holyof holies

holy of ho·lies (hōʹlēz) n.

1. Judaism. The sanctuary inside the tabernacle in the Temple of Jerusalem, in which the Ark of the Covenant was kept.

2. Eastern Orthodox Church. The bema or sanctuary in a church.

3. A place of awe.

  [Translation of Late Latin sānctum sānctōrum(ultimately translation of Hebrew qōdeš haq-qodāšîm): sānctum, neuter of sānctus, holy + sānctōrum, neuter genitive pl. of sānctus.]

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