Altar Paraments Definition and Colors

Embellishments hanged on the walls of the church, adornments placed in the lecterns and in the altars, what are those? Those are paraments. Paraments are most commonly adorned in the altar of many churches. Thus, one may ask the altar paraments definition.

In liturgical celebrations and other church services, one may notice the presence of ecclesiastical adornments and embellishments decorated around the church most specially in the altar area. These altar paraments are also seen decorated in pulpits, lecterns together with ecclesiastical vestments and mitres.

Let’s now have some information on altar paraments definition. At present, paraments in many churches are being associated in a liturgical sense as church embellishments or adornments. The term parament was derived from the Latin word paramentum which simply means adornment. During the early years in Church, it referred to the embellishments and adornments hanged in a room to add sophistication and beauty.

In a particular liturgical season, a specific parament color is associated. Since paraments normally come in different colors which depend on the liturgical season a Church celebrates, let us know the different altar paraments definition.

Pink- symbolizes joy and happiness. In various churches it is used either for the Third or Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Joy at the impending birth of Jesus.

White- symbolizes purity, holiness, and virtue, as well as respect and reverence. White is used for all high Holy Days and festival days of the Church Year, especially the seasons of Christmas and Easter, as well as during baptism and marriage.

Green- symbolizes the renewal of vegetation and generally of living things and the promise of new life. It is used for the Season of Epiphany between Transfiguration Sunday and the beginning of Lent, and for Ordinary Time between Trinity Sunday (first Sunday after Pentecost) and the beginning of Advent.

Purple- can symbolize pain, suffering, and therefore mourning and penitence. It is the liturgical color for the Season of Lent.

Red- is the color of fire and so symbolizes the presence of God. It is the liturgical color for Pentecost. It is sometimes used for Maundy Thursday and during Eastertide. In Roman Catholic tradition it is used for Palm Sunday in anticipation of the death of Jesus.

Black- represents death and mourning. It is used only on Good Friday and Holy Saturday before the Easter Vigil, with no other decorations or colors. Sometimes black is used to cover other sanctuary symbols or to drape the sanctuary cross and altar on Good Friday.

Anyone could notice that different colors of paraments are used in different liturgical seasons. The colors of the paraments represent what season is celebrated. If you are looking for paraments that are of various colors and styles that are to be used in Church events, Churchgoers.com is the best site for you to visit. The site offers paraments of many kinds and styles at an affordable rate.

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