Analogion

<h2 id="design">Design</h2>

<p>The analogion is normally slanted slightly, to make it easier for the one standing in front of it to see the icon or book laid on it.  The analogion may have four legs or only one in the center. It is often covered with a rich cloth (<a href="/facts/Antipendia/UwQhvnTo">antipendium</a>), which either partially or completely covers the analogion on top and all sides. Some analogia are made so they fold for easy portability, some are intricately carved of fine wood, and some are simple frameworks intended to be completely covered with cloth. These are normally light enough to be moved about without too much difficulty.
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<p>There is also a type of analogion which is used in the <a href="/facts/Kliros/NVzKyTot">kliros</a> by the <a href="/facts/Cantor_(church)/DTbpIXGG">chanters</a>. This often has two or three sides, and turns to allow singers to more easily refer to the numerous <a href="/facts/Canonical_hours/xXQXfe8e">liturgical texts</a> required during liturgies.
</p><p>An older Greek design for this type of analogion is octagonal, with a flat top instead of slanted. This style is still found in use on <a href="/facts/Mount_Athos/hjQ764Lf">Mount Athos</a> and at other ancient monasteries throughout the world. Sometimes, this type of analogion is intricately inlaid with <a href="/facts/Mother_of_pearl/a5ek6xm4">mother of pearl</a> or other semi-precious materials.
</p><p>A similar piece of furniture with a different function is the <i>tetrapodion</i>, which is a table set in the center of the church. It is often covered with a cloth, and upon it are placed objects to be <a href="/facts/Blessing/zoeryjF0">blessed</a>.
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<h2 id="use">Use</h2>

<p>Analogia are used for the <a href="/facts/Veneration/tPnU7YtT">veneration</a> of <a href="/facts/Icons/d5am7oen">icons</a>, usually with a candlestand beside or behind it, or an <a href="/facts/Oil_lamp/g69IsMsg">oil lamp</a> burning above it. The candlestand may hold one candle and be used to illuminate the icon, or it may be part of a candlestick for the faithful to offer candles as they venerate the icon.
</p><p>On higher-ranking feasts of the <a href="/facts/Eastern_Orthodox_liturgical_calendar/ddSeQh1w">church year</a>, when the chanting of the <a href="/facts/Polyeleos/akwTT1UY">Polyeleos</a> is called for, an analogion is placed in the center of the <a href="/facts/Temple/5vGIswbs">temple</a> (i.e., the <a href="/facts/Nave/F1U8RApb">nave</a> of the church) with candles, and the <a href="/facts/Icon/d5am7oen">icon</a> of the <a href="/facts/Feast_day/HIapcqYk">feast</a> being celebrated is placed thereon. At the highpoint of the service, all of the lights in the church are lit and the clergy and people gather around the icon on the analogion in the center of the temple for the chanting of festive <a href="/facts/Hymn/UUNRCvY7">hymns</a> and the reading of the <a href="/facts/Matins/TJ1sX8ot">Matins</a> Gospel <a href="/facts/Lection/8UKA5UWT">lesson</a>.
</p><p>During the <a href="/facts/Divine_Liturgy/naH0VdMX">Divine Liturgy</a>, an analogion is placed in front of the <a href="/facts/Holy_Doors/AD98hQKz">Holy Doors</a> for the reading of the <a href="/facts/Gospel/oC3s2MdL">Gospel</a> and <a href="/facts/Altar_server/FEx8y0JA">altar servers</a> will stand to either side with processional candles. If a <a href="/facts/Deacon/wcWsChHH">deacon</a> is reading the Gospel, the analogion will be set so that he faces East (towards the <a href="/facts/Altar/x765TWyq">Altar</a>) as he reads; if a <a href="/facts/Priest/fDMmV2wN">priest</a> is reading, the analogion will be set so that he faces West (towards the people).
</p><p>When a priest or <a href="/facts/Bishop/n2QGsDWx">bishop</a> hears <a href="/facts/Confession_(religion)/lWqjNazG">Confession</a>, he will do so standing beside an analogion on which has been placed a <a href="/facts/Gospel_Book/otm8ENpY">Gospel Book</a> and a <a href="/facts/Crucifix/CI27Weka">Cross</a>. The <a href="/facts/Penitent/DeDEfPWS">penitent</a> will <a href="/facts/Veneration/tPnU7YtT">venerate</a> the Gospel and Cross and then kneel before the analogion, holding his right hand in the manner of making the <a href="/facts/Sign_of_the_Cross/N3TXA8Qk">Sign of the Cross</a> and touching the foot of the Cross while making his confession.
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<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Credence_table/uJoBlPMw">Credence table</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Prie-dieu/4CGjkzS6">Prie-dieu</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="bibliography">Bibliography</h2>

<ul><li>Parry, Ken; Melling, David J.; Brady, Dimitri; Griffith, Sidney H.; Healey, John F., eds. (1999). <i>The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity</i>. Malden, MA.: Blackwell Publishing. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-631-23203-6.</li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050320090206/http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/frc/rpsaltiri.html">The Analogion of the Protopsalte</a> Patriarchal <a href="/facts/Church_of_St_George,_Istanbul/K9I6HDXp">Church of St George, Istanbul</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Parry et al. (1999), p. 27. - Parry, Ken; Melling, David J.; Brady, Dimitri; Griffith, Sidney H.; Healey, John F., eds. (1999). The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity. Malden, MA.: Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0-631-23203-6. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Analogion open-in-new

Analogion