The Hatchment

A funeral hatchment is a lozenge-shaped wooden board (but sometimes a framed canvas) depicting the coat of arms of the deceased, which was carried in their funeral procession before being hung outside their home for some months. Later it was brought into the church in perpetuity. This hatchment was commissioned by Abba Seraphim, Metropolitan of Glastonbury of the British Orthodox Church within the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandia. As Abba Seraphim is still alive his currently hatchment hangs in his home in preparation for his funeral.