PROPIITIATORY, any thing rendering God propitious; as we say propitiatory sacrifices, in contradistinction to sacrifices which were catabaristical. Among the Jews the propitiatory was the cover or lid of the ark of the covenant; which was lined both within and without with plates of gold, inasmuch that there was no wood to be seen. This propitiatory was a type or figure of Christ, whom St Paul calls the propitiatory ordained from all ages. See Ark of the Covenant.