ALTAR

From Agepedia

ALTAR ; an elevated place intended for sacrifice. At first, altars were made of earth or ashes, but afterwards, when men began to build temples, they were made of stone or metal, and much adorned. They stood in the eastern part of the edifice, before the statue of the god, but lower. Very different from these are the altars in Christian churches. In these, the altar is not a place of sacrifice, but was, at first, a table at which the lovefeast (agape) was held. When this was changed into a church ceremony, the altar yet remained a table, placed in the choir of the church, used for the distribution of the Lord's supper, and for various other purposes. Altars of masonwork were, probably, first used among Christians in the reign of Constantine the Great. The regulation of placing them always towards the east originated with Sextus II. Since the time of Gregory VI, Roman Catholic churches frequently contain several altars. The high altar, the most important, is in the chancel of the church, somewhat elevated ; the other smaller ones are near the pillars, or the side walls, or in the chapel. In the larger Protestant churches, also, there is usually a great and small altar.