The mysteries of the altar

Why Relics? | St. Innocent of Alaska Orthodox Monastery

When we enter a church, we see an altar. Usually it is large and stands out, though sometimes it is more like a small table. Whatever shape or size it takes, it is the centre of worship. Tradition has also associated the altar with the place where the Eucharist is reserved – in the Tabernacle in the West, or in the Artophorion in the East. If we look more closely, however, we begin to see that there is far more here than first meets the eye.

It may be helpful to step into a setting less familiar to many of us: the sanctuary area of an Eastern Orthodox church which uses the Byzantine rites. This sacred space is normally reserved for clergy and those with a blessing, and is only partially revealed to the congregation during the Divine Liturgy when the Royal Gates are opened.

On the Holy Table (the Eastern term for altar) we find several important items and signs:

The Antimension (ἀντιμήνσιον in Greek or антиминс – antimins in Russian usage)

is not merely a cloth, but a consecrated one placed upon the Holy Table. It bears an image of Christ’s burial, contains relics of a martyr sewn into it, and carries the signature of the local bishop, authorising the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in that place and by that priest. It is unfolded during the Liturgy before the Eucharistic prayer (the Anaphora) and then folded again after Communion. (In the Byzantine tradition, the closest equivalent to the offertory is the Great Entrance, the solemn procession of the gifts which leads into the Eucharistic sacrifice). The antimension is not to be confused with the corporal cloth used in the mass in the West.  The closest equivalent is the altar stone underneath the altar containing the relics of the saints or martyrs.

The Artophorion stands on the altar and contains the reserved Eucharist.

Resting on top of the antimension is the Book of the Gospels, signifying the presence of Christ in His word as well as in the sacrament.

The antimension itself points to several key realities:

• It reflects the foundation of the Church in the communion of saints and martyrs. Each Eucharist recalls the early Christian practice of celebrating the sacred mysteries at the tombs of the martyrs. The presence of relics within the antimension continues this ancient connection.
• It expresses the unity of the Church with the local bishop and, through him, with the universal Church.
• It signifies the sacrifice of Christ – crucified and risen – which is made present in the Eucharist.

Relics have also traditionally been placed beneath altars in the Roman Catholic Church. While this is no longer strictly required today, it remains a strongly encouraged sign of continuity with the Church’s earliest worship.

During the Great Entrance, the Diskos (the plate holding the Eucharistic bread, or ‘Lamb’) is carried in procession and placed upon the altar, where it remains for the Eucharistic prayer. It has already been prepared during the Proskomedia – the preparation of the gifts at the table of oblation – and now, together with the chalice, it is offered to God before being consecrated.

In the end, what may first appear as a simple table is in fact a profound meeting point of heaven and earth. Every object upon the altar speaks: of Christ’s sacrifice, of the communion of saints, and of the unity of the Church. By looking more closely, we come to see that the altar is not only the centre of worship, but a window into the deepest mysteries of the Christian faith.