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An ancient Roman altar

An altar is any structure upon which sacrifices or other offerings are offered for religious purposes. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary is a Wikimedia Foundation project intended to be a free wiki dictionary (hence: Wiktionary) (including thesaurus and lexicon) in every language. ... Bold text1888 German pic of altar This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... Bold text1888 German pic of altar This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... Marcus Aurelius and members of the Imperial family offer sacrifice in gratitude for success against Germanic tribes: contemporary bas-relief, Capitoline Museum, Rome Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning to make sacred, from Old French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) is commonly known as the...

Altars in the Hebrew Bible

Altars (Hebrew mizbe'ah (מזבח), from a word meaning "to slay") in the Hebrew Bible were typically made of earth (Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25). Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Genesis 22:9; Ezekiel 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12; 16:4; 23:8.) The first altar recorded in the Hebrew Bible is that erected by Noah (Genesis 8:20). Altars were erected by Abraham (Genesis 12:7; 13:4; 22:9), by Isaac (Genesis 26:25), by Jacob (33:20; 35:1, 3), and by Moses (Exodus 17:15, Adonai-nissi). Hebrew (עִבְרִית, ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jewish communities around the world. ... 11th century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible with Targum This article discusses usage of the term Hebrew Bible. For the article on the Hebrew Bible itself, see Tanakh. ... Noahs Ark, Französischer Meister (The French Master), Magyar Szépmüvészeti Múzeum, Budapest. ... Tomb of Abraham Abraham (ca. ... It has been suggested that Ishaq be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Yaqub be merged into this article or section. ... Moses or Móshe (מֹשֶׁה, Standard Hebrew, Tiberian Hebrew Mōšeh, Arabic موسى MÅ«sa, Geez ሙሴ Musse) is a legendary Hebrew liberator, leader, lawgiver, prophet, and historian, and also one of the greatest figures in Jewish history. ...

In the Tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple, two altars were erected. The Tabernacle is known in Hebrew as the Mishkan ( משכן Place of [Divine] dwelling). It was to be a portable central place of worship for the Hebrews from the time they left ancient Egypt following the Exodus, through the time of the Book of Judges when they were engaged in conquering...

(1.) The altar of burnt offering (Ex. 30:28), called also the "brasen altar" (Ex. 39:39) and "the table of the Lord" (Mal. 1:7) upon which the korbanot were offered. Korban (קרבן) (plural: Korbanot קרבנות) in Judaism, is commonly called a religious sacrifice or an offering in English, but is known as a Korban in Hebrew because its Hebrew root K [a] R [o] V (קרב) (or K [o] R [a] V) means to [come] Close (or Draw Near) [to God], which the...

This altar, as erected in the tabernacle, is described in Ex. 27:1-8. It was a hollow square, 5 cubits in length and in breadth, and 3 cubits in height. It was made of shittim wood, and was overlaid with plates of brass. Its corners were ornamented with horns (Ex. 29:12; Lev. 4:18).

In Ex. 27:3 the various utensils used with the altar are enumerated. They were made of brass. (Comp. 1 Sam. 2:13, 14; Lev. 16:12; Num. 16:6, 7.)

In Solomon's temple the altar was of larger dimensions (2 Chr. 4:1. Comp. 1 Kings 8:22, 64; 9:25), and was made wholly of brass, covering a structure of stone or earth. This altar was renewed by Asa (2 Chr. 15:8). It was removed by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:14), and "cleansed" by Hezekiah, in the latter part of whose reign it was rebuilt. It was finally broken up and carried away by the Babylonians (Jer. 52:17). Solomons Temple (Hebrew: בית המקדש, transliterated Beit HaMikdash), also known as the First Temple, was, according to the Bible, the first Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. ... This entry incorporates text from Eastons Bible Dictionary, 1897, with some modernisation. ... Hezekiah (or Ezekias) (Hebrew: חזקיה or חזקיהו, God has strengthened) was the 13th king of indepedent Judah and the son of King Ahaz and Abijah (2 Chronicles 29:1), who was a daughter of a man (who was not the prophet) named Zechariah. ...

The altar at All Saints Roman Catholic church, Bristol, England

After the return from captivity it was re-erected (Ezra 3:3,6) where it had formerly stood. (Comp. 1 Macc. 4:47.) When Antiochus IV Epiphanes pillaged Jerusalem he defiled the altar of burnt offering by erecting a pagan altar upon it. Judas Maccabeus renewed the altar when he re-took Jerusalem. It was likely refurbushed by Herod during his extensive building activity on the Temple Mount, and remained in its place until the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D. Download high resolution version (750x639, 69 KB)The altar of All Saints Roman Catholic church in Clifton, Bristol, England. ... Download high resolution version (750x639, 69 KB)The altar of All Saints Roman Catholic church in Clifton, Bristol, England. ... This article is about the English city of Bristol. ... Coin of Antiochus IV. Reverse shows Apollo seated on an omphalos. ... Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerushalayim; Arabic: al-Quds; Greek Ιεροσόλυμα; Latin Aelia Capitolina) is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 meters. ... Judas Maccabeus (or Judah the Maccabee from the Hebrew יהודה המכבי transliteration: Yehudah HaMakabi) translation: Judah the Hammer was the third son of the Jewish priest Mattathias. ... Hordos הוֹרְדוֹס, also known as Herod I or Herod the Great, was a Roman client-king of Judaea (c. ... The Temple Mount (Hebrew: הַר הַבַּיִת (without niqqud: הר הבית), translit. ...

The fire on the altar was not permitted to go out (Lev. 6:9).

In the Mosque of Omar, immediately underneath the great dome, which occupies the site of the old temple, there is a rough projection of the natural rock, of about 60 feet in its extreme length, and 50 in its greatest breadth, and in its highest part about 4 feet above the general pavement. This rock seems to have been left intact when Solomon's temple was built, and may have been the site of the altar of burnt offering. Underneath this rock is a cave, which may have been the granary of Araunah's threshing-floor (1 Chr. 21:22). Dome of the Rock in center of Temple Mount The Dome of the Rock (Arabic: قبة الصخرة Qubbat As-Sakhrah) is a famous Islamic shrine in Jerusalem. ...

(2.) The altar of incense (Ex. 30:1-10), called also "the golden altar" (39:38; Num. 4:11), stood in the holy place "before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony." On this altar sweet spices were continually burned with fire taken from the brazen altar. The morning and the evening services were opened by the high priest offering incense on this altar. The burning of the incense was a type of prayer (Ps. 141:2; Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4). Incense is a preparation of aromatic plant matter, often with the addition of essential oils extracted from plant or animal sources, intended to release fragrant smoke for religious, therapeutic, or aesthetic purposes as it smolders. ...

This altar was a small movable table, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold (Ex. 37:25, 26). It was 1 cubit in length and breadth, and 2 cubits in height.

In Solomon's temple the altar was similar in size, but was made of cedar-wood (1 Kings 6:20; 7:48) overlaid with gold. In Ezek. 41:22 it is called "the altar of wood." (Comp. Ex. 30:1-6.)

In the temple built after the Exile the altar was restored. Antiochus Epiphanes took it away, but it was afterwards restored by Judas Maccabeus (1 Macc. 1:23; 4:49). Among the trophies carried away by Titus on the destruction of Jerusalem the altar of incense is not found, nor is any mention made of it in Hebrews 9. It was at this altar Zacharias ministered when an angel appeared to him (Luke 1:11). EXILE is a 6-member Japanese pop music band. ... Judas Maccabeus (or Judah the Maccabee from the Hebrew יהודה המכבי transliteration: Yehudah HaMakabi) translation: Judah the Hammer was the third son of the Jewish priest Mattathias. ... This is about the emperor of ancient Rome. ... Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerushalayim; Arabic: al-Quds; Greek Ιεροσόλυμα; Latin Aelia Capitolina) is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 meters. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Zakariya. ...

This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897. Eastons Bible Dictionary generally refers to the Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, by Matthew George Easton M.A., D.D. (1823-1894), published three years after Eastons death in 1897 by Thomas Nelson. ...

Altars in Jewish synagogues

Known as the bimah, the altar in a synagogue can be a large over-sized elevated platform with a wide table on top of it roughly in the center of the synagogue upon which the Torah scroll/s (Sifrei Torah) are placed and unrolled so that they can be read after they have been removed and brought over from the "Ark" (aron in Hebrew) where they are stored (which is at the front of the synagogue). The synagogue altar usually has a few steps upwards when it is elevated. The altar may also be simply a large table or a large flat-topped cabinet in the center of the synagogue. Traditionally, when the Torah is opened to be cantillated ("read" with a special tune) on the altar, two people stand on either side of it as a mark of respect. In some synagogues the Hazan (the one leading the prayers) stands on the altar facing most of the congregation, and in other synagogues the altar is only used for the Torah readings, but further prayers are led from the front of the synagogue away from the altar itself. Interior of the Amsterdam Esnoga: We see the tebáh (reader’s platform) in the foreground, and the Hekhál (Ark) in the background. ... Lesko synagogue, Poland A synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת ; beit knesset, house of assembly; Yiddish: שול, shul) is a Jewish place of religious worship. ... Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. It is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ... The Ark in a synagogue (Jewish house of worship) is known as the Aron Kodesh amongst Ashkenazim and as Hekhál amongst most Sefardim. ... Hebrew (עִבְרִית, ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jewish communities around the world. ... Gen. ... A hazzan (or chazzan, Hebrew for Cantor) is a Jewish musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the synagogue in songful prayer. ... The Amidah (Standing), also called the Shemoneh Esreh (The Eighteen), is the central prayer in the Jewish liturgy that observant Jews recite each morning, afternoon, and evening. ...

Christianity

The main, free-standing altar of St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Dubuque, Iowa. The original high altar is behind the screen. This altar contains a reliquary holding the remains of Saint Cessianus, a Roman Catholic Saint and Martyr killed during the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

The use of word "altar" (Greek: θυσιαστηριον) appears twenty-four times in the New Testament, all in relation to the altar of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Significantly, Hebrews 13:10 speaks of Jesus Christ as a metaphorical altar. The doctrine of Christ's substitutionary atonement allowed for an interpretation of the Christian celebration of the Last Supper - the Eucharist - to be a memorial or re-enactment of Christ's sacrifice. Hence, the table upon which the meal (the bread and the wine) is prepared came to be seen as an altar. Seen here is a photo of the main altar at St. ... Seen here is a photo of the main altar at St. ... Saint Raphaels Cathedral Saint Raphaels is the cathedral parish for the Archdiocese of Dubuque, in Iowa. ... Downtown Dubuque and the Riverfront Dubuque is a city located in Dubuque County, Iowa. ... Saint Cessianus was a Roman Catholic Saint and Martyr. ... A saint is a term to refer to someone who is a holy person. ... Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for their convictions or religious faith, such as during the persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire. ... Emperor Diocletian. ... John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ... Drawing of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the time of Herod the Great A stone (2. ... The Epistle to the Hebrews (abbreviated Heb. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Substitutionary atonement is the act of restoring balances by substitution. ... The Last Supper fresco in Milan (1498), by Leonardo da Vinci According to gospel, the Last Supper was the last meal Jesus shared with his apostles before his death. ... The Eucharist or Communion or The Lords Supper, is the rite that Christians perform in fulfillment of Jesus instruction, recorded in the New Testament,[1] to do in memory of him what he did at his Last Supper. ...

Altars in Christian churches

Altars occupy a prominent place in the chancels of many churches, especially in Anglican, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, and other more sacramental denominations. It plays a central role in the sacrament of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion. The bread and the wine are placed upon the altar, and prayers of consecration and/or thanksgiving are offered by a priest or minister. In some churches the area around the altar may be surrounded by altar rails, which provide a symbolic barrier between the sanctity of the altar and the surrounding space. In Eastern Christian churches, this sense of "fencing off" is heightened by the appearance of an iconostasis or "icon wall," separating the chancel from the nave. In some Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, a more open rood screen separates the quire from the nave. In Reformed and Anabaptist churches, a table that serves an analogous function is often called a communion table. In some Protestant denominations, the word altar is used to denote the chancel or sanctuary area of the church, although this usage is technically incorrect. This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace—a holy mystery. ... The Eucharist or Communion or The Lords Supper, is the rite that Christians perform in fulfillment of Jesus instruction, recorded in the New Testament,[1] to do in memory of him what he did at his Last Supper. ... To consecrate an inanimate object is to dedicate it in a ritual to a special purpose, usually religious. ... Roman Catholic priests in traditional clerical clothing. ... In most Protestant churches, a minister is a member of the ordained clergy who leads a congregation; such a person may also be called a Pastor, Preacher, or Elder. ... A set of altar rails in a Dublin Church. ... 17th-century iconostasis of Prophet Elias church, Yaroslavl. ... Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ... The Rood screen was a common feature in late medieval church architecture, dividing the chancel from the nave. ... The choir stalls in the quire of Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England A quire is the area of a church where the liturgical singers sit, also known as the choir located usually in the western part of the chancel (between the nave and the altar), but occasionally in the eastern part... The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant denominations historically related by a similar Zwinglian or Calvinist system of doctrine but organisationally independent. ... Anabaptists (Greek ana+baptizo without-baptizers, German: Wiedertäufer) were Christians of the Radical Reformation. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Sanctuary has multiple meanings. ...

Christian altars are of three types: fixed, free standing, or portable:

• Fixed altars: Beginning in the Early Middle Ages, stone altars were "fixed" against the east wall of the chancel, and the sacred ministers (priest, deacon, and subdeacon) would perform the Mass facing east (ie., the same direction as the congregation). Symbolically, this eastward orientation represents the collective focus on and worship of the Blessed Sacrament. Many churches - typically Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox - still retain fixed altars.
• Free-standing altars emerged as a result of the liturgical renewal of the Reformation when wooden altars or tables were placed in the quire in front of the high altar. The purpose of this innovation was a theological belief that the liturgical action should be seen by the congregation, so that it not be construed as "magical" or that the attitude toward the bread and wine not slip into idolatry. Since the Reformation, Protestant churches have been constructed with free-standing altars placed where a high altar would have stood. As the ministers face the congregation in this arrangement, it is known as a westward orientation (even in churches not built on the traditional east-west axis). Expansion of this practice in many Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, beginning in the 1940s and 50s and especially after the Second Vatican Council, was intended to foster the participation of the whole congregation in the liturgical action.
• Portable altars are essentially free-standing altars that are set up specifically for the celebration of a Eucharist, and then removed subsequently. These are frequently found in those Protestant churches for whom the focus of worship is not on the Eucharist, which may be celebrated rarely, or in Anglican parishes which want to make use of both a fixed and free-standing altar at different services. In keeping with portability, these altars are generally smaller and more modest, and may be constructed in drop-leaf form and placed on wheels.

Some Roman Catholic and Orthodox altars are built with an altar stone to hold relics of saints. This practice began in the early centuries of Christianity, when many Christians celebrated the Eucharist on the anniversary of a martyrs death at the saint's tomb in catacombs. On these occasionas the sarcophagus of a Christian martyr was used for the altar. The placement of relics in an altar is a vestige of this Early Church practice. Roman Catholic priests in traditional clerical clothing. ... Deacon is a role in the Christian Church which is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. ... Subdeacon is a title used in various branches of Christianity. ... A Medieval Low Mass by a bishop. ... The Blessed Sacrament is displayed in a procession at the 2005 Southeastern Eucharistic Congress. ... The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ... From the Greek word λειτουργία, which can be transliterated as leitourgia, meaning a public work, a liturgy comprises a prescribed religious ceremony, according to the traditions of a particular religion; it may refer to, or include, an elaborate formal ritual (such as the Catholic Mass), or a daily activity such as... A relic is an object, especially a piece of the body or a personal item of someone of religious significance, carefully preserved with an air of veneration as a tangible memorial, Relics are an important aspect of Buddhism, some denominations of Christianity, Hinduism, shamanism, and many other personal belief systems. ... A saint is a term to refer to someone who is a holy person. ... The original catacombs were a network a underground burial galleries near San Sebastiano fuori le mura, in Rome. ...

Altars in Catholic churches

The High Altar at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Dyersville, Iowa. Note the free-standing altar in the foreground.

Altars in the Catholic Church find many forms. The main altar in many churches was a fixed table, often not more than a shelf built into reredos just beneath the tabernacle. In other churches, especially the ancient Roman basilicas, the main apse contained a free-standing altar. On either form of altar, before the Second Vatican Council the Mass was usually (but not always) offered with the sacred ministers and congregation facing the same direction, except that the ministers would circle a free-standing altar when using incense. This is the main altar at the Basilica of St. ... This is the main altar at the Basilica of St. ... The Basilica of St. ... The Basilica of Saint Francis Xavier, Dyersville, Iowa. ... The name Catholic Church can mean a visible organization that refers to itself as Catholic, or the invisible Christian Church, viz. ... An altar and reredos from University Church, Dublin A reredos is a screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious iconography or images. ... The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, (Vatican two) was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church opened under Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965. ...

In addition to the main altar, most churches had one or more side altars, almost always of fixed form against a wall. Altars were raised on one or more steps, and typically had a statue, monumental crucifix or other depiction of a patron saint or sacred event fixed above them. The main altar featured the patron saint of the church, with side altars dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, or other saints. Side altars were used for the private daily Low masses of the priests serving the church and as Devotional Altars by the parishioners in private prayer. Saint Mary and Saint Mary the Virgin both redirect here. ... Joseph led his family to safety in Egypt to escape from Herod, as depicted by Lorenzo Monaco According to the Christian Gospel accounts Joseph of the House of David – in tradition also called Joseph the Betrothed and Saint Joseph – was the husband of Mary (Matthew 1:16) and the legal... Until the changes brought in following the Second Vatican Council, a Low Mass or Missa Lecta was one said by a priest alone, with the assistance of one or two servers. ...

An Pre-Second Vatican Council altar and reredos from University Church, Dublin

Most larger Catholic churches had small Devotioal Altars, or shrines, that lined the side walls of the building. They often looked like small side altars and some even had a reredos behind them. However, the shrines did not have a Tabernacle built into the reredos and Mass could not be celebrated at them; they were simply used by Parishioners when praying privately in the church, in the same way that the side altars were used by Parishioners. The Saints that such shrines were commonly devoted to were St Thérèse de Lisieux or any famous Martyrs, such as St Thomas More. University Church, Dublin - study of Tridentine altar. ... University Church, Dublin - study of Tridentine altar. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Eastern Orthodox shrine Buddhist shrine just outside Wat Phnom. ... An altar and reredos from University Church, Dublin A reredos is a screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious iconography or images. ... The Tabernacle at St. ... A Medieval Low Mass by a bishop. ... For other people known as Saint Therese, see Teresa Saint Thérèse de Lisieux (January 2, 1873 – September 30, 1897), or more properly Sainte Thérèse de lEnfant-Jésus et de la Sainte Face (Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy... Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for his or her religious faith. ... For the Elizabethan play, see Sir Thomas More (play). ...

Since the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council (1961-1965) various options have been introduced encouraging a free-standing style of the main altar. The altar should in some way reflect the two dimensions of the sacrament, sacrifice and meal (The Last Supper which was a Seder meal of the Passover). As an altar of sacrifice it should be solid in construction and immoveable. As a "table" it should be centrally located and visible so that the faithful can visually and therefore prayerfully participate in the celebration of the sacrament. In the case of older churches built before 1966, the altar is usually placed in front of the old high altar. The altar may be made from a variety of materials typically, wood or stone. The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, (Vatican two) was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church opened under Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965. ... The Last Supper fresco in Milan (1498), by Leonardo da Vinci According to gospel, the Last Supper was the last meal Jesus shared with his apostles before his death. ... The Seder (pronounced say-der, meaning order in Hebrew) is a special Jewish ceremonial dinner revolving around the story of Exodus. ... Passover (Hebrew: פסח; transliterated as Pesach or Pesah), also called חג המצות (Chag HaMatzot - Festival of Matzot) is a Jewish holiday which is celebrated in the spring. ...

With many old altars, the tabernacle was built directly into the reredos behind and above the altar. In churches that have retained the original high altar, the tabernacle is often retained there, otherwise the tabernacle is placed on an altar of repose of its own in or near the sanctuary. The tabernacle may also be placed in a Blessed Sacrament chapel. The most recent General Instruction of the Roman Missal which regulates liturgical celebration with the force of canon law, now requires Blessed Sacrament chapels to be in close association with and open to the body of the Church with the tabernacle clearly visible to the faithful for their adoration. An altar and reredos from University Church, Dublin A reredos is a screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious iconography or images. ... The Tabernacle is known in Hebrew as the Mishkan ( משכן Place of [Divine] dwelling). It was to be a portable central place of worship for the Hebrews from the time they left ancient Egypt following the Exodus, through the time of the Book of Judges when they were engaged in conquering... The General Instruction of the Roman Missal or GIRM is the liturgical document which governs the celebration of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church with the force of canon law. ...

• See also:
  • Cathedral diagram
  • Back-choir
  • Tridentine Mass

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Back-choir or retro-choir is a space behind the high altar in the choir of a church, in which there is a small altar standing back to back with the other. ... A Tridentine Mass being celebrated in Bohermeen, Ireland in the 1950s. ...

Altars in Eastern Christian Churches

"Altar" has a meaning in the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches that varies with context. Its most common usage does not denote the table itself, but the area surrounding it, behind the iconostasis, that is also called the sanctuary. When one enters the sanctuary, one is said to be "going into the altar". The table may alternately be referred to as the Holy Table or the Throne. This section will describe the Holy Table, not the sanctuary. 17th-century iconostasis of Prophet Elias church, Yaroslavl. ... Sanctuary has multiple meanings. ...

For both the Orthodox and Eastern Catholics, altars are always free-standing, although in very small sanctuaries they might be placed flush against the back wall for reasons of space. They are typically about one meter high, and although they may be made of stone they are generally built out of wood. The exact dimensions may vary, but it must be square in plan of a size in reasonable proportion to the sanctuary. It has five legs: one at each corner plus a central pillar for supporting the altar's relics. Over all is a plain linen cover bound to the altar with cords, and this cover is never removed after the altar is consecrated. (Since the altar is never seen uncovered thereafter, they tend to be constructed more with sturdiness than aesthetics in mind.) Above this first cover is a second ornamented cover, often in a brocade of a color that may change with the liturgical season. Atop the altar is the tabernacle, a miniature shrine sometimes built in the form of a church, inside of which is a small ark containing the reserved Sacrament for use in communing the sick. Also kept on the altar is the Gospel book and the antimension, a silken cloth imprinted with an icon of Christ being prepared for burial, which has a relic sewn into it and bears the signature of the bishop. The Divine Liturgy must be served on an antimension even if the altar has been consecrated and contains relics. When not in use, the antimension is left in place wrapped in the eiliton, a cloth of plain silk, linen or cotton. Floor plan (floorplan, floor-plan) in its original meaning is an architecture term, a diagram of a room, a building, or a level (floor) of a building as if seen from the above (i. ... Torn linen cloth, recovered from the Dead Sea Linen is a material made from the fibers of the flax (and historically, cannabis) plant. ... The Tabernacle at St. ... The Eucharist or Communion or The Lords Supper, is the rite that Christians perform in fulfillment of Jesus instruction, recorded in the New Testament,[1] to do in memory of him what he did at his Last Supper. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... In the Orthodox liturgical tradition, the antimension (Greek instead of the table) is one of the furnishings of the altar. ... Silk weaver Silk is a natural protein fiber that can be woven into textiles. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ... The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. ... Cotton ready for harvest. ...

The altar may only be touched by ordained men, and nothing which is not itself consecrated or an object of veneration should be placed on it. Objects may also be placed on the altar as part of the process for setting them aside for sacred use. For example, icons are usually blessed by laying them on the altar for a period of time or for a certain number of Divine Liturgies before sprinkling them with holy water. Christ the Redeemer (1410s, by Andrei Rublev) For other senses of this word, see icon (disambiguation). ... The baptismal font at St. ...

In place of the outer covering, some altars have a permanent solid cover which may be highly ornamented, richly carved, or even plated in precious metals. A smaller brocade cover is used on top of this if it is desired that the altar decorations reflect the liturgical season.

The altar is used as the place of offering in the celebration of the eucharist, where bread and wine are offered to God the Father and the Holy Spirit is invoked to make his Son Jesus Christ present in the gifts. It is also the place where the presiding clergy stand at any service, even where no eucharist is being celebrated and no offering is made but prayer. The Eucharist or Communion or The Lords Supper, is the rite that Christians perform in fulfillment of Jesus instruction, recorded in the New Testament,[1] to do in memory of him what he did at his Last Supper. ... In many religions, the supreme God is given the title and attributions of Father. ... In various religions, most notably Trinitarian Christianity, the Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost; in Hebrew רוח הקודש Ruah haqodesh) is the third Person of the Holy Trinity. ... Jesus (8-2 BC/BCE — 29-36 AD/CE),[1] also known as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity. ... This page is about the title or the Divine Person. For the Christian figure, see Jesus. ... Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. ... The Eucharist or Communion or The Lords Supper, is the rite that Christians perform in fulfillment of Jesus instruction, recorded in the New Testament,[1] to do in memory of him what he did at his Last Supper. ... Maria Magdalene in prayer. ...

Altars in Anglican Churches

The altar in St. Mary Anglican Church, Redcliffe, Bristol. It is decorated with a frontal in green, a colour typically associated with the seasons after Epiphany and Pentecost. Note the rood screen behind the free-standing altar.

Altars in the Anglican Communion vary widely. At the time of the Reformation, altars were fixed against the east end of the church, and the priests would celebrate the Mass standing at the middle of the altar. Beginning with the rubrics of the Second Prayer Book of Edward VI published in 1552, and through the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (which prevailed for almost 300 years), the priest is directed to stand "at the north syde of the Table." This was variously interpreted over the years to mean the north side of the front of a fixed altar, the north end of a fixed altar (ie., facing south), the north side of a free-standing altar (presumably facing those intending to receive the elements who would be sitting in the quire stalls opposite), or at the north end of a free-standing altar placed lengthwise in the chancel, facing a congregation seated in the nave. Often, where a celebrant chose to situate himself was meant to convey his churchmanship (that is, more Reformed or more Catholic). The use of candles or tabernacles were banned by canon law, with the only appointed adornment being a white linen cloth. Download high resolution version (1500x1122, 438 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1500x1122, 438 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Greater Bristol. ... John the Baptist baptizes Jesus Christ as Angels look on in wonder in an Eastern Orthodox icon of the Theophany This article is about the Christian feast. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Rood screen was a common feature in late medieval church architecture, dividing the chancel from the nave. ... Edward VI King of England and Ireland Edward VI (12 October 1537–6 July 1553) was King of England and King of Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. ... 1979 ECUSABCP The Book of Common Prayer[1] is foundational prayer book of the Church of England and also the name for similar books used in other churches in the Anglican Communion. ... Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ... The Tabernacle at St. ... Canon law is the term used for the internal ecclesiastical law which governs various churches, most notably the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Communion of churches. ...

Beginning with the Catholic Revival in the 19th Century, the appearance of Anglican altars took a dramatic turn in many churches. Candles and, in some cases, tabernacles were reintroduced. In some churches two candles, on each end of the altar, were used; in other cases six - three on either side of a tabernacle, typically surmounted by a crucifix. The Oxford Movement was a loose affiliation of High Church Anglicans, most of them members of the University of Oxford, who sought to demonstrate that the Church of England was a direct descendant of the Christian church established by the Apostles. ... A crucifix amidst the cornfields near Mureck in rural Styria, Austria A handheld crucifix A crucifix in front of the Holy Spirit Church in Košice, Slovakia A crucifix is a cross with a representation of Jesuss body, or corpus. ...

In Anglican practice, conformity to a given standard depends on the ecclesiastical province and/or the liturgical sensibilities of a given parish. In the Parson's Handbook, an influential manual for priests popular in the early-to-mid-twentieth century, Percy Dearmer recommends the size of an altar be "as nearly as possible 3 ft. 3 in. high, and at least deep enough to take a corporal [the square of linen placed underneath the Communion vessels] 20 in. square with a foot or more to spare." He also recommends that the altar stand upon three steps for each of the three sacred ministers, and that it be decorated with a silk frontal in the seasonal colour. In some cases, other manuals suggest that a stone be set in the top of wooden altars, in the belief that the custom be maintained of consecrating the bread and wine on a stone surface. An ecclesiastical province is a unit of religious government existing in certain Christian churches. ... The Revd Dr Percy Dearmer MA (Oxon), DD, in 1911. ... The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in some Christian churches which determines when Feasts, Memorials, Commemorations, and Solemnities are to be observed and which portions of Scripture are to be read. ...

In many other Anglican parishes, the custom is considerably less rigorous, especially in those parishes which use free-standing altars. Typically, these altars are made of wood, and may or may not have a solid front, which may or may not be ornamented. In many Anglican parishes, the use of frontals has persisted. With free-standing altars, only two candles are placed on either end of the altar, since six would obscure the liturgical action, undermining the intent of a westward orientation (ie., that it be visible to the congregation). A tabernacle may stand to one side of or behind the altar, or an aumbry may be used. In mediaeval times, an aumbry was a cupboard in the wall of a Christian church or in the sacristy which was used to store chalices and other vessels and which was used also for the reserved sacrament, the consecrated elements from the communion service. ...

Sensibilities concerning the sanctity of the altar are widespread in Anglicanism. In some parishes, the notion that the surface of the altar should only be touched by those in holy orders is maintained. In others, there is considerably less strictness. Nonetheless, the continued popularity of altar rails in Anglican church construction suggests that a sense of the sanctity of the altar and its surrounding area persists. In most cases, moreover, the practice of allowing only those items necessary for the Eucharist to be placed on the altar is maintained (that is, the linen cloth, candles, missal, and the Eucharistic vessels). Roman Catholic deacon candidates prostrate before the altar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles during a 2004 diaconate ordination liturgy Holy Orders in the modern Roman Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, Assyrian, Old Catholic, and Independent Catholic Churches, includes... Missal, in the Roman Catholic Church, is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Masses throughout the year. ...

Altars in non-Christian cultures

There are also the altars, known as Shrines, of the Japanese faith Shinto. The Wiccan altar is used to symbolize the four Greek classical elements, of earth, air, fire and water. Hindus also may use an altar in various forms. These types of altars may or may not be used for sacrifice or offerings. (Sometimes the term "sacrifice" is used loosely and not too well-defined. An individual may see his prayer upon the altar as being a sacrifice. An apple cut on an altar may be both an offering and a sacrfice.) Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... For the book series Wicca see Sweep (book series) and Circle Of Three. ... Several ancient Classical Element Greek version of these ideas persisted throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, deeply influencing European thought and culture. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Marcus Aurelius and members of the Imperial family offer sacrifice in gratitude for success against Germanic tribes: contemporary bas-relief, Capitoline Museum, Rome Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning to make sacred, from Old French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) is commonly known as the...

High places

High places are elevated spots on which altars were erected for worship in the belief that, as they were nearer heaven than the plains and valleys, they were more favourable places for prayer. The practice of worship on these spots, though from the first forbidden, became frequent among the Hebrews, and was with difficulty abolished, though denounced time after time by the prophets as an affront to God.
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopaedia. High Place, in the English version of the Old Testament, the literal translation of the Heb. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Nuttall Encyclopaedia is an early 20th century encyclopedia, edited by Rev. ...

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Altar

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