Sacristy

In the Orthodox Church, the altar always faces east. Only those altar servers who have reason to be in the altar area are allowed in that most sacred of places, where the body and blood of Jesus Christ is sanctified during the Divine Liturgy. To the north of the altar is a separate area, the sacristy. There the Holy Gifts are prepared, the bread and the wine. The utmost care, respect, and reverence are displayed in the handling of the vessels, chalice, veils, censers, and other implements used in the consecration of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.