A decorative cloth or panel that hangs in front of an altar in a church, often embroidered with religious designs.
From Medieval Latin 'antipendium,' combining 'anti-' (before) and 'pendium' (hanging), referring to what hangs before the altar. The term evolved to describe the ornamental frontal used in liturgical settings, particularly in Catholic and Anglican churches.
Antipendiums are essentially the fancy curtains of churches—they're not just decorative but often tell biblical stories through embroidery, making them both art and scripture rolled into one textile masterpiece.
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