Q: Could you provide any historical context or liturgical documents regarding the placing of two angels near the tabernacle? It seems to be a growing trend.
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A: I’m not sure when the practice originated, and I don’t recall seeing legislation pertaining to it.
However, like a lot of iconography, there is a precedent in the bible. You probably know this, but God’s instructions for building the ark of the covenant called for two cherubim of beaten gold at the ends of the cover. Their wings were to be spread out, their heads facing each other, their faces looking down (Exodus 25:18-20). Because of symbolism linking tabernacles containing eucharistic bread with the ark that contained some of the manna, many churches adopted the image of the two angels.