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 Qurbono 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 in Syriac in the form of a cross the following statement: "The Holy Trinity sanctified this tablito by the hands of Mar N on." The Holy Qurbono can be celebrated anywhere on a thabilitho, and cannot be celebrated without one. The thabilitho symbolizes the Cross on which Jesus was crucified.