the holy of holies was entered once a year by the high priest on the day of atonement, to sprinkle the blood of sacrificial animals (a bull offered as atonement for the priest and his household, and a goat offered as atonement for the people) and offer incense upon the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat which sat on top of the ark in the first temple (the second temple had no ark and the blood was sprinkled where the ark would have been and the incense was put on the brazen altar of incense). the animal was sacrificed and the blood was carried into the most holy place. the golden censers were also found in the most holy place.