The temple of God in its appearance differs from other buildings. Very often the temple of God has the shape of a cross at its base, for by the Cross the Savior delivered us from the power of the devil. Often it is arranged in the form of a ship, symbolizing that the Church, like a ship, like Noah's Ark, leads us across the sea of ​​life to a quiet harbor in the Kingdom of Heaven. Sometimes the base is a circle - a sign of eternity or an octagonal star, symbolizing that the Church, like a guiding star, shines in this world.

The building of the temple usually ends on top with a dome depicting the sky. The dome is crowned with a head on which a cross is placed - to the glory of the Head of the Church of Jesus Christ. Often, not one, but several chapters are placed on the temple: two chapters mean two natures (Divine and human) in Jesus Christ, three chapters - three Persons of the Holy Trinity, five chapters - Jesus Christ and four evangelists, seven chapters - seven sacraments and seven Ecumenical Cathedrals, nine chapters - nine ranks of angels, thirteen chapters - Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles, sometimes they build more chapters.

Above the entrances to the temple, and sometimes next to the temple, a bell tower or belfry is built, that is, a tower on which bells hang, used to call the faithful to prayer and to announce the most important parts of the service performed in the temple.

The Orthodox church is divided into three parts according to the internal structure: the altar, the middle church and the vestibule. The altar symbolizes the Kingdom of Heaven. In the middle part are all the believers. In the porch in the first centuries of Christianity there were catechumens who were just preparing for the sacrament of Baptism. Nowadays, those who have seriously sinned are sometimes sent to the porch to be corrected. Also in the vestibule you can buy candles, submit notes for commemoration, order a prayer service and memorial service, etc. An elevated platform called the porch is arranged in front of the entrance to the vestibule.

Christian churches are built with an altar to the east - in the direction where the sun rises: the Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom an invisible Divine light shone to us, we call the "Sun of Truth", which came "from the height of the East."

Each temple is dedicated to God, bearing a name in memory of one or another sacred event or saint of God. If there are several altars in it, then each of them is consecrated in memory of a special holiday or saint. Then all the altars, except for the main one, are called aisles.

The most important part of the temple is the altar. The very word "altar" means "exalted altar." He usually settles on a hill. Here the clergy perform divine services and the main shrine is located - the throne, on which the Lord Himself is mysteriously present and the sacrament of Communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord is performed. The throne is a specially consecrated table, dressed in two clothes: the lower one is made of white linen and the upper one is made of expensive colored fabric. There are sacred objects on the throne; only clergymen can touch it.

The place behind the altar at the easternmost wall of the altar is called the high (high) place, it is usually made elevated.

To the left of the throne, in the northern part of the altar, there is another small table, also decorated on all sides with clothes. This is the altar on which gifts are prepared for the sacrament of Communion.

The altar is separated from the middle temple by a special partition lined with icons and called the iconostasis. It has three gates. The middle, largest, are called the Royal Doors, because through them the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the King of Glory, invisibly passes in a bowl with the Holy Gifts. No one is allowed to pass through these doors, except for the clergy. The side doors - north and south - are also called deacon's: most often deacons pass through them.

To the right of the royal doors is placed the icon of the Savior, to the left - the Mother of God, then - the image of especially revered saints, and to the right of the Savior is usually a temple icon: it depicts a holiday or a saint in whose honor the temple was consecrated.

Icons are also placed on the walls of the temple in frames - icon cases, lie on lecterns - special tables with an inclined lid.

The elevation in front of the iconostasis is called the salt, the middle of which - a semicircular ledge in front of the royal gates - is called the pulpit. Here the deacon pronounces litanies and reads the Gospel, from here the priest preaches. On the pulpit, the faithful are also given Holy Communion.

Along the edges of the salt, near the walls, choirs are arranged for readers and choirs. Next to the choirs are placed banners, or icons on silk, hung on gilded poles and looking like banners. As church banners, they are carried by believers during religious processions. In cathedrals, as well as for hierarchical service in the middle of the church, there is also a hierarchal pulpit, on which the hierarchs vest and stand at the beginning of the liturgy, during prayers and at some other church services.

The most unusual temples in Russia.

Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush" in the city of Dyatkovo

This temple was called the eighth wonder of the world, because nowhere in the world there are the same iconostases as in the Neopalimovskaya church in the city of Dyatkovo, Bryansk region. The entire iconostasis of this temple is made of crystal. In 1810 it was built by the owner of the local crystal factory Maltsov. Not only the heavy, elegantly made crystal iconostasis, “as if floating in the air”, but also crystal chandeliers and chandeliers, unique candlesticks made of multi-layered and multi-colored glass, human height, decorated the church until 1929. The amazing temple was destroyed, but some parts of its decoration took refuge in the Dyatkovo Museum.

In 1990, the ruined temple was rebuilt, and local glassblowers, using the preserved drawings of 200 years ago, made thousands of details for its decoration for more than a year. The restoration of the iconostasis required several tons of crystal, and not ordinary, but fused with lead - such an alloy is used to make the most expensive dishes.
The Neopalimovsky temple inside seems both icy and iridescent: mirrors are placed under the crystal plates on the walls, which gives the effect of a rainbow glow.

Arkhyz churches

Arkhyz temples are the oldest or one of the most ancient in Russia. They are dated to the end of the 9th - the beginning of the 10th century. Scientists believe that it was here, in the area of ​​​​the ancient settlement of Magas, that the capital of the patriarchate of ancient Alanya was. Alans finally joined Christianity in the first quarter of the 10th century, but its penetration here began much earlier. Written sources mention this from the second half of the 7th century.
On the territory of the ancient settlement, three medieval temples have been preserved - Northern, Middle and Southern. During excavations by archaeologist V.A. Kuznetsov even found the only ancient baptismal church in the North Caucasus, built of flat stone slabs. The walls of the temple were covered with frescoes skillfully made by Byzantine masters - this is evidenced by the drawings of the artist and archaeologist D.M. Strukov, made at the end of the 19th century.
In the Middle Church, even the acoustics are thought out: it has a system of golosniks - through and blind holes in the walls of the temple.
The southern church of this settlement is now the oldest functioning Orthodox church in Russia. In a rock grotto not far from this temple, the face of Christ was found, manifested on a stone.

Church in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the Blue Stones in Yekaterinburg

On an ordinary Yekaterinburg Khrushchev house, a bell tower and a boy are drawn by a child. Apostle Paul's "Hymn of Love" written in Slavic script stretches along the wall. Chapter 13, Corinthians... You will come closer, guided by the words of love, and read the inscription: "Heaven on earth." Just like that, even children can begin to comprehend Christian wisdom. This temple does not have high ceilings with rotundas and domes, a narrow corridor leads inside, and shelves with books stand right along the church walls. But there are always a lot of children here and there are many traditions of their own: for example, to hold role-playing games, drink tea with the whole parish after the Sunday liturgy, sing along with the choir or draw “good graffiti”. And baptismal water is sometimes “sold” here for knowledge of the first commandment or its immediate study. The parish publishes the newspaper "Animated Stones", and the temple website lives a life filled with creativity.

Church of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubrovitsy

A mysterious church with a mysterious history, the only temple in Russia, which is crowned not with a dome, but with a golden crown. The construction of the Znamenskaya Church dates back to the time when the educator of Peter I, Prince Boris Alekseevich Golitsyn, owned the Dubrovitsy estate. By the way, Peter I himself with his son Tsarevich Alexei were present at the consecration of this temple. This church does not look like a Russian one, it was built in a rococo style, rare for our lands, and very richly decorated with round sculptures of white stone and stucco. They say that it looks especially impressive in winter, when the landscape around is emphatically Russian.
In 1812, the temple was occupied by Napoleonic troops, however, without causing any damage to it. But in the twentieth century, this temple was also closed.
In 1929 the church was closed for worship; in September 1931, the bell tower and the church of Adrian and Natalia located in it were blown up.
The history of the inscriptions inside the temple is interesting. Initially, they were made in Latin, later, at the request of Metropolitan Filaret (Drozdov), they were replaced by Church Slavonic. And in 2004, during the restoration, the temple again “spoke” in Latin.

Church car in Nizhny Novgorod

An Orthodox church, almost opposite in its idea, arose in Nizhny Novgorod in 2005. The temple surprises without trying to surprise, because it is located in ... a railway car. This is a temporary structure: the parishioners are waiting for the construction of a stone church. And it all started with a gift: the Nizhny Novgorod diocese was given a wagon by the railroad workers. And the diocese decided to equip it as a church: they fixed the car, made steps with a porch, installed a dome, a cross, and on December 19, 2005, on the day of memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, they consecrated it. Among the people, the unusual temple is called both the "blue carriage" after the children's song of the same name, and the "Soul train" in the English manner. The symbolism of the train, wagon, and therefore the way, has been inherent in the Christian church since ancient times. From early times, temples were built in the image of ships - in this sense, the Nizhny Novgorod temple continues Byzantine traditions! It is worth noting that this is not the only, but the most famous temple-wagon in Russia.

Kostomarovsky Spassky Convent

The oldest cave monastery in Russia with "divas" - chalk pillars, inside which monastic cloisters are built. The bell tower of the Church of the Savior was built between two such divas and literally soars in the air. Inside, in the thickness of the chalk mountain, the temple is so large that it can accommodate two thousand people. It is here that the “cave of repentance”, famous throughout Russia, is located - a corridor stretching 220 meters underground and gradually narrowing. It is known that before the revolution, the most hardened sinners were sent here to "correct the mind". The very movement through the cave sets one up for confession: the penitent makes a long journey in the dark, holding a lit candle, the arch of the cave becomes lower and lower, and the person bows. Pilgrims say they feel as if someone's hand is gradually bowing their head, humbled by human pride. Even today, those who visit the "cave of repentance" are not accompanied to the end: a person is left to walk alone part of the way.

Trinity Church "Kulich and Easter" in St. Petersburg

This nickname of the church was not invented by witty Petersburgers - the customer of the construction, Prosecutor General A.A. Vyazemsky asked the architect to build a temple in the form of traditional Easter dishes. Both buildings are crowned with "apples" with a cross. Due to the fact that there is no drum on the dome of the “Kulich”, it becomes dark in the altar part of the church. The play of light and the blue "heavenly" dome change the sense of volume, so the inside of the temple seems much more spacious than the outside.
In the lower part of the "Easter" bell tower there is a baptistery, which has only two small windows at the top on the walls. But right above the person being baptized there are bells, the sound of which spreads through arches cut into the wall. The wall thickness increases downward as the wall slopes. On the outer side of the belfry, above the bells, dials are painted, each of which “shows” a different time. By the way, A.V. was baptized in this temple. Kolchak, future admiral.

,middle temple and vestibule

ALTAR

The altar is the most important part of the temple, it means the Kingdom of Heaven. Christian churches are built with the altar to the east - in the direction where the sun rises. If there are several altars in the temple, then each of them is consecrated in memory of a special event or saint. All altars in this case, except for the main one, are called aisles.

The device of the Orthodox Church

The altar is higher than other parts of the temple. The very word "altar" means an elevated altar.
Divine service is performed in the altar and there is the most holy place in the whole temple - the holy throne, which is made either in the form of stone monoliths about a meter high, or from wood, in the form of a frame with a lid on top. The throne is dressed in two clothes: the lower one is linen, called katasarkiy or srachica (symbolically represents the burial shrouds of Jesus Christ - the shroud), entwined with a rope (rope), and the upper one is made of brocade, called inditia (indition), symbolizing the solemn attire of Jesus Christ as King of glory.

THRONE

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated on the throne. It is believed that Christ is invisibly present on the throne, and therefore only clergy can touch it. Always rely on the throne antimension, altar gospel, altarpiece cross , tabernacle , monstranceandlampada . Particles of holy relics are placed on the altar in a special reliquary.
In cathedrals and large churches, a canopy in the form of a dome with a cross (civorium) is installed above the throne, which symbolizes heaven, and the throne itself is the land on which Jesus Christ suffered. In the center of the ciborium, above the throne, a dove figurine is placed, which symbolizes the descent of the Holy Spirit.
The place behind the throne near the eastern wall is considered the holiest place even on the altar, it is specially made a little elevated and is called “ mountain place". It traditionally has a large menorah and a large altar cross.

ALTAR

At the northern wall of the altar, behind the iconostasis, there is a special table - altar . The height of the altar is always equal to the height of the throne. On the altar, there is a ceremony of solemn preparation of bread and wine for Communion or proskomidia, the first part of the Divine Liturgy, where bread in the form of prosphora and wine offered for the sacred service are prepared in a special way for the subsequent sacrament of the Bloodless Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ. On the altar is chalice (the holy cup into which wine and water is poured, a symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ); paten (a dish on a stand for sacramental bread, a symbol of the body of Jesus Christ); asterisk (two arcs connected crosswise, installed on the diskos so that the cover does not touch the prosphora particles; the star is a symbol of the star of Bethlehem); copy (a sharp stick for removing particles from prosphora, a symbol of the spear that pierced Christ on the cross); liar - a spoon for communion of believers; sponge for wiping vessels. The prepared communion bread is covered with a veil. Small covers of a cruciform shape are called patrons , and the largest air . In parish churches that do not have a special vessel storage, sacred liturgical vessels are constantly on the altar, which are covered with shrouds during off-duty hours. On the altar necessarily there is a lamp, a Cross with a Crucifixion.
At the southern wall of the altar is arranged sacristy - room for storing rice, i.e. liturgical clothes, as well as church vessels and liturgical books.

ROYAL DOORS

In ancient Christian churches, the altar was always separated from the rest of the temple by a special partition. Behind the altar partition is stored censer , dikyrium (double candlestick), trikirium (three-candlestick) and ripids (metal circles-fans on the handles, with which the deacons blow over the gifts during their consecration).
After the great schism of the Christian Church (1054), the altar partition was preserved only in the Orthodox Church. Over time, the partition turned into an iconostasis, and its middle, largest doors became the Royal Doors, because through them Jesus Christ Himself, the King of Glory, invisibly enters in the Holy Gifts. Only clergymen can pass through the Royal Doors, and only during worship. Outside of worship and without vestments, enter through royal doors only the bishop has the right to enter the altar and leave the altar.
Inside the altar behind the Royal Doors hangs a special veil - catapetasma, which in the course of the Divine service is opened in whole or in part at the moments of the divine service established by the charter.
Like the vestments of the clergy catapetasma different colors depending on the day of the year and holiday.
On the Royal Doors are depicted the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. Above the royal doors is placed the icon of the Last Supper.
To the right of the Royal Doors is an icon Savior, left - icon Mother of God. To the right of the icon of the Savior is located south door, and to the left of the icon of the Mother of God - north door. On these side doors are depicted Archangels Michael and Gabriel, or the first deacons Stephen and Philip, or the high priest Aaron and the prophet Moses. I call the north and south side doors deacon's gates, since deacons most often pass through them.
Next are icons of especially revered saints. The first icon to the right of the icon of the Savior (not counting the south door) is called temple icon, i.e. it depicts a holiday or a saint in whose honor the temple is consecrated.
If the iconostasis consists of several tiers, then icons are usually located in the second tier. twelfth holidays, in third icons of the apostles, in the fourth - icons prophets, at the very top - a cross is always placed with the image of the crucified Lord Jesus Christ on it.

MIDDLE TEMPLE

Icons are also placed on the walls of the temple in large icon cases, i.e. in special large frames, as well as on lecterns, those. on special high narrow tables with an inclined lid.
Before the icons and lecterns stand candlesticks on which believers place candles.
The elevation in front of the iconostasis, on which the altar and the iconostasis are built, protrudes forward into the middle part of the temple and is called saline.
The semicircular ledge in front of the Royal Doors in the middle of the salt is called pulpit, i.e. climb. On the ambo, the deacon pronounces litanies and reads the Gospel, from here the priest preaches and Holy Communion is administered.
Along the edges of the salt, near the walls of the temple, they arrange kliros for reciters and singers.
The kliros have banners.
The low table, on which stands the image of the crucifixion and rows of candlesticks, is called eve or eve. Before the eve, memorial services are served - requiems.

LIGHTS

A special place among church utensils is occupied by lamps.
Even in the Byzantine Empire, church utensils for lighting churches were born, which are still being made today: lampadas, khoros, chandeliers, church candlesticks and church chandeliers.
The most ancient lamps are lampadas (or lompads), the dim light of which illuminated the ancient cave temples of the early Christians.
The lampada is a portable lamp (candlestick), which, during the small and large exits to the liturgy, is carried in front of the priest and deacon. Such an icon lamp is given by a special lamp-maker (Greek primikirius) to the bishop at his entrance to the temple.
Even the ancient Greeks hung lampadas from wooden or metal hoops to illuminate temples, or hung them on chains stretched through the temple. The development of this method of suspension with a lamp led to the appearance of hanging lamps of more complex shapes: horos, chandeliers and church chandeliers.
Earlier than the chandelier, church lamps are khoros, which occupy an intermediate step in the evolution of church lamps between the lampada and the chandelier.
Horos has the form of a horizontally located metal or wooden wheel, suspended on chains from the ceiling of the temple. Lampadas or candles were attached around the entire circumference of the wheel. Sometimes a hemispherical bowl was installed in the center of the wheel, in which a lamp was also placed.
Later khoros evolved into bulky chandeliers, which over time were transformed into more elegant chandeliers. However, the chandelier is practically a chandelier, which, like a horos, consists of numerous tiers of concentric rings. In the center of the chandelier is a characteristic spherical "apple" made of gilded bronze.
Another type of lamps that are used in temples is multi-candle floor candlestick, which often contains many tiers or levels. A standing or skinny candle is also used as a lamp.
One of the main candlesticks installed in the altar is the menorah, which symbolizes the Seven Sacraments of the Church and the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit granted to believers in the name of the feat of Christ, who atoned for their sins at the cost of his life.

This is how it came to us device and decoration Orthodox church.

See also " Types of temple utensils", " church vestments", "Types of church vestments.

Last time we talked about what temples are and about their external architectural features. Today let's talk about how the temple works inside.

Here we have stepped over the threshold of the temple, and now let's figure out what the parts of the temple are called.

Right at the entrance, at the door, is vestibule(pretend in Slavic and means "Door"). This is usually located candle box where we can take candles, write notes about health and repose, order a prayer service or memorial service. In some temples, the vestibule is fenced off from the middle part of the temple.

Moving on, we will be in Withmiddle part of the temple, it is also called "ship". This part means the earth, all earthly space. Here we stand at the service, pray in front of the icons, here, in a specially designated place, confession is held.

In the middle part of the temple, in the center on lectern(table with beveled lid) is located icon of the day, it can be an image of a saint whose memory day is celebrated on this day, or an icon of a holiday. Upon entering the temple, the parishioners usually first of all go to venerate this icon, put a candle near it.

Between the middle part of the temple and its main part - the altar - is iconostasis. The icons on it, as it were, connect our world with the heavenly world.

Iconostasis, translated from Greek, means "icon stand". In ancient times, there were no iconostases, the altar was not separated from the space of the temple, only sometimes a low lattice was installed there to prevent the crowd. Subsequently, especially revered icons were fixed on the lattice, facing the worshipers. This testified to the fact that the saints also participate in our prayer. Subsequently, the number of icons in the iconostasis began to multiply. In Russia, iconostases appear in 5 or more rows of icons upwards. The traditional Russian iconostasis has 4 or 5 rows.

First row- icons called "local", these are the main icons of the iconostasis: images Savior and Mother of God, they are always located on the sides of the central entrance to the altar (royal doors). There is also an icon depicting the saint (or event) in whose honor the temple was consecrated, as well as icons of especially revered saints.

Second row iconostasis: Deesis rank, that is, the saints standing before Christ in reverent prayer.

Third row: (usually) festive, these are the most important holidays of the Orthodox Church.

Fourth row: Biblical prophets with scrolls in which their prophecies are written.

Fifth row: Old Testament forefathers, among whom, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses other.

The iconostasis usually ends with an icon crucifixion or Cross of the Savior.

The traditional Russian iconostasis strikes with its power and spiritual content. He says that we are not alone in our paths of spiritual life. We have a host of helpers who pray with us and help us achieve salvation.

But the temple can have an iconostasis with fewer rows. Actually, only icons are mandatory. Savior and Mother of God(from the first row), and the rest of the icons are set if possible.

The iconostasis is located on a certain elevation, on saltier, the center of which forms a semicircular protrusion in front of the Royal Doors, which is called pulpit. This place marks the mountain from which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself preached. And today, from the pulpit, the clergy turn to the people with a sermon, here they pronounce litanies and read the Gospel. On the ambo, it is taught to believers and Holy Communion.

Now it is necessary to say about the main part of the temple - about the altar. Word "altar" translated from Latin as "high altar". The altar is located on the eastern side of the temple, since the Savior in the Holy Scriptures is called Sun of truth(Mal. IV, 2) and East(Zech. III, 8), in church hymns He is called "East of Easts"(the luminary of the feast of the Nativity of Christ).

The chronicle descriptions say that during the construction of the temple, the place of the altar was first planned, and the longitudinal axis of the temple was drawn, oriented to the first ray of the rising sun. Thus, the altar should be oriented towards the sunrise, so that people, standing opposite the iconostasis, would face the east. This is how temples are built today.

The main entrance to the altar in the center is called royal doors because through them the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the King of Glory, invisibly passes in a bowl with the Holy Gifts. To the left and right of the Royal Doors there are so-called deacon's door(otherwise - the northern and southern doors of the iconostasis), deacons most often pass through them.

At special moments of worship, the clergy enter and exit through the Royal Doors. In other cases, entry and exit to the altar occurs only through the deacon's gates. Outside of worship and without full vestments, only a bishop (bishop and above) has the right to enter and exit through the Royal Doors.

Inside the altar behind the Royal Doors is a special veil(in Greek catapetasma), opened at the established moments of worship. It symbolizes the Stone rolled away by the Angel from the Holy Sepulcher, thereby introducing all the people standing in the temple to what is happening in the altar.

Behind the Royal Doors in the altar, on the table, which is called throne, the sacrament takes place Eucharist.

Here, to the left of the throne, stands altar- a small table on which they cook Gifts for the sacrament of Communion.

Behind the throne in the eastern part of the altar is mountain place(“mountainous” in Slavic means “exalted”). On the High Place is usually located armchair for the bishop.

This is how the temple is arranged inside. It should also be said that the painting and decoration of temples can be different. Usually in murals there are plots Old and New Testaments.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the temple is a shrine, and one must behave piously and humbly in the temple. It would be nice to buy candles and submit notes before the start of the service, so as not to talk and, if possible, not to walk during the service. Let us remember that we are here as in God's House.

Many Orthodox churches amaze with the beauty and elegance of decoration, architectural splendor. But in addition to the aesthetic load, the entire construction and design of the temple has a symbolic meaning. You cannot take any building and organize a church in it. Consider the principles by which the device and interior decoration of an Orthodox church is organized and what meaning the design elements carry.

Architectural features of temple buildings

A temple is a consecrated building in which Divine services are served, and believers have the opportunity to take part in the Sacraments. Traditionally, the main entrance to the temple is located in the west - where the sun sets, and the main liturgical part - the altar - is always laid to the east, where the sun rises.

Prince Vladimir Church in Irkutsk

You can distinguish a Christian church from any other buildings by the characteristic dome (head) with a cross. This is a symbol of the death on the cross of the Savior, who voluntarily ascended the Cross for our redemption. It is no coincidence that the number of heads on each church, namely:

• one dome marks the commandment of the unity of God (I am the Lord your God, and you will have no other gods but Me);
• three domes are erected in honor of the Holy Trinity;
• five domes symbolize Jesus Christ and His four evangelists;
• seven chapters remind believers of the seven main Sacraments of the Holy Church, as well as of the seven ecumenical councils;
• sometimes there are buildings with thirteen heads, which symbolize the Lord and 12 apostles.

Important! Any temple is dedicated, first of all, to our Lord Jesus Christ, but at the same time it can be consecrated in honor of any saint or holiday (for example, the Nativity Church, St. Nicholas, Pokrovsky, etc.).

About Orthodox churches:

When laying the construction of the temple, one of the following figures can be laid in the foundation:

• the cross (marks the instrument of death of the Lord and the symbol of our salvation);
• rectangle (associated with Noah's ark, as a ship of salvation);
• circle (means the absence of the beginning and end of the Church, which is eternal);
• a star with 8 ends (in remembrance of the Bethlehem star, which indicated the birth of Christ).

Top view of the Church of Elijah the Prophet in Yaroslavl

Symbolically, the building itself corresponds to the ark of the salvation of all mankind. And just as Noah many centuries ago saved his family and all living things on his ark during the Great Flood, so today people go to churches to save their souls.

The main liturgical part of the church, where the altar is located, looks to the east, since the goal of human life is to go from darkness to light, which means from west to east. In addition, in the Bible we see texts in which Christ himself is called the East and the Light of Truth coming from the East. Therefore, it is customary to serve the Liturgy in the altar towards the rising sun.

The interior of the temple

Entering any church, you can see the division into three main zones:

1. vestibule;
2. main or middle part;
3. altar.

The vestibule is the very first part of the building behind the front doors. In ancient times, it was customary that it was in the narthex that sinners and catechumens stood and prayed before repentance - people who were just preparing to accept Baptism and become full members of the Church. There are no such rules in modern churches, and candle stalls are most often located in the porches, where you can buy candles, church literature and submit notes for commemoration.

The vestibule is a small space between the door and the temple.

In the middle part are all those praying during the service. This part of the church is sometimes also called the nave (ship), which again refers us to the image of Noah's ark of salvation. The main elements of the middle part are solea, pulpit, iconostasis and kliros. Let's consider in more detail what it is.

Solea

This is a small step, located in front of the iconostasis. Its purpose is to elevate the priest and all participants in worship so that they can be seen and heard better. In ancient times, when the temples were small and dark, and even crowded with people, it was almost impossible to see and hear the priest behind the crowd. Therefore, they came up with such an elevation.

pulpit

In modern churches, this is part of the salt, most often oval in shape, which is located in the middle of the iconostasis right in front of the Royal Doors. On this oval ledge, sermons are delivered by the priest, petitions are read out by the deacon, and the Gospel is read. In the middle and on the side of the pulpit there are steps for climbing to the iconostasis.

The gospel is read from the pulpit and sermons are delivered

Choir

The place where the choir and readers are located. In large churches, most often there are several kliros - upper and lower. The lower kliros are, as a rule, at the end of the salt. On big holidays, several choirs can sing in one temple at once, which are located on different kliros. During regular services, one choir sings from one kliros.

Iconostasis

The most conspicuous part of the interior decoration of the temple. This is a kind of wall with icons that separates the altar from the main part. Initially, iconostases were low, or their function was performed by curtains or small bars. Over time, icons began to be hung on them, and the height of the barriers grew. In modern churches, iconostases can reach the ceiling, and the icons on it are arranged in a special order.

The main and largest gate leading to the altar is called the Royal Doors. They depict the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and the icons of all four evangelists. On the right side of the Royal Doors, an icon of Christ is hung, and behind it is the image of the main holiday, in honor of which the temple or this limit was consecrated. On the left side - the icon of the Virgin and one of the most revered saints. It is customary to depict the Archangels on the additional doors to the altar.

The Last Supper is depicted above the Royal Doors, icons of the great twelve feasts are on a par with it. Depending on the height of the iconostasis, there may be more rows of icons depicting the Mother of God, saints, places from the Gospel. The same arrangement can be seen on the large crucifix, which is located on the side of the iconostasis.

The main idea of ​​the design of the iconostasis is to present the Church in its entirety, with the Lord at the head, with saints and heavenly powers. A person who prays at the iconostasis, as it were, faces everything that is the essence of Christianity from the time of the Lord's earthly life to this day.

About prayer in the temple:

Altar

Finally, the holy of holies of any church, without which the service of the Liturgy is impossible. A church can be consecrated even in a simple building without domes, but it is impossible to imagine any church without an altar. Anyone can not enter the altar, this is allowed only for clergy, deacons, sexton and individual males with the blessing of the rector of the temple. Women are strictly forbidden to enter the altar at all.

The main part of the altar is the Holy See, which symbolizes the Throne of the Lord God himself. In the physical sense, this is a large heavy table, maybe made of wood or stone. The square shape indicates that food from this table (namely the word of God) is served to people all over the Earth, to all four cardinal points. For the consecration of the temple, it is obligatory to lay the holy relics under the Altar.

Important! As in Christianity there is nothing accidental and unimportant, so the decoration of the house of God has a deep symbolic meaning in every detail.

It may seem superfluous for new beginning Christians to be so careful about the details, however, if you delve deeper into the essence of worship, it will become clear that there is a use for every thing in the temple. Such an order sets an example for every person: we must live in such a way that both external and internal dispensation lead us to God.

Video about the internal structure of the temple