An altar is any structure upon which sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place. Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning "to make sacred" from Old French, from Latin sacrificium: sacr, "sacred" Altars are usually found in shrines, temples, and other sacred places. A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’ also used as a desk like the French bureau) was originally a container usually made of precious materials used A temple (from the Latin word Templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities such as prayer and sacrifice or analogous rites They occur in many cultures worldwide, particularly in the religions of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Taoism (also known as Daoism), and Neopaganism. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is an Umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements particularly those influenced by historical They were also found in other ancient religions.
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In the Hebrew Bible
Altars (Hebrew: מזבח, mizbe'ah, "a place of sacrifice") in the Hebrew Bible were typically made of earth (Exodus 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25). The term Hebrew Bible is a generic reference to those books of the Bible originally written in Biblical Hebrew (and the related Biblical Aramaic 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). Noah (or Noe, Noach;; Nūḥ; Arabic: نوح; "Rest") was according to the Bible, the tenth and last of 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). Abraham ( Ashkenazi Avrohom or Avruhom; ابراهيم, {{Unicode|Ibrāhīm}}; Ge'ez: According to the Hebrew Bible, Isaac ( Hebrew: Yitzchak יִצְחָק, Standard Yiẓḥaq Jacob ( Hebrew: יַעֲקֹב, Standard Yaʿaqov Tiberian Yaʿăqōḇ; Moses ( Latin: Moyses,; Greek: grc Mωυσής in both the Septuagint and the New Testament; Arabic: ar موسىٰ
After the theophany on Mount Sinai, in the Tabernacle—and afterwards in the Temple—only two altars were used: the Altar of Burnt Offering, and the Altar of Incense. Theophany, from the Greek, theophaneia (meaning "appearance/showing of God" refers to the appearance of a Deity to a human or to a divine disclosure For other places named Mount Sinai see Mount Sinai (disambiguation Mount Sinai (Arabic طور سيناء, Hebrew הר סיני also The Tabernacle is known in Hebrew as the Mishkan ( משכן "Residence" or "Dwelling Place" Etymology The Hebrew name given in Scripture for the building is Beit HaMikdash or "The Holy House" and only the Temple in Jerusalem is referred to by this name
Altar of Burnt Offering
The first altar was the Altar of Burnt Offering (mizbach ha'olah) (Exodus 30:28), also called the Brasen Altar (Exodus 39:39), the Outer Altar (mizbach hachitzona), the Earthen Altar (mizbach adamah), the Great Altar (mizbach hagedola) and the Table of the Lord (Malachi 1:7) This was the outdoor altar and stood in the Court of the Priests, between the Temple and the Court of Israel, and upon which the korbanot (animal and bird sacrifices) were offered. Korban ( Hebrew: "sacrifice" קרבן (plural Korbanot קרבנות in Judaism, is the term for a variety of sacrificial offerings The blood of the sacrifices would be thrown against the base of the altar (Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:18), and portions of the sacrifices would be burned on top of it (precisely which portions would depend upon the type of sacrifice). Also consumed at the altar would be some of the meat offerings, and the drink offerings (libations of wine) were poured out here. A gift offering (minchah also referred to as grain offerings, meal offerings, and in the King James Version as meat offerings, is a type of A libation (spondee in Greek) is a Ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god. A libation (spondee in Greek) is a Ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god. All sacrifices had to be "seasoned with salt" (Leviticus 2:13, Numbers 18:19)
Three separate piles of wood burned atop the altar. The largest of these was where all the portions of the sacrifices were burned; the second fire provided the coals for the Altar of Incense within the sanctuary, and the third was the "perpetual fire" which constantly burned on the altar. A sanctuary lamp, altar lamp, or eternal flame is a light that shines before the altar of sanctuaries in many denominations of Jewish and Christian Nothing was placed on it, and no coals were taken from it. It existed solely to fulfill the commandment that there be a perpetual fire, as the Torah states: "And a fire shall burn there on the altar constantly; it shall not be extinguished" (Leviticus 6:5). There was no commandment regarding the type of wood to be used; however, the Rabbis forbade the use of olive wood and grape vine, as these would not burn well and needed to be conserved because of their commercial value to the people. Three particular types of wood were preferred: fig, walnut, and pine. These woods all burn well, and were therefore preferable. The choicest branches of fig were used for the second fire, the one from which coals were taken for the Altar of Incense. If all of the lamps of the menorah went out, they would have to be rekindled from the fire on the Altar of Burnt Offering. Pekiin tabletjpg|thumb|right|151px| Second Temple period stone tablet from a Synagogue in Peki'in, Israel.
A large pile of ashes was formed in the center of the altar from the remnants of the three fires. [1] A portion of the ashes from this pile were required to be removed every morning before the first sacrifice of the day. In the Second Temple, the priest who fulfilled this mitzvah (commandment) was chosen by lottery every morning. This article is about commandments in Judaism For the Jewish rite of passage see Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Mitzvah ( Hebrew: מצוה A lottery is a form of Gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize He would vest in his priestly vestments and wash his hands before approaching the altar. Ritual washing or ablution takes two main forms in Judaism tevilah, full body immersion in a Mikvah, and netilat yadayim, washing The ashes were taken up in a silver shovel and set on the ground to the east of the altar at what was called, "the place of the ashes. " Then he would change from his priestly vetments into ordinary clothing and remove the ashes to a clean place outside the camp (Leviticus 6:10-11, Cf. , 1:16).
In Exodus 27:3 the various utensils used with the altar are enumerated. They were made of brass. (Comp. 1 Samuel 2:13-14; Leviticus 16:12; Numbers 16:6-7). The altar could not be carved using utensils made of iron or of bronze (Exodus 20:25), nor were any allowed on or near it, because iron and bronze were used for implements of war. The Altar and its utensils were considered to be sacred, and the priests had to vest and wash their hands before touching them—even so much as removing the ashes from the altar.
According to the Bible, the fire on the altar was lit directly by the hand of God and was not permitted to go out (Leviticus 6:12-13). No strange fire could be placed upon the altar. The burnt offerings would remain on the altar throughout the night before they could be removed (Leviticus 6:9).
A second lottery would be made to determine which priests would fulfill the various duties involved in offering the sacrifice and preparing the menorah and the Golden Altar.
In the Tabernacle
The first altar of this type was made to be moved with the Children of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness. Its construction is described in Exodus 27:1-8. It was square, 5 cubits in length and in breadth, and 3 cubits in height. For the multi-touch interface see CUBIT (multi-touch. For the unit of information see Qubit. It was made of shittim wood, and was overlaid with brass. Red acacia ( Acacia seyal; also known as Shittim wood or Shittim tree) is a thorny 6-10 m (20-30 ft high tree with a greenish or reddish In each of its four corners projections, called "horns" (keranot), rose up. The altar was hollow, except for a mesh grate which was placed inside half way down, on which the wood sat for the burning of the sacrifices. The area under the grate was filled with earth. There were rings set on two opposite sides of the altar, through which poles could be placed for carrying it. These poles were also made of shittim wood and covered with brass.
When Moses consecrated the Tablernacle in the wilderness, he sprinkled the Altar of Burnt Offering with the anointing oil seven times (Leviticus 8:10-11), and purified it by anointing its four horns with the blood of a bullock offered as a sin-offering, "and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it" (8:14-15). To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil milk water melted butter or other substances a process employed ritually by many religions and races A sin offering ( Hebrew: hattath) is a type of Biblical sacrifice, specifically a sacrifice made for the Atonement of an unintentional Sin
The Kohathites were the Levites who were responsible for moving and setting up the altar. The Kohathites were one of the four main divisions among the Levites in Biblical times In the Jewish tradition a Levite ( is a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi. When it was time for the Israelites to move, they removed the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it, placed all of the instruments and vessels used in the sacrifices on it, covered it with a blanket of badger skin, and put the carrying poles in place (Numbers 4:13-14).
According to the Bible, after the rebellion of Korah, the censers that were used by the rebels were made into broad plates used to cover the altar, as a warning that only priests of the seed of Aaron may offer incense before the Lord (Numbers 16:36-40). Korah or Kórach ( Hebrew: קֹרַח, Standard Qóraḥ Tiberian Qōraḥ "Baldness ice hail
In the Temple
In Solomon's temple the altar was of larger dimensions (2 Chronicles 4:1. Solomon's Temple (בית המקדש transliterated Beit HaMikdash) also known as the First Temple, was according to Comp. 1 Kings 8:22, 8:64; 9:25), and was made wholly of brass, covering a structure of stone or earth. Because this altar was larger than the one used in the wilderness, it had a ramp leading up to it. A ramp was used because the use of steps to approach the altar was forbidden by the Torah: "Do not climb up to My altar with steps, so that your nakedness not be revealed on it" (Exodus 20:23). term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to On the day of the consecration of the new temple, Solomon also sanctified a space in the center of the Court of the Priests for burnt offerings, because the brasen altar he made was not large enough to hold all of the offerings (2 Chronicles 7:7). Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious
This altar was renewed by Asa (2 Chronicles 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. Ahaz (אחז lit "has held" an abbreviation of Jehoahaz, "God has held" was king of Judah, and the son and successor of Jotham Hezekiah (or Ezekias) ( Hebrew: Ḥizqiyyāhu Khizkiyahu or Yəḥizqiyyāhu Y'khizkiyahu " the {{LORD}} has strengthened" compare It was finally broken up and carried away by the Babylonians in 586 BCE (Jeremiah 52:17). Events and trends 589 BC — Apries succeeds Psammetichus II as king of Egypt.
After their return from the Babylonian captivity it was re-erected (Ezra 3:3-6) where it had formerly stood. The Babylonian captivity, Babylonian exile, is the name typically given to the deportation and exile of the Jews of the ancient Kingdom of Judah to When Antiochus IV Epiphanes pillaged Jerusalem, he defiled the Altar of Burnt Offering by erecting a pagan altar upon it. Another Antiochus IV Epiphanes was king in Commagene under Caligula and Claudius. Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Judas Maccabeus renewed the altar when he re-took Jerusalem. Judas Maccabeus (or Judah Maccabee, also spelled Machabeus or Maccabaeus Hebrew: יהודה המכבי, Yehudah HaMakabi, Judah the Hammer Since the existing altar had been defiled by the blood of pagan sacrifices the old stones of the altar were removed and replaced with new, unhewn ones. However, since the old stones had been previously sanctified by the Jewish sacrifices they could not be moved to an unclean place; so they remained on the Temple Mount, "until there should come a prophet to tell what to do with them. The Temple Mount ( הַר הַבַּיִת, Har haBáyit) also called the Noble Sanctuary ( الحرم القدسي الشريف, al-haram In Religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has encountered the Supernatural or the divine and serves as an intermediary " (1 Maccabees 4:41-47). 1 Maccabees is a deuterocanonical book written by a Jewish author after the restoration of an independent Jewish kingdom probably about 100 BC.
During Herod the Great's extensive building activity on the Temple Mount, it was likely refurbushed. Herod (הוֹרְדוֹס Horodos, Greek: Herōdes) also known as Herod I or Herod the Great (73 BC – 4 BC in Jericho Herod's Temple in Jerusalem was a massive expansion of the Temple Mount and construction of a completely new and much larger Jewish Temple by King Talmudic scholars give a very precise description of the altar during the Second Temple period. The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history The Second Temple (בית המקדש romanized 'Beit HaMikdash' meaning 'Holy House' was the reconstructed Temple in Jerusalem which stood between 516 BCE and 70 CE The altar was built as a perfect square and was quite large: it reached a height of 10 cubits (app. 5 meters) and its width was 32 cubits (app. 16 meters). It was constructed of two main parts: the altar itself, and the ascent ramp. Both were constructed of stones and earth. On top of the altar at its four corners, there were hollow boxes which made small protrusions or "horns. " These horns measured one cubit square and 5 handbreadths high, each (or, app. 18" x 18" x 15"). [2] In this form, the altar remained in its place until the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D.
Today, in the Dome of the Rock, immediately underneath the great golden dome, which is believed to occupy the site of the old temple, there is a rough projection of the natural rock known as the Foundation Stone, measuring about 60 feet in its extreme length, 50 feet in its greatest breadth, and at its highest point about 4 feet above the pavement. Year 70 was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. The Dome of the Rock ( Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة translit The Foundation Stone ( Hebrew: אבן השתייה translit Even haShetiya) or Rock ( Arabic: translit 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, although a recent analysis suggests it may have been the floor of the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies is a term in the Hebrew Bible which referred to the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem which could be entered Underneath this rock is a cave, known today as the Well of Souls, which may have been the granary of Araunah's threshing-floor (1 Chronicles 21:22). The Well of Souls ( Arabic: Bir el- Arweh) is the name of a natural Cave located immediately beneath the Sakhrah (the Foundation Stone in Araunah is the name given by the Books of Samuel to a Jebusite who owned a Threshing floor that was purchased by David and turned into an altar
Altar of Incense
The second altar was the Altar of Incense (mizbach haketoros) (Exodus 30:1-10), called also the Golden Altar (mizbach hazahav) (39:38; Numbers 4:11), and the Inner Altar (mizbach hap'nimi) stood inside, in the Holy Place "before the Veil that is by the Ark of the Covenant. The Hekhal (variously spelled Hechal or Haichal) Hebrew ההיכל also known as the Sanctuary or Holy, was the part of A veil is an article of clothing worn almost exclusively by women that is intended to cover some part of the head or Face. The Ark of the Covenant (אָרוֹן הָבְרִית ʔārōn hāb’rīθ, Modern aron habrit) is described in the Bible as a sacred container wherein "
The altar was constructed of shittim wood and covered in pure gold. It was an upright rectangular stand, measuring one cubit wide, one cubit deep, and two cubits high, with a "horn" on each corner, a border of gold around the top, and rings on opposite sides through which poles could be passed to carry it (Exodus 37:25-26). The poles were made of shittim wood covered with gold. Moses consecrated the altar with the anointing oil when the Tabernacle was dedicated (Leviticus 40:9).
On this altar incense was burned daily at the time of the morning and the evening sacrifices. The coals used on this altar had to be taken from the Altar of Burnt Offerings. The incense used had to be made according to a specific formula (Exodus 30:34-35), and no other incense was permitted (Exodus 30:9). According to Jewish tradition, the incense was made by the Avtinas family, who closely guarded its secret. The offering of incense also had to be seasoned with salt.
The offering of incense was the apex of the daily morning and the evening services. According to the Rabbis, this was the part of the temple service that was most beloved by God (Zohar I 130:A). For the village in southern Israel see Tzohar The Zohar (זהר lit Splendor or Radiance) is widely considered the most important The burning of the incense was symbolic of the prayer of the people rising up to God (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4). The offering of incense had to take place after the sacrifice, because only after the atonement could communion with God take place. The atonement is a doctrine found within both Christianity and Judaism. After the offering of incense, the Kohenim (priests) pronounced the Priestly Blessing upon the people. A kohen (or cohen, Hebrew כּהן "priest" pl כּהנִים kohanim or cohanim) has a separate status in Judaism. The Priestly Blessing, (ברכת כהנים translit Birkat Kohanim) also known in Hebrew as Nesiat Kapayim, ( lit.
Whenever certain sin-offerings were brought, the coals from the incense that was lit that morning were pushed aside and the blood of the "inner sin-offering" was sprinkled seven times on the top of the Golden Altar (Leviticus 4:5-7).
Once a year, on Yom Kippur, the Altar of Incense was purified (Exodus 30:10, Leviticus 16:18-19). Yom Kippur (יוֹם כִּפּוּר ˈjɔm kiˈpur also known in English as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays Its The High Priest, after sacrificing a bull and a goat and purifying the Holy of Holies with their blood, would mix the blood of the two animals together. Kohen Gadol or Kohen ha-Gadol ( Heb כהן גדול "Great Priest" is the title of High Priest of early Israelite Then, starting at the northeast corner, he smeared the mixture of blood on each of the four corners of the Golden Altar. He then sprinkled the blood eight times on the altar.
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 Ezekiel 41:22 it is called "the altar of wood. " (Comp. Exodus 30:1-6. )
In the temple rebuilt after the Babylonian Exile the Golden Altar was restored. The Babylonian captivity, Babylonian exile, is the name typically given to the deportation and exile of the Jews of the ancient Kingdom of Judah to Antiochus Epiphanes took it away, but it was afterwards restored by Judas Maccabeus (1 Maccabees 1:23; 4:49). Judas Maccabeus (or Judah Maccabee, also spelled Machabeus or Maccabaeus Hebrew: יהודה המכבי, Yehudah HaMakabi, Judah the Hammer It was at this altar that Zacharias ministered when an angel appeared to him (Luke 1:11). Zechariah (Hebrew prophet -->In the Bible, Zechariah Gabriel ( Latin: Gabrielus; Greek:, Gabriēl; Arabic: جبريل Jibrīl or جبرائيل In the Epistle to the Hebrews, where the author lists the prominent componenets of the Temple, the Altar of Incense is interestingly not mentioned Hebrews 9:1-5. The Epistle to the Hebrews (abbr Heb for Citations is one of the books in the New Testament. Among the trophies carried away by Titus after the destruction of Jerusalem, and depicted on the Arch of Titus in Rome, the Altar of Incense is not depicted, though the menorah, silver trumpets (the hasoserah mentioned in Numbers 10:2-10), the mortar and pestle used for preparing the incense, and possibly the Table of Showbread are. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Titus ( December 30 39 &ndash September 13 81) was a Roman Emperor who The Siege of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD It was a decisive event in the First Jewish-Roman War, followed by the fall of Masada in 73 The Arch of Titus is a Pentelic marble Triumphal arch with a single arched opening located on the Via Sacra just to the south-east of the Forum A shofar (שופר is a horn used for Jewish religious purposes A pestle and mortar is a Tool used to crush grind and mix substances Showbread ( Hebrew: לחם פנים lechem (happānīm, literally "Bread of the Presence" in the King James Version: shewbread
It should be mentioned that there are other offerings involving incense, such as the meat offerings, but these were consumed on the Altar of Burnt Offering, not on the Altar of Incense. A gift offering (minchah also referred to as grain offerings, meal offerings, and in the King James Version as meat offerings, is a type of On the day of Yom Kippur only, the High Priest would offer incense in the Holy of Holies.
Christianity
The word "altar" (Greek: θυσιαστήριον) appears twenty-four times in the New Testament. Significantly, Hebrews 13:10 spoke of Christians having an altar of which those who follow the Jewish liturgy could not partake, a reference, it seems, to Christ. The doctrine of Christ's substitutionary atonement allowed the Christian celebration of the Last Supper - the Eucharist - to be seen as a memorial of Christ's sacrifice. Substitutionary atonement is a Doctrine in Christian theology which states that Jesus of Nazareth died &ndash intentionally and willingly &ndash In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those In Catholic theology it is a re-presentation, in the literal sense of the one sacrifice being made "present again. " Hence, the table upon which the meal (the bread and the wine) is prepared came to be seen as an altar.
Altars occupy a prominent place in the chancels of many churches, especially those belonging to ancient Christian traditions, such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian Churches. "Chancel" is an architectural term for the space around the Altar at the Liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the The Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East (ܥܕܬܐ ܩܕܝܫܬܐ ܘܫܠܝܚܝܬܐ ܩܬܘܠܝܩܝ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܪ̈ܝܐ ‘Ittā Qaddishtā wa-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi They are also found in many Protestant worship places. It plays a central role in the celebration of the Eucharist. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those A priest or minister celebrates at the altar, on which the bread and the wine are placed. A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform clergy functions such as teaching of beliefs
The area around the altar is seen as endowed with greater holiness, and is usually physically distinguished from the rest of the church, whether by a permanent structure such as an iconostasis, a rood screen or altar rails, by a curtain that can be closed at more solemn moments of the liturgy, as in the Armenian Church, or simply by the general architectural layout. In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis (the plural is iconostases) also called the Templon, is a wall of Icons and religious paintings The rood screen (also choir screen or chancel screen) is a common feature in late Medieval parish Church architecture. Altar rails are a set of railings sometimes ornate and frequently of marble or wood delimiting the Sanctuary in a church the part that contains the Altar. The altar is often on a higher elevation than the rest of the church. In Reformed and Anabaptist churches, a table, often called a "communion table", serves an analogous function. The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically Anabaptists ( Greek ανα (again twice + βαπτιζω (baptize thus "re-baptizers" are Christians of the Radical Reformation 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. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Sanctuary has multiple meanings A sanctuary is the consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar
Churches generally have a single altar, although in the West, where concelebration had formerly fallen into disuse and priests celebrated Mass individually, larger churches may have one or more side chapels, each with its own altar. Main article Eucharist (Catholic Church In the Catholic Church concelebration (from Lat In such churches, the main altar was also referred to the "high altar". Newly built Roman Catholic churches built for the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite do not, as a rule, feature this multiplicity of altars. This article is about the post-Vatican-II changes to the Mass for an explanation of the current structure of the Mass see Mass (Catholic Church. The liturgical rite of the Church of Rome is called the Roman Rite. But in most Western churches, whether Roman Catholic or Anglican, there may be a high altar in the main body of the church, with one or more adjoining chapels, each with its own altar, at which the Eucharist may be celebrated on weekdays.
Architecturally, there are two types of altars: those that are attached to the eastern wall of the chancel, and those that are free-standing and can be walked around, for instance when incensing the altar.
In the earliest days of the Church, the Eucharist appears to have been celebrated on portable altars set up for the purpose. Some historians hold that, during the persecutions, the Eucharist was celebrated among the tombs in the catacombs, using the sarcophagi of martyrs as altars on which to celebrate. Other historians dispute this, but it is thought to be the origin of the tradition of placing relics beneath the altar.
When Christianity was legalized under Constantine the Great, formal church buildings were built in great numbers, normally with free-standing altars in the middle of the sanctuary, which in all the earliest churches built in Rome was at the west end of the church. Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine "When Christians in fourth-century Rome could first freely begin to build churches, they customarily located the sanctuary towards the west end of the building in imitation of the sanctuary of the Jerusalem Temple. Although in the days of the Jerusalem Temple the High Priest indeed faced east when sacrificing on Yom Kippur, the sanctuary within which he stood was located at the western end of the Temple. Yom Kippur (יוֹם כִּפּוּר ˈjɔm kiˈpur also known in English as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays Its The Christian replication of the layout and the orientation of the Jerusalem Temple helped to dramatize the eschatological meaning attached to the sacrificial death of Jesus the High Priest in the Epistle to the Hebrews. "[3] The ministers (bishop, priests, deacons, subdeacons, acolytes), celebrated the Eucharist facing east, towards the entrance. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions Subdeacon (or sub-deacon is a title used in various branches of Christianity. This article is about religious acolytes For other uses see Acolyte (disambiguation. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those Some hold that for the central part of the celebration the congregation faced the same way. After the sixth century the contrary orientation prevailed, with the entrance to the west and the altar at the east end. Then the ministers and congregation all faced east during the whole celebration; and in Western Europe altars began, in the Middle Ages, to be permanently placed against the east wall of the chancel.
In Western Christian churches
Most rubrics, even in books of the seventeenth century and later, such as the Pontificale Romanum, continued to envisage the altar as free-standing. A rubric is a word or section of text which is written or printed in Red Ink to highlight it The rite of the Dedication of the Church[4] continued to presume that the officiating Bishop could circle the altar during the consecration of the church and its altar. Despite this, with the increase in the size and importance of the reredos, most altars were built against the wall or barely separated from it. There are two common meanings of the word reredos. In general architecture the word can mean the back of an open hearth of a fireplace or a screen placed behind a table
In almost all cases, the eastward orientation for prayer was maintained, whether the altar was at the west end of the church, as in all the earliest churches in Rome, in which case, the priest celebrating Mass faced the congregation and the church entrance, or whether it was at the east end of the church, in which case the priest faced the eastern apse and had his back to the congregation. This diversity was recognized in the rubrics of the Roman Missal from the 1604 typical edition of Pope Clement VIII to the 1962 edition of Pope John XXIII: "Si altare sit ad orientem, versus populum …"[5]
The present rules regarding the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite liturgy declare a free-standing main altar to be "desirable wherever possible. The Roman Missal ((Missale Romanum is the liturgical book that contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass in the Roman Rite Not to be confused with Antipope Clement VIII. Pope Clement VIII ( February 24, 1536 &ndash March 3, 1605 Pope John (numberingBlessed "[6] Similarly, in the Anglican Communion, the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer assumed an altar fixed against the wall, until Prayer Book revision in the twentieth century removed language which assumed any particular form of altar. The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion.
As well as altars in the structural sense, it became customary in the West to have what in Latin were referred to as altaria portatilia (portable altars), more commonly referred to in English as "altar stones". In Roman Catholic Churches an altar stone is a solid piece of natural stone consecrated by a Bishop. When travelling, a priest could take one with him and place it on an ordinary table for saying Mass. They were also inserted into the centre of structural altars especially those made of wood. In that case, it was the altar stone that was considered liturgically to be the altar. The Pontificale Romanum contained a rite for blessing at the same time several of these altar stones. [7] In the East the antimension served and continues to serve the same purpose. The Antimension ( Greek "instead of the table" Slavonic: Antimíns) is one of the most important furnishings of the Altar in many In the West, the obligation to use one for the celebration of Mass has been abolished.
The term "movable altar" or "portable altar" is now used of a full-scale structural altar, with or without an inserted altar stone, that can in fact be moved. [8]
Such altars are found in Roman Catholic churches awaiting restructuring from an arrangement in which a priest celebrated Mass at a remote high altar, usually facing away from them, to one in which he is closer to the congregation and generally facing them. Both Catholic and Protestant churches use them to celebrate the Eucharist in places other than a church or chapel (such as outdoors or in an auditorium). In those Protestant churches in which the focus of worship is not on the Eucharist, which may be celebrated rarely, and in churches which want to make use of both a fixed and free-standing altar at different services, they are not only movable but are in fact occasionally moved. Churches that have adhered to the Protestant Reformation have favoured as altars free-standing wooden tables placed in the quire away from the east wall and the high altar, and without any altar stone. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time
Roman Catholic churches
In the United States the General Instruction of the Roman Missalis used regarding regulations for the altar. In the Liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, the altar is where the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM—in the Latin original Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani (IGMR—is the detailed document governing the celebration The Instruction recommends:
That there be a fixed altar in every church, since it more clearly and permanently signifies Christ as the living stone (1 Peter 2:4; cf. Ephesians 2:20). The reason an altar is called 'fixed' is because it attached to the floor so as to be irremovable.
Roman Catholicism requires that there be only one altar in a newly built church, and that it be made of stone, ideally natural stone, as the altar symbolises Christ who is regarded as being the cornerstone of the Church. In practice, however, solid and well-crafted wood is often used, due to the expense of stone. It is still customary to place relics of saints under the altar.
In older church buildings where the altar is positioned against the wall and cannot be moved without damage (examples of which can be seen in this section) a table is normally placed in front, and the old one used either for aethestic purposes or for the tabernacle.
Because the altar represents Christ, only what is required for the celebration of the Mass may be placed on the mensa (the flat, horizontal surface of the altar), but this is not a recommendation that is normally followed.
Candles, which are required at every Catholic liturgical service, are placed either on or around the altar in a way suited to the design of the altar and the sanctuary. Catholics also place a cross, or crucifix (a cross with the figure of Christ), on the altar or near the altar, where it is clearly visible to the congregation. An Altar Crucifix is a Crucifix placed upon an Altar, and in Catholicism is the principal ornament of the altar which is often attached to or a central
- See also: General Instruction of the Roman Missal
Anglican churches
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 front 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 [altar]. Edward VI (12 October 1537 &ndash 6 July 1553 became King of England and Ireland on 28 January 1547 and was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion. " 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. In Romanesque and Gothic Christian Abbey, Cathedral Basilica and church Architecture, the nave is the
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. A Tabernacle is the fixed locked box in which in some Christian churches the Eucharist is "reserved" (stored Canon law is internal ecclesiastical law governing 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. The Oxford Movement or Tractarianism was an affiliation of High Church Anglicans, most of whom were members of the University of Oxford, who sought 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 or some other image of Christ. A crucifix (from Latin cruci fixus meaning "(one fixed to a cross" is a cross with a representation of Jesus ' 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. An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government so named by analogy with a secular Province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian 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. The Reverend Percy Dearmer MA (Oxon DD, ( February 27, 1867 &ndash May 29, 1936) was an English priest and liturgist 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. The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when 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. 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.
When altars are placed away from the wall of the chancel allowing a westward orientation, only two candles are placed on either end of it, since six would obscure the liturgical action, undermining the intent of a westward orientation (ie. , that it be visible to the congregation). In such an arrangement, a tabernacle may stand to one side of or behind the altar, or an aumbry may be used. In medieval times an aumbry was a cabinet 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
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 a general sense the term Holy Orders refers to those in the Christian religion who have been ordained in Apostolic Succession. 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 that have been blessed to be placed on the altar is maintained (that is, the linen cloth, candles, missal, and the Eucharistic vessels). A missal is a Liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year
Protestant Churches
A wide variety of altars exist in various Protestant denominations. Some groups, such as Lutheran and Methodist will have altars very similar to Anglican ones. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations It is very common in Protestant churches for the altar to have on it only an open Bible and a pair of candlesticks. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Many groups use a very simple wooden table, adorned perhaps with only a linen cloth, known as a Communion Table and would avoid any suggestion of a sacrifice being offered. Such Communion Tables often bear the inscription: "Do This in Remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24), indicating the typically Protestant belief in Holy Communion being a memorial rather than a sacrament. Such a table is normally not consecrated in any manner, and may be temporary, being moved into place only when there is a Communion Service. Many Protestant denominations have no altar at all, the sanctuary being dominated only by the pulpit. A pulpit (from Latin pulpitum "scaffold" "platform" "stage" is a small elevated platform where a member of the clergy stands
Some evangelical churches practice what is referred to as an altar call, whereby those who wish to make a new spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ are invited to come forward publicly. Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel An altar call is a practice in some evangelical churches in which those who wish to make a new spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ are invited to come forward publicly It is so named because the supplicants gather at the altar located at the front of the church (however, the invitation may be referred to as an "altar call" even if there is no actual altar present). Most altar calls occur at the end of the sermon. A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic Those that come forward will usually be asked to recite a sinner's prayer, thereby making a formal confession of their new faith. A Sinner's Prayer is a Christian term referring to any Prayer of Repentance, spoken or read by individuals who recognize the presence of Sin They may also be offered literature, counselling or other assistance. It is sometimes said that those who come forth are going to "be saved". In Theology, salvation can mean three related things being saved from or Liberation from something such as Suffering or the punishment of This is a ritual in which the supplicant makes a prayer of penitence (asking for his sins to be forgiven) and faith (accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior).
Altar calls may also invite those who are already fully members of the Christian community to come forward for specific purposes other than conversion; for example, to pray for some need, to rededicate their lives after a lapse, or to receive a particular blessing (such as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit) or if they are called to certain tasks such as missionary work. Spiritual gifts (or Charismata, according to some Christian denominations such as Pentecostal, are gifts that are bestowed on Christians each having his or her
Eastern Christian churches
Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic (Byzantine)
"Altar" has a meaning in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches that varies with context. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See Its most common usage does not denote the table itself, but the area surrounding it; that is to say, the entire sanctuary. Sanctuary has multiple meanings A sanctuary is the consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar This includes both the area behind the iconostasis, and the soleas (the elevated projection in front of the iconostasis), and the ambo. In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis (the plural is iconostases) also called the Templon, is a wall of Icons and religious paintings When one enters the sanctuary, one is said to be "going into the altar". The altar table itself may be referred to as either the Holy Table or the Throne (Prestól). This section will describe the Holy Table, not the sanctuary.
For both Orthodox and Eastern Catholics, the Holy Table (altar) is normally free-standing, although in very small sanctuaries it 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 is generally square in plan and in reasonable proportion to the size of the sanctuary. A floor plan ( floorplan) in Architecture and Building engineering is a Diagram, usually to scale, of the relationships between rooms It has five legs: one at each corner plus a central pillar for supporting the relics which are placed in it at its consecration (if, however, the consecration was not performed by a bishop, but by a priest whom he delegated for that purpose, relics are not placed in the Holy Table). A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious A plain linen covering (Strachítsa) is bound to the Holy Table with cords; this cover is never removed after the altar is consecrated. Linen is a Textile made from the Fibers of the Flax plant Linum usitatissimum. The linen covering symbolizes the winding sheet in which the body of Christ was wrapped when he was laid in the tomb. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Sanctum Sepulchrum also called the Church of the Resurrection, ( Greek: Ναός της Αναστάσεως Naos tis Anastaseos Since the altar is never seen uncovered thereafter, the strachitsa tends to be constructed more with sturdiness than aesthetics in mind. Above this first cover is a second ornamented cover (Indítia), often in a brocade of a color that may change with the liturgical season. The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when This outer covering usually comes all the way to the floor and represents the glory of God's Throne. This article is about royal thrones for the order of Angels by the same name see Thrones. [9]
Atop the altar is the tabernacle (Kovtchég), 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. A Tabernacle is the fixed locked box in which in some Christian churches the Eucharist is "reserved" (stored In Christian practice during the Liturgy of the Eucharist the elements of Bread and Wine become the Body and Blood Also kept on the altar is the Gospel Book. The Gospel Book, or Book of the Gospels ( Greek:, Evangélion) is a Codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels Under the Gospel is kept 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 Antimension ( Greek "instead of the table" Slavonic: Antimíns) is one of the most important furnishings of the Altar in many Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. The Descent from the Cross ( Greek: Αποκαθελωσις Apokathelosis) or Deposition, is the scene as depicted in art from the Gospel account of A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Another, simpler cloth, the ilitón, is wrapped around the antimension to protect it, and symbolizes the "napkin" that was tied around the face of Jesus when he was laid in the tomb (forming a companion to the strachitsa). The Divine Liturgy must be served on an antimension even if the altar has been consecrated and contains relics. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. When not in use, the antimension is left in place in the center of the Holy Table and is not removed except for necessity.
The Holy Table may only be touched by ordained members of the higher clergy (bishops, priests and deacons), and nothing which is not itself consecrated or an object of veneration should be placed on it. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions 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 Holy Table for a period of time or for a certain number of Divine Liturgies before sprinkling them with holy water, and placing them where they will be venerated. An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. Holy water can also refer to water that has been blessed, such as by a Priest, and is considered Holy. In Christianity, veneration ( Latin veneratio, Greek &delta&omicron&upsilon&lambda&iota&alpha dulia) or veneration of saints The Epitaphios on Good Friday, and the Cross on the Feasts of the Cross, are also placed on the Holy Table before they are taken to the center of the church to be venerated by the faithful. Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other dividing one or two of the lines in half In the Christian Liturgical calendar, there are several different feasts known as Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the cross used in the
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 decoration reflect the liturgical season.
The Holy Table 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. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those In many religions the supreme Deity ( God) is given the title and attributions of Father. In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " 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 other than prayer. Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit When the priest reads the Gospel during Matins (or All-Night Vigil) on Sunday, he reads it standing in front of the Holy Table, because it represents the Tomb of Christ, and the Gospel lessons for Sunday Matins are always one of the Resurrection appearances of Jesus. Matins (also known as Orthros or Oútrenya in Eastern Churches) is the early morning or night Prayer service in the Roman Catholic For the musical setting by Rachmaninoff, see All-Night Vigil (Rachmaninoff The All-night vigil is a service of the Eastern Orthodox The major Resurrection appearances of Jesus are reported in the New Testament to have occurred after his death and burial and prior to his Ascension
On the northern side of the sanctuary stands another, smaller altar, known as the Table of Oblation (Prothesis or Zhértvennik) at which the Liturgy of Preparation takes place. The Prothesis is the place in the Sanctuary in which the Liturgy of Preparation takes place in the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches The Liturgy of Preparation, also Prothesis ( Greek &Pi&rho&omicron&theta&eta&sigma&iota&sigmaf a setting forth or Proskomedia (an offering On it the bread and wine are pepared before the Divine Liturgy. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. The Prothesis symbolizes the cave of Bethlehem and also the Anointing stone at which the Body of Christ was prepared after the Deposition from the Cross. Bethlehem ( بيت لحم,, lit "House of Meat" Βηθλεέμ Bethleém בית לחם Beit Lehem, lit "House of Bread" is a The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Sanctum Sepulchrum also called the Church of the Resurrection, ( Greek: Ναός της Αναστάσεως Naos tis Anastaseos Body of Christ is a term of Christian Theology, implicitly traceable to Jesus 's statement at the Last Supper that "This is my body" The Descent from the Cross ( Greek: Αποκαθελωσις Apokathelosis) or Deposition, is the scene as depicted in art from the Gospel account of The Table of Oblation is also blessed, sprinkled with holy water and vested at the consecration of a church, but there are no relics placed in it. Holy water can also refer to water that has been blessed, such as by a Priest, and is considered Holy. Nothing other than the sacred vessels, veils, etc. A veil is an article of clothing worn almost exclusively by women that is intended to cover some part of the head or Face. which are used in the Liturgy of Preparation may be placed on the Table of Oblation. The Epitaphios and Cross are also placed on the Table of Oblation before the priest and deacon solemnly transfer them to the Holy Table. In addition to the higher clergy, subdeacons are permitted to touch the Table of Oblation, but no one of lesser rank may do so. Subdeacon (or sub-deacon is a title used in various branches of Christianity. The Table of Oblation is the place where the deacon will consume the remaining Gifts (Body and Blood of Christ) after the Divine Liturgy and perform the ablutions. The specific practices of Ablution in Christianity are generally concerned with either Ritual purification, or Symbolism of Humility.
Armenian Apostolic
In the Armenian Apostolic Church the altar is placed against the eastern wall of the church, often in an apse. The Armenian Apostolic Church (Հայաստանեայց Առաքելական Եկեղեցի Hayasdaneaytz Arakelagan APSE standing for Ada Programming Support Environment is a program or set of programs to support Software development in the Ada programming language. The shape of the altar is usually rectangular, similar to Latin altars, but is unusual in that it will normally have several steps on top of the table, on which are placed the tabernacle, candles, ceremonial fans a cross, and the Gospel Book. A Tabernacle is the fixed locked box in which in some Christian churches the Eucharist is "reserved" (stored A flabellum (plural flabella) in Catholic liturgical use is a fan made of metal leather silk parchment or feathers intended to keep away insects from the consecrated The Gospel Book, or Book of the Gospels ( Greek:, Evangélion) is a Codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels
Hinduism
In Hinduism, altars are also shrines to the gods, and therefore sacred. Vedic altars are the precursors to the later Hindu Temple. This name comes from the sacred Hindu texts called the Vedas. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’ also used as a desk like the French bureau) was originally a container usually made of precious materials used Offerings and sacrifices are made at these shrines, to the gods. A large shrine is found in the temple, or mandir, while smaller ones are found in the home. A Hindu temple or Mandir ( Sanskrit: मंदिर is a house of worship for Hindus followers of Hinduism. A Hindu shrine consists of images of the gods called murtis, and offerings to that god. In Hinduism, a murti ( Devanagari: मूर्ति typically refers to an image a deity in which the Divine Spirit is expressed ( murta) There is usually also lights, pictures of saints and gurus, and offerings, often of food. A guru (गुरु গুরু is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge wisdom and authority in a certain area and uses it to guide others
Taoism
Taoist altars are erected to honor traditional deities and the spirits of ancestors. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions Taoist altars may be erected in temples or in private homes. Strict traditions describe the items offered and the ritual involved in the temples, but folk custom in the homes is much freer.
Nearly all forms of Chinese traditiona, okayl religion involve baibai (拜拜)--bowing towards an altar, with a stick of incense in one's hand. [10] (Some schools prescribe the use of three sticks of incense in the hand at one time. [11] ) This may be done at home, or in a temple, or outdoors; by an ordinary person, or a professional (such as a Daoshi 道士); and the altar may feature any number of deities or ancestral tablets. Daoshi is a form of Chinese poetry. It is similar the Japanese Kanshi, or Haiku. Baibai is usually done in accordance with certain dates of the lunar/solar calendar (see Chinese calendar). The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, incorporating elements of a Lunar calendar with those of a Solar calendar.
At certain dates, food may be set out as a sacrifice to the gods and/or spirits of the departed. Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning "to make sacred" from Old French, from Latin sacrificium: sacr, "sacred" (See, for example, Qingming Festival and Ghost Festival. The Qingming Festival ( Vietnamese language: Tết Thanh Minh meaning Clear and Bright Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after The Ghost Festival ( is a traditional Chinese Festival and Holiday, which is celebrated by Chinese in many countries ) This may include slaughtered pigs and ducks, or fruit. Another form of sacrifice involves the burning of Hell Bank Notes, on the assumption that images thus consumed by the fire will reappear--not as a mere image, but as the actual item--in the spirit world, and be available for the departed spirit to use. Hell bank notes are a special and more modern form of Joss paper, an Afterlife monetary paper offering used in traditional In Taoist folk religion, sometimes chickens, pigs feet, and pig heads are given as offerings. But in orthodox Daoist practice, offerings should essentially be incense, candles and vegetarian offerings. [12]
Buddhism
In Buddhism, a butsudan is an altar found in temples or homes. A butsudan (佛壇 or 仏壇 is a Shrine found in religious temples and homes of Japanese and other Buddhist cultures Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The butsudan is a wooden cabinet with doors that enclose and protect a religious image of the Buddha or the Bodhisattvas (typically in the form of a statue) or a mandala scroll, installed in the highest place of honor and centered. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder In the Buddhist context a bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva;; Vietnamese Bồ Tát; बोधिसत्त bodhisatta Mandala ( Sanskrit maṇḍala मंड "essence" + ल "having" or "containing" A scroll is a roll of Papyrus, Parchment, or Paper which has been written drawn or painted upon for the purpose of transmitting information or using as The doors are opened to display the image during religious observances. A butsudan usually contains subsidiary religious items—called butsugu—such as candlesticks, incense burners, bells, and platforms for placing offerings such as fruit. Some buddhist sects place "ihai," memorial tablets for deceased relatives, within or near the butsudan. Butsudans are often decorated with flowers.
The shrine is placed in the temple or home as a place of worship to the Buddha, the Law of the Universe, etc. Scrolls (honzon) or statues are placed in the butsudan and prayed to morning and evening. Zen Buddhists also meditate before the butsudan. Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, referred to in Chinese as Chan. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness
The original design for the butsudan began in India, where people built altars the size of skyscrapers as an offering-place to the Buddha. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country When Buddhism came to China and Korea, statues of the Buddha were placed on pedestals or platforms. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. the Chinese and Koreans built walls and doors around the statues to shield them from the weather. They could then safely offer their prayers, incense, etc. to the statue or scroll without it falling and breaking.
When the Japanese finally welcomed Buddhism after many years of Shintoism, they took in the religion along with the butsudan. As many new Buddhist sects came into being, the butsudan was placed in many temples. The Japanese took the plain walls and doors of the mainland shrines and elaborately embellished them, and the butsudan became the focal point of every temple. As time went on, people began installing butsudans into their homes.
Shinto
In Shinto, altars are found in shrines. A Shinto shrine is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine" a Shinto Kami, and is usually characterized by the presence of a (also called in Shinto terminology are sacred spaces or altars used to worship is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. Originating in ancient times, himorogi are temporarily-erected sacred spaces or "altars" used as a locus of worship. A physical area is demarcated with branches of green bamboo or sakaki at the four corners, between which are strung sacred border ropes (shimenawa). In the center of the area a large branch of sakaki festooned with sacred emblems (hei) is erected as a yorishiro, a physical representation of the presence of the kami and toward which rites of worship are performed.
In more elaborate cases, a himorogi may be constructed by placing a rough straw mat upon the ground, then erecting a ceremonial eight-legged stand (hakkyaku an) upon the mat and decorating the stand with a framework upon which are placed sacred border ropes and sacred border emblems. Finally the sakaki branch is erected in the center of this stand as the focus of worship. YEW
Nordic Religion
A basic altar, called a Hörgr was used for sacrifice in Norse paganism. In Norse paganism, hörgr (plural hörgar) was a type of Altar, constructed of piled stones Norse paganism is a term used to describe the religious traditions which were common amongst the Germanic tribes living in Nordic countries prior to and The Hörgr was constructed of piled stones, possibly in a wood (harrow), and would be used in sacrifices and perhaps other ceremonies as well. In Norse paganism, hörgr (plural hörgar) was a type of Altar, constructed of piled stones
A possible use of the hörgr during a sacrifice would be to place upon it a bowl of the blood of an animal sacrificed to a Norse deity (e. g. a goat for Thor, a sow for Freyja, a boar for Freyr), then dipping a bundle of fir twigs into it and waving the bundle in the form of the "hammer-sign" to spatter the participants with the blood. This would consecrate the attendees to the ceremony, such as a wedding.
Neo-Paganism
In Neo-Paganism there is a wide variety of ritual practice, running the gamut from a very eclectic Syncretism to strict Polytheistic reconstructionism. Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is an Umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements particularly those influenced by historical Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought Polytheistic reconstructionism, or simply Reconstructionism, is an approach to Neopaganism first emerging in the late 1960s to early 1970s and gatherig momentum Many of these groups make use of altars. Some are constructed merely of rough-hewn or stacked stone, and some are made of fine wood or other finished material.
Wicca
In the tradition of Wicca, altars are of particular importance. A Wiccan altar is typically a piece of furniture such as a table or chest upon which a Wiccan practitioner places several symbolic and functional items for the purpose Since many Neo-Pagan traditions currently worship in the home of a member of the fellowship, the altar may be a permanent part of the home or a portable set of items set on a surface which will be consecrated and released at each event. Any surface can be used, although some traditions prefer a particular type of wood, stone, or other natural material. The altar may be of any shape and size, or even a patch of ground. The items brought to the altar may be a random assortment of personally significant items or a particular set with ritual significance. Traditionally, altar items may include but are not limited to: candles of significant colors, cups or bowls or cauldrons, small statues of gods and goddesses, a ritual knife which in most traditions must never be defiled by being used to cause damage, a wand, a bowl of salt, a bell, and possibly some crystals. An athame or athamé is a ceremonial double-edged dagger one of several magical tools used in Traditional Witchcraft and other pagan beliefs and religions such as The altar is usually covered in some sort of cloth. Some traditions separate the items on the altar into the four Greek classical elements, of earth, air, fire and water; other traditions assign gender preferences to the items and believe they signify the masculine/feminine principles. Many ancient philosophies used a set of archetypal classical "elements" to explain patterns in Nature.
Nordic Neo-Paganism
In Nordic Neo-Pagan practice, altars may be set up in the home or in wooded areas in imitation of the Hörgr of ancient times. In Norse paganism, hörgr (plural hörgar) was a type of Altar, constructed of piled stones They may be dedictated to Thor, Odin, or other Nordic deities.
Neo-druidism
Modern Neo-druidism may also make use of altars, often erected in groves. Neo-druidism or neo-druidry (referred to simply as Druidry by some adherents is a form of modern Spirituality or Religion that promotes Though little is known of the specific religious beliefs and practices presided over by the ancient Druids, modern people who identify themselves as Druids are free to incorporate their imagination in developing ceremonies and the use of ritual objects in keeping with their belief system. A druid was a member of the priestly and learned class in the ancient Celtic societies The "Order of Common Worship" of the Liturgy of the Druids (New Reformed Druids of North America) calls for a fire to be started "in or near the altar" and makes use of various objecs such as a chalice, staves, and a plant offering. If no altar is used, the objects may be placed on the ground.
High places
High places are elevated areas on which altars have been erected for worship in the belief that, as they were nearer heaven than the plains and valleys, they are more favourable places for prayer. High Place, in the English version of the Old Testament, the literal translation of the Hebrew bamot. High places were prevalent in almost all ancient cultures as centers of cultic worship.
High places in Israelite (Hebrew: Bamah, or Bama) or Canaanite culture were open-air shrines, usually erected on an elevated site. Prior to the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites in the 12th–11th century BC, the high places served as shrines of the Canaanite fertility deities, the Baals (Lords) and the Asherot (Semitic goddesses). Canaanites redirects here For the 1940s social and political movement in Israel, see Canaanites (movement. Ba'al (pronounced; Hebrew בעל (ordinarily spelled Baal in English is a Northwest Semitic title and honorific meaning "master" or "lord" Asherah (from Hebrew אשרה generally taken as identical with the Ugaritic goddess Athirat (more accurately transcribed as ʼAṯirat) was In addition to an altar, matzevot (stone pillars representing the presence of the divine) were erected. [13]
The practice of worship on these spots, though after the temple was built it had been forbidden, became frequent among the Hebrews, and was with difficulty abolished, though denounced time after time by the prophets as an affront to God. A closely related example is a "backyard" altar, so to speak. Before there was a set temple and a set altar people set up their own altars on their property. After the temple was established using of these altars was forbidden, unlike the preivous case this was quickly eradicated.
See also
- Altar candle
- Altar Crucifix
- Altars in Latin America
- Altar rails
- Altar stone
- Altarpiece
- Analogion
- Back-choir
- Cathedral diagram
- Ciborium
- Consecration
- Credence table
- Iconostasis
- Predella
- Prothesis
- Reredos
- Sacrament
- Sacred architecture
- Shrine
Notes
- ^ Three Fires Atop the Altar. Altar candles are candles set on or near Altars for religious ceremonies An Altar Crucifix is a Crucifix placed upon an Altar, and in Catholicism is the principal ornament of the altar which is often attached to or a central The history of altars in Latin America is complex and is often deemed paradoxical as its original purpose was for the worshipping of pagan gods and human sacrifice Altar rails are a set of railings sometimes ornate and frequently of marble or wood delimiting the Sanctuary in a church the part that contains the Altar. In Roman Catholic Churches an altar stone is a solid piece of natural stone consecrated by a Bishop. An altarpiece is a picture or Relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the Altar of a church An Analogion (Άναλόγιον is a Lectern or slanted stand on which Icons, the Gospel Book or are placed for veneration by the faithful in the This article discusses Cathedral diagrams in Western Ecclesiastical architecture. This article discusses Cathedral diagrams in Western Ecclesiastical architecture. A ciborium (plural ciboria) is a covered container used in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and related churches to store the consecrated hosts Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious A Credence table is a small side table in the Sanctuary of a Christian church which is used in the celebration of the Eucharist. In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis (the plural is iconostases) also called the Templon, is a wall of Icons and religious paintings A predella is the platform or step on which an Altar stands ( predalla It There are two common meanings of the word reredos. In general architecture the word can mean the back of an open hearth of a fireplace or a screen placed behind a table A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active Sacred architecture (also known as religious architecture) is concerned with the design and construction of places of worship and/or sacred or intentional space such A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’ also used as a desk like the French bureau) was originally a container usually made of precious materials used A Day in the Holy Temple. The Temple Institute. Retrieved on 2007-06-26. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sassanid Empire.
- ^ About the Altar: The Horns and the Ramp. A Day in the Holy Temple. The Temple Institute. Retrieved on 2007-06-26. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian is killed during the retreat from the Sassanid Empire.
- ^ The Biblical Roots of Church Orientation by Helen Dietz
- ^ De ecclesiae dedicatione seu consacratione
- ^ Ritus servandus Missae, V, 3
- ^ General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 299.
- ^ De altarium portatilium consecratione
- ^ General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 298
- ^ Isabel Hapgood. Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, 1975), p. 614.
- ^ Liu Zhongyu, "The Relationships between Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Folk Custom", Journal Shijie Zongjiao, 1996: 24-32 (Regarding "baibai" as the term for the act of offering incense as a form of worship. )
- ^ Silvers, Brock. The Taoist Manual (Honolulu: Sacred Mountain Press, 2005), p. 74
- ^ Liu Zhong. Burning Incense and Worshiping Spirits. Daoist Folk Customs. Taoist Culture and Information Centre. Retrieved on 2007-07-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1295 - Scotland and France form an alliance the beginnings of the Auld Alliance, against England.
- ^ "high place". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. (2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopædia. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone The Nuttall Encyclopædia: Being a Concise and Comprehensive Dictionary of General Knowledge is an early-20th-century Encyclopedia, edited by
- This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.
External links
- Learn How to Build your own Altar
- Altars (in Scripture) from the Catholic Encyclopedia
- History of the Christian Altar from the Catholic Encyclopedia
- An essay on a Hindu Home Altar
- Taoist Great Ritual Offerings to the All-Embracing Heaven
- How to Build an Altar (Ofrenda) for Dia de los Muertos
- Thor Stalli Neo-Pagan altar to Thor
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