also probably carried in procession at the start of a service, started appearing upon altars instead of nearby, and as such marked a rather large evolution in the adornment of altars. Around the 14th century, altar crosses were almost universally replaced by crucifixes, probably now affordable by all churches, however, it was not until the 1570 Roman Missal of Pope Pius V that there is any mention of an obligation to have a crucifix on the altar.

Purpose and use