Asterisk (liturgy)

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An asterisk resting atop the diskos.

The Asterisk (Greek: ἀστερίσκον, translit. asteriskov; Slavonic: Звездица, Zvezdítsa), or Star-cover (from the Greek αστήρ,astêr, meaning star), is one of the holy vessels used in the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. The asterisk symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem. Historically, it was also used in some parts of the Roman Catholic Church.










Coptic Use[edit]

In the Coptic Orthodox and Coptic Catholic Churches, the asterisk "consists of two silver arched bands, held by a screw, crossed over each other into the shape of a cross, usually surmounted by a small cross".[3] In Arabic it is referred to as the Dome and is believed to represent both Christ's tomb and the cave in which he was born. Either the asterisk itself or the cross above it also symbolises the Star of Bethlehem. For this reason, the whole item is sometimes simply called the Star.

Roman Rite Use[edit]



  1. ^ Hapgood, Isabel (1975), Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church (5th ed.), Englewood NJ: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, p. xxxi
  2. ^ Sokolof, Archpriest D. (2001), A Manual of the Orthodox Church's Divine Services (3rd ed.), Jordanville NY: Printshop of St. Job of Pochaev, Holy Trinity Monastery, pp. 15–16
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ Image of Papal asterisk

External links[edit]