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Saint
Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church and Shrine
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The
Holy Altar and Tabernacle
ALTAR
The altar is the area at the east end of a church, behind an iconostasis (altar screen).
The word (Hebrew: מזבח
- mizbe'ah - altar) means "a place of sacrifice" in Hebrew (Greek. ἱερόν θυσιατήριον
- hieron thysiasterion;
Sl. prestol). The altar often is also referred to
as the sanctuary. An Altar Table is located in the center of the altar as one enters through the Royal Doors in the iconostasis. This table is often referred
to as the Holy Table.
ALTAR TABLE
The altar table is a cube with each dimension of
about one meter or cubit. The table is made of wood. The table is covered
with a brocade covering, the color of which changes with the liturgical season. Atop the altar
table is the tabernacle, a miniature
shrine 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, a
multi-branch candle stand, usually with seven candles, is placed
near the back of the table as one looks from the nave. Also kept on the
altar is the book of the Gospels 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 eileton, a cloth of
plain silk, linen, or cotton.
The Holy Altar has multiple symbolic meanings.
First, it represents the Throne of God because through the sacraments
celebrated upon this altar God’s saving and sanctifying grace is bestowed upon all people. It is also Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified, because it is upon this altar
that we re-enact the Passion of our Lord and Saviour, and finally the
Tomb of Christ because it is through Christ’s death that eternal life was
granted to all people. This final representation is highlighted in the
resurrection Matins service
celebrated every Sunday because it is from the right or southern side of
the altar table that the morning Gospel is proclaimed, symbolizing the angel announcing the risen Christ to the Myrrhbearers.
The altar table may only be touched by
subdeacons, deacons, priests or bishops, and nothing which is not itself
consecrated or an object of veneration ought to be placed on it. Objects
may also be placed on the altar table as part of the process for setting
them aside for sacred use. For example, icons are usually blessed by laying
them on the altar table for a period of time or for a certain number of
Divine Liturgies before blessing them with holy
water.
TABERNACLE
A tabernacle, also
known as an artophorion, is a container
on the altar table of an Orthodox Christian Church specifically used to
reserve the Eucharist, the presence of Jesus
Christ. In the days of ancient Israel, the Tabernacle was the earthly dwelling of God, where the Ark of the Covenant was housed. Therefore, the ancient Tabernacle
prefigures the tabernacles used today in Orthodox worship.
The reserve sacrament is kept in the tabernacle
on the altar table at all
times. The tabernacle is elaborately decorated, with gold and silver and
precious adornments. The tabernacle is shaped like a miniature church
building. Every year on Holy Thursday, the priest consumes whatever is
left of the reserve sacrament and places some of the sacrament left over
from the Holy Thursday Divine Liturgy into the
tabernacle. The presence of Christ in the tabernacle is always indicated by
a vigil lamp, burning perpetually.
The tabernacle contains:
·
The reserve sacrament, Mystical Supper;
·
The reserve sacrament, the Son of God who said, “I am the way, “ the
fulfillment of the Law;
·
The presence of Jesus Christ, the church’s new High Priest.
Source:
https://orthodoxwiki.org/Altar
https://orthodoxwiki.org/Tabernacle_(liturgical)
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