Originally Posted by
TimothyH
Looks like he might have been the priest? Looks like a side altar. It surely isn't the main altar at a Cathedral, no?
The steps and above are a sacred space. Hallowed ground to some of us. The equivalent of the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament. Nobody is allowed there apart from those who are supposed to be there during Mass and the sacristans who set up for Mass. As a sacristan, altar server and MC I've had to remind people, politely, that you can't just walk up near the altar.
-Tim-
Tim, I respect your beliefs. My wife is the choir director at our church, on or near the alter in the sanctuary all the time, and I do a lot of work in the sanctuary. She is the last person I would expect to be purposely irreverent. We treat those area with reverence even though we are hammering, doing electrical work, and other work necessary for the function of the church. However, this particular "shrine" was in the middle of a large open area, and had no tabernacle, and was not used for services. It was more like an indoor shrine.
This is the setting with the "shrine" in the background.
