Chalice (overlay on cup)

An openwork overlay for the cup of a chalice (a "sorochka," or "shirt"), made of silver-toned metal, with a winding floral ornament and three shaped, gold-toned cartouches bearing biblical scenes. The cartouches depict: "The Annunciation," "The Way of the Cross" (Christ carrying the Cross to Golgotha), and "The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane."

The overlay for the chalice cup 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."