Piscina (church)
The piscina (also: sacrarium ) in churches is a small water basin with a drain that leads into the ground.
In late medieval churches, a small water basin with a drainage device was called a piscinium or piscinie, but sometimes also a piscina. The term is often only used for the drainage device that leads through the church wall to the outside. The basins were used quite profanely for washing hands, cleaning the sacred utensils and collecting excess water. They were usually attached to the right of the altar , sometimes also in the sacristy on the outer wall of the church, so that water from the ablutions , excess holy or baptismal water and such that was used for the preparation of the offerings at the Eucharist did not run into the sewer system but could seep into the earth of the cemetery around the church .
An opening under the altar, in its vicinity or in another place (e.g. in the sacristy ) is also referred to as a sacrarium , where there is direct contact with the ground or a hole in the ground is accessible after lifting the ground cover. This place is intended for the dignified disposal of spoiled Eucharistic wine, spoiled Eucharistic bread (hosts), spoiled oils, etc.
Web links
- Lavabo or Piscina ( PDF )