Angelic Witness Antimension

A Living Tradition: The Angelic Witness Antimension

Unlike our restored historical prototypes, The Angelic Witness Antimension is an original theological composition created by the brotherhood of the Sacred Monastery of St. John of the Ladder. Drawing inspiration from ancient liturgical cloths preserved in the Byzantine Museum of Athens, our monks developed this distinct design to embody the living iconographic tradition of the Church.

The Iconography of the Radiant Body & Seraphim

At the center of the cloth, the Body of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ is depicted from above, lying flat and radiant—a visual proclamation that He is Himself the Source of Life, even in the tomb.

In the four corners, six-winged Seraphim gaze with holy fear upon their Creator. Framing the entire central scene is a border of ancient Byzantine Greek script containing the opening verse of the Holy Friday Lamentations (Enkomia), weaving the liturgical hymnology of Holy Passion Week directly into the fabric of the altar.

Liturgical Fabric Properties & Practical Handling

When selecting fabric for an antimension, physical texture directly affects how easily the serving clergy can serve:

• Smooth Synthetic Silk Surface: After Holy Communion, remaining particles (merides) must be gathered into the Chalice. Our primary antimension cloth is made from smooth synthetic silk, allowing for easier gathering of the particles with the sponge, when compared with rougher cloth antimensia.
• Sharp Fold Retention: The fabric holds clean fold lines. This ensures the antimension remains neatly folded and securely stored inside the iliton when not in use, whilst staying flat and not refolding on itself after it has been opened on the Holy Table.

Choosing the Right Option: Pre-Sewn Backing vs. Unbacked Cloth

We offer The Angelic Witness Antimension in two options depending on how and where the cloth will be consecrated:

1. With Pre-Sewn Red Satin Backing

Our brotherhood hand-sews a heavy red satin backing onto the reverse side of the cloth in our workshop. This durable backing acts as a protective layer and serves as the iliton itself. Once received, the antimension is ready to be presented to your Ruling Hierarch for consecration, after which it is placed upon the Holy Table for use during every parish Divine Liturgy.

2. Without Backing / Cloth Only (Unfinished Edges)

Please note: If you purchase the antimension without backing, it is provided with raw, scissor-cut edges. The cloth is not hemmed or edge-finished. If you plan on using your antimension with a separate iliton rather than a sewn-on iliton backing, you will need to hem or finish the edges of the antimension yourself prior to liturgical use, as we do not offer a hemmed-edge option without backing.

This unbacked option is also strictly required if the antimension is to be consecrated during the Rite of Consecration of a Temple. During a temple consecration, consecrated Chrism (Myron) and holy oils come into direct contact with the cloth. If a red satin backing is attached beforehand, the oils will cause the red dye to bleed through and stain the white fabric. Ordering the unbacked cloth allows the bishop to consecrate the raw antimension first; a red backing can then be hand-sewn on afterward once the oils have dried.

Consecration Details, Relics & Custom Diocesan Orders

All antimensia leave our monastery un-consecrated and without holy relics:

• Episcopal Inscription Field: The design features a dedicated area at the bottom for the handwritten inscription of the parish dedication, date, and signature of your Ruling Hierarch.
• Insertion of Relics: Holy relics of martyrs must be provided by your diocese and sewn into the top border of the red backing prior to liturgical use (unless the Holy Table itself is already consecrated with relics sealed inside).
• Custom Diocesan Printing (Bulk Orders): If you are purchasing on behalf of a diocese or chancery, we can pre-print custom headers, specific jurisdictional languages, or episcopal texts at the bottom of the antimension for bulk orders. Please contact us directly to discuss custom print runs.

Dimensions & Specifications

Always measure your Holy Table before ordering to ensure the unfolded antimension leaves at least an inch of space from the front edge of the table. If more space is needed, the serving priest can also lay the Gospel flat instead of upright when serving the liturgy, and unfold the top portion of the antimension on top of the Gospel, ensuring that the antimension does not hang over the front edge of the holy table.

• Icon Area (Cloth Only): Approximately 23″ × 15.5″ (58.4 cm × 39.4 cm)
• Total Dimensions (With Red Satin Backing Attached): Approximately 27″ × 17″ (68.6 cm × 43.2 cm)
• Primary Fabric: Smooth synthetic silk
• Backing Fabric: Heavy red satin
• Inscriptions: Byzantine Greek script (Enkomia)
• Coloring: Classic Monochrome (Black ink on white silk)

100% Made in Greece

We do not import raw materials or finished products from overseas suppliers. This design is an original composition created in-house by our brotherhood, printed locally in Greece, and finished in our monastery workshop in Boeotia. The printed silk cloths are kept in stock, while the red satin backings are hand-sewn to order by our brotherhood before being posted directly to your parish.

• Free Worldwide Shipping: Free shipping on all orders via registered Hellenic Post with full tracking.
• Tax-Free Export Pricing: International orders shipped outside the European Union (USA, Canada, Australia, UK, etc.) do not pay European VAT.
• Automatic Tier Discounts: Wholesale discounts apply automatically at checkout: 10% off orders over €250, 15% off over €500, and 20% off over €800.