 |
At
the
ambo,
or
reading
table,
the
words
of
Sacred
Scripture
are
proclaimed
in
the
Epistles
and
Gospels
during
the
celebration
of
the
Eucharist.
The
word
is
of
Greek
origin,
supposed
to
signify
a
mountain
or
elevation.
|
The
ambo
is
believed
to
have
taken
its
origin
from
the
raised
platform
from
which
the
Jewish
rabbis
read
the
Scripture
to
the
people.
They
were
first
introduced
into
churches
during
the
4th
century
and,
as
time
passed,
became
elaborately
constructed
and
decorated
pulpits
carved
from
precious
woods
or
marble.
Jefferson
Tortorelli
was
inspired
in
his
design
of
the
ambo
by
the
account
in
the
Gospel
of
Matthew
when
Jesus
walked
to
the
top
of
a
mountain,
turned
and
immediately
began
to
teach
the
people.
There
was
no
barrier,
no
elevated
desk,
no
protection
between
Jesus
and
His
listeners.
Tortorelli
decided
on
the
same
barrier
free
effect
for
the
ambo,
nothing
between
the
person
proclaiming
God's
Word
and
the
assembly.
The
reading
table
is
adjustable
so
that
it
is
accessible
to
all
people,
to
a
child,
a
person
in
a
wheelchair,
or
a
taller
adult.
The
main
body
of
the
approximately
1500
pound
ambo
is
constructed
from
jarrah
wood
specially
ordered
from
Australia.
The
exterior
is
accented
with
deep
red
bloodwood,
sometimes
called
cardinal
wood
or
satine.
The
steel
internal
working
mechanism
of
the
ambo
is
fully
mechanical,
not
electrical,
so
that
it
can
last
five
hundred
years
with
minimal
maintenance.
The
initial
mechanical
design
was
based
on
Tortorelli's
thought
that
if
he
were
able
to
build
something
similar
to
the
scales
of
justice,
he
would
be
able
to
raise
or
lower
the
tables
with
little
effort.
The
first
mechanical
design
drawings
were
done
by
Voytek
Siwiec.
After
the
initial
prototype
was
constructed,
Tortorelli
realized
that
with
the
weight
of
the
reading
table,
major
modifications
to
the
initial
design
were
required.
He
then
designed
and
built
the
final
design
mechanism.
"It
is
as
if
you
picture
in
your
mind
the
scales
of
justice
with
a
pivot
point
and
two
plates,"
Tortorelli
explains.
"When
they
are
in
perfect
balance,
you
can
raise
or
lower
each
dish
with
minimal
effort."
Learn
more
about
the
ARTIST.
