Lesson Summary. The iconostasis is a vertical element commonly found in Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches. It serves as a division between the sanctuary and the nave, and several religious figures are represented on it. It originated from the Jewish tradition of separating the congregation leader from the faithful …
Did Hagia Sophia have an iconostasis?
Iconostasis can also be seen in Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul Turkey. Once a Christian basilica, then an imperial mosque, and now a museum; Hagia Sophia has a fifty foot silver iconostasis in it. … The iconostasis was removed when Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque, and was returned when it was turned into a museum.
In which one of the following churches can the iconostasis be found?
But some of the best examples can be found in Russia and its Eastern European neighbours, including the Cathedral of the Annunciation and the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael in Moscow’s Kremlin, the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk, the Trinity Lavra in Sergeyev Posad, Uglich Cathedral, Saint Andrew’s Church of Kiev …
What is the chancel used for in a church?
The east end of a church, traditionally the place where the high altar is located. Chancels may have seating for a choir, and there may be small chambers off the chancel, such as a vestry, an ‘office space’ for the priest. … Chancels were often dominated by a large east window above and behind the altar.
What is inside an Orthodox church?
The Church building is divided into three main parts: the narthex (vestibule), the nave (the temple proper) and the sanctuary (also called the altar or holy place). A major difference of traditional Orthodox churches from Western churches is the absence of any pews in the nave.
What are three things that make the Hagia Sophia special?
Top 10 Facts About Hagia Sophia
- The first great Byzantine ruler ordered Hagia Sophia’s reconstruction. …
- One of Hagia Sophia’s features is a great dome. …
- Hagia Sophia’s design has been used as an architectural yardstick. …
- Hagia Sophia boasts Islamic and Christian influences. …
- Hagia Sophia lost a lot of art to iconoclasm.
What are the features of Hagia Sophia?
The Hagia Sophia, whose name means “holy wisdom,” is a domed monument originally built as a cathedral in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) in the sixth century A.D. It contains two floors centered on a giant nave that has a great dome ceiling, along with smaller domes, towering above.
Who is on the iconostasis?
Representations of the archangels Gabriel and Michael, the 12 Apostles, the feasts of the church, and the prophets of the Old Testament are arranged on the iconostasis in complicated patterns, with all figures facing the royal doors.
Who are the religious leaders?
A religious leader is one who is recognised by a religious body as having some authority within that body. The leader of a religious order. In Catholicism, any of a number of individuals, including priests, Cardinals, Bishops, and the Supreme Pontiff.
What is a nave in a church?
Nave, central and principal part of a Christian church, extending from the entrance (the narthex) to the transepts (transverse aisle crossing the nave in front of the sanctuary in a cruciform church) or, in the absence of transepts, to the chancel (area around the altar).
What is a rood screen in a church?
Rood screen, in Western architecture, element of a Christian church of the Middle Ages or early Renaissance that separated the choir or chancel (the area around the altar) from the nave (the area set apart for the laity).
What does sanctuary mean in English?
1 : a holy or sacred place. 2 : a building or room for religious worship. 3 : a place that provides safety or protection a wildlife sanctuary. 4 : the protection from danger or a difficult situation that is provided by a safe place.
What is icon and iconostasis?
In Eastern Christianity, an iconostasis (Greek: εἰκονοστάσιον) is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. Iconostasis also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere within a church.
What style is the Hagia Sophia?
A Church and a Mosque
The Byzantine architecture of Hagia Sophia served as an inspiration for many other Ottoman mosques such as Istanbul’s Blue Mosque. In 1985, Hagia Sophia along with Istanbul’s other major historic buildings and locations were together declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
What made the Hagia Sophia so special?
It served as a center of religious, political, and artistic life for the Byzantine world and has provided us with many useful scholarly insights into the period. It was also an important site of Muslim worship after Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453 and designated the structure a mosque.
What are the main features of Constantinople?
Constantinople is almost surrounded by water, except on its side facing Europe where walls were built. The city was built on a promontory projecting into the Bosphorus (Bosporus), which is the strait between the Sea of Marmara (Propontis) and the Black Sea (Pontus Euxinus).
Who built Megale Ekklesia?
Constantine built other churches but it was his son and successor Constantius, (Emperor 337-61), who first built in 360 a church beside the imperial palace known simply as “big church” (megale ekklesia) or, with greater dignity, “the Great Church”.
Who destroyed Hagia Sophia?
The first church structure was destroyed during riots in 404; the second church, built and dedicated in 415 by Emperor Theodosius II, burned down during the Nika revolt of 532, which caused vast destruction and death throughout the city. Immediately after the riots, Emperor Justinian I (r.
What is the new name of Constantinople?
Constantinople is an ancient city in modern-day Turkey that’s now known as Istanbul.
Who is the leader of the Orthodox Church?
The nominal head of the Eastern Orthodox Churches is the Patriarch of Constantinople. However, he is only first among equals and has no real authority over Churches other than his own.
What do Orthodox Christians do when entering a church?
Bowing and prostrating
A bow in the Orthodox Church consists of a person making the sign of the cross and then bowing from the waist and touching the floor with their fingers.
Who do the Orthodox worship?
For Orthodox Christians , worship joins the human being to God in prayer and unites them to the Church, the body of Christ. The main service is called the Divine Liturgy, during which people receive the bread and wine. the Proskomedia – meaning ‘offering’ when the bread and wine is prepared.