certain branches of christianity, including the eastern orthodox church, and the ethiopian orthodox church continue to have a tradition of a holy of holies which they regard as a most sacred site. the ciborium, a permanent canopy over the altar in some churches, once surrounded by curtains at points in the liturgy, symbolizes the holy of holies. some christian churches, particularly the catholic church, consider the church tabernacle, or its location (often at the rear of the sanctuary), as their symbolic equivalent of the holy of holies, due to the storage of consecrated host in that vessel.