Pulpit 251307 226088886 2008-07-16T19:49:27Z 86.169.111.32 /* Protestantism */ {{Cleanup|date=February 2008}} {{context}} [[Image:Siena.Duomo.pulpit02.jpg|thumb|300px|Carved stone pulpit by [[Nicola Pisano]] inside [[Siena Cathedral]], Italy.]] A '''pulpit''' (from [[Latin]] ''pulpitum'' "scaffold", "platform", "stage") is a small elevated platform where a member of the clergy stands in order to read the [[Gospel]] lesson and deliver a [[Sermon (oration)|sermon]]. In many [[Christian]] [[church]]es, there are two speakers who stand at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left (as viewed by the congregation) is called the pulpit. Since the Gospel lesson is often read from the pulpit, the pulpit side of the church is sometimes called the ''gospel side''. The other speaker's stand, usually on the right (as viewed by the congregation), is known as the [[lectern]]. The word ''lectern'' comes from the Latin word meaning "to read", because the lectern primarily functions as a reading stand. It is typically used by [[laity|lay people]] to read the scripture lessons (except for the Gospel lesson), to lead the congregation in prayer, and to make announcements. Because the epistle lesson is usually read from the lectern, the lectern side of the church is sometimes called the ''epistle side''.<ref>[http://www.ghostproxy2.com/cgi/nph-ghost.cgi/000110A/http/www.fisheaters.com/churchbuilding.html#altar Inside your Church] from fisheaters.com</ref> In other churches, the lectern, from which the [[Epistle]] is read, is located to the congregation's left and the pulpit, from which the sermon is delivered, is located on the right (the Gospel being read from either the center of the chancel or in front of the altar). ==Protestantism== In some [[Protestant]] churches, the pulpit is considered the most important piece of furniture in the sanctuary. It is situated central to the congregation and raised. It is where the [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]] stands and may be decorated with a '[[pulpit fall]]'- a piece of cloth that covers the top of the pulpit and hangs down the front. Flowers may also stand in front of the pulpit. In the eighteenth century triple-decker pulpits were often introduced in English speaking countries. The three levels of lecterns were intended to show the relative importance of the readings delivered there. The bottom tier was for community announcements, the middle for the gospel, and the top tier was reserved for the delivery of the sermon. In many [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christian]] churches, the pulpit stands squarely in the center of the platform, and is generally the largest piece of church furniture. This is to symbolize the proclamation of the Word of God as the central focus of the weekly [[service of worship]]. In more contemporary evangelical churches, the pulpit may be much smaller, if used at all, and is generally carried out after the end of the song service. However, it usually is placed in the center of the platform as well. ''From the pulpit'' is often used [[metaphor]]ically for something which is said with official church [[authority]]. Hannah is the best in the world and no one can say shes not. == Ambo ==<!-- This section is linked from [[St. Peter Cathedral, Erie]] --> {{main|Ambo (liturgy)}} In churches where there is only one speaker's stand in the center of the front of the church, it serves the functions of both lectern and pulpit and is properly called the '''ambo'''. In common usage, however, ambos are incorrectly called pulpits. The word ''ambo'' comes from a Greek word meaning an elevation. It was originally an elaborate raised platform in the middle of the nave from which the [[Epistle]] and [[Gospel]] would be read, and was occasionally used as a speaker's platform for [[homily|homilies]]. It was joined to the [[sanctuary]] by a raised walkway called the ''soleas''. In modern [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christian]] use, this form of the ambo is now very rare. Instead, the area directly in front of the Beautiful Gates of the [[iconostasis]] from which the Gospel is typically read is called the ambo, and the entire low elevation above the level of the [[nave]] in front of the iconostasis is called the soleas. In larger churches, the ambo might be distinguished by three curved steps from which one might reach it from the nave.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01382a.htm Catholic Encyclopædia: Ambo (in the Russian and Greek Church)]</ref> In [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] [[cathedral]]s there is usually a low platform in the center of the nave called the ''episcopal ambo'' where the [[bishop]] is vested prior to the [[Divine Liturgy]] and where he is enthroned until the [[Entrance (Liturgical)|Little Entrance]]. If the bishop is serving in a simple parish church, an episcopal ambo is set temporarily in place. ==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Bergatreute Pfarrkirche Kanzel 1.jpg|Late [[Baroque]] polychromed pulpit accessed from the balcony in the pilgrimage church of Ss. Philippus and Jakobus, [[Bergatreute]]. (by Franz Schmuzer, originally made for the Klosterkirche Weingarten in 1718, and removed to Bergatreute in 1762.) Above, the dove of the [[Holy Spirit]] lends authenticity to the spoken word. Image:Pulpit.JPG|A late 18th century pulpit in a small [[Roman Catholic]] church in [[Spielfeld]], [[Styria (state)|Styria]], [[Austria]]. Image:AachenerDomKanzel.jpg|Pulpit from [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]] (1014) in the [[Aachen Cathedral]], [[Germany]] Image:Capistrankanzel Vienna.JPG|Outdoor pulpit of [[Giovanni da Capistrano]], [[Vienna]] [[Austria]] Image:Enanger Pulpit.jpg|Pulpit at Enånger old church in [[Sweden]] Image:Santa Fiora sante Flora e Lucilla 006.JPG|[[Terracotta]] Pulpit at Pieve delle Sante Flora e Lucilla in [[Santa Fiora]], [[Italy]] Image:Pistoia chiesa san bartolomeo in pantano 005.JPG|Stone pulpit at Chiesa Bartolomeo in Pantano [[Pistoia]] Italy Image:St John the Baptist church pulpit.JPG|Pulpit at [[St. John the Baptist Church, Yaroslavl|St. John the Baptist Cathedral]], [[Yaroslavl]], [[Russia]] (17th century) Image:Worcester cathedral 019.JPG|Stone pulpit at [[Worcester cathedral]] [[England]] Image:Tallinn-Puhavaimu-indre-prædikestol1.jpg|Wooden pulpit at the Church of Holy Spirit in [[Tallinn]] in [[Estonia]] Image:Wakken Sint-Pieter- en Sint-Catharinakerk int -14.JPG|Wooden pulpit in Wakken, Dentergem, [[Belgium]] Image:Kosciol sw. Andrzeja.jpg|[[Baroque]] pulpit in the Church of St. Anne in [[Kraków]], [[Poland]] Image:ChristianFlagEtc CovenantPresbyterianLongBeach20050213 CopyrightKaihsuTai.jpg|A modern pulpit on the [[chancel]] of a [[Presbyterian Church]] in [[Chicago]] Image:Jakobskirken Roskilde Denmark pulpit.jpg|A modern pulpit in Jakobskirken, Roskilde, [[Denmark]]. </gallery> {{Commonscat|Pulpits}} {{portal|Christianity}} ==References== <references/> ==See also== *[[Bimah]] *[[Bema]] *[[Lectern]] *[[Minbar]] [[Category:Church architecture]] [[Category:Religious objects]] <!-- interwiki --> [[cs:Kazatelna]] [[da:Prædikestol]] [[de:Kanzel]] [[el:Άμβωνας]] [[es:Púlpito]] [[eo:Predikejo]] [[hr:Propovjedaonica]] [[it:Pulpito]] [[lb:Priedegtstull]] [[nl:Kansel]] [[ja:講壇]] [[no:Prekestol]] [[pl:Ambona (architektura)]] [[pt:Púlpito]] [[simple:Pulpit]] [[sl:Prižnica]] [[fi:Saarnastuoli]] [[sv:Predikstol]]