How is an Orthodox altar installed? Are there really relics in them? What’s the symbolism of the altar? All that and more!
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As many of my readers know, my community is currently in transition. Two and half years ago our building suffered a collapse of the roof trusses and the damage was beyond repair.
But, as our faith tells us: from death comes resurrection. We have purchased a new building and we are looking forward to a renewed Orthodox community in Dubuque.
As a part of this transition, we recently removed the altar from our old location and brought it over to store at our new location until we are ready to set up again in our renovated sanctuary.
As a result of this, I’ve gotten a lot of questions about Orthodox altars and the relics that go in them.
The following is from the Greek Archdiocese website and are the notes from the consecration service. It does a good job of explaining how an altar is set up and the various meanings behind the consecration rituals. If you’d like to see the notes in the context of the service, click here. Otherwise, for brevity’s sake, read below for just the notes.
I pray you are blessed by reading it.
Introduction
What exactly takes place during the Consecration? The Consecration is a special service which “changes” an ordinary building into the House of God. This change takes place through the Grace of God and the Holy Spirit. Many symbolic actions take place such as:
The Three Processions around the Church Building.
The Placing of, and Sealing of, the Holy Relics in the Altar Table.
The Washing and Anointing of the Altar Table.
The Placing of the new Altar Coverings and other Holy Articles on the Holy Table.
The Lighting of the Vigil Light.
The Three Processions
Following [prayers], the Bishop and Clergy together with all the Faithful prepare for the Three Processions around the Church. The Three Processions represent the setting aside of an area which will be separate and sacred from all other areas. The Bishop raises the covered Paten on which the Holy Relics were placed, and prepares to leave the Church. The procession is led by the Altar Boys, followed by the Choir and Cantors, the Priests, the Bishop carrying the Relics, and the Faithful, leaving the Church empty.
The Procession of Relics at the Consecration of St. Elias.
When the procession reaches the front of the Church, the Bishop places the Holy Relics on table [set up outside] …and readings from the Bible follow. [This is repeated three times, the three processions around the church.]
The reading of Scripture at the consecration of St. Elias.
The Entrance Into the Church
The Bishop standing in front of the Doors of the Church, begins a short dialogue. The words of this conversation are taken from Psalm 24. This act represents Christ the King entering and taking over the Church building by defeating the power of the devil. The Bishop taps on the door with his staff and says: “Open, Open the gates and let them remain open forever and let the King of glory enter.” The priest, who is the only one inside the Church and represents an Angel, is surprised to hear this command, and asks: “Who is this King of Glory?” [The Bishop responds:] “The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” (This dialogue is repeated 3 times.)
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
Having said this, the Bishop raises the Paten and makes the sign of the Cross before the Church doors. The doors are then unlocked by the Godparent [sponsor of the community], and the Bishop enters the Church carrying the Holy Relics followed by all the clergy and the congregation. The faithful light candles, venerate the Holy Icons in the Narthex, and return to their seats. The psalti (chanter) in the meantime sings.
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
Bringing the Relics to the Altar
The Bishop enters the Sanctuary, carrying the Paten with the Holy relics. Uncovering the Paten, he places the Holy Relics in a small gold box. He then pours Holy Chrism over the Relics; this act symbolizes the union between our Lord, and His Martyrs. Having done this the Bishop prays for the founders of the Church who have fallen asleep (died). [While doing this, the bishop says,]: “Eternal be the memory of the builders of this Holy Church.”
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
In the early years of Christianity, the Church was not allowed to exist; for many years, the early Christians were persecuted and killed for their faith in Christ. In those days, the Christians met in underground burial places and celebrated the Eucharist on the graves of the martyred Saints. When the persecutions ended, and the Church was allowed to exist, the custom of celebrating the Eucharist over the graves of Martyrs continued by placing Holy Relics in the Altar at the time of the Consecration. In this manner, we are always reminded that the Church was built on the Blood of the Martyrs and their faith in the Lord.
Since the Consecration centers around the Holy Altar Table (for it represents the center of all Sacraments and services of the Church), the Bishop prays and asks for God’s help to accomplish the service.
Following these two prayers the Bishop places the gold box containing the Holy relics into a special cavity in the altar. In order to seal them permanently, the Bishop pours wax and mastic [a white powder/resin made from the mastic tree; also known as Arabic Gum] over them. The wax/mastic contains many sweet smelling and fragrant spices, which were used by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to anoint the Body of Christ in preparation for burial. The Holy Altar represents the Tomb in which our Lord’s body was placed. All of this takes place during the reading of Psalm 145.
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
As the Bishop removes the excess wax/mastic, Psalm 23 is read. The Deposition (placing of the Holy Relics in the Altar Table) is now completed, and the Bishop prepares to wash and anoint the Altar Table.
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
The Washing of the Altar
Since the Altar Table represents the Tomb of Christ and His body lies therein. The Altar must undergo its own “Baptism” (washing) and “Chrismation” (anointing). Before washing and anointing the Altar Table the Bishop puts on a white linen garment called the Savanon. While the faithful kneel, the Bishop reads the prayer of Consecration.
A basin of water is brought to the Bishop who blesses and prays for its sanctification.
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
The Bishop then pours water on the Altar three times saying: “In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”, and washes the Altar Table while Psalm 84 is read. This act symbolizes Baptism: The Altar is cleaned by washing, and sanctified (made Holy) by the Grace of the Holy Spirit. After washing, the Altar is then dried.
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
The Bishop sprinkles Rosewater on the Altar Table as he [prays].
Rosewater is a sweet smelling fragrance which was used to anoint the Body of Christ for burial. The Bishop continues the rest of Psalm 51 while the Altar Table is wiped dry by the he assisting Priests. The Priests use Antimens to do this. [Antimens: The word means “in place of a table”. The Antimens is a piece of cloth on which Christ’s Burial is depicted and into which Relics are sewn. The Divine Liturgy is always celebrated on the Antimens.]
The Anointing of the Altar with Chrism
The Bishop anoints the Holy Altar with Holy Chrism (once in the center and then on either side) while he sings: “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia”. He spreads the Holy Chrism over the entire Altar Table as he recites a section from Psalm 133. [Chrism: Holy Oil which contains many fragrant ingredients. It is mixed and blessed by our Patriarch, together with a group of bishops, on Holy Thursday and distributed to all churches in his care.]
The Priests then wipe the excess Chrism with the Antimens.
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
St. Symeon, in writing about the anointing of the Altar Table, says the following: “Since the Altar is anointed with the Holy Chrism, which represents the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Altar Table then becomes a source of Grace to all people through the Sacraments which are celebrated thereon. The Holy Gospel is placed on the Altar, the Holy Relics are within, so we see that the Altar becomes the Altar of Christ, a throne of Glory, the dwelling place of God, and the Tomb of Christ.”
Affixing the Icons of the Evangelists
Next, icons of the four Evangelists are fastened to the Altar (one in each corner). The completed Altar represents the entire Church, which from the four corners of the world is held together by the Lord, and is built on Him through the preaching of the Gospel. Following the Anointing, the Bishop begins the vesting (putting on the new coverings) of the Altar Table.
St. Elias’s altar before being transferred to its new location.
The First and Second Coverings of the Altar
The Altar Table is now covered with the “Katasarkion”. This white linen cloth represents the Lord’s burial shroud. The Katasarkion is tied with a cord which represents the cord with which our Lord’s hands were tied as He stood before the High Priests. The Katasarkion will never be removed and will remain on the Altar for as long as the Church remains standing. As the Katasarkion is being placed on the Altar, Psalm 132 is read by the psalti.
An image of St. Elias’s altar being moved. You can see the Katasarkion very clearly. You can also see the location of the relics.
Having placed the Katasarkion over the Altar, the Bishop says: “Glory to You our God unto Ages of ages. He washes his hands, and covers the Altar Table with a brighter and more elaborate cover which symbolizes the Glory of God. While he covers the Altar Table, the reader reads Psalm 93.
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
The Placing of Items on the Altar
he Bishop proceeds to place the other Holy Articles on the Altar Table. First he places the Antimens; on top of this is placed the Gospel Book (representing the teachings of Christ.) The Artoforion, in which the Body and Blood of our Lord is placed, and is reserved for Communion of the sick. The Artoforion is symbolic of the presence of our Lord. The candlesticks which are placed last represent the Light of Christ that shines forth during the Sacred Services.
The altar at St. Elias before the collapse.
Since the Altar has been Consecrated, sanctified and adorned with all its furnishings, the Altar and the entire Church is now censed with incense while Psalm 26 is read.
The Anointing of the Walls of the Church
The Bishop then anoints the four walls of the Church and the Holy Icons making the sign of the Cross on them with Holy Chrism. This act symbolizes the sanctification of all creation with the Grace of Christ.
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
Upon completion of the Anointing, the Bishop offers prayers for the Altar and the Church.
The Concluding Prayers
The Bishop blesses the faithful and offers another prayer for the Altar Table. He asks God to fill this Altar with His Grace so that the Bloodless Sacrifice may be offered upon it. [This is followed by scriptural readings.]
During the service the Bishop invites the faithful to come forward and to offer a few drops of oil in a Vigil Light. This they do as an offering to the Church. The Bishop will later light the Vigil Light and will place it on the Altar Table near the Artoforion. This light will be kept burning at all times and is symbolic of the never failing light of Christ which came into darkness of the world to be a light to enlighten all people. The Bishop then removes the Savanon. The Savanon will be cut up into small pieces and each person in Church will receive a piece of it to keep as a “Phylacton” (a blessed object worn to help ward off evil).
Consecration of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Town and Country, Missouri, October 4, 2015.
[Following this are concluding prayers and the dismissal. The Divine Liturgy usually follows this service.]
P.S. Come and be Consecrated to God!
I now invite you to enter deeper into the mystery of Christ with the Orthodox Church!
Or find your nearest Orthodox Church by clicking here
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Credits:
Text: “The Service of Consecration.” The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/consecrate_church. Accessed 25 January 2017.
Photos of Assumption Orthodox Church: “Assumption Church Consecrated.” Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, 8 October 2015, http://chicago.goarch.org/news/2015/10/8/assumption-church-consecrated. Accessed 25 January 2017.
Thanks for sharing this, Fr. Dustin!
Wonderful to see…
Thanks for reading!