1. ALTAR

 ALTAR

Altar is generally a place to offer sacrifices. Depending on the idea of the godhead, the altars also differed. The horns found in altars of Semitic area were an indication of divine power. One who catches hold on one of the horns of the altar had the right of asylum and protection from enemies. Altar was symbol of the Numinous (divine glory). Each altar was the exact centre or the axis of the world, which connects between the heaven and earth, realities above with those below. The erection of an altar in Hindu tradition was a ritual imitation of the creation of the world

The first altar mentioned in Bible was the one erected by Noah after leaving the Ark (Gen 8: 20), although there is mention of the offerings of Abel and Cain (h 4:3) which presuppose the presence of an altar. In the time of the Patriarchs, an altar however meant signi bond with God. As Abraham left Haran and reaches the land of the Canaanites, God appeared to Abraham and said: "To your offspring I will give this land. So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him" (Gen 12: 7). Here the altar is not a place for sacrifice, but only a memorial place of meeting the Lord. So also Moses erected a memorial altar after the battle with Amalek; Moses built an altar up and called it "The Lord is my banner" (Victory) (Ex 17:15).

Later there were rules regarding the erection of an altar. It should be made of earth and stones which should not be hewn: "if you use a chisel upon it, you profane it" (Ex 20:25). The stones should not be a profaned by work of human hands, but virgin, without human touch. In its relation to God, altar should be symbol of wholeness. It is said in 1 Kings 18: 31 ff. "Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came saying, "Israel shall be your name. The altar should unite the faithful, and it should be their "holy Mean", around which they circle and sing aloud songs of thanksgiving (Ps 26:6).

In the New Testament the altar is only figuratively mentioned: "We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat" (Heb 13: 10).

'Those who officiate in the tent' are the Jews, who have no right of participation in the Eucharist of Christians. Altar is also considered as table of the Eucharistic banquet. John sees under the table of altar: "... the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given" (Rev 6: 9). This may be a reference to the old custom of keeping the relics of martyrs under the table of altar.

In Antiochian tradition, the altar is considered as the Throne of the Holy Trinity. So it is called Thronos and not 'altar'. It is also venerated as the Tomb of Jesus, from which he resurrected (Missal of the Syro-Malankara Church, see portion of bidding farewell to the Thronos at the end of the Holy Qurbono). As it represents Christ, altar is decorated with Royal vestments. 

Altar is also venerated as the mount of Calvary, where the ultimate sacrifice of Christ took place; hence we often see three steps and on the top a cross is placed.

Some of the Church Fathers have given to the altar a mystic-moral interpretation. They say, altar represents the heart of each person, in the centre of which is burning the flame of perpetual love. St. Ambrose of Milan compared Virgins as high altars where Eucharist is exposed; the steps to this altar are the virtues.

Reference:

 (Cfr. Manfred Lurker, Woerterbuch biblischer Bilder und Symbole, Koesel-Verlag Muenchen, 1978, p.27).