the monstrance that holds it) that contain a consecrated host, are normally kept within the church tabernacle when they are not being carried. The tabernacle may be behind the main altar, at a side altar, or within a special Eucharistic chapel.
Liturgical history
[edit]In late antiquity, the custom developed in the East of suspending a vessel in the form of a dove (Greek: peristerion, Latin: peristerium) over the altar, which was used as a repository for the Blessed Sacrament. This custom is mentioned by Gregory of Tours in his Life of Saint Basil, and in several ancient French documents. The custom probably came to France from the East; it never seems to have existed in Italy.[5] Examples of this practice may still be found in use today; for instance, in the Cathedral of the Dormition in Moscow.
In Eastern Christianity
[edit]In the Eastern Orthodox and Greek Catholic Churches, the pyx (Russian: даро́носица, romanized: darónositsa) is the small "church tabernacle" which holds the lamb (host) that is reserved for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts during Great Lent. This pyx may be either kept on the Holy Table or on the Prothesis (Table of Oblation) on the north side of the sanctuary.
Gallery
[edit]-
Silver gilt pyx, south of France or Spain, 15th century (Musée de Cluny) -
Bronze pyx for carrying the Eucharist -
Eucharistic dove (Walters Art Museum) -
Rock crystal with copper-gilt mounts pyx from 20th century (Hunt Museum)
See also
[edit]Notes and references
[edit]- ^ Maxwell, Lee A. (2007). The Altar Guild Manual - Lutheran Service Book Edition. Concordia Publishing House. p. 89.
- ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 704.
- ^
Compare:
Watkin, Aelred, ed. (1947). Inventory of church goods, temp. Edward III. Volume 19 of Norfolk Record Society; Part 2 of Inventory of church goods, temp. Edward III. Translated by Watkins, Aelred. Norfolk Record Society. p. lxxxiii. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
Few descriptions of the pyx are given ... With regard to materials we have more evidence: silver is by far the most common, twenty-nine silver pyxes are listed, of which twenty-two were gilt ... Fifteen pyxes of ivory are recorded, four of brass, four of latten, two of copper, one of wood and one of pewter ... Therefore in the majority of churches the pyx over the altar consisted of a silver-gilt or ivory coffer ....
- ^
Compare:
Middleton-Stewart, Judith (2001). "Gilding the Liturgy". Inward Purity and Outward Splendour: Death and Remembrance in the Deanery of Dunwich, Suffolk, 1370-1547. Studies in the history of medieval religion, ISSN 0955-2480, Volume 17 (revised ed.). Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell & Brewer. p. 183. ISBN 9780851158204. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
Gold, silver, ivory or copper gilt lined the inner [pyx] compartment so that only precious material would come into contact with the body of Christ, and, on the outside, enamelling might add a touch of luxury.
- ^ Catholic History (March 1997), "Dove. Symbol of the Holy Ghost", The Seraph, vol. XVII No. 7, retrieved 2007-08-01
External links
[edit]
Pyx at Wikipedia's sister projects
Definitions from Wiktionary
Media from Commons
- Pyx article from Catholic Encyclopedia
- A.S. Duncan-Jones and D. C. Dunlop, The Aumbry and Hanging Pyx (Warham Guild, 1925)
from Grokipedia
A pyx (also spelled pix) is a small, typically round vessel used in Christian liturgy to hold the consecrated Eucharist, particularly for reserving the Blessed Sacrament or carrying it to the sick and homebound.[1][2] Often crafted from gold, silver, or other precious metals and sometimes adorned with religious iconography, it derives its name from the Greek pyxís (πυξίς), meaning a box made from boxwood, reflecting its historical form as a simple wooden container.[2][3]
In Catholic and Anglican traditions, the pyx plays a central role in the practice of Viaticum, where it facilitates the administration of Holy Communion outside the church setting, ensuring the reverent transport of the host.[4][5] While a larger vessel known as a ciborium is commonly used for reservation in the tabernacle, the term pyx is more precisely applied to the portable version, emphasizing its function in pastoral care.[2] Historically, pyxes date back to early Christianity, with archaeological examples from medieval Europe showcasing intricate designs in materials like brass, bronze, or enameled metal, often produced by ecclesiastical workshops.[6][7]
Beyond its liturgical use, the term pyx also refers to a chest in numismatics, particularly in the British Royal Mint's Trial of the Pyx, an ancient procedure where randomly selected coins are stored in a locked box for independent assay to verify their purity and weight.[8] This secondary meaning, rooted in the same etymological sense of a secure container, underscores the object's enduring association with safeguarding valuables, though it remains distinct from the Eucharistic vessel in modern contexts.[9]
Etymology and Definition
Etymology
The term "pyx" originates from the ancient Greek word πυξίς (pyxis), which denotes a small lidded box or receptacle, particularly one crafted from boxwood (πύξος, pyxos), a dense and durable wood valued in classical antiquity for making storage containers.[2][10] In ancient Greece and Rome, such pyxides— the Greek plural form—were commonly used as cylindrical vessels for holding cosmetics, jewelry, perfumes, or other small personal items, often fashioned from materials like ivory, bone, pottery, or the namesake boxwood to symbolize luxury and portability.[11] The word was adopted into Latin as pyxis, preserving its core meaning of a box while extending to various enclosed vessels, including those in early Christian contexts for ecclesiastical purposes such as containing the consecrated Eucharistic bread.[2][10] This Latin form emphasized the object's role as a secure, lidded container, drawing directly from the classical tradition of boxwood receptacles that dated back to the Bronze Age.[11] By the medieval period, pyxis had become specialized in church terminology to refer to sacred vessels, influencing its transmission into European languages.[2] In English, "pyx" (sometimes spelled "pix") entered the lexicon around 1400 via Medieval Latin pyxis, initially retaining the broad sense of a box before solidifying in ecclesiastical usage for the vessel holding the reserved Eucharist.[1][10] The plural form evolved from the classical Greek-inspired "pyxides," common in scholarly or liturgical texts, to the anglicized "pyxes" in modern English, reflecting a shift toward native phonetic patterns while maintaining ties to its Greco-Latin roots.[12] This linguistic adaptation underscores the term's enduring connection to ancient storage practices, now embedded in Christian ritual nomenclature.[2]Definition and Purpose
A pyx is a small, typically round container used in Christian liturgy to hold consecrated Eucharistic hosts, particularly for transporting the Blessed Sacrament to the sick, housebound, or those unable to attend Mass.[2] In the Catholic Church, it serves as a sacred vessel for viaticum—the final reception of Communion for the dying—or for home visits, ensuring the Eucharist can be distributed outside the primary liturgical setting.[13] Similarly, in Anglican, Old Catholic, and Lutheran traditions, the pyx facilitates Communion for individuals absent from church services, emphasizing pastoral care through the sacrament.[4] The primary purpose of the pyx is to enable the reverent carriage and administration of the Eucharist beyond the altar, distinguishing it from other liturgical vessels such as the chalice, which holds the consecrated wine, or the paten, used for presenting the host during the celebration of Mass.[2] Unlike the larger ciborium employed at the altar for communal distribution, the pyx's compact design—often resembling a watch or small box—prioritizes portability while safeguarding the consecrated elements.[14] In Catholic canon law, as outlined in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the pyx must be crafted from noble or precious materials, such as gold, silver-gilt, or solid hardwoods like ebony, to ensure durability and suitability for sacred use; it is typically blessed before use.[13] Anglican practices align with this emphasis on reverence, requiring the pyx to be a secure container that maintains the integrity of the consecrated bread during transport.[4] The term derives from the Greek pyxis, meaning a box, underscoring its function as a protective receptacle for holy contents.[2]Design and Construction
Materials
Pyxes have traditionally been crafted from precious metals such as gold and silver to ensure durability and convey reverence for the Eucharist they contain.[15] These materials, often gilded or lined with gold internally, prevent direct contact between the consecrated host and base substances, preserving the sacrament's sanctity.[16] Gilt bronze, a more accessible precious alloy, was also employed historically for its corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal.[17] In earlier periods, particularly for portable versions carried to the sick, alternative materials like ivory provided lightweight elegance and fine carving potential.[15] Enamel techniques adorned many medieval pyxes, offering vibrant, durable decoration at a lower cost than solid precious metals.[6] Wood, such as boxwood, was occasionally used in simple, early designs, sometimes covered with tooled leather for protection and portability.[18] Contemporary pyxes frequently utilize base metals like brass or pewter to enhance affordability while maintaining liturgical standards.[19] These are often plated with gold or silver and feature decorative elements such as engraving or filigree to evoke traditional splendor.[20] The selection of materials carries deep symbolic weight, reflecting the Eucharist's holiness through associations with purity and value; for instance, the 14th-century Godsfield Pyx from England, made of gilded copper alloy and engraved with acanthus foliage, exemplifies this reverence in its craftsmanship.[17]Forms and Variations
The standard portable pyx takes the form of a small, flat vessel resembling a pocket watch, typically round or oval in shape and designed for hand-carrying the consecrated host, particularly to the sick.[2] These pyxes are commonly constructed from gold or silver-gilt, though historical examples also include ivory.[2] A notable variation is the hanging pyx, functioning as a suspended tabernacle for reserving the Blessed Sacrament above the altar.[2] Often shaped like a dove to symbolize the Holy Spirit, it is typically golden and equipped with a mechanism such as a crane or pulley system to raise or lower it as needed, always covered by a pyx-cloth or veil for reverence.[21][22] Other forms of pyxes include cylindrical boxes fitted with covers, which represent a common design, as well as reliquary-like structures observed in early Christian archaeological contexts.[23] Some variations feature mounted stands resembling miniature ciboria or small silver vessels known as custodes for tabernacle use.[2] Accessories for pyxes often include a burse, a silken pouch for secure transport and storage, along with a diminutive corporal to wrap the vessel.[2] When not in use, pyxes are stored within church tabernacles.[2]Liturgical Usage
In Western Christianity
In Roman Catholic tradition, the pyx serves primarily to carry the consecrated Eucharist as Viaticum to the sick and dying, ensuring they receive Holy Communion as spiritual provision for their journey. [24] It is also used to reserve a sufficient quantity of hosts in the tabernacle for this purpose, with the pyx or ciborium renewed frequently to maintain freshness. [24] Canon law mandates that pyxes, as sacred vessels, be made of precious metal, with the interior gilded if the material is less noble than gold, to honor the Real Presence. [13] Anglican practices mirror this usage, employing the pyx to transport the consecrated host to housebound parishioners during home or hospital visits, often as part of reserved sacrament distribution following the Eucharist. [25] Portable pyxes are commonly used by clergy for these pastoral ministrations, emphasizing accessibility to the sacrament for those unable to attend services. [26] Similarly, in Lutheran churches, the pyx facilitates communion to the homebound from the reserved sacrament, supporting ministry to the ill in settings like homes, hospitals, or prisons, with the vessel ensuring dignified transport. [27] Old Catholic traditions integrate the pyx into eucharistic distribution with a focus on continuity with pre-Reformation rites, using it to carry the host to the sick while upholding the sacrament's centrality in worship and pastoral care. [28] Following the Second Vatican Council, adaptations in Roman Catholic practice have emphasized the role of lay extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, who use pyxes to distribute Viaticum and the Eucharist to the sick, expanding access amid pastoral needs while adhering to liturgical norms. [29]In Eastern Christianity
In Eastern Orthodox and Greek Catholic traditions, the pyx, known as the artophorion in Greek or darónositsa in Russian, functions as a dedicated tabernacle for reserving the consecrated Eucharist on the altar.[30] This vessel primarily holds the "lamb"—the central portion of the prosphora bread consecrated during the Divine Liturgy and cut into particles for distribution. It is placed either on the Holy Table or the Prothesis table, where it remains covered and veiled to signify reverence for the reserved Gifts.[30] The pyx plays a central role in the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, observed on Wednesdays and Fridays during Great Lent, as well as on the first three days of Holy Week. An additional lamb is consecrated in advance—typically on the preceding Sunday during Great Lent or on Holy Thursday for Holy Week—and reserved in the pyx without further consecration, allowing the faithful to receive Communion during these penitential services focused on fasting and preparation. Particles from the lamb are placed on the diskos during the liturgy, intincted with unconsecrated wine to symbolize the full mystery, and distributed via spoon, underscoring the Eastern emphasis on the Eucharist's ongoing sanctity rather than re-enactment.[31] Historically, Eastern pyxes often took the form of dove-shaped containers suspended above the altar, symbolizing the Holy Spirit and facilitating reservation for both liturgical and pastoral needs; this design persisted into Russian Orthodox practice, with examples visible in historic sites such as Moscow's Cathedral of the Dormition.[32] Unlike broader eucharistic reservation practices that prioritize portable viaticum for the ill, Eastern usage places greater focus on communal liturgical distribution during fasting seasons, though reserved portions may occasionally be carried for the sick when prepared as dried, intincted particles.[31]Historical Development
Early Origins
The practice of reserving and transporting the Eucharist to the sick and absent faithful emerged in the early Christian Church during the first centuries AD, necessitating the use of small vessels crafted from gold or silver to carry the consecrated host with due reverence. This custom is rooted in the apostolic era and is evidenced in the writings of early Church Fathers, such as St. Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 AD), who describes deacons distributing portions of the Eucharist to those unable to attend the liturgy. Archaeological findings from late antiquity further illustrate the development of these containers, with small lidded boxes—often of ivory or metal—employed for sacred items like relics or Eucharistic hosts. A notable example is a fragmented ivory pyx unearthed in 2022 from a 5th–6th century church at the Irschen hilltop settlement in Austria, richly decorated with Christian motifs including Moses receiving the Ten Commandments and Christ's Ascension; the marble shrine housing it measures approximately 20 x 30 cm, and it served as a reliquary but reflects the transitional forms that evolved into dedicated pyxes for the Eucharist.[33] In the Eastern Christian tradition, one early variation involved dove-shaped pyxes suspended over altars to symbolize the Holy Spirit while housing the reserved sacrament, a practice that spread to the West and was documented in 6th-century Gaul by Gregory of Tours (c. 538–594 AD) in his Life of the Fathers.[34] These suspended forms, often gilded and intricate, underscored the mystical presence of Christ in the Eucharist during the patristic period.[35] The design of early pyxes drew direct inspiration from classical antiquity, adapting the Greek and Roman pyxis—a cylindrical or box-like container typically used for cosmetics, jewelry, or medicines—into Christian liturgical use for safeguarding sacraments. This adaptation is evident in surviving late antique examples, such as 5th–6th century ivory pyxides from the Eastern Mediterranean featuring biblical scenes like the Multiplication of the Loaves, which repurposed secular forms for sacred reservation.[36]Medieval and Later Developments
During the Middle Ages, the hanging pyx became a widespread form of Eucharistic reservation in Western churches, particularly in England, Scotland, and France, where it was suspended above the high altar via chains or cords with a pulley system for raising and lowering. Often enclosed in a dove-shaped vessel or box and covered by a pyx-cloth—a square veil with a central hole for suspension—this practice emphasized the elevation of the Blessed Sacrament as an act of reverence. Medieval church inventories frequently document these items, such as the 1530s record from Durham Cathedral describing a gold pyx adorned with a silver pelican, suspended by silk cords and veiled in embroidered lawn cloth. This usage persisted until the 12th and 13th centuries, when fixed altar tabernacles began to emerge as a more practical alternative, evolving from earlier pyx and ciborium traditions to accommodate growing devotional practices around the Eucharist. From the Renaissance through the Reformation, portable pyxes were standardized in Catholic liturgy primarily for administering viaticum to the sick, featuring compact, often gilded designs suitable for transport while maintaining reverence for the consecrated host. In Protestant reforms, however, Eucharistic reservation faced significant reduction; while initially permitted in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer for Anglican use, subsequent editions under Edward VI and Elizabeth I omitted it, reflecting broader iconoclastic tendencies, and many Lutheran churches discontinued reservation altogether to align with sola scriptura emphases on frequent celebration over perpetual presence. The 19th and 20th centuries saw revivals of the hanging pyx, particularly within Anglican patrimony through architects like Sir Ninian Comper, who installed examples such as the triple-crowned canopy at Grosvenor Chapel in London (1920s), drawing on medieval precedents like Westminster Abbey's Islip Roll. Catholic traditionalist settings also embraced it sporadically, as in Sarum-inspired Anglo-Catholic churches, though Rome increasingly favored veiled tabernacles by the 19th century. Post-Vatican II liturgical reforms simplified pyx usage for lay extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, who now routinely carry them to the sick in hospitals or homes, emphasizing accessibility while requiring proper formation and authorization. In contemporary Christian traditions, including Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Old Catholic churches, the pyx remains essential for viaticum and reservation, with modern designs blending tradition and functionality. Archaeological rediscoveries, such as the 1,500-year-old ivory pyx unearthed in Austria in 2022—depicting biblical scenes like Christ's Ascension—and 6th-century Byzantine fragments from Egypt, have informed restorations by revealing early forms that influenced medieval Western practices.References
- https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pyx