All types of temples. Orthodox church
Unlike Catholic churches, which were built in accordance with the artistic style prevailing at the time of construction, Orthodox churches were built in accordance with the symbols of Orthodoxy. Thus, each element of an Orthodox church carries some information about who the temple is dedicated to, about some features of Orthodoxy itself, and much more.
SYMBOLISM OF THE TEMPLE
Temple shape
- Temples in the form cross were built as a sign that the Cross of Christ is the Foundation of the Church, through the Cross humanity has been delivered from the power of the devil, through the Cross the entrance to heaven has been opened.
- Temples in the form circle, as a symbol of eternity, they speak of the infinity of the existence of the Church, its indestructibility.
- Temples in the form eight-pointed star symbolize Star of Bethlehem, who led the Magi to the place where Christ was born. In this way, the church testifies to its role as a guide in human life.
- Temples in the form ship- the most ancient type of temple, figuratively expressing the idea that the Church, like a ship, saves believers from the disastrous waves of everyday voyage and leads them to the Kingdom of God.
- There were also mixed types temples connecting the above forms.
Number of domes
The different number of domes, or chapters, of a temple building is determined by who they are dedicated to.
- Single-domed temple: the dome symbolizes the unity of God, the perfection of creation.
- Double-domed temple: the two domes symbolize the two natures of the God-man Jesus Christ, the two areas of creation (angelic and human).
- Three-domed temple: the three domes symbolize the Holy Trinity.
- Four-domed temple: the four domes symbolize the Four Gospels, the four cardinal directions.
- Five-domed temple: five domes, one of which rises above the others, symbolize Jesus Christ and the four evangelists.
- Seven Domed Temple: seven domes symbolize seven Sacraments of the Church, seven Ecumenical Councils, seven virtues.
- Nine-domed temple: nine domes symbolize nine ranks of angels.
- Thirteen-domed temple: thirteen domes symbolize Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles.
The helmet shape symbolizes the spiritual warfare (struggle) that the Church wages against the forces of evil.
Bulb shape symbolizes the flame of a candle.
The unusual shape and bright colors of the domes, such as that of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg, speaks of the beauty of Paradise.
Dome color
- The domes are turning golden at temples dedicated to Christ and twelve holidays
- Blue domes with stars indicate that the temple is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Temples with green domes dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
The diagram of the building of an Orthodox church presented below reflects only the most general principles of temple construction; it reflects only the basic architectural details inherent in many temple buildings, organically combined into a single whole. But with all the variety of temple buildings, the buildings themselves are immediately recognizable and can be classified according to the architectural styles to which they belong.
Absida- an altar ledge, as if attached to the temple, most often semicircular, but also polygonal in plan, it houses the altar.
Drum- a cylindrical or multifaceted upper part of the temple, over which a dome is built, ending with a cross.
Light drum- a drum, the edges or cylindrical surface of which is cut by window openings
Chapter- a dome with a drum and a cross crowning the temple building.
Zakomara- in Russian architecture, a semicircular or keel-shaped completion of part of the outer wall of a building; as a rule, it repeats the outlines of the arch located behind it.
Cube- the main volume of the temple.
Bulb- a church dome resembling an onion in shape.
Nave(French nef, from Latin navis - ship), an elongated room, part of the interior of a church building, bounded on one or both longitudinal sides by a number of columns or pillars.
Porch- an open or closed porch in front of the entrance to the temple, elevated relative to ground level.
Pilaster(blade) - a constructive or decorative flat vertical protrusion on the surface of a wall, having a base and a capital.
Portal- architecturally designed entrance to the building.
Tent- a high four-, six- or octagonal pyramidal covering of a tower, temple or bell tower, widespread in the temple architecture of Rus' until the 17th century.
Gable- completion of the façade of a building, portico, colonnade, enclosed by roof slopes and a cornice at the base.
Apple- a ball at the end of the dome under the cross.
Tier- horizontal division of the building volume decreasing in height.
Bell towers, belfries, bells
Bell tower- a tower with an open tier (ringing tier) for bells. It was placed next to the temple or included in its composition. In medieval Russian architecture, pillar-shaped and tent-shaped bell towers are known, along with belfries of the wall-shaped, pillar-shaped and chamber type.
Pillar-shaped and tent-shaped bell towers can be single-tiered or multi-tiered, as well as square, octagonal or round in plan.
Pillar-shaped bell towers are also divided into large and small. Large bell towers are 40-50 meters high and stand separately from the temple building. Small pillar-shaped bell towers are usually included in the temple complex. The currently known versions of small bell towers differ in their location: either above the western entrance to the church, or above the gallery in the northwestern corner. Unlike free-standing pillar-shaped bell towers, small ones usually had only one tier of open bell arches, and the lower tier was decorated with windows with platbands.
The most common type of bell tower is the classic single-tier octagonal hipped bell tower. This type of bell tower became especially widespread in the 17th century, when hipped bell towers were almost an integral part of the Central Russian landscape. Occasionally, multi-tiered tented bell towers were built, although the second tier, located above the main ringing tier, as a rule, did not have bells and played a decorative role.
Under the influence of Western European culture, baroque and classical multi-tiered bell towers began to appear in large numbers in Russian monastery, temple and city architectural ensembles. One of the most famous bell towers of the 18th century was the large bell tower of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where four more tiers of bells were erected on the massive first tier.
Before the appearance of bell towers in the ancient Church, bell towers were built for bells in the form of a wall with through openings or in the form of a belfry-gallery (ward belfry).
Belfry- this is a structure built on the wall of a temple or installed next to it with openings for hanging bells. Types of belfries: wall-shaped - in the form of a wall with openings; pillar-shaped - tower structures with a multifaceted base with openings for bells in the upper tier; ward type - rectangular, with a covered vaulted arcade, with supports along the perimeter of the walls.
Information taken from the site
A temple is a special religious building, the main purpose of which is to conduct services and perform religious rituals. The word "temple" originates from the Proto-Slavic language, where it meant "house".
And indeed, from ancient times to the present day, a temple for many believers has much more significance than just a place for religious and cult rites. For a long time, temples often served as a central city-forming architectural structure, served as a place for public meetings for residents of a particular locality, were the venue for holidays and ceremonies, and also had the character of memorial monuments and gave people the opportunity to hide within their walls from persecution by the authorities.
The main difference between a temple and all other types of religious buildings (chapels, mosques, synagogues, Protestant prayer houses and many other religious buildings) is the presence of an altar, which since ancient times served as a place for making sacrifices.
Types of temples.
In many religions, a temple is a shrine in which believers gather to perform rituals and pray. There are a great many types of temples, among which are the following:
- Egyptian temples;
- Greek temples;
- Roman temples;
- Chinese temples - pagodas;
- Indian temples;
- Hindu temples;
- Christian churches(they are more often called churches);
- Muslim temples(they are called mosques);
- Buddhist temples- datsans.
The ancient Assyrians, Greeks or Egyptians chose the most beautiful places to locate their temples. As civilization developed, religious buildings began to be built more and more majestic and beautiful.
The Karnak temples in Egypt, the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, and Roman temples have gained worldwide fame. Unfortunately, today only ruins remain of many of these architectural gems of the past.
Egyptian temples.
In ancient Egypt, temples were seen as homes for the gods or kings to whom they were dedicated. The Egyptians performed various religious rituals in them, brought gifts and offerings to the gods, and performed many other religious actions.
The pharaoh provided the gods with housing, took care of their well-being and the safety of the temples, while the rest of the ritual duties were performed by the priests. Ordinary, ordinary residents of Egypt did not have the right to take part in ritual ceremonies.
Moreover, ordinary Egyptians did not have access to the most sacred places in the temple. but at the same time, the Egyptian temple had an important cult significance for the inhabitants of Egypt of all classes and estates, who came to the sacred place to pray, ask the gods for help, and also learn some prophetic information from the deity, who, according to their beliefs, lived in the temple .
Hindu temple.
According to the peculiarities of architectural style, a Hindu temple can be either an independent, free-standing structure, or be part of a building. The main characteristic feature of the structure is the presence of a murti - a statue, a relief or painted image of God or a saint to whom the temple is dedicated. Sometimes there may even be several such saints.
In the religious tradition of Hinduism, during the ceremony of consecrating a temple, God or a specific saint is invited to come and receive his incarnation as a stone, wooden or metal idol - a murti, which believers will subsequently worship.
Sometimes Hindu temples can be located not only in man-made structures, but also in caves created by nature itself. An example of such a Hindu shrine is the Amarnath cave, which is located in India, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
In Hindu mythology, this is the cave where God Shiva explained the secret of Parvati's life. This place is sacred to Hindus and serves as a temple dedicated to the god Shiva.
Indian temples.
All buildings in the Indian temple complex were not located randomly, but were in strict order. Based on the results of aerial photography, scientists found that the structures form regular geometric shapes. Among them, the researchers noticed a square, as well as equilateral and right triangles.
Scientists - archaeologists have hypothesized that the Temple of the Sun served to monitor the movement of celestial bodies and astronomical calculations that were made by ancient Indian priests.
According to experts, the construction of the Sun Temple dates back to the beginning of the 13th century AD. It was built by the Indians, who inhabited this region since the 5th century AD. Within the walls of the temple there are four kivas - unique ring structures that were used as an ancient observatory.
introduce students to the external structure of the temple and its symbolism
Tasks:
- draw children's attention to the main thing that is common in the structure of all temples
- show that there is nothing accidental in the structure of the temple, everything is symbolic
- explain the symbolism of different numbers of domes
- explain the purpose of bell ringing
- explain the importance of reverent attitude towards the temple
References:
- Dorofeev V., prot., Yanushkyavichene O.L. Fundamentals of Orthodox culture: Textbook, 3rd grade. – M., 2009.
- Lorgus A., priest, Dudko A., priest. A book about the Church. – M.: Pilgrim, 2005.
Additional literature:
- The Law of God: In 5 books. – M.: Knigovek, 2010. – T.2.
Key concepts:
- Dome
Lesson vocabulary:
- Altar
- Side chapel
- Piety
- Awe
- Sign of the Cross
Lesson content (open)
Illustrations:
Test questions:
- Explain the word "reverence."
- What is the bell tower for?
During the classes. Option 1:
A teacher's story on a new topic, accompanied by illustrations.
Watching video materials (fragments).
Reinforce the topic using test questions.
During the classes. Option 2:
Review what you have learned using test questions.
Teacher's story on a new topic using a presentation.
Practical work for children: modeling or drawing in the “My Temple” notebook.
Video materials:
- TV project "The Law of God". Part 71 “The Temple and its structure. Part 2":
- Film "The ABC of Orthodoxy":
- Audio. Monk Barnabas. “Orthodox encyclopedia for the little ones in verse” “How beautiful it is in our temple.”
- Part "Temple Architecture".
- TV project “The House Where God Lives.” Part of "Bells" Bell ringing."
As we already learned last time, Orthodox people gather in churches to pray. The temple is not an ordinary building. Instead of a roof, it has a dome or several domes, and on each dome there is a cross so that everyone knows that the temple is dedicated to God. This is the house of God. The owner there is the Lord.
1) Origin of the temple
The Lord Himself gave people in the Old Testament, through the prophet Moses, instructions on what a temple should be like for worship; The New Testament Orthodox church is built according to the model of the Old Testament. Just as the Old Testament temple was divided into three parts: the Holy of Holies, the sanctuary and the courtyard, so the Orthodox Christian temple is divided into three parts: the altar, the middle part of the temple and the vestibule.
Just as the Holy of Holies then meant, so now the altar means the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Old Testament, no one could enter the Holy of Holies. And only the high priest entered there once a year. Now priests and persons helping them (altar servers) can enter the altar of an Orthodox church, since Christ opened the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven for those who come to Him with faith.
The middle part of the temple corresponds to the sanctuary in our Orthodox church. None of the people had the right to enter the sanctuary of the Old Testament temple, except the priests. All Christian believers stand in our church, because now the Kingdom of God is closed to no one.
The courtyard of the Old Testament temple, where all the people were, corresponds in the Orthodox church to the vestibule, which now has no significant significance. Previously, there were catechumens standing here who were just preparing to become Christians and had not yet been baptized. Only sometimes people who have seriously sinned are now temporarily sent to stand in the vestibule for correction.
2) Temple orientation
Orthodox churches are always built with the altar facing the east, since the east, from where the sun rises, symbolically resembles the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Good and Love. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the “east” for us; from Him the eternal Divine Light has shone for us. It is not for nothing that Jesus Christ is called in the Christmas troparion (the short main holiday prayer) the “Sun of Truth” and the “Height of the East,” and in other prayers they say “East is His name.”
3) Consecration of the temple
Temples are consecrated in honor of one or all Persons of the Holy Trinity, the Mother of God, angels and saints and bear appropriate names, for example: Trinity Cathedral (that is, consecrated in honor of the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity), church in honor of the Nativity of Christ, church in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God , Kazan Cathedral (in honor of the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God), St. Nicholas Cathedral (in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker) and so on. If several altars are installed in a temple, each of them is consecrated in memory of a special event or saint. Then all the altars, except the main one, are called chapels or chapels.
Temples can be built in the form of a cross, since Jesus Christ, suffering on the cross, atoned for the sins of people. Or in the form of a ship - as a reminder that the Church is likened to a large ship sailing on a stormy sea. The sea is human life, in which there are inevitably sorrows, trials, and illnesses. That's why it's called stormy. In the Church, as in a reliable ship, a person can safely reach a quiet harbour—eternal bliss. Temples are also built in the form of a circle, which is reminiscent of eternity, since the circle has neither beginning nor end. The temple may also be built in the form of an octagon, like a star, meaning that the Church, like a guiding star, shines in this world.
5) Temple dome
The temple building usually ends with a dome on top, representing the sky. The dome of the church also symbolizes a burning candle, the fervor of prayer and a person’s aspiration to God. The dome ends at the top with a dome on which a cross is placed, to the glory of the head of the Church - Jesus Christ. Often, not one, but several chapters are built on a temple, then: two chapters mean two natures in Jesus Christ (that He is both God and man); three chapters - three Persons of the Holy Trinity; five chapters - Jesus Christ and the four evangelists (who wrote the Gospels), seven chapters - the seven Sacraments and seven Ecumenical Councils, nine chapters - the nine orders of angels, thirteen chapters - Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles, and sometimes more chapters are built.
Above the entrance to the temple, and sometimes next to the temple, a bell tower or belfry is built, that is, a tower on which the bells hang. Bell ringing is used to call believers to prayer, and also to announce the most important parts of the service performed in the church. The ringing of one bell is called “blagovest” (good, joyful news about the divine service). The ringing of all the bells, expressing Christian joy, for example, on the occasion of a solemn holiday, is called “trezvon”. The ringing of bells to mark a sad event is called “chime.” The ringing of bells reminds us of the higher, heavenly world.
7) Relationship to the temple
When we need to go to visit some important person, we try to dress better and put ourselves in order - to be beautiful and neat. Orthodox people do the same when they go to church. But this is not the most important thing. Orthodox people believe that God sees people not only on the outside, but also on the inside – their thoughts and feelings. Therefore, the most important thing for them is to put their thoughts and feelings in order. Entering the temple, they try to concentrate, calm down, not think about anything extraneous, and not get angry with anyone. If a person remembers that he is in a quarrel with someone, then before going to church, he tries to make peace and ask for forgiveness.
At the very entrance to the temple, you are supposed to cross yourself (make the sign of the cross) and read the prayer: “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen". When being baptized, a person depicts on himself the symbol of Christ’s suffering for human sins. Therefore, this should be done with the greatest reverence and attention. Carelessly performing the sign of the cross is a sin. Also, in general, the attitude towards worship, towards icons, towards all objects related to Christianity, and towards oneself, as a participant in church services, must be pious, that is, in accordance with the traditions accepted by the Orthodox Church. Of course, church piety begins with the attitude towards the temple. If a person comes to the temple with reverence and respect for the shrines, then such a person will be received with all the warmth of his soul, and he will not feel like a stranger here.
Test questions:
- Explain the word "reverence."
- What shape can an Orthodox church take?
- What parts of the temple do you remember?
- What is the bell tower for?
- How to make the sign of the cross correctly?
On Sundays and church holidays, and those who have the opportunity more often, Orthodox people visit the temple. Great things are happening here at the Divine Liturgy. Sacrament of Communion. Here we confess, get married, baptize children, have funeral services for the dead, and gather together during illnesses. The temple is the basis and center of our spiritual life. It is no coincidence that this place is called "God's house", because it is filled with amazing grace; being here, a person is spiritually cleansed and strengthened.
Standing in an Orthodox church or being near it, we involuntarily admire the beauty and majesty of such structures. But, probably, not everyone knows how the temple works, so let’s talk about this interesting topic.
By the way, the first tent temple ( tabernacle) was built by the prophet Moses one and a half thousand years before Nativity of Christ. Thus, much of the arrangement of the temple was given from above and is based on centuries-old tradition.
- in the shape of Cross, since the Savior, by his sacrifice on the cross, opened the door to Eternal Life for us;
- octagonal symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. The Church, like a guiding star, guides the believer;
- round(rotunda) – a sign of the eternal Church;
- quadruple– based on a simple quadrangle - a symbol of the fullness of the world gathered in the Church.
There are also temples mixed types.
Architectural structure of an Orthodox church.
So, before our eyes is a temple. What architectural components can we see? It must be said that not all temples have the same structure and not all have certain elements, however, we will tell you about them all in order.
Porch- an open or closed porch in front of the entrance to the temple, built on some elevation from the ground, usually steps lead to it.
Above the entrance to the temple, and sometimes next to it, is built Bell tower or belfry, a tower on which bells hang. From time immemorial good news, performed by one large bell, called believers to prayer and reported on important events. By calling back(when different bells are rung alternately, starting from the largest) and ringing(when all the bells are rung at once) announce the holidays.
Refectory- part of the temple, an extension on the western side of the church, previously served as a place for preaching, public meetings, and also a place where the brethren took food. Today it usually stands away from the temple and is located in a separate building.
Cube- the main volume of the temple.
Portal- architecturally designed entrance to the building.
Nave- part of a building bounded on one or both sides by a row of columns or pillars.
Pilaster(blade) - a structural or decorative longitudinal protrusion on the surface of the wall. Often performed in the form of columns.
Gable(frieze) - the completion of the facade of a building, enclosed by roof slopes and a cornice at the base.
Zakomara- in Russian architecture, a semicircular or keel-shaped completion of part of the outer wall of a building. Usually repeats the outlines of the arch located behind it.
Apse- an altar ledge, as if attached to the temple, most often semicircular, it houses the altar.
Drum- a cylindrical or multifaceted upper part of the temple, over which a dome is built. The drum can be blind (without windows) and light (with window openings).
Dome- church dome, symbolizes heaven, a cross is placed on top of the dome.
Domes come in different shapes.
Also, domes can be of different quantities:
one the dome symbolizes the unity of God;
two the heads signify the two natures (Divine and human) in Jesus Christ;
three chapters - in honor of the Holy Trinity;
five the heads symbolize Jesus Christ and the four evangelists;
seven chapters - seven sacraments and seven Ecumenical Councils;
nine heads - nine angelic ranks;
thirteenb The heads embody Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles.
Sometimes more chapters are built, for example, thirty three- according to the number of earthly years of Jesus Christ.
These are the main types and architectural elements of an Orthodox church. In the future we will talk about the interior decoration of the temple and its symbolism.
External structure of an Orthodox church. The main architectural forms of the temple building and their meaning.
With all the variety of temple buildings, the buildings themselves are immediately recognizable and can be classified according to the architectural styles to which they belong.
Abse- an altar ledge, as if attached to the temple, most often semicircular, but also polygonal in plan, it houses the altar.
Drum- a cylindrical or multifaceted upper part of the temple, over which a dome is built, ending with a cross.
Light drum- a drum, the edges or cylindrical surface of which is cut by window openings
The head is a dome with a drum and a cross, crowning the temple building.
Zakomara– in Russian architecture, a semicircular or keel-shaped completion of part of the outer wall of a building; as a rule, it repeats the outlines of the arch located behind it.
Cube– the main volume of the temple.
Onion - a church dome resembling an onion in shape.
Nave(French nef, from Latin navis - ship), an elongated room, part of the interior of a church building, bounded on one or both longitudinal sides by a number of columns or pillars.
Porch- an open or closed porch in front of the entrance to the temple, elevated relative to ground level.
Pilaster(blade) - a constructive or decorative flat vertical protrusion on the surface of a wall, having a base and a capital.
Portal– architecturally designed entrance to the building.
Refectory- part of the temple, a low extension on the western side of the church, serving as a place for preaching, public meetings, and in ancient times, a place where the brethren took food.
Tent- a high four-, six- or octagonal pyramidal covering of a tower, temple or bell tower, widespread in the temple architecture of Rus' until the 17th century.
Gable- completion of the façade of a building, portico, colonnade, enclosed by roof slopes and a cornice at the base.
Apple– a ball at the end of the dome under the cross.
Tier– horizontal division of the building volume decreasing in height.
The churches of the Orthodox Church, with their architectural features, symbolically express the canon of church doctrine.
There are several commonly known types of temple architecture.
Temples in the shape of a cross were built as a sign that the Cross of Christ is the foundation of the Church, through the Cross humanity was delivered from the power of the devil, through the Cross the entrance to Paradise, lost by our ancestors, was opened.
Temples in the shape of a circle(a circle that has neither beginning nor end, symbolizes eternity) speaks of the infinity of the existence of the Church, its indestructibility in the world according to the word of Christ:
Temples in the shape of an eight-pointed star symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, which led the Magi to the place where Christ was born. Thus, the Church of God testifies to its role as a guide to the life of the Future Age.
Temple in the shape of a ship. Temples in the shape of a ship are the most ancient type of temples, figuratively expressing the idea that the Church, like a ship, saves believers from the disastrous waves of everyday sailing and leads them to the Kingdom of God.
There were also mixed types of temples, connecting the above forms. The Church has preserved all these forms of church building to this day.
The internal structure of an Orthodox church: the vestibule, the middle part of the church, the altar, the solea, the pulpit, the choir, the chandelier and lamps, the church candle, the iconostasis and its structure. Be able to explain the purpose and spiritual meaning.
The first part of the temple from the entrance is called the porch or pre-temple. The narthex is divided into two parts: the inner narthex and the outer narthex or porch.
The inner porch is called the refectory. This name comes from the fact that in some churches, especially in monasteries, monks eat in this part of the temple.
In ancient times, the vestibule (external and internal) was intended for catechumens and penitents and was almost equal in area to the average church.
Usually the vestibule is separated from the temple by a wall with a red western gate in the middle. In ancient Russian Byzantine-style churches there were often no vestibules at all. This is due to the fact that by the time Russia adopted Christianity in the Church there were no longer strictly separate rules for catechumens and penitents with their various degrees. By this time, in Orthodox countries, people were already baptized in infancy, so the baptism of adult foreigners was an exception, for which there was no need to specially build porches. As for the people under the penance of repentance, they stood for some part of the service at the western wall of the temple or on the porch. Later, various needs prompted us to return to the construction of vestibules. The very name “narthex” reflects the historical circumstance when they began to pretend, attach, or additionally add a third part to two-part ancient churches in Russia. The proper name of this part is a meal, since in ancient times treats for the poor were arranged in it on the occasion of a holiday or commemoration of the dead.
The entrance to the narthex from the street is usually arranged in the form of a porch - a platform in front of the entrance doors, to which several steps lead. The porch has a great dogmatic meaning, as an image of the spiritual elevation on which the Church is located among the surrounding world, as a Kingdom not of this world. While serving in the world, the Church is at the same time, by its nature, essentially different from the world. This is what the steps up the temple mean.
Altar(lat. “elevated place”) - the eastern, main part of the temple, in which the throne, altar, episcopal or priestly department are located.
The history of the altar of an Orthodox church goes back to those early times of Christianity, when in catacomb churches underground and in above-ground basilicas, in the front part, fenced off by a low lattice or columns from the rest of the space, a stone tomb (sarcophagus) with the remains of the holy martyr was placed as a shrine.
On this stone tomb in the catacombs the Sacrament of the Eucharist was performed - the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.
The name itself indicates that already in ancient times the altars of Christian churches were located on some elevation in relation to the rest of the temple.
In parish churches, in the semicircle of the apse, there may not be an elevation or a chair, but in any case, the place is a sign of that Heavenly Throne on which the Lord is invisibly present, and is therefore called the High Place.
Initially, the altar consisted of a throne, which was placed in the center of the altar space, a pulpit (seat) for the bishop, and benches for spirituality (the High Place), located opposite the throne near the wall, semi-surrounded by the altar apse. The offering (altar) and the receptacle (sacristy) were in separate rooms (chapels) to the right and left of the altar. Then the proposal began to be placed in the altar itself, to the left of Gornev’s place, when viewed from the side of the throne. Probably, in connection with this, the names of the holy places of the altar also changed.
In ancient times, the throne was always called an altar or a meal, and the name “throne” referred to the bishop’s seat on the High Place. With the transfer of the sentence on which the preparation of bread and wine for the Sacrament of the Eucharist is performed to the altar, in oral tradition it began to be called an altar, the throne (bishop's seat) began to be called the High Place, and the altar (meal) itself began to be called the throne.
Middle part of the temple marks the created world. This is, first of all, the Heavenly world, the angelic one, as well as the region of heavenly existence, where all the righteous who have departed there from earthly life reside.
The middle part of the temple, as is clear from its name, is located between the altar and the vestibule. Since the altar is not completely limited by the iconostasis, some of it is “carried out” beyond the altar partition. This part is an elevated platform relative to the level of the rest of the temple and is called salting(Greek: elevation in the middle of the temple). This elevation may have one or more steps. There is an amazing meaning hidden in this design of the salt.
The semicircular protrusion in the center of the sole is called pulpit(Greek: I ascend). From the pulpit, believers receive Holy Communion of Christ, from there the priest pronounces the most significant words during the service, as well as the sermon. The symbolic meanings of the pulpit are as follows: the mountain from which Christ preached; Bethlehem Cave, where he was born; the stone from which the Angel announced to the wives about the Resurrection of Christ.
Along the edges of the solea they arrange specially fenced places for singers and readers, called choirs. This word comes from the name of the singer-priests “kliroshan”, that is, singers from among the clergy, clergy (Greek lot, allotment).
Panikadilo(from the Greek πολυκάνδηλον - many candles) - in an Orthodox church there is a central chandelier, a lamp with many candles or lamps.
According to the Church Charter, during Sunday and holiday services, all lamps are lit, including the chandelier, creating an image of God’s light that will shine on the faithful in the Kingdom of Heaven. Candles and lamps with oil were used in temples in ancient times. The command to build a lamp of pure gold with seven lamps is one of the first given to Moses by the Lord. Burning lamps and lamps served as a symbol of God's guidance. “You, O Lord, are my lamp,” King David exclaims.
In the first centuries of Christianity, candles were always lit during divine services.
On the one hand, there was a need for this: Christians, persecuted by pagans, retired to dungeons and catacombs for worship, and besides, services were most often performed at night, and it was impossible to do without lamps. But for another, and main reason, lighting had a spiritual significance. “We never perform divine services without lamps,” said the teacher of the Church Tertullian, “but we use them not only to disperse the darkness of the night - our liturgy is celebrated in daylight; but in order to depict Christ through this - uncreated light, without which we would wander in darkness even at midday."
“Lamps and candles are an image of eternal Light, and also mean the light with which the righteous shine,” says Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The 15th century liturgist, Blessed Simeon, Archbishop of Thessalonica, explaining the symbolic meaning of wax, says that pure wax means the purity and innocence of the people bringing it. It is offered as a sign of our repentance for perseverance and readiness to continue to obey God, like the softness and pliability of wax. Just as wax produced by bees after collecting nectar from many flowers and trees symbolically means an offering to God as if on behalf of all creation, so the burning of a wax candle, like the transformation of wax into fire, means deification, the transformation of earthly man into a new creature through the action of fire and warmth of Divine love and grace.
Oil, like wax, also signifies the purity and sincerity of a person in his worship of God. But oil also has its own special meanings. Oil is the oil of the fruits of olive trees, olives. Even in the Old Testament, the Lord commanded Moses to offer pure oil without sediment as a sacrifice to God (Ex. 27:20). Testifying to the purity of human relationships with God, oil is a sign of God’s mercy towards people: it softens wounds, has a healing effect, and approves of food.
Iconostasis- a partition separating the altar and the middle part of the temple. It consists of icons arranged in tiers, symbolizing the history of the salvation of mankind by God. The number of tiers ranges from three to five. They can be considered starting from the top tier, for the Lord gradually, as if step by step, brought salvation down to people.
The fifth, upper tier contains the icon of the Trinity and icons of the Old Testament righteous men and forefathers (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.).
The fourth from the bottom is the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” and the icons of the coming prophets.
The third tier from the bottom contains icons of the twelve holidays.
The second tier is the icons of Deisis.
In the middle of the lower tier are the Royal Doors; to the right (on the south side) of the gates are the icon of Jesus Christ and the icon of the saint or holiday to which the temple is dedicated. The icon of the Last Supper is placed above the Royal Doors.
The iconostasis is certainly crowned with the Cross, as the pinnacle of Divine love for the fallen world, which gave the Son of God as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
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