Bible Encyclopedias
Ambo

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

a raised platform or reading-desk, from which, in the primitive Church, the gospel and epistle were read to the people, and sometimes the sermon preached. Its position appears to have varied at different times; it was most frequently on the north side of the entrance into the chancel. The singers also had their separate ambo. — Bingham, Orig. Eccl. bk. 3, ch. 7.

Baldus and Durandus derive the name from the circumstance of there being a double flight of steps to the ambo; others, with more probability, from the Greek ἀναβαίνω , to ascend. Treatises on this subject are by Geret, De vet. ecclesioe ambonibus (Onold. 1757); Weidling, De ambonibus vet. ecclesiae (Lips. 1687). (See LESSON); (See PULPIT).

Something in the nature of an ambo or desk, no doubt, was in use from a very early period. Bunsen (Basiliken des christlichen Roms, p. 48) expresses his opinion that the ambo was originally movable. In the earlier centuries much of the Church furniture was of wood, and the ambones were probably of the same material. Wherever a presbyterium, or chorus cantorum, existed, an ambo was probably connected with it, being placed usually on one side of the enclosure. Where no chorus existed, the ambo was probably placed in the centre.