When I was assigned to write about pulpits, I was at
a loss because I didn't think they had any spiritual meaning. I thought
they were there because they made it easier to read. Suffice it to
say that I had a lot to learn before I could write any article on
the topic since the information was so scarce. Webster defines a pulpit
to be two things: an elevated platform or high reading
desk used in preaching or conducting a worship service and the preaching
profession. It comes from the Latin pulpitum meaning staging or
platform. The word pulpit itself is used only once in the Holy Bible.
It is in the book of the prophet Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 4: "And
Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for
the purpose; and beside him stood Mattihiah, and Shema, and Anaiah,
and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his
left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana,
Zecharariah, and Meshullam." In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the
pulpit serves two main purposes. As the definition states, it is used
by the priest or preacher to give his lecture or sermon. But it is
also used to deliver the readings. Each of these can be looked at
closer.
1) The pulpit is used to deliver the sermon
After the gospel is read in the Divine Liturgy, where does abouna
stand when he does his sermon? He doesn't stand in the altar. Nor
does he stand in the middle of the church. Rather he stands behind
the pulpit. This is a custom that other religious denominations carry
as well. If you think like I do, you probably thought that the pulpit
is a good place to lean for the preacher. After all, he has to stand
for a long time in the service. Or, as long as it's there, he might
as well use it. The pulpit, however, has more significance than these
superficial reasons. In reference back to the verse, the "purpose"
they had for making it was so that Ezra could read the Book of the
Law of Moses to everyone. An important note on this: he didn't just
read the Law to the people; he interpreted it to them. Verse 8 says:
"So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and
they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading."
Thus, the preacher's main goal is to try to let the people understand
what it is that God wants them to do. This part hasn't changed after
all these years.
Although He didn't use one, our most important Preacher
established an important principle of the pulpit. Before His Sermon
on the Mount, "He went up on a mountain" (Matt 5:1). That principle
is the elevation of the preacher over the people. Because it makes
it easier for him to tell us what to do, right? Well, in addition
to that, it makes the people look up to him. The Priest explains the
Word of God which comes from Heaven so the people look upon him in
that same direction. If you looked at the second definition of pulpit,
you would note that it says the preaching profession. This shows how
connected the pulpit's structure is with the sermon. For example,
when I made a search for pulpit on the Internet, many sites featuring
sermons came up (none of which gave me the information I was looking
for). During our Orthodox services, we not only use the pulpit for
sermons, but for another very important function.
2) The pulpit is used for the daily readings.
The first part of the Divine Liturgy is the Liturgy of the Catechumens
in which all the people, not just the believers, get to listen to
the readings of the day. These begin with one of St. Paul's letters,
then the Catholic (Universal) Epistle, followed by a chapter from
the Acts of the Apostles, the Synaxarium, and finally the Gospel and
its Psalm. The Coptic Church created a special rank in its orders
to administer the readings which is called Agnostis, meaning reader.
Therefore, it's not just the priest or preacher that is allowed to
stand at the pulpit. The duty of these deacons is to tell the people
the Word of God which the priest will translate during his sermon.
This shows the harmony with which the two uses of the pulpit function.
You may notice that there are two pulpits in the Coptic Church. One
is supposed to face the east. This is used for the Coptic readings
which are sung in prayer. After the Coptic reading, the other pulpit
is used for the translation into either English or Arabic. The exception
is the Gospel which is sung regardless of the language. The Word of
God is meant to be heard, understood, and enjoyed by all, and the
pulpits insure that all of these happen. "He who has ears to hear,
let him hear!" (Luke 14:35)
Any science student will tell you that function is based
on structure. The Church was no different in the creation of the pulpit.
Its elevation gives the person reading from it authority that comes
from the telling of the Word of God. The facing of one signifies prayer
to God, while the direction of the other translates the Bible into
the vernacular language of the people listening so that they can benefit
from hearing it. The pulpit is not exclusive in that only the priest
can stand behind it, but deacons also participate in the spreading
of the knowledge of the Holy Book and the Lord Jesus Christ to lay
people and clergy alike for the benefit of whomever listens to the
person standing at the pulpit. So in the wisdom of our Church, even
the thing we read on has spiritual significance.
