Labis

(λαβίς, or λαβίδιον, a spoon), an implement used in the Greek Church for the purpose of administering the elements in the Lord's Supper. Difficulties in the administration of the wine were fancied to arise in the Middle Ages, in order to meet which the fistule eucharisticce were introduced; and subsequently the practice of dipping the bread in the wine, so that both might be administered together. The Latin Church at length withdrew the wine altogether; and the Greek Church, mingling both elements, administered them at once with a λαβίς, or spoon. SEE FISTULE.