10.08.2024

What is a quadrangle in a temple? Meaning of the word quadruple

A portal, a walkway, bulbs, zakomars... All these are architectural elements that have a certain meaning in religious buildings. Let's figure it out.

Apse(from the Greek “vault”, “arch”) - a ledge in which the altar is located, as if attached to the temple. Most often, apses have a semicircular shape, but polygonal projections are also found. For example, the apse on one of the churches of the Donskoy Monastery has the shape of a hexagon.

Arcature belt- wall decoration in the form of a series of decorative arches. Symbolizes the victorious ascension of Christ into Heaven. Often an arcature belt accompanies fly- decorative rectangular cavity in the wall.

Drum- a rounded or multifaceted upper part of the temple, covered with a dome. The drum ends with a cross and can either be cut through with window openings (light drum) or not contain windows (blind drum). The entire dome with a drum and a cross is called head. In most cases, the heads of church buildings are shaped like an onion with an apple. And often the chapters cover ploughshare- wooden tiles.

Zakomara- a semicircular or keel-shaped completion of a part of the outer wall, repeating the contours of the vault located behind it.

Cube- the main volume of the temple. According to the Bible, the cube symbolizes the new earth, and the dome symbolizes Heaven, therefore the combination of the cubic volume of a temple building and a semicircular dome in Christian architecture signifies the unity of heaven and earth. In this case, the internal volume can be divided into several naves(from the Latin “navis” - “ship”) - elongated parts limited on the longitudinal side by a number of columns or pillars.

Platbands- overhead figured or carved strips decorating a window or doorway.

Porch- a porch in front of the entrance to the temple, raised relative to ground level. Thus, the steps of the porch symbolize spiritual elevation. Usually the porch leads to portico- a gallery on columns or pillars in front of the entrance to the building. Also sometimes churches are surrounded galleries-"promenades"- arched terraces along the walls of the temple.

Pilaster- a constructive or decorative vertical protrusion on the surface of a wall, conventionally representing a column. The upper part of the pilaster is usually called capital.

Podklet- the lower, usually non-residential, floor of a building. The basement served various purposes. For example, the state treasury was kept in the basement of the Annunciation Church in Moscow. In addition, when there is air space under the floor, the upper room becomes warmer.

Curb- a saw-shaped strip of bricks placed at an angle to the surface of the facade. Unlike belt(a horizontal strip protecting the walls from water), the curb has only decorative value.

Portal- architecturally designed entrance to the building. The geometric, plant and animal patterns of the portal symbolize the Garden of Eden. Often, at the top of the entrance arch, a horizontal lintel is made with tympanum(from Latin "drum") above it. Since this place attracts special attention, it is decorated with sculpture or fresco painting.

Refectory- a low extension on the west side of the church for sermons, public meetings and meals.

Gable- completion of the façade of a building, portico, colonnade, enclosed by roof slopes and a cornice at the base. And multi-tiered temple buildings are usually crowned tent- high pyramidal covering. You can also hear that the temple was built “octagonal on quadrangular”. This means that the quadrangular cube of the temple is crowned by an octagonal tier.

CHETVERIK

in Russian and Ukrainian architecture (mainly 17-18 centuries) a structure or part of it, 4-sided in plan. In the compositions of many tented and tiered churches it is combined with an 8-sided part (“octagonal to quadrangular”).

Architectural Dictionary. 2012

View value Chetverik in other dictionaries

Chetverik- Thursday, fourth, etc. see four.
Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

Chetverik- quadrangle, m. 1. A measure or object containing four of some kind. units, e.g. a sack containing four pounds, a pack of four stearin candles and weighing one pound (special).......
Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Chetverik- -A; m.
1. An ancient Russian measure of the volume of bulk solids, equal to 26.239 liters (used before the introduction of the metric system). Part of oats.
2. Ancient Russian measure of land, equal to........
Kuznetsov's Explanatory Dictionary

Chetverik- in Russian and Ukrainian architecture (mainly 17-18 centuries) a structure or part of it, 4-sided in plan. In the compositions of many tented and tiered churches it is combined with an 8-sided........
Large encyclopedic dictionary

Chetverik- - in Russian and Ukrainian architecture, mainly in the 17th–18th centuries. A structure or part thereof, 4-sided in plan. The compositions of many tented and tiered churches combine........
Historical Dictionary

Chetverik- In the 15th-17th centuries. measure of land area. Old Russian measure 26.24 l.
Dictionary of weights and measures

Chetverik— A log structure with a quadrangular plan.
Construction dictionary

Purpose of the lesson – consider the purpose and structure of the middle part of the temple and the vestibule.

Tasks:

Consider the purpose, structure and symbolic meaning of the middle part of the temple and its components.
Consider the purpose and arrangement of the vestibule and office premises.

Lesson plan:

Check your homework, remembering the parts of the temple and the structure of the altar.
Introduce students to the content of the lesson using illustrations.
Together with the audience, analyze an excerpt from the book of Righteous John of Kronstadt “My Life in Christ” (see Additional materials) and outline how the components of the middle part of the temple contribute to the mood and participation of parishioners in the divine service.
Conduct a discussion-survey based on test questions in order to consolidate the material.
Assign homework: read the main literature, the source and, if desired, read additional literature.

Sources:

Simeon of Thessalonica, St. http://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Simeon_Solunskij/kniga-o-khrame/

Basic educational literature:

Hilarion (Alfeev), Metropolitan. http://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ilarion_Alfeev/pravoslavie-tom-2/1_4_1(access date: 10/27/2015).
http://www.ortho-rus.ru/book/ (date of access: 10/27/2015).
http://drevo-info.ru/articles/1179.html (date of access: 10/27/2015).

Further reading:

Florensky P.A., priest http://predanie.ru/florenskiy-pavel-ierey/book/75672-ikonostas/(access date: 10/27/2015).

Key concepts:

quadrangle;
department;
analoe;
candlestick;
chandelier;
lamp;
fresco;
mosaic;
iconostasis;
Royal Doors;
southern and northern gates;
salt;
pulpit;
choir;
tomb;
shroud;
banner;
porch;
icon depository;
sacristy.

Test questions:

What is a quadruple?

Illustrations:

Video materials:

The central part of the temple ( quadruple) is a place where the laity are present during worship. In ancient times, the liturgy of the catechumens was celebrated in the center of the temple; Sermons were preached there, the bishop read prayers over the catechumens and the faithful, as well as the sick and possessed; there the deacon pronounced litanies. In fact, it was the central part of the temple that was the place where most of the worship took place; only the Eucharist itself was celebrated in the altar. Subsequently, most church services were moved to the altar, but some parts of the service are still performed in the middle of the temple. At Matins and the All-Night Vigil on Sundays and holidays, in the middle of the church, polyeleos and anointing of the believers with holy oil is performed. The Gospel is also read by the deacon in the middle of the church.

During the bishop's service, in the middle of the church, the meeting and vestment of the bishop takes place, as well as the entire initial part of the liturgy up to the small entrance.

In ancient churches, in the middle there was a pulpit (called the pulpit), from which the Holy Scriptures were read and sermons were delivered. Currently this department available only in cathedrals. The bishop stands on it in those cases when the service is performed in the middle of the church. From the same pulpit the deacon reads the Gospel during the liturgy.

As a rule, in the center of the temple on lectern(on the stand) lies an icon of a temple saint or a saint or event celebrated on this day. Stands in front of the lectern candlestick(such candlesticks are also placed in front of other icons lying on lecterns or hanging on the walls). Usage candles in church - one of the oldest customs that has come down to us from the early Christian era.

“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 (VII century). The Holy Fathers of the VII Ecumenical Council determine that in the Orthodox Church, holy icons and relics, the Cross of Christ, and the Holy Gospel are honored by burning incense and lighting candles. Blessed Simeon of Thessalonica (XV century) writes that “candles are also lit before the icons of saints, for the sake of their good deeds in the world...”

The light in an Orthodox church is an image of heavenly, Divine light. In particular, it signifies Christ as the Light of the world, Light from Light, true Light, which enlightens every person coming into the world.

Nowadays, the custom of lighting candles has not only a symbolic meaning, but also the meaning of a sacrifice to the temple. The candle that a believer places in front of an icon in a church is not bought in a store or brought from home: it is purchased in the church itself, and the money spent goes to the church treasury.

In a modern church, electric lighting is usually used during services, but some parts of the service should be performed in semi-darkness or even complete darkness. Full lighting is turned on at the most solemn moments: during the polyeleos at the all-night vigil, during the Divine Liturgy. The light in the temple is completely extinguished during the reading of the Six Psalms at Matins; Dim lighting is used during Lenten services.

The main lamp of the temple (chandelier) is called chandelier. The chandelier in large churches is a chandelier of impressive size with many (from 20 to 100 or even more) candles or light bulbs. It is suspended on a long steel cable from the center of the dome. Smaller chandeliers may be hung in other parts of the temple.

In the monasteries of Holy Mount Athos, where electricity is not used during worship, the ancient customs of lighting candles and lamps at certain points in the service. The lamps in front of the icons are lit at the beginning of the service by an ecclesiarch monk specially appointed for this purpose. Candles in front of icons and candles that serve to illuminate the temple space are lit only at certain moments of the service. Under the dome of the temple there is a chandelier in the shape of a hoop: there are candles on the hoop, which are lit during especially solemn moments of the service with the help of a special torch attached to the end of a long pole. In some cases, a chandelier with candles is swung from side to side, so that the glare from the candles moves around the temple: this movement, along with the ringing of bells and especially solemn melismatic singing, creates a festive mood.

Some believe that the characteristic difference between an Orthodox church and a Catholic or Protestant church is the lack of seats in it. In fact, all ancient liturgical regulations presuppose the presence of seats in the church, since during some parts of the service, according to the regulations, it is necessary to sit. In particular, while sitting, they listened to psalms, readings from the Old Testament and from the Apostle, readings from the works of the Church Fathers, as well as some Christian chants, for example, “sedalny” (the very name of the chant indicates that they listened to it while sitting). Standing was considered obligatory only at the most important moments of the service, for example, when reading the Gospel, during the Eucharistic canon.

The liturgical exclamations that have been preserved in modern worship - “Wisdom, forgive”, “Let us become kind, let us become fearful” - were originally precisely the invitation of the deacon to stand up to perform certain prayers after sitting during previous prayers.

The absence of seats in a church is a custom of the Russian Church, but is by no means typical for Greek churches, where, as a rule, benches are provided for everyone who participates in the service. The lack of seats in Russian churches surprised the Greeks who visited Russia back in the 17th century. One of the pilgrims, Deacon Pavel of Aleppo, who accompanied the Patriarch of Antioch Macarius on his journey through Russia, described his feelings from attending lengthy Russian services: “On Saturday we listened to their liturgy, from which we left no sooner than our legs felt like they were going nowhere.” they are worn out from standing for a long time, because in churches they have no seats... You could see them, reader, standing motionless in the church, like stones. We suffered a lot from fatigue, so our souls were torn from exhaustion and melancholy... Being among them, we were amazed. We left the church, barely dragging our feet from fatigue and constant standing... Knowledgeable people told us that if anyone wants to shorten his life by fifteen years, let him go to the country of the Muscovites and live among them as an ascetic.”

The described sensations are also familiar to our contemporaries, who often complain about the lack of benches. In some Russian Orthodox churches, however, there are seats located along the walls and intended for elderly and infirm parishioners. However, the custom of sitting down during readings and standing up only at the most important moments of the service is not typical for most churches of the Russian Church. It is preserved only in monasteries, where stasidiums are installed for monks along the walls of the temple - high wooden chairs with a folding seat and high armrests. In stasidia you can either sit or stand, resting your hands on the armrests and your back on the wall. There seems to be nothing wrong with having stasidia or seats of a different shape installed in a parish church. This would not only make Orthodox worship more “humane” in relation to believers, but would also revive one of the features of the ancient liturgical rite.

The walls of the central part of the temple are usually decorated frescoes or mosaics. In the eastern part of the temple there is iconostasis, separating the middle part of the temple from the altar.

It consists of icons arranged in tiers, symbolizing the history of God's salvation of mankind. The number of tiers (ranks) varies 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.).

– Fourth from the bottom – the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” and the icons of the coming prophets.

– The first row is icons called “local”. First of all, these are icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. They are always located on the sides Royal Doors. Next, these are the icons of the Archangels on southern and northern gates(clergy come out of these doors during services). To the right of the southern gate is an icon depicting the saint (or event) in whose honor the temple was consecrated. This could be an icon of the Holy Trinity (if the Trinity Church), an icon of the Assumption of the Mother of God (if the Assumption Church), etc. To the left of the northern gate are icons of especially revered saints (for example, whose relics are kept in the temple) or other icons that, for one reason or another, it was decided to place in the first row of the iconostasis. 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.

The doors located in the center of the lower tier of the iconostasis, in the Russian tradition called the Royal Doors, in the Greek tradition are called “holy doors”. The origin of the name “Royal Doors” is not entirely clear. Some believe that this name reflects the symbolism of the great entrance, depicting the way of the cross of the Savior, “King of kings” and “Lord of lords”, Who “comes to be sacrificed and given as food to the faithful.” Others believe that the central gate of the altar was called “royal” because kings and emperors entered the altar through them. Indeed, in Russian practice, emperors during the coronation ceremony entered the altar through the royal doors: in the altar they received communion together with the priests, receiving the Body of Christ in their hands and partaking of the Blood of Christ from the chalice (empresses did the same). In Byzantium, “royal” gates were called the gates leading from the vestibule to the central part of the temple, or the doors through which the emperor entered the temple.

The liturgical procession always leaves the altar through the northern gate (door) and returns through the royal doors. The deacon also goes out to the solea to pronounce the litany through the northern doors, and returns to the altar through the southern doors.

In front of the iconostasis is located salty- elevation for clergy.

The central part of the sole, which is usually a semicircular protrusion, is called pulpit. From here the sermon is preached; Some sacred rites are also performed here, for example, the small and great entrances to the liturgy; The dismissal is pronounced from the pulpit - the final blessing at the end of each service.

The right and left sides of the salt form choirs- places where choirs are usually located.

In many Orthodox churches, two choirs alternately sing during divine services, which are located on the right and left choirs, respectively. In some cases, an additional choir is built at the level of the second floor in the western part of the temple: in this case, the choir is behind those present, and the clergy are in front, which creates a kind of stereo effect.

At one of the walls of the temple (sometimes in the altar) there is a semblance of a coffin - this tomb.

The tomb contains shrouds- sewn, woven or painted images of Christ the Savior, taken from the Cross and mourned by the Mother of God, the Apostle John, Joseph of Arimathea and women; as well as a shroud depicting the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The shrouds are removed from the tomb for Easter and the Assumption. Often tombs are decorated with canopies and lamps.

Temples usually have one or more couples banner.

A banner is an Orthodox banner, a panel on a pole with the image of the Savior or the Mother of God and saints. Sometimes the panels themselves were made of metals with decorations of silver, gold, enamel and enamel. But most often the banners are embroidered in gold on brocade or velvet. The banners' shafts are tall and made of wood, sometimes with provisions for carrying by four people due to their heavy weight. Banners are intended for religious processions.

Narthex, or meal - the western part of the temple. On one side of the porch there is a porch, on the other there is a passage to the middle part of the temple.

The porch is built either along the entire width of the western wall of the temple, or, as happens more often, narrower than it. Sometimes the vestibule can be located under the bell tower if it is closely adjacent to the temple. There may be several vestibules in a temple, if the temple has not one, but several entrances.

The porch in an Orthodox church corresponds to the courtyard of the Old Testament temple, where all the people were.

In the ancient New Testament Church, catechumens who were preparing to become Christians through the Sacrament of Baptism, as well as those under penance, prayed in the narthex.

The porch is called a meal because... in it, after the liturgy, as a sign of the spiritual unity of believers, love suppers (agapes) were held. Here in ancient times, treats were held for the poor on the occasion of a holiday or commemoration of the dead.

Old Russian churches, especially Kievan Rus, have very large vestibules, occupying up to one third of the entire temple volume, which was associated with a large number of catechumens. Subsequently, the size of the vestibule decreases.

In the tented pillar churches of the 16th century they are practically absent. 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. Currently, almost all Russian churches, with rare exceptions, have this third part.

In the narthex, according to the Charter, some services are performed: betrothals, lithiums, the rite of announcement, etc.

Here, as a rule, there is a church box - a place for selling candles, prosphora, crosses, icons and other church items, registering baptisms and weddings.

In the narthex, as in the temple, there are many icons, as well as wall paintings. Wall paintings of such Russian churches as the Annunciation in the Kremlin, St. John the Baptist in Yaroslavl are known, where the galleries around the temple, which are the vestibule, are beautifully painted with ornaments and iconographic images.

The doors of the service rooms - the treasury vault - usually open into the vestibule of the temple. icon storage And sacristies, if there is no place for the sacristy in the chancel.

According to the rules, the place for storing sacred clothes was located outside the altar, in its southern aisle, which was called the sacristy. But now in parish churches, chasubles are stored in cabinets, which, however, they still try to place on the south side of the altar. A table is placed next to the cabinet on the southern wall of the altar, on which the vestments needed for today’s service are laid out before the service.

All vestments for the clergy, sextons and readers are stored in the sacristy. The upper vestments of the throne, altar, lecterns, table covers, bookmarks for the Gospel and other books are also stored here.

All these items are available in sets according to the colors of the holidays (see “Vestments of the Clergy”). In the sacristy, all vestments are not only stored, but also cleaned, repaired and smoothed. In large churches, cathedrals and monasteries there is a special position of sacristan.

The icon depository is set up for holiday icons, which are taken to the temple on appropriate holidays and days of remembrance of saints. External crosses, lanterns and other items for religious processions are also stored here.

Test questions:

What is a quadruple?
What services are performed in the middle part of the temple?
What icon is located on the analogue?
What is the meaning of church candles?
What do you know about the means and intensity of church lighting during worship?
Is it possible to sit in church and at what points in the service is it necessary to stand?
Tell us about the structure of the iconostasis.
What are the Royal Doors, the northern and southern gates (doors), the solea and the pulpit?
How are the choirs (choirs) located in the temple?

Sources and literature on the topic

Sources:

Simeon of Thessalonica, St. Book about the temple. pp. 17-18. [Electronic resource]. – URL: http://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Simeon_Solunskij/kniga-o-khrame/ (access date: 10/27/2015).

Basic educational literature:

Hilarion (Alfeev), Metropolitan.Orthodoxy. In 2 volumes. –– M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2009. 1840 p. Volume 2. Section IV. Temple and icon. Chapter I. 4. The structure of the temple and church utensils. Construction of the temple. [Electronic resource]. – URL: http://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ilarion_Alfeev/pravoslavie-tom-2/1_4_1 (access date: 10/27/2015).
Lorgus A., priest, Dudko A., priest. A book about the Church. – M.: Pilgrim, 2005. Chapter 2. Orthodox Church. Construction of the temple. [Electronic resource]. – URL: http://www.ortho-rus.ru/book/ (access date: 10/27/2015).
The narthex Open Orthodox encyclopedia "Tree". http://drevo-info.ru/articles/1179.html (date of access: 10/27/2015).

Further reading:

Florensky P.A., priest Works in 4 volumes. – T. 2. – M.: Mysl, 1999. – P. 419–527. [Electronic resource]. – URL: http://predanie.ru/florenskiy-pavel-ierey/book/75672-ikonostas/ (access date: 10/27/2015).
Instructions for an Orthodox Christian about a church candle.-M.: Moscow courtyard of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra; “New book”, 1996 – 32 p.

Video materials:

Melismatic singing is a way of singing a text in which one syllable contains many (four or more) melody sounds.

Deisis (from the Greek δεησις - “petition, prayer”, there is also an irregular Russian form - “Deesis”) - a composition of three icons - in the center is the icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator, on the left is the icon of the Mother of God facing Him, on the right is John the Baptist, represented in traditional gesture of prayerful intercession. In icon painting, it was originally performed on one board. Later, Deisis appeared on three separate boards and multi-part Deisis.

May include similar images of the apostles, St. fathers, St. martyrs, etc. The main dogmatic meaning of the deisis composition is mediatorial prayer, intercession for the human race in the face of the formidable Heavenly King and Judge. In the post-iconoclastic era, the Deisis icon was placed on the architrave of the low altar barrier of a Byzantine church, and then, on Russian soil, it turned into the Deisis tier of a high iconostasis.

In Russian and Ukrainian architecture (mainly 17th-18th centuries) a structure or part of it is 4-sided in plan. In the compositions of many tented and tiered churches it is combined with an 8-sided part (octagonal to quadrangular) ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

CHETVERIK, in Russian and Ukrainian architecture (mainly 17th-18th centuries) a structure or part of it, 4-sided in plan. In the compositions of many tented and tiered churches it is combined with an 8-sided part (“octagonal to quadrangular”)... Encyclopedic Dictionary

CHETVERIK, in Russian and Ukrainian architecture, a 4-sided structure or an integral part of the compositions of tented and tiered churches, including in combination with an 8-sided part (octagonal on quadrangular) ... Modern encyclopedia

Chetverik, in Russian and Ukrainian architecture (wooden and stone) is a quadrangular structure or its component part. The main architectural form of the Russian temple (mainly before the 18th century) were widespread in composition with ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

In Russian and Ukrainian stone and wooden architecture, a structure is quadrangular in plan or an integral part of the compositions of tented and tiered churches, including in combination with an octagonal part (an octagon on a quadrangle). (Source:… … Art encyclopedia

Chetverik- CHETVERIK, in Russian and Ukrainian architecture, a 4-sided structure or an integral part of the compositions of tented and tiered churches, including in combination with an 8-sided part (“octagon on quadrangle”). ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Chetverik: Old Russian measure: Chetverik is a unit of volume of bulk solids; quadrangle is an ancient measure of area. A set of four homogeneous objects or an object consisting of four homogeneous parts: Quadruple in architecture ... ... Wikipedia

Chetverik: Old Russian measure: chetverik is a unit of volume of granular solids; quadrangle is an ancient measure of area. A set of four homogeneous objects or an object consisting of four homogeneous parts: a quadrangle in architecture is quadrangular in plan ... ... Wikipedia

quadruple- a/, m. 1) Old Russian measure of the volume of granular bodies. Quadrangle of oats. 2) Old Russian measure of land area, equal to 1/4 tithe (0.27 hectares). 3) outdated Four horses in one team. A foursome of tall horses jumped out from around the corner. 4) In Russian and... ... Popular dictionary of the Russian language

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What is a quadrangle in a temple? Meaning of the word quadruple

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