ALTAR

The eastern side of the Holy Step ends in a niche, which is called Platytera. In the middle of the Holy Step is the Holy Altar.

The Holy Altar symbolizes the Life-giving Tomb of the Lord, through which the true life of the world went. The luxurious coverings of the Holy Table symbolize the holy shrouds and the Holy Shroud, with which the Body of Jesus Christ was wrapped during His Holy Burial.

In Christian times, martyrs' tombs were initially used as Holy Tables. Continuing this tradition, the Church, during the inauguration, the bishop places relics of saints in the Reliquary- Box of Inauguration in a crypt of the Holy Altar. If the church has not been inaugurated, the holy antimensio is used, a cloth that covers the Holy Altar with the representation of the burial of the Lord and has holy relics sewn into it.

The Holy Altar usually rests on one pillar, which symbolizes the infallible pillar of the Church, Jesus Christ, or on four pillars which symbolize the four Evangelists.

On the Holy Altar is placed the Holy Gospel, which symbolizes the presence of Christ in the Holy Temple and the fact that the Church preserves the faith and the truth for good. There is still the Cross of Blessing, symbol of the invincible power of the Church against corruption and evil.

In the upper part there is the Holy Bread, a luxurious box, hermetically sealed, in which is kept the consecrated, since Maundy Thursday, holy bread soaked in the holy Blood of the Lord for the communion of the dying believers. On either side of the Artofori, the Candlesticks are placed, which symbolize the inexhaustible light of Christian teaching.