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Abata

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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(ἄβατα , inaccessible), a name given in early times to the altar, on account of the exclusion of the laity therefrom. The Council of Trullo (q.v.), canon 69, decreed "that no layman whatsoever should come into the altar part, except only the emperor, when he had made his oblation to the Creator, according to ancient custom." It was called adyta by the Latins. See Bingham, Christ. Antiq. bk. 8 ch. 6, § 7.