Q. 1. What is the Sanctuary in the Catholic Church?

A. 1. The Sanctuary ("Sanctuarium" in Latin, meaning "holy place, shrine.") is the part of a Church that contains the Altar. If there are several Altars, the sanctuary is for the high (main) Altar. The Sanctuary is considered holy because of the physical Real Presence of God in the Eucharist, both during the Mass and in the Church Tabernacle the rest of the time.

The sanctuary is the center of the liturgical ceremony, clearly distinct from the main body of the Church where the faithful congregate.

In some Catholic Churches where the Tridentine/Traditional Latin Rite is practiced, between the Sanctuary and the main body of the Church, there is an Altar rail. (See the photo above.)

In the Byzantine Rite tradition, the Sanctuary is enclosed by the iconostasis (a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the central part of the Church from the sanctuary.)