Divine Liturgy - The Use of the Ripidion

St. Elias Church (Ukrainian Catholic--Eparchy of Toronto), Brampton, ON Canada. At ordination, the deacon is presented with the orarion (stole), the kadilo (censer) and a Ripidion (also call hexapteryga from the Greek meaning six-winged); each presentation by the bishop is announced by his “Axios!“ which is then echoed by the clergy and the people. The Ripidia are liturgical fans that once were real fans, used to keep the celebrants cool and the flies away in the days when liturgy was performed in warm climates without air conditioning. The liturgicon (Ruthenian Recension) states after the diaconal admonition before the Anaphora: “The deacon, having made a bow, goes into the sanctuary and, taking the ripidion, waves it devoutly over the holy gifts. If there be no ripidion, he does the same with one of the veils.“ And at the subsequent sing of the “Holy, Holy, Holy“: “The deacon then approache