The carved stone altar helped to understand the dynastic ties of the Mayan states. Miscellaneous Spells using candles and quartz crystals

Altars of Devotion in Grim Dawn are ancient remnants of a long-vanished empire, monuments dedicated to various gods and celestial symbols. In total, there are 28 regular altars and 1 secret altar on the territory of Cairn (appears only at the Absolute difficulty level). The location of the altars is static and does not change over time. The number of altars available for activation depends on the difficulty level: 28 altars are available on normal and veteran difficulty, 17 on elite difficulty, and 14 on absolute difficulty. Altars in Grim Dawn are divided into destroyed and desecrated. Rebuilding a destroyed altar requires making offerings to the gods in the form of materials or ingredients that are dropped by various enemies throughout the game. To restore desecrated altars, you need to defeat the enemies locked inside, who appear when attempting to perform a cleansing ritual. For activating each altar, the main character is awarded one piety point. The maximum level of devotion in Grim Dawn is capped at 50 points, despite the fact that there are 59 altars available in the game. Devotion gives the main character additional abilities and enhances the chosen skill, which has a positive effect on. The distribution of devotion points occurs among the constellations in the “Devotion” tab, accessible through the character’s skills window ([S] key). As a reward for finding all the altars in Grim Dawn, the achievements “Detective Star” and “True Believer” are unlocked.

Locations of the Altars of Devotion in Act 1 in Grim Dawn

№	Location with an altar	Portal	Difficulty levels			Location of the altar on the map
№	Location with an altar	Portal	Regular	Elite	Absolute	Location of the altar on the map
1	Burial cave	Lower Crossroads	Aether Crystal	Aether Crystal x3	x
1	The Ruined Altar is located in the Burial Cave, which can be accessed through two entrances located north and northeast of the Lower Crossing portal on Burial Hill.
2	Grotto	Foggy Lowlands	cleansing	cleansing	cleansing
2	The Corrupted Altar is hidden in the Grotto with two entrances, located between the Mist Depression portal and the rogue camp in the western part of the location.
3	Flooded Passage	Flooded Passage	cleansing	x	x
3	The Desecrated Altar is located in the Flooded Passage with an entrance at the destroyed bridge in the territory of the Misty Lowlands. The entrance from the portal at the hobo camp is littered with boulders.
4	Burial cave	Outskirts of Thistle	Aether Crystal	x	x
4	The Ruined Altar is located deep in the Burial Cave with two entrances northeast of the Thistle Outskirts portal.
5	Devil's Well	Devil's Crossing	Aether Crystal	x	x
5	The destroyed altar is located in the Devil's Well behind the Escape Route and Prison Dungeons locations, which are associated with Barnabas's quest to repair the water pump "Help". The hatch with the entrance is located in the ruins of the house opposite Harmond's shop at the prison gates at Devil's Crossing. The hatch cannot be opened before the mission.
6	Thistle Estates	Thistle Village or Commandant's Basement	cleansing	cleansing	x
6	The Desecrated Altar is located in the plaza among the houses in Thistle Estates, north of the Thistle Village portal.
7	Underground crossing	Commandant's Transition or Commandant's Laboratory	Aether Crystal x2	Ether Shard, Refined Salt	Aether Shard, Relic - Calamity
7	The ruined altar is hidden deep underground between the Commandant's Passage and the Commandant's Laboratory.
8	Craig's Crag in the Eastern Moors	Thistle Village	Chipped Claw	Corrupted Brain, Corrosive Gallstone	Relic - Mistborn Talisman, Corrupted Brain
8	A ruined altar of devotion guards Kalis Ka on Craig's Crag in the Eastern Moors. To access the Eastern Swamps, you need to restore the bridge east of Thistle Village.

Locations of the Altars of Devotion in Act 2 in Grim Dawn

№	Location with an altar	Portal	Difficulty levels			Location of the altar on the map
№	Location with an altar	Portal	Regular	Elite	Absolute	Location of the altar on the map
9	Spiny vault	Arkovian Foothills	cleansing	cleansing	x
9	The Corrupted Altar is located in the Razor Vault with two entrances east of the Arkovian Foothills portal and the Vagabond camp.
10	Rocky coast	Old Arkovia	frozen heart	Vengeful Ghost	x
10	The Ruined Altar is located on the edge of a cliff on the Rocky Coast near the neutral settlement of New Harbor on the way to Old Arkovia.
11	Cronley's Lair on the Four Hills	Cronley's Lair or Old Arkovia	Junk, Leaky shield	Junk, Junk, Silk Armor	Relic - Marksman Talisman
11	The Ruined Altar is hidden deep underground in Cronley's Lair, behind the bandit camps in the hills, north of the Old Arkovia portal.
12	Old Arkovia	Double waterfall	cleansing	x	x
12	The Desecrated Altar of Devotion rises above the plaza amidst the ruins of Old Arkovia, near the entrance to the Arkovian Dungeons, south of the Twin Falls portal.
13	Arkovian Dungeons (Level 3)	Double waterfall	Cold Steel	Froststone, Jagged Spike	Cold Stone, Hollow Fang
13	The Ruined Altar is hidden on the third level of the Arkovian Dungeons, south of the Twin Falls portal, and is guarded by the undead Kilrian.
14	Barren Highlands	Broken Hills	Faceted emerald	x	x
14	A ruined altar stands behind a stone bridge over a cliff in the Barren Highlands, west of the portal in the Broken Hills, after leaving the Arkovian Dungeons.
15	Woe in the Steps of Torment	Broken Hills	cleansing	cleansing	cleansing
15	The desecrated altar is located on the third level of the Steps of Torment, in the opposite part of the location from the gates of Angwish. The entrance to the Steps of Torment is located south of the portal in the Broken Hills.

Location of the altars of devotion in the third act of Grim Dawn

№	Location with an altar	Portal	Difficulty levels			Location of the altar on the map
№	Location with an altar	Portal	Regular	Elite	Absolute	Location of the altar on the map
16	Mountain depths	Dead Man's Gulch	cleansing	x	x
16	The Corrupted Altar is located in a dark cave in the Mountain Depths. It is more convenient to enter the location from the portal to Dead Man's Gulch.
17	Forgotten Depths	Pine Highlands	Jagged Spike	x	x
17	A ruined altar of devotion stands at the end of a cave in the Forgotten Depths. You can get inside through two entrances on the territory of the Dark Basin, located south of the portal in the Pine Highlands.
18	Despot's Domain	Pine Highlands	Hole Shield, Ember	Elastic Shield, Ember	Relic - Rampage
18	The Ruined Portal is located in the courtyard of the Despot's Domain beyond the Dark Basin, east of the portal in the Pine Highlands.
19	Infected farms	Manor	Mutant Ichor	x	x
19	The Ruined Altar is located in the fields among the Infested Farms west of the Manor.
20	Cave of the Lost	Rotting Grounds	cleansing	cleansing	cleansing
20	The desecrated altar is hidden deep underground in the Cave of the Lost. After exiting the portal in the Rotting Grounds, we find a hole in the ground in the fields (can be located in six different places), which leads to the Royal Hive. Inside we find a second passage in the wall, before the entrance to the womb's cave, and we find ourselves in the Cave of Earwigs. In the northwestern part of the location, we break out a hole in the wall, go down into the secret passage and find ourselves in the Cave of the Lost.
21	Bloody Grove	Bloody Grove	Binding Cthonian Seal, Blessed Bandages	x	x
21	The Ruined Altar is hidden deep in the forest south of the Bloody Grove portal.
22	Dark Valley Village	Bloody Grove	cleansing	cleansing	cleansing
22	The Corrupted Altar of Devotion is located in Darkvale Village. After the first passage of the location and the battle with Zaria, the shortest path to the altar through the portal at the Dark Valley Gate is blocked, so you have to use the portal in the Bloody Grove.

Location of the Altars of Devotion in Act 4 in Grim Dawn

№	Location with an altar	Portal	Difficulty levels			Location of the altar on the map
№	Location with an altar	Portal	Regular	Elite	Absolute	Location of the altar on the map
23	Asterkarn Valley	Asterkarn Valley	Shattered Magnet	x	x
23	The Ruined Altar is located in the western part of the Asterkarn Valley and is guarded by the Grobles of the Sky Clan.
24	Asterkarn Valley	Asterkarn Valley		Runestone of Mogdrogen, Spirit of Mogdrogen and Ancient Heart	Runestone of Mogdrogen, Spirit of Mogdrogen and Ancient Heart
24	A ruined altar, sealed by Cthonian forces, is located on the edge of a cliff in the northeastern part of the Asterkarn Valley and is associated with the Vagabond quest "".
25	Lost Tomb of the Damned	Asterkarn Valley or Fort Ikon	Ancient Heart	Ancient Heart, Blood of X" tone
25	The ruined altar is kept in the Lost Tomb of the Damned south of the portal in Fort Icon. To open the secret passage, you need to go down to the second level of the Tomb of Archon Barthollem, find a staggering torch on the wall in the northern part of the location (until the last room with the entrance to the third level). After activating it, a stone door will open nearby, behind it there will be a wall that you need to break and go down into the tomb.
26	Necropolis Gate	Necropolis Gate	cleansing	x	x
26	The Desecrated Altar is located in the central part of the Necropolis, between the Gates and the Courtyard.
27	Black Tomb	Necropolis Gate	Cloudy Blood	Blood of X"tone, Frozen Heart	Blood of X"tone, Rotten Heart
27	The destroyed altar is installed in the Black Tomb, the entrance to which is located in the eastern part of the Necropolis.
28	Bastion of Chaos	Necropolis Gate	cleansing	cleansing	cleansing
28	The Desecrated Altar is located in the courtyard of a ruined house on the way to the Chaos Bastion gate, which is opened with a crafted skeleton key. To get to the Bastion of Chaos, you need to restore the bridge in the northern part of Necropolis.
29	Sanctuary of the Immortals	Manor	x	x		x
29	The secret altar in the Sanctuary of the Immortals becomes available in the quest Dale from the Manor only on the Absolute difficulty level.					x

Altars of the Old Gods

As you know, the most important place in the structure of almost any traditional ritual is occupied by the act of making a sacrifice - it does not matter whether it dominates the ritual or performs an outwardly secondary function. Accordingly, most traditional sanctuaries contain an altar as one of their elements, that is, a certain sacred object on which the actual sacrifice is performed. And it is quite natural that in the Indo-European Tradition, in which the stone has such great sacred significance, the stone very often acts as an altar.

The classic version of the traditional stone altar can probably be considered a stone (raw or hewn to give a certain shape) with a “bowl” - a depression on the upper surface, intended both for the actual sacrifices and gifts, and, often, for collecting rain or dew water. Altars of this kind, which are stone cubes or cylinders with a recess at the top, were used by the ancient Etruscans; in the northern lands, the altar stone was subjected to much less processing, but the “bowl” depression was preserved unchanged.

We can say that in their functions these northern altars are close to cup-stones (in the recesses of which small sacrifices were often left for the ancestors); Moreover, the small holes on the “cups” and “fingers” can be considered as miniature “bowls” of large altars (which, in fact, prompted us to combine them in one chapter). And yet, the difference between them is fundamental - primarily because for the “cup-makers” the function of the altar is in most cases secondary.

The most striking example of ancient European altar stones are, undoubtedly, the Baltic stone altars, widespread in Lithuania and Latvia (71). In total, about three hundred of them are known; Most of them (the so-called “Aukshaiti altars”) are flat boulders, on the upper edge of which “bowls” with a diameter of about 10–20 cm and a depth of about 10 cm or a little more are drilled and polished. Significantly fewer (about 40) Lithuanian altars are known with hewn side and end (top and bottom) surfaces (“Zhemogitian altars”). This type of ancient stone altars is found mainly in the western part of Lithuania; they are characterized large sizes(about a meter high) and fairly wide sacrificial “bowls” (sometimes more than 50 cm in diameter), having vertical cylindrical walls and, often, a specific bottom topography (the middle of the bottom is raised).

3.1. An ancient Lithuanian sacrificial stone of the god Ragutis on one of the neutral squares of Vilnius. A hewn sacrificial bowl is visible in the center of the upper surface of the stone.

But, of course, the Baltic states are not the only region where you can find such sacred stones with “bowls” for sacrifices hollowed out or drilled into them. Similar altars are known throughout almost all of Europe; for example, a stone similar to the “Aukshaitian altars” with a bowl drilled into it is located in Scotland, on the slope of Mount Arthur’s Seat above Edinburgh. It is quite acceptable to assume that such altars are traditional for the Indo-Europeans as a whole or, at least, for their northwestern branch.

Several years ago, during the Don expedition of 2000, I had the opportunity for the first time to describe similar altars on the territory of the Russian Plain (72). In addition to individual sacred stones, the 2000 expedition studied and described four megalithic cult complexes (temples), two of which were discovered for the first time (as a result of a special survey of local residents). The sacred stones that form the sacred centers of these two sanctuaries - Kozyinsky and Krasnokholmsky - belong to a new, hitherto unknown in Russia, type of cult stones-megaliths, conventionally called by us “stones with sacrificial bowls”.

The first of these sanctuaries is located near the village. Kozye, located on the river. Beautiful Mecha, near the road to the village of Soldatskoye. The sanctuary is less than 1 km away from the river bank and the famous Horse-Stone, described by A. N. Afanasyev, N. I. Troitsky and other authors, which suggests the existence in the past of some connection between these complexes.

The sanctuary is a scattering of fairly large uncut stones from local pinkish-gray dense quartz sandstone, located on a small (less than 1 m) hill overgrown with grass. The hill is of natural geological origin and was probably formed by a bedrock outcrop of the same sandstone.

The two stones that form the sacred center of the sanctuary are located in the eastern part of the stone placer and are surrounded by other stones to the north, west and south. The stones are placed close to each other along the west-east line; the dimensions of the smaller, western stone are 1.1×0.9 m, the dimensions of the larger, eastern stone are 1.60×1.1 m.

The visible part of the western stone is a flat slab protruding above the ground surface by an average of 20 cm. In the center of the slab there is an artificial rounded bowl-shaped depression measuring 36×46 cm. Probably, this stone slab is a kind of altar or altar, in a “bowl” which a sacrifice was poured or offered (honey, beer, blood; meat, agricultural products, etc.). It is possible, however, that the “chalice” was used as a ritual hearth - rituals associated with lighting fire on cult stones have been preserved in a number of regions of North-West Russia to this day (73).

General diagram of the main stones of the sanctuary near the village of Kozye. Plan and side view

As already mentioned, stone altars of this type are described for the first time in Central Russia. The only possible parallel may be one of the cult stones of the already mentioned tract Chertovo Gorodishche in the Kaluga region. A. Perepelitsyn describes this stone as follows: “It is located several tens of meters from the “cup” and is interesting because of the (obviously artificial) blind hole carved into it in the shape of an irregular pentahedron with edges of 15–25 cm and a depth of up to 40 cm” (74) . However, it is impossible (at least for now) to unequivocally state the similarity of this monument and the western altar slab of the Kozya sanctuary.

3.4. Sanctuary near the village of Kozye. Stone-altar with a sacrificial “bowl” (view from the west)

The second, eastern stone, has a maximum height of 70 cm. Its upper face has a very significant slope to the east, so that the stone is adjacent to the altar slab with its highest part. On the upper edge of the stone there are - one above the other - two rounded “bowls” with a diameter of 20–25 cm. From the upper, more clearly formed and deeper “bowl”, a drain cut into the stone leads to the lower, almost flat one. A similar drain leads from the lower “bowl” to the ground.

Without conducting a special study, it is impossible to unequivocally state that the system of “bowls” and drains of the eastern stone of the sanctuary is man-made. However, it is also hardly acceptable to assume a completely natural origin of this complex system. The most likely option seems to be an “intermediate” option - artificial modification of natural potholes and other irregularities in the stone. Ultimately, the question of the man-made nature of bowls and sinks is not so important - from the example of “cup makers” and “sledoviki” we know that in ancient times both stones with natural depressions and stones with artificially carved indentations were used as cult objects .

In general, the Kozya sanctuary gives the impression of a carefully thought out religious complex, in which there are no random elements. The orientation of the stones moved end to end along the west-east axis suggests the traditional fundamental dyad of Death-Life, each component of which is associated in the sacred Tradition with a certain side of the world (Death - west, Life - east). If this comparison is correct, then on the altar of the western stone, behind which the sun set (“died”) at the moments of the Equinoxes, in ancient times sacrifices were made to the chthonic gods, the gods of Death, the Other World, and magic. On the contrary, the bowls and plums of the eastern stone, behind which the sun rose (“was born”), could serve to collect rain and dew water. Using ethnographic material from all over Europe, a respectful attitude towards water accumulating in the recesses of sacred stones is reconstructed - everywhere such water is considered healing, holy, etc.

In this regard, it is very interesting to recall the archetypal motif of Living and Dead Water, which is extremely widespread in Slavic folklore and epic. Healing, magical water accumulating in the “bowls” of the eastern, “dawn” stone in this regard can be associated with Living Water, and the water collecting in the altar of the Black Gods altar can be associated with Dead Water...

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Preparing the circle
The magic circle can be lined with crystals and stones, or herbs.
Starting and ending in the North, place 7, 9, 21, and 40 quartz crystals of any size in a circle within or directly on the boundary rope. If the ritual is associated with ordinary spiritual and magical work, the crystals are placed with the front surface facing out. If a protective ritual is being carried out, the crystals should be placed with the front surface inward.
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VOSTOK - royal topaz, citrine, mica, pumice.
SOUTH - amber, obsidian, rhodochrosite, ruby, lava, garnet.
WEST - aquamarine, chalcedony, jadeite, lapis lazuli, Moonstone.
Stone altar
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The right foundation stone represents God. It can be symbolized by a quartz crystal, a piece of volcanic lava, or a long thick stone in the shape of a mace, that is, any stone that symbolizes God from the following.
A small stone is placed between these stones. A red candle is placed on it, symbolizing the divine energy of the Goddess and God, in the form of the element of Fire.
Another one is placed in front of these stones - for sacrifices: wine, honey, cookies, semi-precious stones, flowers and fruits.
To the left of the sacrificial stone there is a small stone with a bowl-shaped recess. Fill it with water, symbolizing the element of Water.
Any flat stone can be placed in front of the sacrificial stone to serve as an incense burner.
A long, thin quartz crystal can serve as a wand, or a sharpened shard of flint or obsidian can serve as a magical dagger.
All other instruments are simply placed on the altar in the required order.
A stone altar can be used in all types of rituals.
Goddess Stones
These are mainly pink, green and blue stones, associated with the Moon and Venus and ruled by Water and Earth. These are peridot, emerald, pink tourmaline, pink and blue quartz, aquamarine, beryl, turquoise.
Stones associated with special deities:
APHRODITE - salt.
GREAT MOTHER - amber, coral, stones with hole
VENUS - emerald, lapis lazuli, pearl.
DIANA - amethyst, moonstone, pearl.
ISIS - coral, emerald, lapis lazuli, moonstone, pearls.
KWAN YIN - jadeite.
CYBELA - jet.
COATLIKU - jadeite.
LAKSHMI - pearls.
MAAT - jadeite.
MARA - beryl, aquamarine.
PELE - lava, obsidian, peridot, olivine, pumice.
SELENA - moonstone, selenite.
TIAMAT - beryl.
FREYA - pearls.
HATHOR - turquoise.
CERES - emerald.
God Stones
Basically, these are red and orange stones, as well as those associated with the Sun and Mars, ruled by Fire and Air - bloodstone, ruby, garnet, orange calcite, diamond, Tiger's Eye, topaz, sun stone, red tourmaline.
Stones associated with special deities
APOLLO - sapphire.
Bacchus - amethyst.
DIONYSUS - amethyst.
CUPID - opal.
MARS - onyx, sardonyx.
NEPTUNE - beryl.
ONE - stones with a hole.
POSEIDON - beryl, pearl*, aquamarine.
*I call pearls and coral stones because that is what they have been called since ancient times. Although we know very well that they are products of the vital activity of marine organisms, and the ethical question: whether to use them in our rituals faces each of us. Although I collected corals, I did not use them in witchcraft.
RA - tiger's eye.
TEZCATLIPOCA - obsidian.
ESCULAPIUS - agate.
Pyramids
In ancient times, all over the world, people built mounds and mounds from stones. Sometimes these structures served to mark caravan routes, often they were built in honor of some historical events, but usually such pyramids had ritual significance.
In a magical sense, the pyramid is a place of power. It concentrates the energy of the stones from which it is composed. The pyramids stand on Earth, but their tops reach into the sky, representing a symbolic relationship between physical and spiritual reality.
During outdoor rituals, a small pyramid (of no more than nine or eleven stones) can be placed at each of the main points of the Circle of Stones. This is done before designating the circle itself.
Next time, choose a lonely wild spot with plenty of rocks. Clear a place for yourself among them and sit down. Visualize your magical purpose. While you visualize, squeeze a nearby stone in your hand. Feel the energy pulsating within it, the energy of the Earth, the energy of nature itself. Place the stone on clean ground. Take the next stone and visualize your goal again, and then put the stone aside with the first one.
Thus visualizing, continue collecting stones,
|laying them out into a small pyramid. Stack the stones until you feel them vibrate and pulsate. Place the last stone on the top of the pyramid with a clear ritual intention - through the pyramid to connect yourself to the Earth and with this last magical action to secure your magical goal.
Place both hands on the pyramid. Give her your energy. Let it grow inside the pyramid. Fill it with power and watch your magical target become empowered.
Then leave the pyramid to finish its work alone.
Spell using candles and quartz crystals
Take a colored candle that symbolizes your magical purpose. Select it in accordance with the proposed list (or choose the color intuitively):
WHITE - protection, cleansing, calm.
RED - protection, strength, health, courage, integrity.
LIGHT BLUE - healing, patience, happiness.
DARK BLUE - transformations, spirituality.
GREEN - money, fertility, growth, development.
YELLOW - intelligence, learning, divinity, attractiveness.
BROWN - healing of animals.
PINK - love, friendship.
ORANGE - excitement, energy.
PURPLE - strength, healing from illness.
Using the end of a clear quartz crystal, cut the desired symbol onto the candle. It could be a heart for a love spell, a dollar sign for a money spell, a fist for a power spell. In another case, you can use the appropriate rune* or simply write what you need on the candle.
As you draw or carve, visualize with crystal clarity how your purpose could manifest. Insert the candle into the candlestick. Place the crystal next to it and light the wick.
Once the flame burns, visualize your desires clearly again. The crystal, candle and symbol will do the job.
Symbols and signs
They are used for quick writing in magical works, the Book of Spirits, your book of reflections and so on.

The altar is the main part of the temple, located on the eastern side. The word altar comes from the Latin words alta and ara: an elevated altar or an altar located on a raised platform. It really was always located on a hill compared to the rest of the temple area. Why is that? The altar is a symbol of the Throne of the Lord.

It consists of:

Throne;

Altar;

Sacristies;

Departments.

The altar in the temple is difficult not to notice, because the prototype of the Throne should be beautiful. They always try to decorate and highlight it. During the service, the priest either leaves the altar or leaves again. Not everyone can enter the altar. It is there that preparation for the Sacrament of the Eucharist takes place. And yet, every baptized man has been to the altar at least once, even if he doesn’t remember it. Details about what an altar is and what place it occupies in the temple are in our material.

Story

Altars appeared at the dawn of Christianity. In those days, in the catacomb churches, where Christians were sometimes forced to hide, the relics of the holy martyrs were fenced off in the eastern part. The relics were kept in a sarcophagus - a special stone tomb. It was there that the Sacrament of the Eucharist was performed in remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ according to His Testament.

The altars were located on a higher elevation compared to the other areas of the temple and symbolized the Throne of the Lord. Therefore, they always try to keep the Altar clean and decorate it with carpets, but not everyone has the right to enter there. Where the Sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated, the Last Supper symbolically takes place, when Christ gathered His disciples. Previously, in Old Testament times, the altar was called the “Holy of Holies.”

Altar structure

Altar

The altar is a table that is located in the northeastern part of the altar, not far from the Throne. At appropriate moments in the liturgy, the altar represents the cave where Christ was born, Golgotha, where He was crucified, and the heavenly Throne of Glory, where He ascended after the Resurrection.

It is here that preparations for Communion are made, and in the altar itself the vessels for performing the Sacrament are kept. The altar is usually beautifully decorated.

Throne

The altar is the table that is located in the central part of the altar. It is here that the Sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated, and only priests can touch this table. For laymen this is prohibited. The lower cover of the Throne is called catasarca, top – indium, which translated from Greek means “I dress.” The cover that is used to cover the throne with all the sacred objects on it at the end of the service is called veil.

The following are usually kept on the throne:

cross for blessing the believers,

Gospel,

antimins - illuminated fabric depicting the burial of Jesus Christ.

Inside the antimins there is another fabric called iliton.

In addition to Iliton, there is also an anti-mise sponge. With it, randomly falling particles of sacramental bread are collected on the iliton after the preparation of the Holy Gifts.

In the iliton there is a particle from the relics of a saint, a martyr saint.

Sacristy

To the right of the throne there is a special place where the clergy put on special clothes. The sacristy houses the liturgical vestments of priests, deacons and subdeacons. There are liturgical books here, as well as items used during the liturgy. In Bulgarian churches, especially in ancient churches, the sacristy most often becomes the most ordinary wardrobe or even a simple table.

Department

The pulpit is the chair on which the ruling bishop sits, symbolizing Christ the Pantocrator, and the clergy, in turn, depict the apostles or those elder priests from the vision of the Evangelist John the Theologian during bishop's services. In modern churches, ancient traditions are honored and a semicircle - an apse - is left in the eastern wall of the altar on the outside of the temple.

Who can enter the altar

Since women cannot be priests, they are also forbidden to enter the altar, although there is still no absolute prohibition. On rare occasions, deaconesses or nuns in nunneries could enter the altar.

Male laymen who have not received a special blessing for this cannot enter the altar.

But all clergy have the right to be in the altar:

Priests;

Subdeacons;

Readers.

All baptized men visited the altar once in their lives. During the Sacrament of Baptism, the priest takes the baby in his arms, brings him to the Royal Doors and, if we are talking about a boy, brings him to the altar.

The altar must be treated with respect and reverence; entering the altar without permission simply out of curiosity is not allowed. The altar, because of the Sacrament of the Eucharist performed in it, is a sacred place. We hope that knowledge about the structure of an Orthodox church will help you better understand the essence of the Sacraments performed in it.

Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes Guatemala

Archaeologists have found a carved stone altar in northern Guatemala that depicts the story of one of the previously unknown Mayan rulers. According to a press release from Tulane University of Louisiana, Chak Tok Ich'aak was a vassal of the Canul kingdom and under him began an expansion that allowed the Canul dynasty to establish control over most of the lowland Maya lands.

The Canul kingdom existed from the 1st century BC to the 10th century AD and occupied territories in the south of modern Mexico and in the north of Guatemala. The first reliable information about it dates back to the end of the 4th – beginning of the 5th century, when it occupied the territory of the modern Mexican state of Quintana Roo. In 530–540, the Kanul state expanded through expansion to the south and southwest. In the middle of the 6th century, Canul began to fight with the most powerful kingdom of Mutul at that time, with its capital in Tikal, which occupied lands in the territory of the modern Petén department in northern Guatemala. About 10 years later, the rulers of Canul captured Mutul and ruled almost all of the lowland Mayan territories for 200 years.

One of Canul's vassal and allied city-states was the city of La Corona, located in the north of modern Guatemala. Since 2008, American and Guatemalan archaeologists have been conducting excavations here. In 2017, an expedition led by Tomas Barrientos found a carved altar in the ruins of the temple. The limestone slab measuring 1.46x1.2 meters weighed about a ton, in the center of the altar was carved an image of the ruler of La Corona named Chak Tok Ich "aak, who holds a scepter in the form of a two-headed serpent, a symbol of his power. Deities emerge from each head - patrons of the city. On the right edge of the altar there was an inscription carved with the exact date, May 12, 544. Below there was an image of a supernatural creature decorated with aquatic plants. Other artifacts found in La Corona made it possible to establish that Chak Tok Ich "aak continued to rule at least. another 18 years and was ruler in 562.

In 544, the state of Kanul was ruled by the powerful Snake Dynasty, which was so called because of the hieroglyph that denoted a snake and served as the emblem of the dynasty. As evidenced by the inscriptions on the altar, Chak Tok Ich "aak married one of the princesses from the Snake dynasty. La Corona, which was located next to the kingdom of Mutul, became one of the strongholds of the Kanul dynasty. The rulers of Kanul created a “protective belt” of vassal states located on the borders of Mutul.

“The altar shows us part of the history of Guatemala, which happened about 1,500 years ago. And in this case, I would call it the historical Mayan version of the Game of Thrones,” says Thomas Barrientos. According to the scientist, the altar “filled in the gaps” and made it possible to “put together the pieces of the puzzle” regarding political relationships in the Mayan states. “This high-quality work of art shows us that these rulers became very powerful and formed alliances among themselves to compete with others, in this case, Tikal.”

At the beginning of 2018, archaeologists in northern Guatemala discovered more than 60 thousand Mayan buildings. These were cities with temples, palaces and fortifications, connected by a network of roads.

Ekaterina Rusakova