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altar
altar
A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
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2000
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© A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture 2000, originally published by Oxford University Press 2000. (Hide copyright information)
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altar. Block,
pedestal, stand, or table on which to place or sacrifice offerings to a deity. Jewish altars had
horn-like ornaments at each corner, and this type of decoration also occurred in Classical Antiquity, with simplified horns or
ears, also known as
acroteria. Classical altar-tops have similarities to
cinerarium- and
sarcophagus-lids, and influenced the design of Neo-Classical gate-piers, tops of
door-cases, and the like.
Christian altars, consecrated for celebration of the Eucharist, are elevated tables with a plane top, usually of stone, although the Reformation insisted on replacing them with wooden
Communion- or Holy-tables. In a church the high altar is the chief altar and is sited at the east end of the
chancel. The
sides (
horns) of altars are termed
Epistle (south) and
Gospel (north).
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Altar girls on the rise Role largely welcomed at parishes
Newspaper article from: The Boston Globe; 7/29/1997; ; 700+ words
; ...had often wondered why only boys were up on the altar serving priests. She wanted to be an altar server, too. But the Roman Catholic Church...bishops, reversed its longtime prohibition on altar girls. Curtin gave the OK in his parish. McKenna...
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Altar girls late and only 'crumbs,' critics say. (female Mass acolytes approved by Vatican)
Magazine article from: National Catholic Reporter; 4/22/1994; ; 700+ words
; ...Minn. - The pope has approved female altar servers? "Well, it's about time...A lot of parishes already use female altar servers and have for quite some time...the United States before approving female altar servers. "He has to do something to make...
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 "Sun (Yuma, AZ)")
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For altar servers, role is in the name.
Newspaper article from: Sun (Yuma, AZ); 11/4/2006; 700+ words
; ...traditional outfit because they serve Mass as altar servers. Amanda, 10, and John, 12...participating in the service, said Javier Bravo, altar server trainer. "The primary role of the server is in the name: to serve at the altar," he said. Altar servers perform "a...
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 "The Birmingham Post (England)")
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Interiors: Altar-ed images to give you inner strength.(National)
Newspaper article from: The Birmingham Post (England); 9/1/1999; 700+ words
; ...strength by building an altar. Although the tradition of building altars and shrines in the...Hindu tradition, altars were considered to...summoned. The word "altar" is derived from...place. Early personal altars were often elevated...
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Altar serving popular among Catholic girls
Newspaper article from: The Columbian; 5/17/2003; ; 700+ words
; ...Ellen Clarke joined the first wave of girl altar servers, helping break up a club reserved...s Our Lady of the Assumption church. Altar serving has become so popular with girls...could serve, many parents pushed boys into altar serving, especially in churches with shortages...
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Creating sacred space: altars in Hispanic homes have a long and rich history that feminists and new immigrants in the U.S. are reclaiming.(Family Life)
Magazine article from: National Catholic Reporter; 11/14/2003; ; 700+ words
; ...died. It's a family altar as well as the religious...Medina observed that home altars function as sites of...difference between a passive altar and an active altar. "A passive space you...with it. With active altars, there is interaction...
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Bishops will allow altar girls, some freely, some grudgingly.
Magazine article from: National Catholic Reporter; 5/6/1994; ; 700+ words
; Within a year, altar girls will likely be as commonplace as altar boys in the United States. After the Vatican announced approval of female altar servers, leaving the choice of having them to each bishop, NCR asked several bishops or their representatives...
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Fincham, Kenneth, and Nicholas Tyacke, Altars Restored: The Changing Face of English Religious Worship.(Book review)
Magazine article from: Parergon; 1/1/2008; ; 700+ words
; ...9780198207009. Altars Restored examines altar policy in England...evidence of English altar policies for their...focussing so sharply on altars and communion rails...in the removal of altars. In their study...leadership in setting altar policy, as locals...
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In-home altars provide place for personal spirituality
Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 4/11/2004; ; 700+ words
; ...Lacerda. "An altar is a response...interest in home altars, and his Web...Book of Women's Altars," one of several books about altar-making, gives...impulse to create an altar is not so different...designing their own altars and rituals are...
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 "The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH)")
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HOME ALTAR SHRINE TO SPIRITUAL SELF USE PERSONAL ARTIFACTS AND INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS.(AT HOME)
Newspaper article from: The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH); 7/19/1997; ; 700+ words
; ...connections: a personal altar. Different from religious altars in houses of worship, a personal altar is usually in the bedroom...find a home there. Your altar may include anything...Children may enjoy creating altars. You might talk with...
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altar
Book article from: A Dictionary of the Bible
...larger altar with horns at the...places for sacrifice, altars were imbued with...locally installed altars were officially no...references to an altar in the Temple or...sometimes an ‘altar’. They...wood, though stone altars were introduced when...
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altar lights
Book article from: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
altar lights. The custom of placing on the altar two candles flanking an altar cross is attested c. 1175. The number of candles used has varied, and in the RC Church they may now be placed either on the altar or on the floor around it. In the...
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Altar of Heaven
Book article from: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
Altar of Heaven. An architectural...worshipping at ‘suburban altars’, and each of the succeeding dynasties built an Altar of Heaven south of their capital...purpose. Although Beijing's Altar of Heaven is the most recent...
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Altar
Book article from: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
Altar (Lat., altare , ‘to raise up...to God or gods. In Hinduism, the vedi (altar) is the centre of the world, axis mundi...word bēma (Gk., ‘altar’) may refer to the whole sanctuary...
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altar-facing
Book article from: A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
altar-facing. Detachable finish or cover for the front part of an altar, facing the nave , often of fabric woven into intricate designs of great beauty, also called altar-frontal or ante-pendium . If it continues around the side of the altar it is called a paliotto .
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