Question

What is the purpose of a sacristy in an early Christian or Eastern church?

1) To store religious artifacts and vestments
2) To serve as a meeting place for church officials
3) To provide a space for private prayer
4) To house the church's treasury

Answer 1

The sacristy in early Christian or Eastern churches was primarily used to store religious artifacts and vestments, which included important and often opulent reliquaries.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of a sacristy in an early Christian or Eastern church is primarily to store religious artifacts and vestments. This storage area was crucial for preserving the relics and the opulent vestments used during religious ceremonies. In historical contexts, relics were considered extremely powerful. They held not only spiritual significance but also economic value as they attracted pilgrims, which in turn brought income to the church. The sacristy might have also housed reliquaries, which were often decorated with precious metals and gemstones. While a sacristy can serve different functions depending on the specific tradition and design of a church, its primary role is to safely store these items that hold religious importance.