council altar (Roman Catholic church)dienstaltaarservice altars (Roman Catholic church)altars, council (Roman Catholic church)
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Ter onderscheiding van het oude hoogaltaar tegen de oostwand van het koor, waaraan de priester met de rug naar het volk de mis opdroeg, wordt de term gebruikt voor het meer centraal geplaatste altaar waaraan de priester met het gezicht naar de kerkgangers de eucharistie met het volk viert.Altars in Catholic churches installed after the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) in accordance with new mandates that the altar should be table-like and placed far enough away from the wall so that the celebrant could face the congregation rather than have his back to them. Churches dating before the 1960s may retain the structures of the original high altars that are nearer the wall and having ornate superstructures, although they are no longer used for celebrating the mass. Altars from other periods and other faiths may be similar in design to council altars; the distinction is the context in which the council altar was installed.