Church Equipments
Church Equipments
Altar
The meaning of the word is ‘throne’. There are also such names as ‘Table of life, tomb of the Lord. The step (Darga) infront of the altar signifies the mansion of Sehion where Old Testament gave way to New Testament.
Thablitho (the portable altar)
This is a piece of wooden slab upon which the paten and the Chalice are placed. It can also be made of marble slab. Wood is better. If it is wood, it should be made of tree which contains a kind of milky or oily substance. Jack wood slab is used ordinarily. Teak and Rose wood etc. Are not used. It will have only 18 inches long and 9 inches broad. Though there is no altar, the Holy Qurbana can be celebrated any where with this slab. With out this, the Qurbana cannot be celebrated.
The Cross
The Cross installed in the middle and top most part, signifies the budded staff of Aaron. It reminds that we are protected from Satan in a wondrous way.
Candles
Candles are lighted on the altar (Mathew: 5:14) Seven based on the golden lamb of Jerusalem Temple or 12 representing the apostles. It reminds us the saying of our Lord “ I am the light of the world”. John 1:8, 8:12. The apostles lighted so many lambs when they were meeting to break bread. Acts 20:8. It reminds us that like these candlesticks our souls should also be lighted brightly by Holy Spirit.
Chithola (The covering of the Altar)
It is a beautiful covering decorating the altar. It represents the winding sheet in which the body of our Lord was wrapped at the time of burial.
Chalice (Kasa)
It is a cup of sacrifice, to keep wine, with a stand to handle.
Paten (Peelasa)
A flat plate of sacrifice to keep the bread
Spoon (Tharvodo)
It is used to take wine to pour over the bread.
Star (Astaric - Kavukubo)
This is a support in the sign of cross over the Paten so that the covering over it may not touch the holy body. It represents the star, which appeared over the manger.
Viri Kottam (Group of coverings)
• Viri- A piece of satin cloth with pieces of different colors stitched together of size 2 ½ feet or 3 ½ feet long and wide to cover the Tablitho.
• Shooshepo (Sosaffa) (Air) It is a white cloth to cover both the Chalice and Paten. It signifies the swaddling clothes of Baby Jesus in the manger (Luke : 2:7). The seamless clothes (garment with out stitches) of our Lord (John 19:23). It also signifies the light called “Shekina” over the mercy seat or covenant box. (Numbers 9:15) More over it is considered as the bright cloud that overshadowed at the time of transfiguration. (Mathew 7:15). We can think that the glorious veil covering the ministry of the spirit, in the Old Testament which is not removed for long is removed in Christ. 2 cor: 3: 7-18). When it is covered by the Shoosepo, one corner is folded up. This signifies the transformation of the Old Testament to New Testament .
• Mkablono(Receptacle)
This is a piece of cloth to cover the Chalice and Paten separately when they are not covered together with Shooshepo.
• Gmurtho (Small Cushion)
It is used for placing the spoon. It is also used to wipe the lips of children after communion. It is equivalent to the tongs with which the Seraphims took the live coal. (Isa: 6:6)
• Towel
It is used to wipe the priest’s fingers which touched the Holy articles. Also it is used to wipe the vessels of sacrifice.
Gospel Stand (Lectern)
It is decorative table to place the Holy Bible. It depicts the sermon of mount of our Lord. This also depicts as the second altar in the Madbaha.
The Censer (Doopakutti)
This vessel which brings forth sweet smell of incense represents the church. It makes us to remember the dedication of oneself to God. (Eph: 5:2) “ He gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”. It also makes the worship heavenly. Rev 8:3-4 “ Another angel who had a golden censer came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints went up before God from the angels hand”. The lower cup of the censor represents the earth and the upper cup the heaven. The chain represents the Holy Trinity. Two chains represent the Human and Godly nature of the Son .One for the Father and the other for the Holy Spirit. The 12 bells represent the 12 apostles. The 72 links stands for 72 evangelists. The charcoal represents sinners. Fire represents the Holy Spirit and the Frank-incense good deeds. The incense shows the grace of the Holy Trinity. As the smoke goes up to the high so also our prayers should go high (Psalm 141:2). The censer in a silent language exhorts us to please others by filled up with the glorifying fire of the Holy Spirit. (Hebrew 12 :29)
Marvahso
At certain time when worship is going on the altar, two persons standing on both sides make jingling and pleasing sound by shaking a round object on the top of a long stick. It represents the angels and the fluttering of their wings.
Msaknsabino
It is a beautifully decorated box round in shape with rays alround to preserve the Holy Qurbana for days and days. This is not seen in all churches. This signifies that Christ resides with us always (Mathew 28:20)
Hand bell
The deacons use this to proclaim the important occasions. Occasions (1) When informing the Holy birth at the start of the Holy Qurbana. (2) When we say “ Oh thou who was crucified for us” three times. (3) At the time of reading of the Gospel. (4) Blessing of the Censer. (5) Celebration of the shooshepo. (6) Waving the hands over the Qurbana. (7) Blesses the bread. (8) Again when the priest raises his hands. (9) Waves hand over the Paten and Chalice . (10) In the midst of the song “Hearken, gracious Lord”. (11) Elevation of Paten and Chalice. (12) Proceeds towards the west with Paten and Chalice.
Big bell
It is used to inform the time of the worship and to make us to remember the important occasions in between the worship. This bell is fixed at the top of the church. We should make the sign of the cross when we hear the sound of the bell considering it as the bugle sound of salvation. The sound of the bell attracts the believers to the church like the bugle sound of the Shepherd which attracts all the scattered sheep together or like the sound of the mother bird which attracts the young ones to the protection under her wings. The wise, when he hears the sound hasten to the Holy place with enthusiasm.Occasions to use:- (1) Before the start of the worship the first bell rings 33 times, in remembrance of the age of our Lord. (2) The Second bell informs that the worship will start soon. (3) When the Qurbana starts publicly. (4) At the elevation of the Paten and Chalice. (5) When proceeds towards the west with the Paten and the Chalice.