bema

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a raised platform in ancient Greece used by speakers, officials, or judges addressing an assembly or court

   The orator climbed the bema and called the Athenian assembly to order.

2. 2
   noun

   the raised sanctuary or altar area of an Eastern Christian church

   Only the clergy entered the bema during that part of the liturgy.

Through Late Latin and Late Greek from Ancient Greek bema, 'step, raised platform, or tribunal,' from bainein, 'to go or step.' The civic platform sense later developed specialized Christian and Jewish architectural uses.

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