reconsecrated

Reconsecrated is the past participle of reconsecrate, meaning that something has been consecrated again. Reconsecration refers to restoring the sanctity of a space, object, or altar that had previously been desacralized, profaned, or repurposed for secular use.

In Christian usage, reconsecration denotes a formal liturgical act to reestablish the sacred status of a place or object used for worship. In the Catholic Church, reconsecration of a church or altar is a solemn rite typically led by a bishop, performed after events such as desecration, profanation, substantial renovation, or a change in the space’s use. The rite may include expressions of dedication, the blessing of the space, the anointing of the altar with chrism, sprinkling with holy water, and prayers appropriate to the restoration of sacred worship. Similar concepts exist in Eastern Orthodoxy and Anglicanism, though the precise rites and terminology differ among traditions.

Outside strictly liturgical contexts, reconsecration can refer to re-establishing a sacred status for a space that had been secularized or reintroduced to religious use after a period of non-sacred designation. It is generally seen as a more uncommon and significant action, undertaken when the integrity of a sacred space is restored following desecration, major reconstruction, or a change in function.

See also: consecration, deconsecration.