Thabilitho
In the Syriac Orthodox Church a thabilitho is a wooden slab placed at the center of the altar and covered with cloth. During Holy Qurbana the paten and chalice are placed over it. It is consecrated with chrism by a bishop during the consecration of a church. Each thabilitho has inscribed on it the following: "The Holy Ghost has hallowed this thabilitho by the hands of Mar..." and the year. The Holy Qurbana can be celebrated anywhere on a thabilitho, and cannot be celebrated without one. The thabilitho symbolizes the Cross on which Jesus was crucified.
