Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 65 views

    1 - Church Architecture-2

    Uploaded by

    Christian Paul Sigua
    The document discusses the theology and symbolism of church architecture. It describes how early Christian architecture reversed the Greek temple design by focusing inward on the sacred interior space. It then defines and explains the symbolism of key parts of a church like the apse, nave, and narthex. The apse symbolizes the holy space and vision of heaven, the nave represents the Church as Noah's ark, and the narthex signifies the transition from the secular world. Diagrams are included showing a typical Gothic church plan and the locations of these areas.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    1 - Church Architecture-2

    Uploaded by

    Christian Paul Sigua
    65 views17 pages
    The document discusses the theology and symbolism of church architecture. It describes how early Christian architecture reversed the Greek temple design by focusing inward on the sacred interior space. It then defines and explains the symbolism of key parts of a church like the apse, nave, and narthex. The apse symbolizes the holy space and vision of heaven, the nave represents the Church as Noah's ark, and the narthex signifies the transition from the secular world. Diagrams are included showing a typical Gothic church plan and the locations of these areas.

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document discusses the theology and symbolism of church architecture. It describes how early Christian architecture reversed the Greek temple design by focusing inward on the sacred interior space. It then defines and explains the symbolism of key parts of a church like the apse, nave, and narthex. The apse symbolizes the holy space and vision of heaven, the nave represents the Church as Noah's ark, and the narthex signifies the transition from the secular world. Diagrams are included showing a typical Gothic church plan and the locations of these areas.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    65 views17 pages

    1 - Church Architecture-2

    Uploaded by

    Christian Paul Sigua
    The document discusses the theology and symbolism of church architecture. It describes how early Christian architecture reversed the Greek temple design by focusing inward on the sacred interior space. It then defines and explains the symbolism of key parts of a church like the apse, nave, and narthex. The apse symbolizes the holy space and vision of heaven, the nave represents the Church as Noah's ark, and the narthex signifies the transition from the secular world. Diagrams are included showing a typical Gothic church plan and the locations of these areas.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 17

    CHURCH

    ARCHITECTURE

    HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY


    SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
    DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
    THEOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM OF
    CHURCH BUILDING
    A SACRED SPACE.
    - In the ancient Greek temple of a peristyle type the outer surface is
    most important;
    - Early Christian architecture reverses the peristyle temple, turns it
    inside out, concentrates on the inside: the basilica type.
    - The main goal is to create the atmosphere of mystery and
    immateriality, the sacred space. The church is the “Earthly Heaven”.
    - What happens inside is the de-substantiation of the physical reality of
    the building;

    2
    THEOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM OF
    CHURCH BUILDING
    PARTS OF THE CHURCH AND THEIR
    SYMBOLISM

    1. APSE
    The apse with the altar (the sanctuary), a semicircular polygonal
    projection of a building usually vaulted, also APSIS.

    SYMBOLISM:
    the holy space, the image of the divine, the vision of another
    world, “heaven on earth.”

    3
    THEOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM OF
    CHURCH BUILDING
    2. NAVE
    The principal or central part of the church, extending from the
    narthex to the choir or chancel and usually flanked by aisles.

    SYMBOLISM:
    The term nave is from navis, the Latin word for ship, an early
    Christian symbol of the Church as a whole, with a possible
    connection to the "Ship of St. Peter" or the Ark of Noah

    4
    THEOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM OF
    CHURCH BUILDING
    3. NARTHEX
    A portico or vestibule before the nave occupied by those not yet
    christened.

    SYMBOLISM:
    the idea of a gradual separation from the world and transition to
    the sanctuary.

    5
    THEOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM OF
    CHURCH BUILDING
    FRESCOES AND IMAGES
    Mother of God “Orans” in the apse who shows the way

    Christ Pantocrator in the dome indicates the heavens

    6
    TYPICAL PARTS OF THE CHURCH
    NARTHEX
    A portico or vestibule before the nave occupied by those not yet
    christened.

    TYPICAL GOTHIC CHURCH PLAN


    7
    TYPICAL PARTS OF THE CHURCH
    NAVE
    The principal or central part of the church, extending from the
    narthex to the choir or chancel and usually flanked by aisles.
    The central longitudinal space of a basilica church.

    TYPICAL GOTHIC CHURCH PLAN


    8
    TYPICAL PARTS OF THE CHURCH
    AISLE
    The space between the columns of the nave and the side wall.
    Any of the longitudinal divisions of the Church, separated from
    the nave by a row of columns or piers

    TYPICAL GOTHIC CHURCH PLAN


    9
    TYPICAL PARTS OF THE CHURCH
    TRANSEPT
    An extension across the main axis giving a church the
    shape of a cross

    TYPICAL GOTHIC CHURCH PLAN


    10
    TYPICAL PARTS OF THE CHURCH
    CROSSING
    Area of a church where the nave, choir, and transept
    intersect

    TYPICAL GOTHIC CHURCH PLAN


    11
    TYPICAL PARTS OF THE CHURCH
    CHOIR
    Area of the church where the priest performs the
    mass

    TYPICAL GOTHIC CHURCH PLAN


    12
    TYPICAL PARTS OF THE CHURCH
    APSE
    The apse with the altar (the sanctuary), a semicircular polygonal
    projection of a building usually vaulted (Eastern End)

    TYPICAL GOTHIC CHURCH PLAN


    13
    TYPICAL PARTS OF THE CHURCH
    AMBULATORY
    A covered passageway(cloister) around the apse of a
    church, or for circumambulating a shrine

    TYPICAL GOTHIC CHURCH PLAN


    14
    TYPICAL PARTS OF THE CHURCH
    CHEVETS
    a series of apses or small chapels radiating from the
    ambulatory

    TYPICAL GOTHIC CHURCH PLAN


    15
    16
    17

    You might also like