- Bema
:"For the Christian eschatological concept, see
Bema Seat ; for other uses seeBema (disambiguation) "The Bema (from the Greek: "bema", “step”) means a raised platform. In antiquity it was probably made of stone, but in modern times it is usually a rectangular wooden platform approached by steps.
The original use of the bema in Athens was as a tribunal from which orators addressed the citizens as well as the courts of law (see
Pnyx ). In Greek law courts the two parties to a dispute presented their arguments each from separate bemas. "Bema" was also used as the name for a place of judgement, that is the raised seat of the judge, as described in theNew Testament , in , and of God, in , when speaking in judgment.The bema became a standard fixture in Jewish
synagogue s (seebemah ) from which a selection ("parsha ") from theTorah and theHaftarah are read. InOrthodox Judaism , the bema is located in the center of the synagogue, separate from the Ark. In other branches of Judaism, the bema and the Ark are joined together.The ceremonial use of a bema carried over from Judaism into early Christian
church architecture . It was originally a raised platform with alectern and seats for the clergy, from which lessons from theScripture s were read and thesermon was delivered. InWestern Christianity the bema developed over time into thechancel (or presbytery) and thepulpit .In
Eastern Christianity "bema" remains the name of the platform which composes the sanctuary; it consists of both the area behind theiconostasion and the platform in front of it from which thedeacon leads theektenia s (litanies) together with the theambo from which the priest delivers thesermon and distributesHoly Communion . It may be approached by one or several steps. The bema is composed of the "altar" (the area behind the iconostasion), the "soleas" (the pathway in front of the iconostasion), and the "ambo" (the area in front of theHoly Doors which projects westward into thenave ). Orthodoxlaity do not normally step up onto the bema except to receive Holy Communion.ee also
*
Ambo (liturgy)
*Tribune (architecture)
*Templon
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