Altar cloth

Since the 2nd century the altar cloth has been seen as a symbol for the shroud of Jesus Christ; therefore it should be made of white linen.

Like the cere cloth, they were made of heavy linen exactly the same size as the mensa of the altar.

They acted as a cushion and, with the cere cloth, prevented the altar from being dented by heavy vases or communion vessels placed on top.

On an altar without antependium and consisting of the mensa resting on columns or made after the fashion of a tomb the topmost linen did not have to overhang the edges at the sides.

Five small crosses might be embroidered on the fair linen - one to fall at each corner of the mensa, and one in the middle of the front edge.

The present rules of the Roman Rite are much less detailed, stating only: Out of reverence for the celebration of the memorial of the Lord and for the banquet in which the Body and Blood of the Lord are offered, there should be, on an altar where this is celebrated, at least one cloth, white in colour, whose shape, size, and decoration are in keeping with the altar's structure.

Pope Boniface III is reputed to have passed a decree in the 7th century making the use of altar cloths mandatory.

The use of three cloths most likely began in the 9th century and was obligatory for Roman Rite churches at the time of the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Many churches of the Anglican Communion follow the tradition of the Roman Rite in preparing the altar for the Eucharist.

[10][11] An exception being the Church of Sweden, which generally continues to use the threefold dressing of the altar, albeit does not perscribe it as necessary.

[12] Likewise, the text The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Church specifies that "The Lord's Table should have upon it a fair linen cloth.

It is a piece of silk or linen which usually has an icon of the Deposition from the Cross depicted on it, and relics of a martyr sewn into it.

They are used like the Western purificator to wipe the lips of the communicants and to dry the chalice and other sacred vessels after the ablutions.

According to the Bible the Jews were using altar cloths at the time of the Exodus, "...And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense ... and the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, and the cloths of service..." (Exodus 31:8–10) The Jews traditionally used colour, "And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service..." which were to be used by the priests inside the tabernacle.