Chalice Covers in the Orthodox Church

In the Orthodox Christian liturgical tradition, Chalice covers (also called liturgical veils or Eucharistic covers) are sacred embroidered cloths used to cover the Holy Chalice and Discos (Paten) during the Divine Liturgy. These covers consist of two small veils and one larger cloth called the Aër. The Chalice veil covers the Chalice, which contains the Blood of Christ, while the Discos veil covers the Paten, which holds the Lamb (Body of Christ). The Aër is draped over both and symbolizes the Holy Spirit and the Shroud of Christ.

Chalice covers are typically made from brocade, velvet, or silk, and often decorated with crosses, icons, liturgical embroidery, and Christian symbols such as grapevines, seraphim, and ICXC NIKA. They are color-coordinated with the liturgical vestments and change according to the liturgical calendar (e.g., red for feasts of martyrs, white for Pascha, purple for Lent).

These sacred items express the beauty, reverence, and mystery of the Holy Eucharist and emphasize the sanctity of the altar. They are handled with great care by priests, deacons, and altar servers, and are often custom-made for each Orthodox church or chapel.