Holy Table
The Eucharist is celebrated on the freestanding Holy Table. The antimension, a cloth authorized and signed by the bishop, is unfolded on it for the Eucharistic celebration; it commonly contains a saint's relic.
Key points
- The Holy Table reveals Christ's heavenly throne and the banquet of God's Kingdom.
- Look for: A vested table with the Gospel and tabernacle.
- Illustrated location: Sanctuary / altar area
- Christ and the sanctuary (Scripture): The Temple’s inner sanctuary housed the Ark. John 2 identifies Jesus’ body as the temple, while Hebrews 9 describes Christ entering the heavenly sanctuary once for all. These passages inform Orthodox understanding of the church sanctuary and Holy Table.
- The church is not a reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple, and Christian Eucharistic worship does not continue its animal offerings.
- From hearing the Word to thanksgiving (Historical connection): Justin describes a Sunday gathering with readings, teaching, prayers, bread and wine, thanksgiving, Communion, and provision for those absent. This provides an early witness to a Word-and-Eucharist sequence that still shapes the Divine Liturgy.
- Justin does not describe the full later Byzantine rite. Modern synagogue worship continues its own Jewish life and should not be presented as an incomplete Christian service.
- Manna, bread, and the Lord’s Table (Scripture): The tabernacle held a table for bread before God. John 6 contrasts wilderness manna with Christ as the bread of life; Luke 22 records His gift of bread and wine at the Last Supper. Orthodox worship reads these texts at the heart of Eucharistic life.
- The bread of the Presence, manna, and Eucharistic gifts are distinct. Their association is a biblical and theological comparison, not a claim that the ancient rites were interchangeable.
- Preparing and offering the gifts (Orthodox reception): Bread and wine are prepared at the prothesis and carried through the nave in the Great Entrance to the Holy Table. Against the background of biblical offerings, Orthodox theology understands the Eucharist as participation in Christ’s once-for-all self-offering.
- The Great Entrance carries gifts still to be consecrated. The Eucharist does not repeat Christ’s death, and the preparation table is not a surviving animal-sacrifice altar.
- Light before God (Orthodox reception): Exodus describes one seven-lamped stand for the wilderness Tabernacle. Solomon’s Temple has ten gold lampstands, five on each side (1 Kings 7:49; 2 Chronicles 4:7). Some Orthodox sanctuaries have a seven-branched candle stand. Compare these with prayer candles and the synagogue’s eternal light, which have their own uses and meanings.
- A candle stand, menorah, and synagogue eternal light are distinct furnishings. Their forms, locations, and interpretation vary; not every church has seven branches.
- Remembering Christ’s saving work (Orthodox reception): At the Lord’s Table the Church obeys Christ’s command to remember Him. The Byzantine anaphora recalls His cross, burial, Resurrection, Ascension, and coming; Orthodox theology understands this thanksgiving as participation in His saving work.
- Anamnesis is the liturgy’s remembrance. Its Orthodox sacramental interpretation should be read with the prayers and theology, rather than derived from the Greek word alone.
- Readings, thanksgiving, and care for neighbors (Historical connection): Justin describes Sunday readings from the apostles and prophets, an exhortation, common prayer, bread and wine with water, thanksgiving, Communion, and a collection for people in need. His account helps explain why proclamation, a table, the gathered assembly, and service to absent members belong together.
- Justin describes an order of worship, not the dimensions or furniture of a church. His account does not establish that a modern pulpit, high iconostasis, or complete later Byzantine rite was already present.
Scripture
- 1 Kings 6:1–35 — Christ and the sanctuary: The Temple’s inner sanctuary housed the Ark. John 2 identifies Jesus’ body as the temple, while Hebrews 9 describes Christ entering the heavenly sanctuary once for all. These passages inform Orthodox understanding of the church sanctuary and Holy Table.
- John 2:19–21 — Christ and the sanctuary: The Temple’s inner sanctuary housed the Ark. John 2 identifies Jesus’ body as the temple, while Hebrews 9 describes Christ entering the heavenly sanctuary once for all. These passages inform Orthodox understanding of the church sanctuary and Holy Table.
- Hebrews 9:1–12, 24–28 — Christ and the sanctuary: The Temple’s inner sanctuary housed the Ark. John 2 identifies Jesus’ body as the temple, while Hebrews 9 describes Christ entering the heavenly sanctuary once for all. These passages inform Orthodox understanding of the church sanctuary and Holy Table.
- Acts 2:1–4, 42–47 — From hearing the Word to thanksgiving: Justin describes a Sunday gathering with readings, teaching, prayers, bread and wine, thanksgiving, Communion, and provision for those absent. This provides an early witness to a Word-and-Eucharist sequence that still shapes the Divine Liturgy.
- Exodus 25:10–40 — Manna, bread, and the Lord’s Table: The tabernacle held a table for bread before God. John 6 contrasts wilderness manna with Christ as the bread of life; Luke 22 records His gift of bread and wine at the Last Supper. Orthodox worship reads these texts at the heart of Eucharistic life.
- John 6:31–58 — Manna, bread, and the Lord’s Table: The tabernacle held a table for bread before God. John 6 contrasts wilderness manna with Christ as the bread of life; Luke 22 records His gift of bread and wine at the Last Supper. Orthodox worship reads these texts at the heart of Eucharistic life.
- Luke 22:14–20 — Manna, bread, and the Lord’s Table: The tabernacle held a table for bread before God. John 6 contrasts wilderness manna with Christ as the bread of life; Luke 22 records His gift of bread and wine at the Last Supper. Orthodox worship reads these texts at the heart of Eucharistic life.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1–4, 16–21 — Manna, bread, and the Lord’s Table: The tabernacle held a table for bread before God. John 6 contrasts wilderness manna with Christ as the bread of life; Luke 22 records His gift of bread and wine at the Last Supper. Orthodox worship reads these texts at the heart of Eucharistic life.
- Hebrews 10:10–22 — Preparing and offering the gifts: Bread and wine are prepared at the prothesis and carried through the nave in the Great Entrance to the Holy Table. Against the background of biblical offerings, Orthodox theology understands the Eucharist as participation in Christ’s once-for-all self-offering.
- 1 Kings 7:23–26, 48–50 — Light before God: Exodus describes one seven-lamped stand for the wilderness Tabernacle. Solomon’s Temple has ten gold lampstands, five on each side (1 Kings 7:49; 2 Chronicles 4:7). Some Orthodox sanctuaries have a seven-branched candle stand. Compare these with prayer candles and the synagogue’s eternal light, which have their own uses and meanings.
- 2 Chronicles 4:6–8, 19–20 — Light before God: Exodus describes one seven-lamped stand for the wilderness Tabernacle. Solomon’s Temple has ten gold lampstands, five on each side (1 Kings 7:49; 2 Chronicles 4:7). Some Orthodox sanctuaries have a seven-branched candle stand. Compare these with prayer candles and the synagogue’s eternal light, which have their own uses and meanings.
- 1 Corinthians 11:23–29 — Remembering Christ’s saving work: At the Lord’s Table the Church obeys Christ’s command to remember Him. The Byzantine anaphora recalls His cross, burial, Resurrection, Ascension, and coming; Orthodox theology understands this thanksgiving as participation in His saving work.
Sources and further reading
- 1 Corinthians 10:1–4, 16–21 — World English Bible
- 1 Corinthians 11:23–29 — World English Bible
- 1 Kings 6:1–35 — World English Bible
- 1 Kings 7:23–26, 48–50 — World English Bible
- 2 Chronicles 4:6–8, 19–20 — World English Bible
- Acts 2:1–4, 42–47 — World English Bible
- Exodus 25:10–40 — World English Bible
- Hebrews 10:10–22 — World English Bible
- Hebrews 9:1–12, 24–28 — World English Bible
- John 2:19–21 — World English Bible
- John 6:31–58 — World English Bible
- Luke 22:14–20 — World English Bible
- Justin Martyr — First Apology, chapters 65–67
- Chabad — Ner Tamid: The Eternal Light
- OCA — Eucharistic Canon: Anaphora
- OCA — Offertory: Great Entrance
- OCA — The Divine Liturgy
- OCA — Altar Table
- St. James Antiochian Orthodox Church — Antimins or Antimension
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