Every Christian knows that God can offer prayers everywhere. But there is a certain place in which it is more convenient to pray; God is acquired there in a special graceful way. It is called a temple or church. The temple is a consecrated building designed for the joint offering of prayers by believers.
And, of course, the temple is structured in such a way that it differs from other buildings. The entrance to the church is from the west, and the altar is always facing east, recalling that Christian faith came from the east, from the land of Judea, in which Jesus Christ lived.
On the domes of temples, as a banner of victory, is a cross. The temples in their foundation have various images: the cross - since the Church gained power and life for them; an eight-pointed star - as a sign that the Church is illuminating with the light of Christ's grace; the circle - as a symbol of the eternity of the Church; ship - like the new Noah's ark, in which the Christian finds salvation.
Inside the temple is arranged so that it has three compartments. The altar, then comes the middle part, that is, the actual temple or church, and the narthex with the porch.
The altar is the very sky where God dwells invisibly. The altar is also an earthly paradise, where before the fall the ancestors of the human race lived. The altar is the birthplace of the Savior, the beginning of His procession to preach, the Sacrament of Communion was established by Him there, He suffered there, died on the cross, rose and ascended into heaven. Only clergymen can enter the altar. In case of special need, male laity are allowed to enter. For women, the entrance to the altar is closed in a sign that because of Eve, a person has lost heavenly bliss.
The main shrine of the temple is the altar seat. This is the throne of the King of Glory, on which God Himself is present. It is on the throne that a bloodless sacrifice is made for peace.
The altar is separated from the middle part of the church by the iconostasis. The middle doors of the iconostasis are called the Royal Gates, since the King of reigns passes through them in the Holy Gifts.
The part of the temple, which is located in the middle, is actually called the church or temple. This separation is the blessed Kingdom of Christ on earth, which consists of people who believe in Him. Here may be lay people, but only faithful, that is, believers who are baptized and not excommunicated from participation in the sacraments.
The third part of the temple, the narthex, is divided into internal - the pre-temple, and external - the porch. The narthex is intended for those who repent and are made public, that is, those who are so far only preparing for baptism. On the porch were especially penitent, along with beggars asking for alms.
