Lavabo

In secular usage, it is an obsolete[citation needed] term for any sink or basin for washing hands, especially in a lavatory.

Churches from the time of Constantine the Great were built with an exonarthex that included a fountain known as a cantharus, where Christians would wash their hands, face and feet before entering the worship space.

[1][2][3] The practice of ablutions before prayer and worship in Christianity symbolizes "separation from sins of the spirit and surrender to the Lord.

[1] In many early and medieval monasteries, there would be a large lavabo (lavatorio) where the brethren would wash their hands before entering the church.

St. John Chrysostom mentions the custom in his day of all Christians washing their hands before entering the church for worship.

In the Roman Rite, the celebrant washes his hands privately before vesting for Mass, perhaps using the prayer (Da, Domine, virtutem).

[6] At High Mass (or sung Mass), in the older rite, and in the more solemn forms available in the newer version, after the offertory, the celebrant incenses the altar and is then incensed himself at the Epistle side (south side of the altar), he remains there while his hands are washed by the acolytes, who ought to be waiting by the credence table.

A bishop at high Mass wears the "precious" mitre (mitra pretiosa) while he is censed and then washes his hands.

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem mentions a washing of hands that takes place in the sight of the people (Mystagogical Catechism, v).

After drying his hands, the bishop goes to the prothesis to make his personal commemorations for the living and the dead, as he removes particles from the prosphora.

In several European languages (French, Italian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Turkish), lavabo is the modern word for sink or washbasin.