The answer
In the records of the early British and Irish churches, handbells were mentioned as early as the sixth century. Renaudot says that the bishops of Egypt who accompanied George, the Son of Nubia’s King on his visit to Egypt around 850 A. D., used to ring bells when the holy mysteries were raised. However, this custom has no trace in our rites today since we never
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use handbells in the altar. In the Catholic Church, handbells are used to urge the worshipers to bow down.
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty