by Ellen Kozisek
We saw lots of churches while we were in the Czech Republic. And they are all quite old. Now, before this trip, in all the pre-Vatican-2 churches I've seen where they still have the old altar, it's pretty much a matter of the priest just turning around to use the modern table altar versus the old main altar. Maybe coming a few feet forward, but no major change in position. Not so in these old churches. In modern churches the altar is usually on a raised area, but still part of the main worship space. These old churches have instead a separate section called the presbytery. Webster's defines this as "the part of the church reserved for the officiating clergy". It is very much a separate area. The main altar is way at the back of the presbytery, And some the presbyteries are quite large. In addition the space between the presbytery and the pews could be a good sized gap. So not only would the priest speak in Latin and face away from the people. He would also be very far away from the people and in another section of the church.
Now, as for where the priest stood when he was actually talking to the people. He did have to come out where the people could actually hear him. But instead of being in front of the people he was above them. While this may have be helpful acoustically, I think it would really enforce the idea of the priest being above the people instead of one of the people. Especially since he was also behind a wall. (about 3 or 4 feet high, but complete separating him from the people.)
The reason I say main altar when describing the old altar is because there would be multiple altars. The churches had various chapels, each of which had its own altar. The main altar is the one in the presbytery, and which serves the main worship space. Now these old altars are quite beautiful and can be quite nice for private prayer. But they really are something entirely different from our modern altars. Seeing these old altars, along with the modern altar tables that are currently used, really brings out what our altar is. The altar is a table. It's a place where we gather together for a meal.
In the church where we went to Sunday mass the altar table and ambo were in the space between the pews and the presbytery. (There was no space for it in the presbytery because of the steps leading up to the old main altar.) Having those on the floor with the people may not be ideal for visibility, but it sure reinforces that the priest is one of the people. (As for the mass in a foreign language, it wasn't too bad, except for the sermon. It seemed to be a good sermon, but since I couldn't understand it, it was really boring.)
St. Barbora's church
St. Vitus Cathedral