1. Not only is a church consecrated, but also the altar: and this for three reasons. First, with regard to the sacrament thereon to be offered to God. Noah [Footnote 411] built an altar to the Lord, and offered a sacrifice upon it, taking some of all clean birds and beasts. But this sacrament is the Body and Blood of Christ which is sacrificed in remembrance of the Lord's Passion, according to the command, 'This do in commemoration of Me.' [Footnote 412] [Footnote 411: Genesis viii.] [Footnote 412: S. Luke xxii, 19.] 2. Secondly, with regard to the invocation in that place of the name of God: whence [Footnote 413] Abraham built an altar to God who appeared unto him, and called there upon the name of the Lord. But this invocation, which takes place over the altar, is properly called the Mass. [Footnote 413: Genesis xii.] 3. Thirdly, with regard to chanting: 'He gave him patience against his enemies, and caused singers also to stand before the altar, that by their voices they might make sweet melody.' [Footnote 414] [Footnote 414: Eccles. xlvii, 9.] {114} 4. The consecration of an altar is performed in this method and order. The bishop beginneth, 'O God, make speed to save us.' Afterwards he blesseth the water, and then at the four horns [Footnote 415] of the altar he describeth four crosses with the consecrated water. Next, he goeth round the altar seven times, and sprinkleth the _table_ [Footnote 416] of the altar seven times with holy water, by means of an aspersory of hyssop. The church also is again sprinkled, and the remainder of the water is poured at the foot of the altar: and then four crosses be made with chrism at the four corners of the sepulchre in which the relics are to be deposited; and the relics themselves be placed in a case, together with three grains of frankincense, and so be buried in the sepulchre. Then is placed upon the sepulchre its cover, [Footnote 417] strengthened in the middle by the sign of the cross: afterwards the stone, which is called the table, is fitted to the top of the altar, and when fitted is anointed with oil in five places, and in the same way is further anointed afterwards with chrism, as hath been said when speaking about oil. The altar also is confirmed in front by the chrism applied in the form of the cross, and incense is burnt upon it in the five places. After this the altar is covered up, and is spread with clean cloths, and then at length the sacrifice is celebrated upon it. Now let us follow out each of the above-mentioned ceremonies in succession. [Footnote 415: The word _horn_ appears to be used simply for _corner_, evidently with reference to the altar of the temple, which had raised projections, or horns at its angles.] [Footnote 416: We shall use the word _table_ to denote the _mensa_ or upper surface of the altar, on which the chief part of the ceremonies of consecration were performed.]