EPITAPHS
The Epitaph is a functional vestment, used today in the Good Friday service. It derives from the Megalos Aeras, which covered the two sacred utensils (Holy Grail and Holy Patten).
From the 13th to the 15th c. Megalos Aeras was usually decorated with the depiction of Christ-Lamb or the Divine Sacrament and Transmission, ie with Eucharistic themes. Nevertheless, since the 15th c. it started to be illustrated with the depiction of the Sepulchral Lamentation, that is, with the Body of Christ as it was after the pieta, adorned by Theotokos, the Myrhophors, Apostle John the Theologian, Joseph and Nicodemus, resulting in its character being transformed into "historical", from functional. In the monasteries' workshops a combination of the functional and the "historical" type survives, as the depiction of the Sepulchral Lamentation is complemented in the margins with figures of prophets and evangelists, putting forward the Triumphant Church. The Epitaph was originally a product of gold-embroidery workshops, but during later times was replaced in some cases by paintings, due to lower construction costs.
