Christian architecture is striking in its uniqueness. In the Orthodox construction tradition, one can find majestic Cathedrals, accommodating several thousand people, small temples and very small chapels, where tens of people can hardly be accommodated. In Christianity, there is a significant difference between temples and chapels.
A temple in the Orthodox Christian tradition is called the corresponding building, consecrated by a special rite in which services are held, including the Divine Liturgy. There is always an altar in the temple, inside of which there is a throne. Thrones may be different. For example, portable and stationary. The main thing is that particles of the relics of the holy martyrs were invested in the throne. This is a tribute to the ancient tradition of holding a liturgy on the tombs of martyrs (relics of saints). On the throne must be stored antimins, which is a circuit board with the image of Christ lying in the tomb. Without a throne and antimins, a liturgy cannot be performed. Thus, the main indicator in the definition of the temple is not just the size of the structure, but the presence of a consecrated throne with anti-mens. If this is available and the divine liturgy is performed constantly, then the building may well be called a temple. In the temple, in addition to the altar, there is also a central part where believers are located during prayer, and there can also be a narthex.
The main difference between the chapel and the temple is the lack of a holy throne and anti-mins. In such a building, you can hold prayers, requiem, funeral services, perform other requirements and even worship, but not the Divine Liturgy. The main service of Christians cannot be accomplished without anti-mens.
Sometimes a small throne with an antimins is brought to the chapel for a while to perform the liturgy. In some chapels, this is done very often, so such buildings may be called the "temple chapel." Sometimes they can also name small temples in which services are temporarily held until the construction of the main temple or the cathedral of the entire church complex is completed.
