The Coptic Orthodox Church: The ALTAR

The Altar

Our Coptic Orthodox Church is a unique Traditional Church. The HOLY TRADITION of the Church has a broad and deep meaning. It means the true FAITH of the Church, by which she lives.
However, the rites of the Tradition should be practiced sincerely, and not as a routine work. Then, we can see through them our Lord Jesus Christ transfigured in front of our eyes.
The Coptic Church is full of SYMBOLS. These symbols are part of the Holy Tradition of the Church. They are meant to keep the mind of the believer busy, meditating in God and His Salvation. Thus, the believer can answer the priest when he asks: "Where are your hearts?" saying, truthfully, "They are with the Lord."
The building of the Church is the Temple of the Spirit, the HOUSE of GOD, and the earthly Heaven. The Church is built in a special order to be an Icon of Heaven. Thus, we can see God through the items of the building themselves and their symbols.
Let us now consider one of the important items in the Church that would give us an example of the Symbols in the Church, the ALTAR.
1. Literally:
+ The altar: a platform for offering sacrifices.
2. Historically:
+ The first implicit mention of a sacrifice in the Bible: by God to clothe Adam and Eve with leather shirts instead of the fig leafs they thought would cover their sin.
+ The first explicit mention of a sacrifice: by Abel.
+ The first mention of an altar: by Noah after the Flood.
+ Some famous altars: by Moses in the Tabernacle and by Solomon in the Temple.
+ Old Testament offerings on altars (and tables): burnt offering, incense, and show bread (all were symbols for Christ).
+ The altar of the New Testament: by Christ in the upper room.
3. Symbolically:

+ The table in the upper room: where Christ Himself established the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
+ Calvary: where Christ was crucified.
+ The Cross: on which Christ was nailed and pierced, and where His Blood flowed from His side mixed with water.
+ The Tomb: where Christ was buried and a stone was rolled to the door and sealed. The same stone, the Angel removed after the Resurrection. In that tomb the two Angels appeared for the Marys.
+ The Throne of God: where he is sitting surrounded by the Cherubim and the Seraphim, the Angels and the Archangels.
+ The believers: built as living stones, an altar for God in Spirit.
MORE ON THE ALTAR
BACK HOME
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws