bema

American  

[bee-muh] / ˈbi mə /

noun

plural

bemata, bemas

1. Eastern Church. the enclosed space surrounding the altar; the sanctuary or chancel.

2. (in a Christian basilica) an open space between the end of the nave arcade and the apse.

3. bimah.

4. a platform for public speaking.

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bema British  

/ ˈbiːmə /

noun

1. the speaker's platform in the assembly in ancient Athens

2. Eastern Orthodox Church a raised area surrounding the altar in a church; the sanctuary

3. Judaism another word for almemar

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Etymology

Origin of bema

1675–85; < Greek bêma step, platform, equivalent to bē- (verbid stem of baínein to step, go; see come) + -ma (noun suffix denoting result of action)

Example Sentences

The apsidal chambers, usual in a church, are here represented by two niches in the bema.

From Byzantine Churches in Constantinople Their History and Architecture by Van Millingen, Alexander

Parabema, par-a-bē′ma, n. in Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture, the chapel of the prothesis or the diaconicon, or sacristy, where divided by walls from the bema or sanctuary:—pl.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

It is then carried round the building, and forms the impost moulding of the side arches in the bema and of the east window.

From Byzantine Churches in Constantinople Their History and Architecture by Van Millingen, Alexander

Dr. Freshfield thinks these frames formed part of the eikonostasis, but on that view the bema would have been unusually large.

From Byzantine Churches in Constantinople Their History and Architecture by Van Millingen, Alexander

The bema is almost square and is covered by a barrel vault formed by a prolongation of the eastern dome arch; the apse is lighted by a lofty triple window.

From Byzantine Churches in Constantinople Their History and Architecture by Van Millingen, Alexander