altar veils

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  13. altar veils
Scope note
Curtains hung around the altar, particularly in a temple or church. They were hung in front of, or to close off the sides of, an altar during the service. As with rood screens, altar veils were liturgical barriers marking the boundaries between the congregation's space and the holy of holies; the Lenten veil is a type of altar veil, used in Catholic and other churches in the season prior to Easter. Beginning in the early days of the Reformation, altar vela began to be used in certain Protestant churches during the entire liturgical year. In some cases, altar veils may be associated with the "altar canopy."
altar veils
Accepted term: 22-Apr-2024