- For the Christian eschatological concept, see Bema Seat; for other uses see Bema (disambiguation)
The Bema (from the Greek: bema, “step”) means a raised platform. The Bema Seat (from the Greek word Bema, "step" according to the teaching of some Evangelical Christians —particularly among those Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly In antiquity it was probably made of stone, but in modern times it is usually a rectangular wooden platform approached by steps.
The original use of the bema in Athens was as a tribunal from which orators addressed the citizens as well as the courts of law (see Pnyx). The Pnyx ( Greek: &Pi&nu&upsilon&xi, pronounced "Pnuks" in Ancient Greek, Πνύκα "Pnika" in Modern Greek In Greek law courts the two parties to a dispute presented their arguments each from separate bemas. Bema was also used as the name for a place of judgement, that is the raised seat of the judge, as described in the New Testament, in Matthew 27:19 and John 19:13, and further, as the seat of the Roman emperor, in Acts 25:10, and of God, in Romans 14:10, when speaking in judgment. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC
The bema became a standard fixture in Jewish synagogues (see bemah) from which a selection ("parsha") from the Torah and the Haftarah are read. A synagogue (from Greek: grc συναγωγή transliterated synagogē, "assembly" he בית כנסת beit knesset, "house of A bimah (among Ashkenazim derived from Greek) almemar (from Arabic al-minbar) or tebah (among Sephardim is the elevated Purpose of the section divisions A parashah break creates a textual pause roughly analogous to a modern Paragraph break term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to The haftarah or haftorah (also haphtara) ( Hebrew: הפטרה plural haftarot or haftorahs; "parting" In Orthodox Judaism, the bema is located in the center of the synagogue, separate from the Ark. Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized V02p111001 Aronjpg|thumb|150px| Modena, Italy ( 1505)]]V02p109001 Aron In other branches of Judaism, the bema and the Ark are joined together.
The ceremonial use of a bema carried over from Judaism into early Christian church architecture. Church architecture or ecclesiastical architecture refers to the Architecture of buildings of Christian churches It was originally a raised platform with a lectern and seats for the clergy, from which lessons from the Scriptures were read and the sermon was delivered. A lectern (from the Latin lectus, past participle of legere, "to read" is a reading desk with a slanted top usually placed on a stand or affixed to A lection is a reading in this context from Scripture The custom of reading the books of Moses in the synagogues on the Sabbath day was a very ancient one in the Jewish A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic In Western Christianity the bema developed over time into the chancel (or presbytery) and the pulpit. Western Christianity is a term used to cover the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church "Chancel" is an architectural term for the space around the Altar at the Liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building The Presbytery is the name for an area in a Church building which is reserved for the Clergy. A pulpit (from Latin pulpitum "scaffold" "platform" "stage" is a small elevated platform where a member of the clergy stands
In Eastern Christianity bema remains the name of the platform which composes the sanctuary; it consists of both the area behind the iconostasion and the platform in front of it from which the deacon leads the ektenias (litanies) together with the the ambo from which the priest delivers the sermon and distributes Holy Communion. Families of churches Eastern Christians have a shared tradition but they became divided ( Schism) during the early centuries of Christianity in disputes about In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis (the plural is iconostases) also called the Templon, is a wall of Icons and religious paintings 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 Ektenia (from ἐκτένεια ekténeia; literally "diligence" often called simply Litany, is a prayerful petition in the Eastern Orthodox A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those It may be approached by one or several steps. The bema is composed of the altar (the area behind the iconostasion), the soleas (the pathway in front of the iconostasion), and the ambo (the area in front of the Holy Doors which projects westward into the nave). In Romanesque and Gothic Christian Abbey, Cathedral Basilica and church Architecture, the nave is the Orthodox laity do not normally step up onto the bema except to receive Holy Communion. In religious organizations the laity comprises all persons who are not Clergy.
See also
The Ambon ( Slavonic: amvón) is a projection coming out from the Soleas (the walkway in front of the Iconostasis) in an Eastern Orthodox Tribune is an ambiguous often misused architectural term which can have several meanings A templon (from Greek τέμπλον meaning "temple" plural templa) is a feature of Byzantine architecture that first appeared in ChristianDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic