Altar-cloth

Altar-Cloth (linfeamen,palla; ἄμφιον, ἃπλωμα, etc.), an ordinary term for that covering of the altar which, made of silk, velvet, satin, or cloth, is placed over and around it. The altar-cloth is usually made in two portions: first, the antependium, which hangs down in front and is often richly embroidered; and, secondly, the superfrontal, which covers the slab and hangs down about six inches, both in front and at the sides. Such cloths, of different kinds and of various materials (originally of linen only), appear to have been in use in the earliest Christian times. See Smith, Dict. of Christ. Antiq. s.v.; Lee, Gloss. of Liturg. Terms, s.v. SEE SUPERFRONTALE.