BEMA

The name of the bishop’s throne in the primitive church, or, as some understand it, the whole of the upper end of the church, containing the altar and the apsis. This seat or throne, together with those of the presbyters, was always fixed at the upper end of the chancel, in a semicircle beyond the altar. For anciently, the seats of the bishops and presbyters were joined together, and both were called thrones. The manner of their sitting is related by Gregory Nazianzen in his description of the church of An astasia, where he speaks of himself as bishop, sitting upon the high throne, and the presbyters on lower benches on each side of him.— Bingham. (See Apsis and Cathedral .)