Stripping of the Altar

Chancel of Houston Memorial UMC on Good Friday

Stripping of the Altar is a Christian liturgical practice that takes place on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday. This solemn ceremony involves the removal of all decorative and liturgical objects from the altar in preparation for the observance of Good Friday.

Significance

The practice symbolizes the humiliation of Jesus Christ at the hands of the Romans and the abandonment by his disciples. It serves as a visual representation of the desolation and sorrow that precedes the crucifixion of Jesus.

Procedure

During the Maundy Thursday service, after the Eucharist has been celebrated, the altar is stripped of its altar cloth, candles, cross, and any other liturgical items. The sanctuary is left bare, reflecting the solemnity of the occasion. In some traditions, the altar is also washed with water, symbolizing the tears of Mary and the disciples.

Variations

Different Christian denominations have variations in the practice of stripping the altar. In some Anglican and Lutheran churches, the stripping of the altar is accompanied by the reading of Psalm 22, which begins with the words, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" In the Roman Catholic Church, the practice is often followed by the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament in a place of repose.

Related Practices

The stripping of the altar is part of the larger observance of Holy Week, which includes other significant events such as Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. It is closely related to the Tenebrae service, which involves the gradual extinguishing of candles to symbolize the darkness that fell over the earth during the crucifixion.

See also

• Maundy Thursday
• Good Friday
• Holy Week
• Eucharist
• Tenebrae