Epitaphios (liturgical)

For other uses, see Epitaphios.
Epitaphios, Early 15th century, at Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius
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The Epitaphios (Greek: Ἐπιτάφιος, epitáphios, or Ἐπιτάφιον, epitáphion, meaning "upon the tomb"; Slavonic: Плащаница, plashchanitsa; Arabic: نعش, naash) is a Christian religious icon, typically consisting of a large, embroidered and often richly adorned cloth, bearing an image of the dead body of Christ, often accompanied by his mother and other figures, following the Gospel account. It is used during the liturgical services of Holy Saturday in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches.

The Epitaphios is also a common short form of the Epitáphios Thrēnos, the "Lamentation upon the Grave" in Greek,[citation needed] which is a major part of the service of the Matins of Holy Saturday (now typically performed the evening of Good Friday).

Some Oriental Orthodox Churches also the tradition of the epitaphios,[citation needed], e.g., the Armenian Orthodox have . Their celebration on this day is called T'aghman Kark (Rite of the Burial).[citation needed]

It also exists in painted or mosaic form, on wall or panel.