Plural of 'ambo'; reading desks or lecterns in early Christian churches from which scriptures were read during services.
From Greek 'ambon' (pulpit), possibly derived from 'anabaino' (to go up), referring to the raised platform where clergy stood to address the congregation.
Ancient church ambos were architectural status symbols—richly decorated marble lecterns that signaled a church's wealth and importance, and their placement on opposite sides of the choir created an early form of antiphonal (call-and-response) singing.
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