The zeon: why hot water is poured into the chalice before Communion

The post explains the Orthodox rite known as the zeon, from the Greek word meaning boiling or fervent. Just before Holy Communion, the priest or deacon pours a small amount of hot water into the chalice. The water recalls the blood and water that flowed from Christ's pierced side when a soldier thrust a spear into Him, as recorded in the Gospel of John.

The warmth of the water points to the risen life of Christ and the fervor of the Holy Spirit. Together, the water and its heat proclaim Christ's sacrifice on the Cross and His victory over death. As the faithful approach the chalice, they receive the true Body and Blood of the same Lord who suffered for them, rose from the tomb, and now unites them to Himself in Holy Communion.

The post presents this teaching in both English and Greek, and the accompanying image text breaks the explanation into a series of short slides that repeat the same points.