The presider's chair is the most ancient liturgical furnishing, possibly predating even the use of fixed altars. The priest celebrant's chair ought to stand as a symbol of his office of presiding over the assembly and of directing prayer. Thus the best place for the chair is at the back of the sanctuary and turned toward the congregation. "After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions." (Lk 2:46)

    At the altar, the table of the Lord, the sacrifice of the cross is made present under sacramental signs. It is also the table of the Lord and the people of God are called together to share in it. The altar is, as well, the center of the thanksgiving that the Eucharist accomplishes. "Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place...This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.' So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it." (Gn 28:16-18)

    Ancient synagogues had a raised area, called a bema, located near the ark, where the word of God was proclaimed. The early Christian bema - or ambo, as it is now often called - is a continued custom, which is designated as the raised and centered place for the proclamation of scripture. Ezra "read from the book of the law of Moses facing the square before the Water Gate...in the presence of the men and women and those who could understand...The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose. (Ne 8:3-4)

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