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[German Version] The monstrance ( monstrantia; also ostensorium, hierotheca, custodia) was the last vas sacrum of the Christian liturgy (Liturgical vessels) to develop. It meets the need of the faithful to see with their own eyes the sacred, consecrated (Consecration) host, otherwise kept in a pyx, a chrismal, or (later) a ciborium. Similar vessels are already evident in the early Middle Ages for the exhibition of relics. In the liturgy of the mass itself, we find exhibition of the species as early as the 7th…

[German Version] I. Western Liturgies – II. Eastern Liturgies – III. Art History I. Western Liturgies Eating and drinking vessels ( vasa sacra) constitute important liturgical objects (Liturgical implements: I) in the light of the Christian meal community. They include the chalice ( calix) or cup and (of less importance) the bread plate or paten ( patena). From apostolic times onwards, Christian fellowship has been primarily a fellowship of the cup (see also Chalice, Witholding of the). The increase of vessels on the altar table (e.g. individual c…