If you were in a Orthodox church for the first time, it will not be out of place to find out exactly which parts it consists of, why these sacred areas are needed, because almost every one of them has a centuries-old culture and traditions of many generations of believers.
Instruction manual
1
Interestingly, the temple itself is carried out in three versions. may take the form of a cross symbolizing faith, a circle - a sign of infinity, an octagonal star of Bethlehem. Any temple is covered with a special gilded dome with a cross or crosses facing and symbolizing the flame of a candle or fire rising upward.
2
Any temple is conditionally divided into three main parts, the first of which is the "narthex" - it can be observed at the entrance. In monasteries, for example, it was used as a refectory, while the church everywhere used this square as a waiting room for the baptized, all excommunicated and repentant.
3
Following the narthex itself is the "main part", after it - the altar, or "sacred place", a symbol of earth and heaven, which can only be entered by specially authorized people. It is here that the main value of any church is located - the "throne", a table with an actimosnos, or a silk scarf depicting the holy image of Christ and the power of the saint sewn up here, the gospel, a cross, a guardian, or a special casket for communing the sick. There can be several altars in the temple at once, in which case each of them is dedicated to a certain great event or to some saint. The altar and the throne are separated from the main part of the church by the iconostasis.
4
A special table, an altar, is usually placed on the northern wall of the altar; it is here that wine and bread are prepared for the sacrament. Here are placed chalice, a bowl for a drink and a disco - a dish for bread. Also on the table you can see a spear for taking out the sacrament bread and a liar, or a spoon, intended actually for communion.
5
A variety of censers, savages and tricaria are also kept behind the iconostasis - two and three-candlesticks, respectively, rapids, or special fans on the handles for lighting gifts.
6
The area directly in front of the iconostasis, at the entrance to the altar, has the name "salt", in front of it is placed "pulpit", which literally translates from Greek as "I enter." It is here, on the pulpit, towering in the middle of the temple, that the priest announces those main words that mark the beginning and end of the service.
7
On both groans from the pulpit, directly near the walls, there are choirs, or places for singers, there are banners, icons arranged on a long one attached to a pole.
8
You can enter the iconostasis only through the "royal gates", only the priests themselves are authorized to do so. The iconostasis itself, as a rule, consists of five rows or tiers, which are called “local”, “festive”, “deesis”, “prophetic” and “forefathers” from bottom to top, dedicated to the patriarchs of the whole nation, such as Abraham and Isaac himself, Noah and Jacob.
