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External Arrangement
Orthodox churches generally take one of several shapes that have a particular
mystical significance. The most common shape is an oblong or rectangular
shape, imitating the form of a ship. As a ship, under the guidance of
a master helmsman conveys men through the stormy seas to a calm harbor,
so the Church, guided by Christ, carries men unharmed across the stormy
seas of sin and strife to the peaceful haven of the Kingdom of Heaven.
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 Internal
Arrangement
The interior of an Orthodox church
is divided into several parts. One enters the church through the Porch
where, in ancient times, the keepers (Penitents forbidden to enter the
church proper) stood. From the Porch one entered the Vestibule (Narthex;
Lity - Greek; Pritvor - Russian), in ancient times a large, spacious place,
wherein the Catechumens received instruction while preparing for Baptism,
and also where Penitents excluded from Holy Communion stood. |
The Iconostasis
 The
most prominent feature of an Orthodox church is the Iconostasis, consisting
of one or more rows of Icons and broken by a set of doors in the center
(the Holy Doors) and a door at each side (the Deacon's Doors), In ancient
times, the Iconostasis was probably a screen placed at the extreme Eastern
end of the church (a tradition still preserved by Russian Old-Believers),
but quite early it was moved out from the wall as a sort of barrier between
the Nave and the Altar, with the opening and closing of curtains making
the Altar both visible and inaccessible. |
The Altar and Its Furnishings
The Altar which lies beyond the Iconostasis, is set aside for those who
perform the Divine services, and normally persons not consecrated to the
service of the Church are not permitted to enter. Occupying the central
place in the Altar is the Holy Table (Russian - Prestol), which represents
the Throne of God, with the Lord Himself invisibly present there. |
 The
Bells
A striking component of Orthodox
worship is the ringing of bells. Every daily cycle of public divine services
starts with the ringing of bells and no one who has witnessed the procession
around the church at Holy Pascha can forget the almost continuous ringing
of all the church bells. |
Candles and Their Symbolism
Lit candles and Icon lamps (lampadas) have a special symbolic meaning
in the Christian Church, and no Christian service can be held without
them. In the Old Testament, when the first temple of God was built on
earth - the Tabernacle - services were held in it with lamps as the Lord
Himself had ordained (Ex. 40:5, 25). Following the example of the Old
Testament Church, the lighting of candles and of lampadas was without
fail included in the New Testament Church's services. |
