APPARATUM ECCLESIARUM - Equipment of the Churches

[Sander 3156]

APPARATUM ECCLESIARUM;
OR,
THE EQUIPMENT OF THE CHURCHES

 

For the Outfitting, Supplying and Adorning of our Tabernacles;
The Chapels, Churches, and Cathedrals

 

By Father Arnaud

 

 

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FOREWORD

To my dear brothers and sisters of the Faith, blessings be upon you.

This writ, which I have sought to name Apparatum Ecclesiarum, serves as instructions and a guide for all of you, written by one of your own. In the first place, it serves as a guide to my brothers of the cloth; the clergymen of our Holy Church. Additionally however, I ask that any among the Canonist laity take note of this guide and ensure that their place of worship meets the requirements I have put forth here. For that is what this guide will service; a list of the furnishings, appliances and amenities that a properly outfitted Canonist tabernacle requires for its function. These will be divided into that which is mandatory to have (for the purposes of providing in the Sacraments or otherwise) and that which is optional to have (because it is preferred but has alternatives, or because it is not mandatory but still adds to the functionality of the tabernacle). I hope this guide serves you all well, that our Church may find use in it for providing for our flock, and that the Lord be pleased with our proper adornment of His Holy places.

 

 

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CHAPELS

 

CONSECRATION - MANDATORY
All sacred places meant for worship require being made holy according to the Rite of Consecration, for which four wooden stakes, a mallet and a vessel of holy water are required.

 

ICONOGRAPHY & RELICS - OPTIONAL
Iconography, or imagery of Saints and other Holy Figures as well as one or multiple relics, add to the Chapel as a point for the visitor to focus their worship towards.

 

HOLY WATER - OPTIONAL
Holy Water, also known as the Water of Gamesh, is water that has been sanctified through the Rite of Consecration and can be present in the chapel in the form of a vessel  for the purpose of cleansing.

ALTAR - OPTIONAL
An Altar is not required in a chapel, but can help focus the visitor’s worship as with Iconography. An Altar can additionally also be used for leaving offerings, lighting candles or performing sacraments. Preferably, the Altar should be on the eastern end of the Church, opposite the entrance, as the sun - a representation of GOD’s Holy Light, rises in the east. In Owynist Chapels, the Altar must have a fire or flame. In Ruskan Chapels, the Altar must be separated from the nave by an Iconostasis if there is space for such in the building.

VOTIVE CANDLES - OPTIONAL
Votive candles can be provided in the chapel to be used during prayer by the chapel visitor, or to be lit by visitors in remembrance of lost ones.

 

 

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CHURCHES

 

CONSECRATION - MANDATORY
All sacred places meant for worship require being made holy according to the Rite of Consecration, for which four wooden stakes, a mallet and a vessel of holy water are required.

 

PASTOR - MANDATORY
A pastor, also known as a Parish Priest, is required for each Church. The pastor provides the parish that the Church encompasses with his services such as the sacraments and mass, as well as advising the parishioners and maintaining Church property in the parish.

HOLY SCROLLS - MANDATORY
A copy of the Holy Scrolls should be present in any Church, either publicly accessible to visitors and parishioners, or privately held by the Pastor.

 

HOLY WATER - MANDATORY

Holy Water, also known as the Water of Gamesh, is water that has been sanctified through the Rite of Consecration and must be present in the Church both in a vessel and in a baptismal font. Holy Water is required in many sacraments, including the aforementioned baptism, for which the font is necessary. 

BAPTISMAL FONT/BASIN - MANDATORY
A basin or font filled with the aforementioned Holy Water must be present in each church for the purpose of the sacrament of Baptism.

SACRAMENTAL CLOTH - MANDATORY
A cloth, preferably white or decorated, must be present in each Church for the use in sacraments. It may be used in the sacrament of Baptism for kneeling on in case the person or people being baptized do not fit in the basin or font, but it must be used in the sacrament of Matrimony for the covering of the joined hands of the bride and the groom.
 

ALTAR - MANDATORY
An Altar is required to be present in each Church for the purpose of Mass as well as leaving offerings, lightning candles and performing sacraments such as Matrimony at. Preferably, the Altar should be on the eastern end of the Church, opposite the entrance, as the sun - a representation of GOD’s Holy Light, rises in the east. In Owynist Churches, the Altar must have a fire or flame. In Ruskan Churches, the Altar must be separated from the nave by an Iconostasis if there is space for such in the building.

CONFESSIONAL - MANDATORY
A Confessional, also known as a Confession Booth, is mandatory to be present in every Church in order for the rituals of repentance and penance to be conducted, which are key in the absolving of sins.

AMBO/PULPIT - MANDATORY
An Ambo, Pulpit or both are mandatory to have in any Church, as they serve as the place from which the pastor speaks when conducting mass. An Ambo can be a smaller stand on the floor - preferably a raised part of the floor near the altar - that the pastor stands behind when he preaches, and can even consist of just a lectern. A pulpit is preferable for larger churches however, as its place as an elevated booth or platform above the heads of the parishioners means the priest’s voice is heard and his expressions are seen more easily.

SILVER HORN - OPTIONAL
A silver horn is recommended to be present in the Church for use in the Rite of Consecration for the blessing of water into Holy Water, as well as for use in the sacrament of Baptism. However since there are alternatives for these uses, the Silver Horn is not mandatory. As the Rite of Consecration states a ‘sacred symbol’ is a viable alternative to the Silver Horn, a chalice with religious significance is a recommended alternative.

 

ICONOGRAPHY & RELICS - OPTIONAL
Iconography, or imagery of Saints and other Holy Figures as well as one or multiple relics, add to the Church as a point for the visitor or parishioner to focus their worship towards and as worthy decorations to adorn the Church. If the Church is large enough, stained glass windows, frescoes and murals are also recommended.

PEWS - OPTIONAL
In mainstream Canonist Churches, pews are mandatory as a place for the parishioners to be seated during services, though in both Owynist Rite and Ruskan Rite Churches, pews or indeed any place to sit during services are optional, with some traditionalist Churches of these Rites preferring to keep their parishioners standing.
 

PRAYER BOOKS - OPTIONAL
A set of prayer books or hymns may be made available to visitors or parishioners of the Church for reading during contemplation, prayer or singing hymns during Mass.

 

VOTIVE CANDLES - OPTIONAL
Votive candles can be provided in the Church to be used during prayer by the Church visitor, or to be lit by visitors in remembrance of lost ones.

 

DONATIONS BOX - OPTIONAL
A Church is recommended to have a donation box either in a fixed position near the entrance, or in portable form for walking down the nave. The donations collected in this could be used as alms for the poor or as a tithe for the Church to cover its expenses.

 

 

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CATHEDRALS

 

CONSECRATION - MANDATORY
All sacred places meant for worship require being made holy according to the Rite of Consecration, for which four wooden stakes, a mallet and a vessel of holy water are required.

BISHOP - MANDATORY
A Bishop, Archbishop or Patriarch is required for each Cathedral. These high-ranking Church officials not only rule and oversee all the parishes and Church affairs in their Diocese from their Cathedral, but also serve as the Cathedral’s parish’s Pastor. The Bishop thus provides his parish with services such as sacraments and mass just like a Pastor would.

 

HOLY SCROLLS - MANDATORY
A copy of the Holy Scrolls should be present in any Cathedral, preferably publicly accessible to visitors and parishioners, or privately held by the Bishop.

CATHEDRA - MANDATORY
The namesake of the Cathedral, the Cathedra, is naturally mandatory in these buildings. It serves as the - sometimes merely ceremonial - throne from which the Bishop rules his Diocese. In case the Bishop is not the priest conducting an ongoing church service, it is also where the Bishop sits during said service. The Cathedra should preferably be placed behind the Altar.

 

ALTAR - MANDATORY
An Altar is required to be present in each Cathedral for the purpose of Mass as well as leaving offerings, lightning candles and performing sacraments such as Matrimony at. Preferably, the Altar should be on the eastern end of the Cathedral, opposite the entrance, as the sun - a representation of GOD’s Holy Light, rises in the east. In Owynist Cathedrals, the Altar must have a fire or flame. In Ruskan Cathedrals, the Altar must be separated from the nave by an Iconostasis.

 

HOLY WATER - MANDATORY

Holy Water, also known as the Water of Gamesh, is water that has been sanctified through the Rite of Consecration and must be present in the Cathedral both in a vessel and in a baptismal font. Holy Water is required in many sacraments, including the aforementioned baptism, for which the font is necessary.
 

BAPTISMAL FONT/BASIN - MANDATORY
A basin or font filled with the aforementioned Holy Water must be present in each Cathedral for the purpose of the sacrament of Baptism.

 

SACRAMENTAL CLOTH - MANDATORY
A cloth, preferably white or decorated, must be present in each Cathedral for the use in sacraments. It may be used in the sacrament of Baptism for kneeling on in case the person or people being baptized do not fit in the basin or font, but it must be used in the sacrament of Matrimony for the covering of the joined hands of the bride and the groom.

 

CONFESSIONAL - MANDATORY
A Confessional, also known as a Confession Booth, is mandatory to be present in every Cathedral in order for the rituals of repentance and penance to be conducted, which are key in the absolving of sins.

 

AMBO/PULPIT - MANDATORY
An Ambo, Pulpit or preferably both are mandatory to have in any Cathedral, as they serve as the place from which the Bishop speaks when conducting mass. An Ambo can be a smaller stand on the floor - preferably a raised part of the floor near the altar - that the Bishop stands behind when he preaches, and can even consist of just a lectern. A pulpit is preferable for Cathedrals however, as its place as an elevated booth or platform above the heads of the parishioners means the priest’s voice is heard and his expressions are seen more easily.

ACOLYTE ROBES - MANDATORY
A Cathedral should have a few excess sets of attire for Acolytes in stock as to hand out to new recruits to the clergy that are being educated at the Cathedral.

ANOINTING OIL - MANDATORY
A vessel of anointing oil - usually olive oil that has been consecrated - should be present in any Cathedral for use in the Rite of Ordination where a single-barred cross is drawn with the oil on the forehead of an Acolyte to conclude their Ordination and make them a priest.

 

SILVER HORN - OPTIONAL
A silver horn is recommended to be present in the Cathedral for use in the Rite of Consecration for the blessing of water into Holy Water, as well as for use in the sacrament of Baptism. However since there are alternatives for these uses, the Silver Horn is not mandatory. As the Rite of Consecration states a ‘sacred symbol’ is a viable alternative to the Silver Horn, a chalice with religious significance is a recommended alternative.

 

ICONOGRAPHY & RELICS - OPTIONAL
Any Cathedral isn’t obligated, but is recommended to have plenty of iconography, or imagery of Saints and other Holy Figures as well as one or multiple relics. These form a point for the visitor or parishioner to focus their worship towards and also serve as worthy decorations to adorn the Cathedral. Stained glass windows, frescoes and murals as well as a reliquary to store the Holy relics are also recommended.

 

PEWS - OPTIONAL
In mainstream Canonist Cathedrals, pews are mandatory as a place for the parishioners to be seated during services, though in both Owynist Rite and Ruskan Rite Cathedrals, pews or indeed any place to sit during services are optional, with some traditionalist Cathedrals of these Rites preferring to keep their parishioners standing.

 

PRAYER BOOKS - OPTIONAL
A set of prayer books or hymns may be made available to visitors or parishioners of the Cathedral for reading during contemplation, prayer or singing hymns during Mass.

 

VOTIVE CANDLES - OPTIONAL
Votive candles can be provided in the Cathedral to be used during prayer by the Cathedral visitor, or to be lit by visitors in remembrance of lost ones.

 

ORGAN - OPTIONAL
A musical element can really add to Mass and other services held in the Cathedral. The preferred instrument for this music is the Organ, which can be added should there be room for such in the Cathedral.

SCRIPTORIUM - OPTIONAL
In large Cathedrals that serve or aim to serve as centers of learning, it is recommended that a Scriptorium be added where the clergy can work on writing and copying books during time between services. Such a Scriptorium can also serve as a small library.

REREDOS/RETABLE - OPTIONAL
The Reredos and Retable are both also referred to as the ‘altarpiece’, usually consisting of several joined panels depicting Saints or other Holy Figures, serving to decorate the altar. The Retable is an altarpiece that stands on top of the altar itself or is attached to the back of it, whereas the Reredos stands on its own on the floor behind the altar. Because of the size of the altar and nave these altarpieces require, they are usually only suited for Cathedrals.

CHOIR STAND - OPTIONAL
For singing hymns during ceremonies, a Choir may be desired, for which a Cathedral could potentially fit a Choir Stand, which should be positioned ideally to the left of the Altar.

DONATIONS BOX - OPTIONAL
A Cathedral is recommended to have a donation box either in a fixed position near the entrance, or in portable form for walking down the nave. The donations collected in this could be used as alms for the poor or as a tithe for the Cathedral to cover its expenses.

 

 

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In the name of the Lord, the Exalted and the Holy Light, Amen.

[Chorale__ 1693]

Prince Paul Alexander of the Petra grinned upon receiving the missive, "So smart, that Arnaud. I see that we share a love of writing as well as fishing." the youth mumbled, casting his rod out whilst reading a Medical Guide written by Rosina Py'lrie.