ciborium

[ si-bawr-ee-uhm, -bohr- ]

noun

, plural ci·bo·ri·a [si-, bawr, -ee-, uh, -, bohr, -].

1. a permanent canopy placed over an altar; baldachin.
2. any container designed to hold the consecrated bread or sacred wafers for the Eucharist.
3. Archaic. a severy.

ciborium

/ sɪˈbɔːrɪəm /

noun

1. a goblet-shaped lidded vessel used to hold consecrated wafers in Holy Communion
2. a freestanding canopy fixed over an altar and supported by four pillars

Word History and Origins

Origin of ciborium¹

1645–55; < Latin: drinking-cup < Greek kibṓrion literally, the seed vessel of the Egyptian lotus, which the cup apparently resembled

Word History and Origins

Origin of ciborium¹

C17: from Medieval Latin, from Latin: drinking cup, from Greek kibōrion cup-shaped seed vessel of the Egyptian lotus, hence, a cup

Example Sentences

Father D'Souza said the assailants in Saturday's attack stole money from the school, vandalised the chapel, broke open the tabernacle and took away the ciborium - the sacred vessel used during Mass.

From BBC

At St. Alphonsa’s on Monday, the police said they believed the break-in was a burglary, and noted that a DVD player was taken with the two ceremonial vessels, a monstrance and a ciborium.

From New York Times

On the left, at the end of the passage, is a very handsome cinquecento ciborium, and near it the "Tabula Magna Lateranensis," containing the list of relics belonging to the church.

From Project Gutenberg

On the right is the picture of the Madonna, "which spoke to St. Gregory," and which is said to have become suddenly impressed upon the wall after a vision in which she appeared to him;—on the left is a beautiful marble ciborium.

From Project Gutenberg

In S. Clemente, built on the site of his paternal mansion, and restored at the beginning of the twelfth century, an example is still to be seen, in perfect preservation, of the primitive church; everything remains in statu quo—the court, the portico, the cancellum, the ambones, paschal candlestick, crypt, and ciborium—virgin and intact; the wooden roof has unfortunately disappeared, and a small chapel, dedicated to St. Catherine, has been added, yet even this is atoned for by the lovely frescoes of Masaccio.

From Project Gutenberg