Ablution refers to ceremonial washing before prayer or other religious observance.
It is said that we should go to the sacrifices and prayers washed, clean, and bright. It is said that this external adornment and purification are practiced as a symbol. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.435.
[DESCRIBING A LOVE FEAST:] After washing the hands and the bringing in of lights, each person is asked to stand forth and sing a hymn to God, as best he can. This can be either a hymn from the Holy Scriptures or one of his own composing. Tertullian (c. 197, W), 3.47.
“What reason is there to go to prayer with hands indeed washed, but the spirit foul? It is spiritual purities that are necessary for our hands, so that they can be “lifted up pure” from falsehood, and from murder. . . . These are the true purities. The true ones are not those which most persons are superstitiously careful about—such as using water at every prayer, even when they are coming from a bath of the whole body. When I was carefully making a thorough investigation of this practice, . . . I ascertained that it was a commemorative act, relating to the surrender of the Lord [when Pilate washed his hands]. However, we pray to the Lord; we do not surrender him. Tertullian (c. 198, W), 3.685.
In this manner, the Essenes perform ablutions in cold water. And after being cleansed in this manner, they retire together into one room. Hippolytus (c. 225, W), 5.134.”