Liturgical Chalice 925 Silver Niello — Potir Christ Gilded

Christ stands in the center. To his left and right are the Apostles – each in their own arcade, each with their own nimbus, each hand-engraved into the silver and filled with niello. This chalice is not a drinking vessel in the ordinary sense. It is a Potir (Потир) – the liturgical chalice of the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, the vessel in which wine becomes the blood of Christ. 925 Sterling silver, completely gilded inside (canonical duty – the sacred may only touch gold), 600 ml capacity, approx. 580 g. A piece that stands on the boundary between silversmithing and icon painting – the figures of saints on the cup are not decoration, but a portable iconostasis in silver.

The Saints on the Cup – an Iconostasis in Silver

What distinguishes this chalice from all others in our range: figures stand on the cup. Not ornaments, not patterns – figures of saints in the tradition of Orthodox icon painting. Christ in the center with a cruciform nimbus, in the posture of the Pantocrator (Ruler of All), flanked by Apostles and Saints. Each figure stands in its own arcade with a pointed arch, separated by ornamental columns. The faces, garments, and nimbuses are executed in niello hand-engraving – black on silver, with golden accents highlighting the nimbuses and liturgical vestments.

This is not a simple engraving – this is iconographic work on a three-dimensional vessel. The master must not only be able to engrave but also master the Orthodox iconographic language: the proportions of the figures, the posture of the hands, the drapery of the garments, the position of the cruciform nimbus. At SevChern in Veliky Ustyug, the same masters who engrave the floral ornaments on our wine chalices also work here – but here they show another side of their skill.

Why the Chalice Must Be Gilded Inside

The internal gilding of this chalice is not optional and not decorative – it is a canonical obligation. In the Orthodox Liturgy, the wine in the Potir is transformed into the blood of Christ (transubstantiation). According to Orthodox tradition, the sacred may only touch a precious metal – gold. Therefore, every liturgical chalice is gilded inside, regardless of whether it is made of silver, bronze, or another metal. On this chalice, the gilding is made of fine gold – durable, food-safe, and theologically correct.

The chalice also features golden accents on the rim, the nodus (the decorated knob on the stem), and the foot. The gold highlights the nimbuses of the saints, frames the arcades, and gives the entire piece a warmth that pure silver alone would not have. Silver, gold, and niello black – three materials that together create a liturgical vessel that can be read as an icon.

The Potir in the Orthodox Liturgy

The Potir (from the Greek ποτήριον – drinking vessel) is the central vessel of the Orthodox Divine Liturgy (Божественная Литургия). In it, wine is mixed with water and transformed into the blood of Christ. During communion, the priest offers the faithful bread and wine from the chalice with a liturgical spoon (Лжица) – in the Orthodox tradition, the faithful receive both together, unlike in the Western Church.

The Potir is part of a larger liturgical set – the Евхаристический набор (Eucharistic set). In addition to the chalice, this includes: the discos (liturgical plate), the asteriskos (star – a cross-shaped stand placed over the bread), the lance (liturgical knife), and the spoon. We will soon add the other parts of this set to our shop – then all elements can be purchased together as a complete Eucharistic set.

Who This Chalice Is For

Orthodox Parishes: As a liturgical vessel for the Divine Liturgy – in a quality befitting the occasion. This chalice is not industrial church equipment, but a niello masterpiece from the SevChern manufactory. It can be used permanently in the liturgy – 925 silver is stable, the gilding is food-safe, and the engraving is durable.

Church Foundations and Donations: Donating a Potir to a community is one of the most traditional forms of Orthodox patronage. Since the Middle Ages, wealthy believers have donated liturgical objects to their home parishes. This chalice stands in exactly this tradition – with engraving of the donor's name upon request.

Priestly Ordination: A Potir as a gift for priestly ordination is the most meaningful gift a new priest can receive – his own chalice, with which he will celebrate his first liturgy.

Easter and High Holy Days: Today, on Orthodox Easter Sunday (Пасха), is the day when this chalice unfolds its fullest meaning. The Easter greeting "Христос Воскресе!" (Christ is Risen!) is sealed with the wine from this chalice.

Collectors of Sacred Art: Regardless of its liturgical use, this chalice is a collector's item of the highest order. The iconographic niello engraving on 925 silver with gilding – in this combination, there are only a few pieces worldwide. For collectors of Russian silversmithing, the Potir is the crowning glory of a collection.

The Eucharistic Set – The Chalice as Part of a Whole

This Potir is the centerpiece of a complete Евхаристический набор (Eucharistic set). The other parts – discos (paten), asteriskos (star), kopie (liturgical lance), and lschiza (communion spoon) – will be added to our shop shortly. All parts come from the SevChern manufactory and feature the same niello ornament with grape and vine motifs – liturgical symbolism that recalls the words of Christ: "I am the vine."

Once all parts are available, we will publish a detailed blog post explaining each element of the Eucharistic set – its function in the liturgy, its symbolism, and its interaction on the altar.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Liturgical Chalice

Can this chalice be used in the Orthodox Liturgy?
Yes – it meets all canonical requirements: 925 silver as the base material, internal gilding with fine gold (mandatory for contact with the sacred), appropriate volume (600 ml), and iconographic representation on the cup. Before its first liturgical use, the chalice must be consecrated by a bishop or priest.

Why must the chalice be gilded inside?
According to Orthodox tradition, the blood of Christ (the transformed wine) may only touch a precious metal. The internal gilding with fine gold fulfills this canonical requirement and is also food-safe and tasteless.

Who are the figures on the cup?
Christ in the center (identifiable by the cruciform nimbus), surrounded by Apostles and Saints. Each figure stands in its own arcade – a depiction reminiscent of the iconostasis (icon screen) in Orthodox churches. The exact identification of each individual figure is available from SevChern upon request.

Are the other parts of the Eucharistic set available?
Yes – discos (paten), asteriskos (star), lance, and spoon will be added to our shop shortly. All parts come from the same manufactory and form a coordinated set.

Is engraving possible?
Upon request – donor names, dedications, or dates can be engraved on the foot or the lower rim of the chalice. The cup with the figures of saints remains untouched.

Can the chalice also be purchased as a collector's item, without being used liturgically?
Yes – many collectors of sacred art acquire such pieces for their display cases. As an object of art and craftsmanship, this Potir is a masterpiece of niello engraving, independent of its liturgical purpose.