high altar
Cathedral's main table
The high altar is the main altar in a church, typically positioned at the eastern end of the chancel and reserved for the most important liturgical celebrations.
In churches with multiple altars, it holds the place of highest honor: The priest processed toward the high altar for the Easter vigil.
Altar-adjacent clergy space
- apseVaulted church recess
- naveChurch's main interior
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- cathedralBishop's principal church
basilica · baldachin · tabernacle · crucifix · candlesticks · stained glass · pews · pulpit
Quantity of matter
- communionProfound shared closeness
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- offertoryService donation period
- liturgyFormal worship structure
lectionary · missal · sacrament · benediction · processional · introit · elevation · genuflection
Profound admiring respect
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- adorationProfound loving regard
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- prayerAddress to deity
piety · holiness · sanctity · consecrated · hallowed · sacred · blessedness · devotion
Ornate ritual drinking vessel
- patenEucharistic bread dish
- censerVessel for burning aromatics
- reliquaryContainer for sacred remains
- monstranceVessel displaying consecrated host
chancel
Altar-adjacent clergy space
cathedral · basilica · baldachin · tabernacle · crucifix · candlesticks · stained glass · pews · pulpit · choir
mass
Quantity of matter
- communionProfound shared closeness
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- offertoryService donation period
liturgy · lectionary · missal · sacrament · benediction · processional · introit · elevation · genuflection · transubstantiation
reverence
Profound admiring respect
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- adorationProfound loving regard
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
prayer · piety · holiness · sanctity · consecrated · hallowed · sacred · blessedness · devotion · genuflection
chalice
Ornate ritual drinking vessel
monstrance · crucifix · corporal · candelabra
priest
One who performs sacraments
celebrant · cantor · crucifer · subdeacon · archbishop · cardinal · monsignor · verger · sacristan · master of ceremonies
- altarscommunion table, ofrenda
- cathedralsnave, apse, transept, spire, chancel
- Traditional CatholicismTridentine Mass, Latin Mass, communion rail, Latin prayers, mantilla
- altar itemscorporal, tabernacle, paten, monstrance, cruet
high, higher, highest, highly, highness, altar, altars, altarpiece, altitude