Editing Lectern (section)

=== Christianity ===
[[File:Crucifixion panel from the Siena Pulpit.jpg|thumb|''Crucifixion'' panel and [[eagle lectern]] from the [[Siena Cathedral Pulpit]], by [[Nicola Pisano]], 1268]]

In the [[Christian Church]], the lectern is usually the stand on which the [[Bible]] or other texts rest and from which the "lessons" (scripture passages, often selected from a [[lectionary]]) are read during the service. The lessons may be read or chanted by a priest, deacon, minister, or layperson, depending upon the liturgical traditions of the community. The lectern is normally set in front of the pews, so that the reader or speaker faces the congregation.

Lecterns are often made of wood. They may be either fixed in place or portable. A lectern differs from a [[pulpit]], the latter being used for [[sermon]]s though, especially historically, many pulpits include a built in lectern, for example [[Siena Cathedral Pulpit]] (Nicola Pisano, 1268). Churches that have both a lectern and a pulpit will often place them on opposite sides. The lectern will generally be smaller than the pulpit, and both may be adorned with [[antipendia]] in the color of the [[liturgical year|liturgical season]].
[[File:Adlerpult mit Fledermaus.jpg|thumb|[[Eagle lectern]] in the choir hall of [[Aachen cathedral]] with a [[bat]] cast in 1874 in [[Stolberg (Rhineland)|Stolberg]]. The bat on the eagle's back serves to stabilize the damaged lectern.]]

In monastic churches and cathedrals, a separate lectern is commonly set in the centre of the [[choir (architecture)|choir]]. Originally this would have carried the [[antiphonal]] book, for use by the [[cantor (church)|cantor]] or [[precentor]] leading the singing of the [[Canonical hours|divine office]]. [[Eagle lectern|Eagle-shaped lecterns]] are common,<ref name=Taylor>''How to read a church'', Richard Taylor, London 2003, {{ISBN|1-84413-053-3}}</ref><ref>George Ferguson, ''Signs and Symbols in Christian Art'', New York 1966</ref> though some, rather rarely, instead take the form of a pelican,<ref name=Taylor/> or an angel.

In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Eastern Catholic Churches]], a lectern on which [[icons]] or the [[Gospel Book]] are placed for veneration is called an [[analogion]]. It may also be used for reading from [[liturgical book]]s during the [[Divine Service (Eastern Orthodoxy)|divine service]]s.{{sfnp|Parry|Melling|Brady|Griffith|1999|p=27}}