Bible Encyclopedias
Hagiosideron

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(ἁγιοσίδηρον, holy iron), one of the substitutes for bells still used in the East (also called τὸ σιδηροῦν, κροῦσμα ). (See SEMANTRON). It usually consists of an iron plate, curved like the tire of a wheel, which is struck with a hammer, and produces a sound not unlike that of a gong. They are occasionally made of brass. See Neale, Eastern Church, Int. pages 217, 225; Daniel, Codex Lit. 4:199.