what is the altar for in the church?

Answer 1

bloody sacrifices

Answer 2

First of all, you must understand that the Christian ritual of Holy Communion is re-enacting the Last Supper and the sacrifice of Jesus. So, the Apostles sat around a table of to partake in a meal with Jesus. Therefore, the alter is simply there as a table on which to perform necessary tasks. You may have your plate on your lap in front of the TV at home, but this wouldn't work too well in a church, would it?
But you have to remember that before Christianity, there were sacrificial tables (or altars). A lot of what happens in the church now, although a couple of thousand years old still goes back to pre-historic times. Many of the pre-christian methods were accepted in to Christianity so that the ways of the non-Christians were not challenged too much. This is the reason why the birth of Christ, Christmas, is celebrated on 25 December. It was an ancient celebration already in place in the northern hemisphere to celebrate the return of the sun. The 21 December being the winter solstice - the 'longest night.'
Finally! The altar is also a focal point. A bit like at home when all the chairs face the TV!

Answer 3

From what I can gather, all religions seem to have an altar of some description - although not all of them are called altars!

In basic terms, it is a table where religious things happen!. In Christianity, it is where the Priest 'does his stuff' and blesses the wine and wafers for communion, for example.
in the Catholic church, altars had to be furnished with three cloths as a covering, two candles made at least primarily of beeswax, and a crucifix.
In the Protestant church, they are covered with a cloth, have a couple of candles and a crucifix. However, the number of candles can vary!

I believe the only person who goes up to the altar is the priest.

If you want some more information on altars, check on Wikipedia

Answer 4

Among early nations it was the custom to erect altars on hilltops (Gen. 12: 7-8; Gen. 22: 2-4; Gen. 31: 54). After the settlement in Canaan heathen altars were found set up on various hills and were ordered to be destroyed Altars to Jehovah were built at several high places. Such altars became local centers of the worship of Jehovah. When idolatry came in, many of these altars were desecrated and used for heathen worship. Religious reformers like Hezekiah and Josiah tried therefore to centralize the worship more and more in Jerusalem, where it could be better kept under control, and the high places were ordered to be removed, i.e., no sacrifices were to be offered anywhere except in Jerusalem .

Today at sacred altars in the presence of their family and friends and witnesses, couples make their marriage covenants that should be for life and eternity.

Do hope this explanation of ancient and modern use of altars is of help.

Answer 5

The alter is a place set specially in the church for the priest or pastor to dish out the word of God or to say mass.it is a mark of respect and worship to God that's why the alter is specially made out.It is expected that everyone who comes to church should respect the alter contents and the surrounding.

Answer 6

Apart fom all the pagan "subtext", it is the image of the table of the Last Supper, which is memorized in every Mass/Communion Service, as the central part.
Christians were told "Do this in my memory", and so they still do, albeit in a form so ritualized that it's hard to recognize for most.

Answer 7

The alter is a sacred place in a church where one stands before God prays and confesses their sins, and asks for forgivness.

Answer 8

It is where a couple stand to get married, parents take a baby to get christened, and a coffin stands during a funeral. the front of the church where you look whilst seated in a pew.

Answer 9

(ALTARE SUMMUM or MAJUS.)

The high altar is so called from the fact that it is the chief altar in a church, and also because it is raised on an elevated plane in the sanctuary, where it may be seen simultaneously by all the faithful in the body of the church. It symbolizes Christ, and it serves at the same time as the banquet table on which He offers Himself through the hands of the priest to the Eternal Father; for Christ is present in our churches not only in a spiritual manner but really, truly, and substantially as the victim of a sacrifice. A sacrifice necessarily supposes a priest and an altar, and the Acts of the Apostles (ii, 42) plainly indicate that the faithful are to participate in the prayers of the sacrifice and to partake of the victim. Naturally the altar and priest were separated from the faithful, who, as St. Athanasius (Quaest. ad Antioch., 37) and Clement of Alexandria (Strom., vii, 7) inform us, were instructed by the Apostles to pray, according to the traditions of the Mosaic Law, facing the East. Hence in the early days of the Church the altar was usually placed in a chapel at the head of the edifice, the back of which, whatever may have been the character of the building, looked directly towards the East, in such a way that it could be seen from any part by the faithful. When it was impossible to erect a church in such a manner the altar was located opposite the chief doorway.

In olden times there was but one altar in a church. The Christian Fathers speak of one altar only, and St. Ignatius (Ep. ad Philadelph., 5) refers to this practice when he says: "One altar, as there is one bishop" (Unum altare omni Ecclesiae et unus Episcopus). This altar was erected in the middle of the sanctuary between the bishop's throne, which stood in the apse, and the communion-rail, which separated the sanctuary from the body of the church. On it Divine services were celebrated by the bishop only, assisted by the clergy, who received Holy Communion from his hands. Although each church had but one altar, there were oratories erected near or around the church in which Mass was celebrated. This custom is still maintained throughout the East, so that the liturgical or high altar of the solemn sacrifice is isolated from what may be called the altars of devotional sacrifice on which Mass is said privately. Later on, in the time of St. Ambrose (fourth century), we find the custom of having more than one altar in a church; and St. Gregory (sixth century) evidently approves of the same by sending to Palladius, Bishop of Saintes, France, relics for four altars which, of the thirteen erected in his church, had remained unconsecrated for want of relics. After the introduction of private Masses the necessity of several or even many altars in each church arose. They were erected near the principal altar or in side chapels. The altar in the sanctuary or high chapel always remained the principal one of the church, and the pontifical services in cathedrals as well as the solemn functions in other churches invariably took place at the chief altar on Sundays, holidays, and other solemn occasions of the year.

When the custom of erecting the episcopal throne on the gospel side of the sanctuary became prevalent, the high altar was removed nearer to the wall of the apse. The object of this was that sufficient space might be allowed between the lowest step of the altar and the communion-rail (six to twelve feet) for the proper carrying out of the ceremonial, and for the accommodation of the clergy who frequently assisted in large numbers at the solemn celebration of Mass and of the Divine Offices. The high altar was erected on steps, which for symbolical reasons were usually of an uneven number -- three or five, including the upper platform (predella) and the pavement of the sanctuary, thus placing it on a higher level than the body of the church, a practice which is still maintained in our churches. In parish churches the Most Blessed Sacrament is regularly kept on the high altar, which accordingly should have a tabernacle for the reservation of the Sacred Species (S.R.C., 28 Nov., 1594; 21 Aug., 1863). The prescribed ornaments are a crucifix and six high candlesticks. The high altar in a church that is to be consecrated should be a fixed altar (see ALTAR, FORM OF), which according to the prescriptions of the Roman Pontifical (h.l.) is itself to be consecrated simultaneously with the solemn dedication of the church edifice. Hence it must stand free on all sides, allowing ample room for the consecrator to move around it. As its name indicates, the high altar, being the chief place for the enactment of the sacrificial function, is to be prominent not only by its position but also by the richness of its material and ornamentation. Apart from the liturgical part of the Mass, it serves as the repository for the Eucharistic Presence and becomes the centre of all the more solemn parochial functions of the year.

Answer 10

Getting married.

Answer 11

Ritual sacrifice of virgins