Divisions of the Church :

Holiest of Holies : The Sanctuary containing the altar. Also consists of the Eastern Curvature, Stairs & Throne.

First-Division : For the Deacons and choir. Also consists of The Pulpit, The Lectern & The Lakkan.

Second Division : For the faithful congregation. Also consists of The Deacons rooms, the Church's doors & The Baptismal font.

Third Division : For the preachers

Comparison between the Old Testament Sanctuary/Tabernacle(right), and the modern day Sanctuary/Church(left)

The Sanctuary is the most holy place in the church and is to be built higher than the level of the Church Hall so that eyes can gaze at it. The top of the door should bear the inscirption : "This is the gate of the Lord, and through it the righteous shall enter in..." (Ps. 118:20). The lower part should bear the inscription : "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye raise ye ancient doors, so that the King of Glory may enter." (Ps. 24:9)

It is customary that one should take off his shoes in altar, referring to Ex 3:5 which says, “Take off your shoes, for the place whereupon you stand is holy ground.”

The Partition (Veil/Iconstasis/Sanctuary Wall) :

Separates the altar from the rest of the church, it is used for mounting pictures. The veil of the altar of the Old Testament was torn upon crucifixion of our Lord to indicate that the old law of Moses had come to an end and that the glory of God in the Holy Sacrament without bars.

The Eastern Curvature :

It is a cavity or a small round curvature in the eastern wall named : 'The Fatherly Bossom' (Hodn el-Aab). In it, the icon of Jesus Christ is drawn coming from the clouds surrounded by angels. (The Seraphim, The Cherubim and the Four Incorporeal creatures bearing the throne, and the 24 priests giving incense), or Jesus is drawn holding the universe. The Eastern Curvature resembles the Lord's providence and His longing to His church and the church is waiting for His second coming and resembles God's arms opened to the whole world through the altar and the service. An oil lamp is lightened in front of it day and night (Akoimitos) which means the non sleeper and it resembles the star that guided the wise men to the manger where the Saviour was born. Above it is a window to let the sun light shine in as God is the Father of light. The following is written beneath this window : 'How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts.' (Ps. 84:1)

The Stairs and the Throne :

Behind the altar and at the eastern wall, are 7 steps (or 3) which are built from marble or stone resembling the priests grades and are semi-circular and the Patriarch's (or Bishop's) chair is placed on the highest step. In olden times, the Patriarch (or Bishop) would sit on this throne and preach from the throne facing the congregation with the priests around him. When the congregation started to grow, this method proved im-practicle and so the preaching was then conducted from the Pulpit. The name 'Cathedral' was given to the Church with such a thone. The throne is made from either wood, stone or marble, and when the church was enlarged, the throne was moved to the deacons section.

The Altar :

The location of the altar is in the middle of the sanctuary, not attached to any walls, it is an example of the tomb of Jesus or the Golgotha, where He was crucified. It is called the Holy Table, or the Lord's Table, where no slaughtered sacrifice is offered, but a live, pure non-bloody sacrifice : Jesus Christ as He was in Golgotha.

Material of the altar

Wood :

• As the cross or the tree of life which was in the middle of Paradise
• Christ Himself performed the last supper on a wooden altar
• Easier to move in times of persecution

Stone : like the tomb of Jesus

Precious Metal : e.g silver or glod as an extreme means of expressing respect to the Lord's Holy Table.

Regardless of the type of material from which the altar is made, it is to be constructed like the shape of the Saviour's tomb (i.e it is not to be erected on pillars but walls with a cavity so as to accomodate relics of Saint's - See Rev. 6:9).

The Altar Coverings :

As the altar holds a high standing in the Church, it is customary to cover it with dear coverings symbolising the shroud which wrapped the most Holy Body of our Saviour, upon his burial. The coverings of the altar are comprised of three layers :

1. Cotton or linen or silk - reaching the floor evenly on all four sides.
2. Second layer - more expensive in material and craft. The holy slate is placed between the above two layers.
3. Aprosvarin - (meaning offertory) is lifted from the altar after reconciliation prayer, which resembles the stone which was rolled away from the Holy tomb by the angel. Bells are sewn on it so that as it is lifted, the ringing denotes the earth shaking when the Lord was resurrected.

The Dome :

On the altar, the dome is supported by four pillars, crowned with a cross (sign of victory) it symbolises the Heaven of Heavens where Jesus is seated on His throne, surrounded by His angels. Jesus Christ is drawn inside this dome surrounded by His angels, as in heaven. The four pillars stand for the four Evangelists or the four corners of the world who are sometimes drawn inside these pillars.

Consecration of the Holy Altar and its Utensils :

All of the altar's utensils along with the altar, are to be consecrated by a Bishop or the Pope by anointing them with the Holy Oil during a special ceremony. Until the altar is consecrated, masses must be conducted whilst using the Holy Slate/Tablet placed on the Holy Altar. These rules are in accordance with St. Peter's letter to St. Aklimandos (Bishop of Rome); "Every altar you build must be sealed with God's seal which is the Holy Mayroun" (Holy Oil).

Reasons for consecrating the altar and it's utensils :

As Jacob did when he poured oil onto the stone that he found when he slept and dreamt about the stairway to heaven, and called the place 'Bethel', which means 'The Lord's House'. (Gen. 28:10-19)

God ordered Moses to prepare annointing oil (Holy Oil mixed with spices) to anoint The Tabernacle, The Covenant of the Ark, The Showbread Table, The Lamp Stand, The Incense Altar, The Altar of the Burnt Offering and The Laver (the basin for washing the hands) and all who touched them should be sanctified. (Ex. 35:25)

The Church's law states that the Church should be consecrated and anointed with the Holy Oil as mentioned in the book of the Coptic Rites for these matters. The Patriarch or a Bishop prays in the presence of the priests and the congregation and Psalms 121-150 are read and incense is given then a Gospel from St. John is also read. The consecration then takes place and the mass is continued.

The Pulpit (Al-Mangaleya) :

In Greek, the word means 'Place of the Bible'. It carries the Holy Bible and is used for reading all the relevant Church readings of the particular service. There should be two Pulpits in each church - one facing north (for reading Coptic - since Coptic was used to Praise God), and one facing south (for reading English and Arabic - since these were used to translate the Coptic language so that the Congregation would understand). The Pulpit is a symbol of Mount Sinai where Moses was given the law, so here at the Pulpit, we are given and taught the law.

The Ostrich Egg :

The Ostrich Egg is hung in the center of the main Sanctuary door. It is used to remind us of :

The resurrection

To remain focused and gazing at the altar, as an ostrich gazes and focuses on its egg until it hatches.

The Baptismal font :

Contained in a separate room, north of the Church. It is used to Baptise those who wish to receive the Holy Sacrament of Baptism.

The Layout of the icons in the church :

At the centre above the main door of the Sanctuary is placed the icon of the Last Supper.

Further above the icon of the Last Supper is the icon of crucifixion.

To the left and right of the icon of the crucifixion, the icons of the 12 apostles are placed.

On the left hand side of the Iconstatsis(Sanctuary Wall) - facing the congregation, is the icon of Jesus Christ.

On the right hand side of the Iconstasis - facing the congregation, is the icon of St. Mary.

To the right of St. Mary, is the icon of Archangel Gabriel.

To the left of Jesus, is the icon of St. John the Baptist.

To the right of Archangel Gabriel, is the icon of Archangel Michael

To the left of St. John the Baptist, is the icon of St. Mark.

Any remaining places, may be filled with the Church Patron Saints, and/or other Saints.

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In the olden days, churches had one altar only, but with the increase of the faithful, more than one altar is erected so that more than one mass can be served.

Only one mass can be served on the one altar at the one time.

No one has the right to enter the Sanctuary other than the Priest and the deacons who are the servants to the altar.

Nothing is to be offered on the altar apart from the bread and wine : substances of the Holy Sacrament.

Cleaning of the altar is the task of the deacon only.

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Church Layout (Click to enlarge)

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Supplied by : Bishoi Rizkalla & Yvonne Tadros