SACRED VESSEL No. 02
Gallery NO. DV - 2026 - 02
Created August 2026
The Eternal Hymn Arabic Orthodox Stoneware Relic
The Eternal Hymn Relic is a one-of-a-kind handcrafted stoneware vessel bearing one of the oldest and most beloved hymns of Orthodox Christian worship.
Hand carved in Arabic, the vessel carries the sacred words of the Trisagion Prayer, a hymn that has echoed through Orthodox churches for more than fifteen centuries. Sung throughout the Divine Liturgy, Vespers, Matins, funerals, and countless daily services, the Trisagion remains one of the defining prayers of Orthodox Christianity.
More than a decorative vessel, this work is conceived as a contemporary relic, an object inspired by the visual language of the ancient Christian East. Its fresco-inspired surface recalls weathered monastery walls, Byzantine churches, and sacred inscriptions softened by centuries of prayer and time.
Created for display, contemplation, or as a vessel for dried botanicals or olive branches, it quietly preserves one of the Church's most enduring prayers in clay.
The Inscription
قُدُّوسُ اللهقُدُّوسُ الْقَوِيُّقُدُّوسُ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُارْحَمْنَا
Quddūs AllāhQuddūs al-QawīQuddūs alladhī lā yamūtIrḥamnā
Holy God.Holy Mighty.Holy Immortal.Have mercy on us.
Known as the Trisagion ("Thrice Holy"), this ancient hymn stands among the oldest continuously prayed texts in Christian worship. The prayer proclaims the holiness, strength, and eternal nature of God while concluding with the Church's continual plea for mercy. It is recited and chanted throughout the Orthodox world and forms one of the central prayers of the Church's liturgical life.
Surface and Form
The exterior is finished using a fresco-inspired layered glazing technique, developed to evoke the appearance of ancient Byzantine wall paintings and weathered ecclesiastical plaster. Multiple translucent glazes are individually thinned and applied by hand in successive layers, allowing each application to build depth without obscuring the clay beneath. Selective applications of iron wash are integrated throughout the surface, then partially removed, creating the softened tonal variations, aged warmth, and quiet irregularities characteristic of centuries-old frescoes and archaeological ceramics.
The interior is finished in Alabaster, producing a soft ivory surface that contrasts gently with the richly layered exterior. Subtle hints of iron wash remain visible beneath the glaze, lending the interior the quiet patina of age while preserving a clean, luminous finish.
Its softly irregular rim, hand-formed silhouette, and individually carved Arabic inscription emphasize the entirely handmade nature of the work. Every vessel emerges from the kiln with surface variations impossible to duplicate, ensuring that no two pieces are ever alike.
Details
Collection: The Sacred
Form: Stoneware Vessel
Material: High-fired stoneware
Inscription: قُدُّوسُ الله • قُدُّوسُ الْقَوِيُّ • قُدُّوسُ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ • ارْحَمْنَا
Translation: Holy God. Holy Mighty. Holy Immortal. Have mercy on us.
Prayer: The Trisagion Prayer
Language: Arabic
Inscription Method: Hand carved
Exterior Finish: Fresco-inspired layered hand-painted glazes with integrated iron wash
Interior Finish: Alabaster with subtle iron wash aging
Surface Details: Layered translucent glazes inspired by ancient Byzantine frescoes, weathered plaster textures, archaeological patina, hand-carved inscription, and naturally varied firing effects
Opening Diameter: Approximately 4.25 in.
Base Diameter: Approximately 4 in.
Height: Approximately 6.5 in.
Approximate Capacity: 52 fl oz (1.5 L)
Approximate Weight: 2 lb 14 oz (1.3 kg)
Approximate Packaged Shipping Weight: 5 lb
Firing: High-fired to Cone 6
Origin: Handcrafted by DOM VECHERA
Edition: One of One
THE FOUNDER'S MARK
The earliest works of DOM VECHERA bear DS, the original maker's mark used by Olga before the establishment of the House. These works retain the mark as part of their provenance.
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