Chalice (cup)

The cup of the chalice is gold-toned, with a silver-toned "sorochka" (overlay) decorated with a floral ornament and wave-like edges. The lower part of the overlay, where the (now-lost) stem was fitted, is decorated with an eight-pointed star ornamented with acanthus leaves. The central part of the overlay is decorated with rocaille, within which is a diamond-mesh interlace with dots, or with acanthus leaves. Along the upper edge of the cup is the Church Slavonic inscription: "He who eats My body and drinks My blood abides in Me," together with a depiction of a cross.

The chalice belonged to the pre-war collection of the Sloboda Ukraine Museum named after H. S. Skovoroda. During the Second World War it was evacuated and returned to Kharkiv in November 1944.

Note: the chalice (potir) is the sacred liturgical cup used to consecrate wine and to celebrate the sacrament of Communion.

The chalice represents the cup given by Jesus Christ to his disciples at the Last Supper, with the words: "Drink of it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."