Ambo-Westminster Cathedral

A lectern holds a book, but an ambo has a symbolic structure that supports the ritual proclamation of the Scriptures. The symbolic structure of the ambo is easily described from the antiphon for Easter Sunday:
The Angel of the Lord came down from heaven
rolled the stone away and sat on it. Alleluia.
The angel said to the myrrh bearing women:
He is not here. He has been raised from the dead. Go and tell the disciples!

 

The gospel is proclaimed from this monument of the empty tomb at Westminster Cathedral, London. This is epmty below, because he is not here and the tomb is empty. The empty space below is the negative expression of the resurrection.

The ambo of Westminster Cathedral, London. Note the empty space below, an image of the empty tomb.

The ambo of Westminster Cathedral, London.
Note the empty space below, an image of the empty tomb.

The positive expression is a medalion of the victorious lamb that was slain. It is centred above, in the place where the Gospel is proclaimed.

The victorious lamb that was slain: the positive image of the resurrection centred on the place where the deacon proclaimes the Gospel, from over the empty tomb.

The victorious lamb that was slain: the positive image of the resurrection
centred on the place where the deacon proclaimes the Gospel, from over the empty tomb.

The papal liturgy celebrated in Westminster Cathedral in 2010 provides a stunning example of how an ambo is used for the proclamation of the gospel from an ambo located in the midst of the assembly. The procession of the Book of the Gospels from the altar into the assembly and to the ambo as the choir sings the Alleluia is exemplary, as well as the direction the deacon faces for the actual proclamation of the Gospel.
Here is a link to a YouTube video of the proclamation of the Gospel during the Papal Mass at Westminster Cathedral (the first 4:35 minutes).

Sadly this ambo lacks a permanent paschal candle holder.