Editing Chalice (section)

==Religious use==
===Christian===
[[Image:Agape feast 03.jpg|thumb|[[Fresco]] of a female figure holding a chalice at an early Christian [[Agape feast]]. [[Catacombs of Rome|Catacomb]] of Saints [[Marcellinus and Peter]], [[Via Labicana]], Rome]]

The [[ancient Roman]] {{lang|la|calix}} was a cup or drinking vessel, probably rather vaguely defined as to its exact shape. But most consisted of a bowl on a stem over a foot or base; handles were probably optional. The Greek [[kylix]], at least as defined by modern authorities, was a far wider and more shallow bowl on some sort of stem, with two horizontal handles. It is the most common wine cup seen in paintings of [[symposium]] drinking parties. Gradually the term became more or less restricted to cups for liturgical use.<ref>[[OED]], "Chalice"</ref>

In [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], [[Oriental Orthodoxy]], [[Anglicanism]], [[Lutheranism]] and some other [[Christian denomination]]s, a chalice is a standing cup used to hold [[sacramental wine]] during the [[Eucharist]] (also called the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion). Chalices are often made of precious metal, and they are sometimes richly [[enamelling|enamelled]] and [[Gemstone|jewelled]]. Generally they have no handles.

Chalices have been used since the [[early Church]]. Because of [[Jesus]]' command to his [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciples]] to "Do this in remembrance of me." ({{bibleverse||Luke|22:19|KJV}}), and [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]]'s account of the Eucharistic rite in {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|11:24–25|KJV}}, the celebration of the Eucharist became central to [[Christian liturgy]]. Naturally, the vessels used in this important act of worship were highly decorated and treated with great respect. A number of early examples of chalices have a large bowl and two vertical handles, reflecting classical cup shapes such as the [[kantharos]] and [[skyphos]].  Over time, the size of the bowl diminished and the base became larger for better stability. Eventually, official church regulations dictated the construction, blessing, and treatment of chalices. Some religious traditions still require that the chalice, at least on the inside of the cup, be gold-plated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-6|title=Chapter VI: The Requisites for the Celebration of Mass|publisher=USCCB}}</ref>

In [[Western Christianity]], chalices will often have a knop, pommel or node where the stem meets the cup to make the [[Elevation (liturgy)|elevation]] easier. In Roman Catholicism, chalices of recent centuries tend to have quite narrow cups. Roman Catholic priests will often receive chalices from members of their families when first [[ordination|ordained]].

[[File:PotirMuzeuCJ.JPG|thumb|Silver chalice in the museum of the Romanian Orthodox Archbishopy of the Vad, Feleac, and Cluj]]
In [[Eastern Christianity]] (Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox and [[Eastern Catholic Church|Eastern Catholic]] churches), chalices will often have [[icon]]s enameled or engraved on them, as well as a cross. In Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholicism, all communicants receive both the [[Body of Christ]] and the [[Blood of Christ]]. To accomplish this, a portion of the [[Lamb (Liturgy)|Lamb]] ([[Host (Holy Communion)|host]]) is placed in the chalice, and then the faithful receive Communion on a [[spoon (liturgy)|spoon]]. For this reason, eastern chalices tend to have larger, rounded cups. In the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], the faithful will often kiss the "foot" (base) of the chalice after receiving Holy Communion. In other traditions, they will kiss the cup. Although Orthodox [[monk]]s are not permitted to hold personal possessions, the [[canon law|canons]] permit a [[hieromonk]] (i.e., a monk who has been ordained to the priesthood) to keep a chalice and other vessels necessary to celebrate the [[Divine Liturgy]].

In the early and medieval church, when a [[deacon]] was ordained, he would be handed a chalice during the service as a sign of his ministry. In the West the deacon carries the chalice to the [[altar]] at the [[offertory]]; in the East, the priest carries the chalice and the deacon carries the [[paten]] ({{transliteration|el|diskos}}). Only wine, water and a portion of the Host are permitted to be placed in the chalice, and it may not be used for any profane purpose.

The chalice is considered to be one of the most sacred vessels in Christian liturgical worship, and it is often blessed before use. In the Roman Catholic Church and some Anglo-Catholic churches, it was the custom for a chalice to be [[consecrated]] by being [[anointing|anointed]] with [[chrism]], and this consecration could only be performed by a [[bishop]] or [[abbot]] (only for use within his own [[monastery]]).<ref>{{Citation
 | last=Thurston
 | first=Herbert
 | author-link=Herbert Thurston
 | contribution=Chalice
 | year=1908
 | title=The Catholic Encyclopedia
 | volume=III
 | place=New York
 | publisher=Robert Appleton Company
 | contribution-url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03561a.htm
 | access-date=2008-06-13
 | title-link=The Catholic Encyclopedia
 }}</ref> Among the Eastern Churches, there are varying practices regarding blessing. In some traditions, the very act of celebrating the [[Sacred Mysteries]] ([[Eucharist]]) is the only blessing necessary; in others, there is a special rite of blessing. In some Eastern traditions, this blessing may be done only by a bishop, in some it may be done by a priest. 

====The Holy Chalice====
[[File:Chalice Burgos VandA 132-1873.jpg|thumb|upright|Chalice with the inscription: "Sanguis meus vere est potus" ('My blood is drink indeed'; John 6:55, [[King James Version|KJV]]), made for the church St John the Baptist in Salinas, Spain. [[Silver-gilt]], 1549]]

{{Main|Holy Chalice}}
In [[Christian tradition]], the [[Holy Chalice]] is the vessel which Jesus used at the [[Last Supper]] to serve the wine. New Testament texts make no mention of the cup except within the context of the [[Last Supper]] and give no significance whatsoever to the object itself. Herbert Thurston in the ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' 1908 concluded that "No reliable tradition has been preserved to us regarding the vessel used by Christ at the Last Supper. In the sixth and seventh centuries pilgrims to Jerusalem were led to believe that the actual chalice was still venerated in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, having within it the sponge which was presented to Our Saviour on Calvary." Several surviving standing cups of precious materials are identified in local traditions as the Chalice.

====Holy Grail====
{{Main|Holy Grail}}
An entirely different and pervasive tradition concerns the cup of the [[Last Supper]]. In this highly muddled though better-known version, the vessel is known as the [[Holy Grail]]. In this legend, Jesus used the cup at the Last Supper to institute the [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]].
Other stories claim that Joseph of Arimathea used the cup to collect and store the blood of Christ at the Crucifixion.

===Unitarian Universalism===
At the opening of Unitarian Universalist worship services, many congregations light a flame inside a chalice.<ref>{{Citation |last=[[Unitarian Universalist Association]] of Congregations |url=http://www.uua.org/visitors/6901.shtml |title=Our Symbol: the Flaming Chalice |date=March 1, 2007 |access-date=2007-07-19}}</ref> A [[flaming chalice]] is the most widely used symbol of [[Unitarianism]] and [[Unitarian Universalism]] (UU), and the official logo of the [[Unitarian Universalist Association]] (UUA) and other Unitarian and UU churches and societies.<ref name=uua/> The design was originated by the artist Hans Deutsch, who took his inspiration from the chalices of oil burned on ancient [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] and [[Religion in ancient Rome|Roman]] [[altar]]s. It became an underground symbol in [[occupied Europe]] during [[World War II]] for assistance to help Unitarians, Jews, and other people escape [[Nazi]] persecution.<ref>{{Citation |last=uuworld.org—liberal religion and life |title=Wartime origins of the flaming chalice |url=http://www.uua.org/visitors/6901.shtml |access-date=2007-07-19}}</ref> The chalice is often shown surrounded by two linked rings. The two linked rings were used as an early symbol for the Unitarian Universalist Association, signifying the joining of Unitarianism and Universalism.

There is no standardized interpretation of the flaming chalice symbol. In one interpretation, the chalice is a symbol of religious freedom from the impositions of doctrine by a hierarchy and openness to participation by all; the flame is interpreted as a memorial to those throughout history who sacrificed their lives for the cause of religious liberty. In another interpretation, the flaming chalice resembles a cross, symbolic of the Christian roots of Unitarian Universalism.<ref name=uua>{{Citation |last=[[Unitarian Universalist Association]] |url=http://www.uua.org/aboutuu/chalice.html |title=The History of the Flaming Chalice |year=2007}}</ref>

=== Wicca ===
{{Main|Magical tools in Wicca}}
In [[Wicca]], a chalice, as a feminine principle, is often used in combination with the [[Athame]] (ceremonial black-handled knife), as male principle. Combining the two evokes the act of procreation, as a symbol of universal creativity. This is a symbol of the [[Great Rite]] in [[Wicca]]n rituals. A chalice is also used in the [[Small Rite]].

===Neo-Paganism===
Some other forms of [[Neo-Paganism]] make use of chalices in their rituals as well. A chalice may be placed on an [[altar]] or on the ground. The chalice may contain wine, [[whiskey]], water, or other liquids. It is used to represent the genitalia of the goddess or female deity.

===Rastafarian===
{{main|Chalice (pipe)}}
[[Rastafari]]s sometimes smoke [[ganja]] in a ''chalice'' (waterpipe or [[bong]]) during an activity called [[Reasoning (Rastafari)|reasoning]] intended to put participants in touch with peaceful feelings, unity, and "consciousness."{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}