oltár

Oltár is the Hungarian term for altar, a consecrated or raised surface used as the focus of worship and sacramental rites in many religious traditions, most notably Christianity. In church architecture the altar serves as the primary table for the Eucharist and for other sacred actions. It can be a freestanding table, a raised platform, or a built-in element at the end of the nave or within the sanctuary. Altars are also found in chapels and private devotional spaces.

Altars are typically made from stone, marble, wood, or metal, and are often covered with cloth or frontal. They commonly bear liturgical objects such as a cross or crucifix, candles, a chalice and paten, and may house relics. In Catholic and Orthodox churches the altar is a central symbol of sacrifice and remembrance. The design and placement of the altar are usually coordinated with the overall liturgical architecture, such as an apse in Western churches or an iconostasis in Orthodox settings.

Historically, altars evolved from simple raised places for offerings in ancient temples to elaborately decorated structures in medieval and Baroque churches. The Reformation led some Protestant communities to replace or simplify altars, favoring a communion table instead. Altars serve as the locus of worship, sacrifice, and prayer, and they often support art, inscriptions, or altarpieces that depict scenes from scripture.