An altar is a structure that is elevated and makes it possible to carry out a religious ceremony.
An altar is an object or structure that is elevated and that allows the development of a religious ceremony , according to the first meaning mentioned in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ). The idea of an altar can also refer to the altar , a rock that has been consecrated.
Regarding the etymological origin, we can indicate that it derives from the Latin altar, altaris , which can be translated as "elevated platform" .
Use of altars
Since ancient times, various rituals linked to spirituality have been carried out on altars. Before, sacrifices made in honor of the gods and the giving of offerings were frequent. Nowadays, the notion of altar is usually linked to the table used in Christian masses .
The altar, in this sense, is a consecrated table that is used by the priest during the celebration of mass . Located inside the church , it is common for the altar to have an altarpiece as ornamentation . Candles, crosses and other symbolic pieces can be placed on it.
When a church has several chapels, each of them has its altar. In this way, the main altar is known as the main altar . Located at the head or apse of the building, the main altar is usually attached to an altarpiece.
The expression "passing through the altar" refers to marriage.
Features of the major table
Other curiosities about the main altar are the following:
- Catholic temples usually have it made of marble, compared to Anglicans and Protestants who choose to make it from wood. The latter do so as a way of alluding to the Last Supper table.
- The most decorated part of the main altar is what is called the sanctuary . Specifically, in this case it is usual that, among other elements, there is an altarpiece.
- Among the most impressive main altars we can highlight the one in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart ( Paris ) to the one in the Cathedral of Seville , the one in the Cathedral of León and the one in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame ( Paris ). And that's without forgetting that another of the most fascinating is the Church of the Madeleine ( Paris ).
Go through the altar
In relation to this ornamental and fundamental element of churches we have to explain that there is a popular expression that uses the term: we are referring to "passing through the altar" .
This expression is used to indicate that a person is going to get married or has gotten married. So, for example, you can mention the following: "Manuel is going to pass through the altar next September." That means the man in question is getting married in September.
a denomination
Altar is also the name of a municipality located in Sonora , a state of Mexico . It has just over 9,000 inhabitants and is characterized by its very high temperatures. In the region is the Great Altar Desert , which is part of the Sonoran Desert .
A Mexican river, a hill in Chile and a volcano in Ecuador also bear the name of the altar.