Aspergillum
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An aspergillum
Uses
Christianity
An aspergillum is used in
The form of the aspergillum differs in the Eastern Orthodox Church. In the Greek Orthodox Church the aspergillum (randistirion) is in the form of a standing vessel with a tapering lid. The top of the lid has holes in it from which the agiasmos (holy water) is sprinkled. In the Russian Orthodox Church the aspergillum is in the form of a whisk made of cloth or hair. Sometimes, sprigs of basil are used to sprinkle holy water. In some of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, no aspergillum is used, but the priest will pour holy water into the palm of his right hand and throw it on the faithful.
History
Origin
The origin is found in the Book of Leviticus Chapter 14 in the Old Testament:
And the
hyssop. And the priest commands, and slaughters the one bird in a pottery vessel upon living water. He takes the live bird and the cedar wood and the Coccus scarlet and the hyssop and dips them and the live bird in the blood of the bird slaughtered upon the living water. And sprinkle seven times upon him purified of leprosy, and he is purified, and sends the live bird upon the face of the field.
Adam Clarke's commentary:
Of the cedar wood, hyssop, clean bird, and scarlet wool or fillet, were made an aspergillum, or instrument to sprinkle with. The cedarwood served for the handle, the hyssop and living bird were attached to it, by means of the scarlet wool or crimson fillet. The bird was so bound to this handle, as that its tail should be downwards, in order to be dipped in the blood of the bird that had been killed. The whole of this made an instrument for the sprinkling of this blood, and when this business was done, the living bird was let loose, and permitted to go whithersoever it would.[6][full citation needed]
Clarke again, of Verse 5:
Over running water – Literally "living", that is, spring water. The meaning appears to be this; some water (about a quarter of a log, an egg shell and half full, according to the rabbis) was taken from a spring, and put in a clean earthen vessel, and they killed the bird over this water, that the blood might drop into it...[7][full citation needed]
Further, these ceremonies conducted by the priest did not cure skin disease. According to
The procedure was a first stage of cleansing which took place outside the camp. The man washed himself and his clothes, and shaved. Two birds were taken. The blood of one was used to purify the man. The death of that bird portrayed the end of the man's old life outside the camp, and the flight to freedom of the other pictured his liberation from the effects of the disease. Then the man might enter the camp again."[8]
Medieval Period
Since the 9th century it became tradition for the priest to sprinkle ("asperse") holy water on altar, worshippers, and the dead, in coffin or grave.
Other uses
Aspergilla are also used in
Gallery
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An aspergillum and silverCathedral Church of Saint Matthew, Dallas, Texas)
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Aspergillum opened to show the sponge that is inside
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Vessel for holy water, with aspergillum, donation of Tsar Mikhail I Fyodorovich of Russia (Moscow, photo by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky)
See also
References
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 9780813232300. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ "What are the practices for remembering and affirming baptism?" (PDF). Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ISBN 9781476680545. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ U.S. Government Printing Office, ed. (1974). Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-third Congress, Second Session. United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Parks and Recreation. p. 39. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ Adam Clarke, 1831, vol. I p. 52
- ^ Adam Clarke, 1831, vol. I p. 529
- ^ a b Reformation Study Bible
- ^ ISBN 9781580445030.
- ^ ISBN 9780870994470. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-904455-53-0. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-05-13.