narthex | architecture | Britannica.com architecture choir Narthex, long, narrow, enclosed porch , usually colonnaded or arcaded, crossing the entire width of a church at its entrance. The narthex is usually separated from the nave by columns or a pierced wall , and in Byzantine churches the space is divided into two parts; an exonarthex forms the outer entrance to the building and bounds the esonarthex, which opens onto the nave. Occasionally the exonarthex does not form an integral part of the main body of the church but consists of a single-storied structure set against it. A spectacular Norman example is the Galilee porch at Durham Cathedral in Durham, Eng. In the early days of Christianity the narthex was the only portion of the church to which catechumens (those preparing for the sacrament of baptism) and penitents were admitted.

Learn More in these related articles: in church (architecture) ...included a nave (q.v.), or hall, with a flat timber roof, in which the crowd gathered; one or two side aisles flanking the nave and separated from it by a row of regularly spaced columns; a narthex (q.v.), or entrance vestibule at the west end, which was reserved for penitents and unbaptized believers; and an apse (q.v.) of either semicircular or rectangular design,... 1 Reference found in Britannica Articles Assorted Reference church architecture (in church (architecture) ) External Links Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources.

At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions. Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later. Close Date Published: July 13, 2007 URL: Access Date: January 19, 2017 Share Church Architecture Glossary See rood screen . Chapel A chapel can either be an alcove with an altar in a large church, or a separate building that is smaller than a full-sized church. Chapels have the same function as church buildings and are equipped the same way, but they are usually dedicated to special use.

For example, a large estate might have a chapel in which worship services are held for family members, staff, and guests. If a church builds a new and larger sanctuary, but keeps the old one, the old one is often called a chapel. Communion Table See altar . East Wall The wall behind the altar, as viewed from the nave , is the “east wall,” no matter what direction you are actually facing. In the past, all church buildings faced east, and it is still the case for eastern Orthodox churches today. A person who enters the church goes from west to east, which symbolizes going from the evil of the present world to the glory of the New Jerusalem to come. High Altar A large church may have several altars. The term high altar refers to the main altar in the chancel. Other altars may be located on the sides of the nave or in separate chapels in the same building. Historic Floor Plan: As viewed by a worshiper seated among the congregation , there are two speaker’s stands on either side of the front of the church. The one on the left is called the pulpit , and it is used by clergy to read the gospel lesson and to preach the sermon.

Accordingly, the left side of the church is called the gospel side. The on the right is called the lectern . It generally holds a large Bible and is used by lay readers for the Old Testament and epistle lessons. Accordingly, the right side of the church is called the epistle side. The communion table stands centered behind the lecterns. If there is enough room, the communion table is placed away from the wall so that the celebrant may face the congregation during communion. The choir may be located behind the congregation, to one or both sides of the sanctuary , or even on the opposite side of the communion table from the congregation. The choir is most often not in direct sight of the congregation. The wall that the congregation faces during worship is called the ‘east wall’ regardless of the actual compass direction, because of the ancient practice, inherited from Judaism, of facing Jerusalem during prayers. The simplest and easiest shape for a room is a square or rectangle, because it is easier and less expensive to build a straight wall than a curved wall. In the historic floor plan, the chancel is on the short wall of the rectangle. That results in a long aisle and pews in the back that are quite some distance from the front.

There are two modern variants on the historic plan; one is to put the chancel on the long side of the rectangle and the other is to make a square room and put the chancel in one of the corners. In these variants, the pews are either curved or placed at angles so that everyone in the congregation faces the chancel. The result is that everyone is closer to the chancel. For example, I attended a church with a nave that could seat over 400 people. The nave was a rectangle with the chancel on the long side, so that despite the size of the nave, no one sat more than eleven pews back from the chancel. Orthodox churches also follow this plan, except that they actually do face east, the nave is square rather than rectangular, and there are normally no pews. (The congregation stands.) See also iconostasis . You can see a diagram and get more information about historic church interiors . Icon An icon is a highly stylized religious painting on wood. The icon follows detailed artistic conventions, which include the lack of perspective and unearthly colors. The icons are deliberately unrealistic so that they edify faith without causing idolatry.

In an Orthodox church, no matter where you look, there’s an icon—and that is the whole idea. It is nearly impossible to be in an Orthodox church without thinking spiritual thoughts all the time. The subject and placement of the icons is significant. An illiterate person could learn the whole gospel just by looking around. Iconostasis In Orthodox churches, the chancel and the nave are separated by a partition that generally does not reach all the way to the ceiling. It is covered with icons whose subject and placement is significant. It is called an iconostasis—it is essentially an icon stand. The iconostasis has three doors, two on each side so the clergy can enter and leave the chancel, and one in the middle that, when open, gives the congregation a view of the celebrant and the altar. In Orthodox worship, the nave represents earth, the chancel represents heaven, and the iconostasis is the barrier that prevents us from seeing heaven from earth. The celebrant opens the middle door at appropriate times when heaven is revealed to people on earth. The western equivalent is called a rood screen .

Kneeler In churches where it is customary to kneel for prayer, there is often a long, narrow padded bar at the base of pew in front of you, which can be tilted down for kneeling and tilted up to make it easier to get in and out of the pew. Most often the kneelers are the length of the pew and are used by several people. If you are visiting a church that has kneelers, and you are not accustomed to using them, keep the kneeler in the down position during the service except while someone is passing through. Otherwise someone might attempt to kneel when the kneeler isn’t in place. See also prayer desk . Lectern In churches with a historic floor plan , there are two speaker’s stands in the front of the church. The one on the right (as viewed by the congregation) is called the lectern. The word lectern comes from the Latin word meaning ‘to read,’ because the lectern primarily functions as a reading stand. It is used by lay people to read the scripture lessons, except for the gospel lesson, to lead the congregation in prayer, and to make announcements.

Because the epistle lesson is usually read from the lectern, the lectern side of the church is called the epistle side. See also ambo and pulpit . In some churches, the positions of the pulpit and the lectern are reversed (that is, pulpit is on the right and the lectern is on the left) for architectural or aesthetic reasons. Lecture-Hall Floor Plan: As viewed by a worshiper in the congregation , there is one speaker’s stand, centered in the front of the church. It is actually an ambo , but is often incorrectly called the pulpit . It is used by all individuals who are involved in the conduct of the worship service. The choir is seated behind the pulpit, facing the congregation and in full view. There is usually a long kneeling rail between the congregation and the pulpit. If there is a communion table, it is located between the kneeling rail and the pulpit. To receive communion, the congregation comes up and kneels at the rail. In some churches communion is served to the congregation in the pews. The kneeling rail is often used for individual counseling and prayer as a response to the sermon or the worship service.

You can see a diagram and get more information about this type of church interior . Narthex The historic term for what might otherwise be called the foyer or entry way of the church. Nave The architectural term for the place where the congregation gathers for worship, as opposed to the front part of the church from which the service is led. In churches with a lecture-hall floor plan , the term ‘sanctuary’ is often used to mean both chancel and nave because the two are not architecturally distinct. An oratory is a room or a portion of a room that is set aside for an individual to conduct personal devotions. The word oratory comes from a Latin word that means a place to pray. Pew Originally, Christians stood for worship, and that is still the case in many eastern churches. The pew, a long, backed bench upon which congregants sit, was an innovation of western medieval Christianity. Pews were inherited by Protestants from the Roman Catholic Church, and because of their practicality, have spread to some Orthodox churches located in the west. Prayer Desk Also called a prie-dieu, a prayer desk is a kneeler with a small shelf for books, as in the illustration on the right.

In churches where it is customary to kneel for prayer, there might be two prayer desks in the chancel, one for the clergy and the other for the lay leader. Prayer desks are also found in private homes and small chapels. Prie-Dieu See Prayer Desk . Pulpit In churches with a historic floor plan , there are two speaker’s stands in the front of the church. The one on the left (as viewed by the congregation) is called the pulpit. It is used by clergy to read the gospel and preach the sermon. Since the gospel lesson is usually read from the pulpit, the pulpit side of the church is called the gospel side. See also ambo and lectern . In some churches, the positions of the pulpit and the lectern are reversed (that is, pulpit is on the right and the lectern is on the left) for architectural or aesthetic reasons. Rood Screen A rood screen (also known as a chancel screen) is a partition that separates the nave of a church from the chancel . It is similar to an iconostasis in an Eastern Orthodox church, except that its origin is more recent. Its construction is different, because it is not a complete visual barrier.

Rood screens are much less common in western churches today than in medieval times, when they originated. Protestants had theological problems with separating the laity from the liturgy. Catholic churches removed the rood screens for the same reason as a result of the Council of Trent (1545-1563). You can still find a rood screen in an Anglican or Lutheran church. Sacristy In historic church architecture, the sacristy is the room or closet in which communion equipment, linen, and supplies are kept. It is usually equipped with a sink. Sanctuary In historic church architecture, the front part of the church from which the service is conducted, as distinct from the nave , where the congregation sits. The sanctuary is usually an elevated platform, usually three steps up from the nave. In churches with a lecture-hall floor plan , the term ‘sanctuary’ is often used to mean both chancel and nave because the two are not architecturally distinct. In historic usage, chancel ; and sanctuary are synonyms. Shrine A shrine is a building or a place that is dedicated to one particular type of devotion that is limited to commemorating an event or a person.

What makes it a shrine is its limited purpose and use. It could be anything from a large building to a plaque mounted on a pole next to the side of the road. A shrine is located on the site where the event occurred that gave rise to the commemoration and the devotion. For example, suppose someone erects a commemorative plaque on the spot where some important person was murdered and people often come there to think about the significance of the event and pray. That is essentially a shrine. Stage In western (not Orthodox) churches where worship is theatrical and the congregation functions as mainly as audience, the architect often enlarges the chancel to accommodate performances and calls it a ‘stage,’ as in a theater. Transept In medieval times, it became necessary to increase space near the chancel to accommodate large numbers of clergy, the choirs, or members of religious orders. The result was a space between the chancel and the nave that extends beyond the side walls, giving the church a cruciform floor plan—meaning that it is cross-shaped when viewed from the air. Undercroft The undercroft is essentially a fancy word for the church basement under the chancel and nave (and transept, if there is one).

narthex Encyclopedia > Literature and the Arts > Art and Architecture > Architecture narthex narthex (närˈthĕks) [ key ], entrance feature peculiar to early Christian and Byzantine churches, although also found in some Romanesque churches, especially in France and Italy. Usually extending across the entire west front of the building, it was a vestibule for the penitents and catechumens who were not admitted to the church proper. The narthex was either enclosed within the building (often separated from the nave by a mere screen of columns) or consisted of an exterior colonnaded or arcaded portico. In the latter case it was sometimes merely a continuation of the atrium , as in a number of Italian basilical churches, including the original basilica (4th cent.) of St. Peter's Church, Rome. The inner narthex was particularly characteristic of the monastic churches, where admission was restricted. In churches having both types of narthex, as in Hagia Sophia , Constantinople (originally a Christian church), the outer one is termed exonarthex. With the growth of unrestricted entry into the churches, the narthex served no further ritual purpose after the 13th cent.

The deeply recessed portals of Gothic cathedrals are derivatives of the narthex. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: Architecture Gothic Glossary Athena Review, Vol. 4, No. 2 Glossary: Gothic Art and Architecture Altar: Elevated structure located in the choir at the east end of the church, where religious rites are performed (fig.1). Ambulatory: Passageways surrounding the central part of the choir, which is often a continuation of the side aisles (fig.1,5). The most common design of the Gothic era was the double ambulatory surrounded by semi-circular radiating chapels such as at the Abbey Church of Saint-Denis. Apse: Semi-circular vaulted structure at the east end of the church at the termination of the choir (fig.1). Arcade: An arch or a series of arches supported by piers or columns (fig.6) Arch: Curved masonry construction that spans an opening such as a portal or window.

Pointed arches were a feature of the Gothic era, that evolved from the round Romanesque arches.See Gothic Architecture. [ Fig.1: Plan of the interior at the Cathedral of St-Gervais and St-Protais (after Gonet 1998)]. Archivolt: A series of decorated, recessed arches spanning an opening such as a portal (fig.3, B). Baldachin: ornamental canopy covering statues (fig.3, F). Balustrade: A railing with symmetrical supports. Bay: A major vertical division of a large, interior wall. There are usually more than one, such as a nave that is divided into seven bays (fig.1). Buttress/Abutment System: A projecting or free-standing support built into or against the exterior wall of a cathedral, which steadies the structure by opposing the lateral thrusts from the vaults. The appearance of double span flying buttresses first occurred at Saint-Denis (fig.2, B). Canopy: A decorated rooflike projection or a richly decorated baldachin over a statue (fig.3, F).

Capital: Architectural element that surmounts a column or any other vertical support (fig.5, B). Chancel: Space around the altar of a church that is usually intended for the clergy (fig.1). From the Latin cancellus for "railing." Chevet: Apse built as radiating chapels outside of the choir aisle, and the resulting, more complicated structure became known as the chevet at the beginning of the 13th century. [ Fig.2: North transept of the Abbey Church of Saint-Denis showing A)tower; B) Double Span Flying Buttresses; C) Gothic rose window with tracery; D) Lancet windows (photo: Athena Review)]. Choir: Part of the church east of the crossing, usually occupied by the priests and singers of the choir (fig.1). From the Latin chorus for a "singing group." Clerestory: Windowed area of the church above the side aisles and above the wall of the central part of the nave (fig.6). Colonnades: A series of columns supporting either arches or an entablature, and usually one side of a roof. These were common architectural features of Early Roman churches.

Colonettes: Small, thin columns, often used for decoration or to support an arcade. Column: Slender vertical support having either a cylindrical or polygonal shaft, and which always has a base and a capital. Crossing: Space where the transept intersects with the nave along the main axis of the church (fig.1). Crypt: Low room underneath the choir of the church used as a sepulchral vault. From the Greek kryptós meaning "hidden." Examples include the crypt at Notre-Dame in Paris . Embrasure: An opening in a thick wall for a portal or window, especially one with angled sides, so that the opening is larger on the inside than the outside. From the Old French embraser for "to cut at a slant." Effigy: A sculptured representation of a figure such as in the recumbent effigies of dead kings at the Abbey Church of Saint-Denis. Façade: The front of the cathedral (fig.1). During the Gothic era, the west façade at the entranceway was noted for its three sculptured portals, and crowning rose window flanked by two towers. Starting with Saint-Denis, this became a feature of Gothic cathedrals.

Finial: Small ornament located on top of a pinnacle or gable. Foil: Circular segments combined concentrically with other foils to form the tracery used in rose windows (fig.2, fig.4, B) The foil is usually used in groups such as trefoil or quatrefoil. Foliated frieze: A panel decorated with carved foliage or leaves, found below the upper molding or cornice of a wall, and sometimes spanning the whole interior of the church. Gable: Triangular portion of a wall fronting the enclosing lines of a sloping roof, which often contains sculptures (fig.3, A). Gallery: Covered corridor in an upper story overlooking the nave. A traverse gallery crosses both sides of the church and a tribune gallery is the elevated part of a gallery which contains seats. [ Fig.3: Central portal of the West façade of Amiens showing A) gable; B) pointed archivolt; C) tympanum; D) lintel; E) trumeau; F) canopy above a carved cornerpiece; G)jambs; H) socles (photo:Athena Review)].

Gallery of Kings: Statues of kings in sequence, located either under baldachins (ornamental canopies) or encircling the base of the towers of the west façade of Gothic cathedrals. Examples include the 63 giant statues of kings at Reims, and the Kings of Judah at Notre-Dame in Paris. Gargoyles: A water sprout terminating in a grotesquely carved figure of a human or animal, and projecting from the gutter of a cathedral such as Notre-Dame in Paris. Iconographic scheme/program: The specific arrangement of sculptures, which symbolically represent a religious event or saint's life on the sculptured portals of Gothic cathedrals. Examples include the narrative portrayal of the Annunciation, Visitation, and Presentation at Reims Cathedral. Impost: Slab above a column capital at the point of the spring of an arch. Jamb: One of a pair of vertical posts or pieces, that together form the sides of a portal, which often contains sculptures (fig.3, G). The individual columns can also be referred to as jambshafts, which often support an arch or vault.

From the Old French jambe for "pier" or "sidepost of a door." Keystone: Stone in the form of wedge forming the central element of a lintel, vault, or arch. Pendant keystones are found at the intersection of ribbed vaults. Originally from the Latin clavis for "key." Labyrinth: Intricate combination of paths and passageways, often located in the nave of a cathedral, marked by floor tiles sometimes engraved with the names of the cathedral architects. Pilgrims would follow the torturous path on their knees; see Chartres . Lancet window: A narrow window with sharp pointed arches. Starting with Amiens, lancets were often subdivided into two and topped by a smaller rose window. Prior to this, lancets were typically surmounted by an oculus or round opening (fig.2, D; fig.4, D). Lintel: Horizontal architectural member in wood or stone that supports the weight above an opening (fig.3, D). Marmosets: Grotesque human and animal figures sculpted in stone, often underlying jamb figures. From the Old French word marmouset (1280).

At the end of the 15th century, the same word was used to describe small squirrel-like monkeys of the New World. Martyrium: An edifice built over the site of a tomb of a martyr frequently became the site of cathedrals. Moldings: Long narrow, often decorated bands found on other architectural features such as cornices or bases. Mosan goldsmiths: A 12th century workshop located in the Meuse valley of Belgium and northern France that produced high quality gold, silver, and enameled objects, with naturalistic human figures. These are thought to have influenced the figurative stone sculptures adorning the façades of Gothic cathedrals (Williamson 1995). Examples include the reliquary of Cologne by Nicolas of Verdun and the gold cross made for Abbot Suger . [ Fig. 4: Lancet Window (D) of Reims Cathedral surmounted by an oculus (A) with six lobed foils (B). Tabernacle pinnacles (C) flank both sides of the lancet window and contain sculptures of saints and angels (photo: Athena Review)].

Mullion: The vertical dividing bar of a rose or lancet window (fig.6). Narthex: Beginning with Early Christian architecture, this was the gallery, vestibule, or porch located in the main (west) entrance of the church (fig.1). Naturalism: Style of art treating drapery, bodily movements, and facial expressions as they might appear in nature or real life. Sculptures carved in the Gothic era showed considerably more naturalism than in the Romanesque or Byzantine eras ( see Gothic sculpture ). Nave: The middle aisle or multiple main aisled part of a church extending from the narthex or main entrance to the choir (fig.1). The congregation usually sits here. Oculus: A small circular opening, and which was a precursor of the Gothic rose window (fig.4, A). Openwork gablet: Gable-shaped motif above portals and windows, often containing tracery decorations as well as pinnacles and finials. Pier: A masonry support between openings such as arcades. Typically slender, the pier has a rectangular, polygonal, or round cross-section, but does not taper and often has no capital (fig.6).

The pier may also have a base as well as an impost. A compound pier is a pier with two or more members or support elements. Pillar: A support which does not taper, has an impost, and does not need to be cylindrical as is the case with a column. The shaft consists of either rectangular, octagonal, circular, or cruciform blocks and may have a capital (fig.5, A). Pinnacle: Small narrow pointed tower capping buttresses and openwork gablets or portals and galleries. Portal: The door or entrance of a cathedral (fig.3). Fig.5: Pillars (A) with capitals (B) and quatri-partite vaulting (D) containing keystones (C) of the ambulatory of the Cathedral of St-Gervais and St-Protais at Soissons (photo: Athena Review)]. Portico: A gallery which opens onto the exterior of the church and is supported by columns. From the Latin porticus for "arcade" or "gallery." Radiating (Apsidal) chapels: Series of chapels arranged around an ambulatory in the apse of a cathedral (fig.1).

Reliquary: A container, often richly ornamented, holding the remains of a saint which can be displayed to the faithful. Rood screen/Jube: A stone or wooden screen, which separated the choir of the church where the clergy sits from the nave where the congregation sits (fig.1). Rose window: A large round window on the west façade or transept, containing tracery that became more elaborate as the Gothic era progressed (fig.2, C). Beautiful examples occur at Notre-Dame in Paris and Chartres. Socles: Architectural term referring to the lower panels of a portal, often located under the jamb figures. The reliefs were often quatrefoil, and typically portrayed such pagan themes as the Signs of the Zodiac and the Virtues and Vices (fig.3, H). Spire: A sharply pointed pyramidal structure surmounting a tower. Spandrel: An area between two adjoining arches, often decorated. Stained glass: Colored windows of Gothic cathedrals made from a combination of many pieces of colored and semi-transparent white glass joined together with lead strips.

Colors were generated by adding specific metal oxides, which illuminated the glass with bright red, blue, green, and yellow tones. The function of stained glass was to fill the cathedral with light in windows which also fulfilled a narrative and illustrative purpose, in representing Biblical events and the lives of saints. Patrons and workers guilds who helped fund the construction of the cathedral were also portrayed (see Chartres ). Tabernacle: a canopied niche holding a sculpted figure, such as the rendering of saints and angels on the façade and transept of Reims cathedral (fig.4, C). Tracery: Geometrically constructed building ornament such as a foil found in the upper part of Gothic rose windows (fig.2, C). This type of stonework decoration became more complex during the High Gothic and Flamboyant phase. Transept: Any major transverse part of the church, usually crossing the nave and at right angles with the entrance of the choir (fig.1). The transept may be divided into areas of different height. Triforium: Space or passage above the nave arcade, below the clerestory, and extending over the ceiling or vaults of the side aisle (fig.6).

A blind triforium does not contain a passageway and blind arches are placed in front of the wall such as at Amiens. A false triforium has arcades which open to the roof. A pierced triforium contains windows in the outer walls of the passageway. Trumeau: Stone pillar or column supporting the tympanum of a portal at its center (fig.3, E). [ Fig.6: Drawing of the nave at Reims cathedral showing the clerestory, triforium, and the nave arcades (after M.Alexander, 2003)]. Tympanum: A triangular space between an arch and the horizontal bar of a portal or window (lintel), often decorated with sculpture (fig.3,C). Vaulting: A curved, self supporting wall or ceiling that covers a space between two walls and rests on pillars. Romanesque antecedents of the Gothic ribbed vault are the barrel vault and the groined vault. The ribbed vault is composed of diagonally arched ribs and can be classified as tri-partite, quatri-partite (fig.5, D), or sexpartite.

Sexpartite vaults have an additional transversal rib in the center of the bay ( see Gothic architecture ). Voussoirs: Any of the pieces, in the shape of a truncated wedge, that make up an arch or vault. References: Binding, G. 2002. High Gothic: The Age of the Great Cathedrals. Cologne, Taschen. Bony, J. 1983. French Gothic Architectures of the 12th and 13th centuries. Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London, University of California Press. Michelin Travel Publications. 2001. The Green Guide. Northern France and the Paris Region. France. Williamson, P. 1995. Gothic Sculpture. New Haven and London, Yale University Press. This glossary appears on pages 109-111 of Vol.4 No.2 of Athena Review. The complete text may be obtained in the printed version of the magazine .

For original, comprehensive illustrations of ancients sites and monuments, visit Athena Review Image Archive ® Copyright 1996-2006 Athena Publications, Inc (All Rights Reserved) <> Inside your Church ``Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be; even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church'' Ignatius of Antioch, 1st c. A.D Inside your Church Click the various parts of the picture below to learn about the various parts of a Catholic church. This diagram is based on the classic, historical cruciform architecture. (sadly, today, and in spite of Vatican II documents, you might find churches that look like factories). Catholic vision assigns symbolic meaning to the various parts of the church building, as it does to pretty much everything else in the world. The roof symbolizes charity, which covers a multitude of sins; the floor symbolizes the foundation of faith and the humility of the poor; the columns represent the Apostles, Bishops, and Doctors; the vaulting represents the preachers who bear up the dead weight of man's infirmity heavenwards; and the beams represent the champions of ecclesiastical right who defend it with the sword.

The nave symbolizes Noah's Ark and the Barque of St. Peter, outside of which noone is saved. The direction of the East represents the Heavenly Jerusalem, and the direction whence the Messiah will return in glory; West represents death and evil. (Catholic Encyclopedia) Narthex (or "Vestibule") A true narthex is either an outside, covered porch-like structure or an inside area separated from the nave (the "body" of the church) by a screen, but this word has come to mean "entry" or "foyer." Originally, penitents and Catechumens were confined to this area until their reconciliation with or initiation into the Church. A westwork (or "westwerk") is the front of a large cathedral that has a tall facade and, usually, towers and an upper chamber (imagine the front entry of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris with its towers and sculpture).

Nave Referring to the "barque of Peter" and "Noah's Ark," the word "nave" is derived from the Latin word for ship, navis, and has come to mean the area where the parishioners sit or stand (pews are a very late addition to the nave area, and, even today, parishioners stand during the liturgy in many Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches). In Gothic architecture, the nave had an aisle (or two) on both sides. Transept The transverse arm of a cruciform church is called the transept. Because the liturgy is supposed to be celebrated ad orientem (facing East), the left side of the transept is called the North transept and the right side of the transept is called the South transept. This is so even if the actual orientation of the Church is other than with the Altar at the East side. Some churches have transepts at the West end of the church, too -- especially English Gothic churches.

Sanctuary and Choir (Chancel) The word "chancel" comes from the word cancelli, meaning "lattice work," once used to rail off the choir, where the religious would sit on long benches to sing the responses at Mass and chant the Divine Office, from the nave, where the people sit. Medieval churches often had "rood screens" ("rood" means "cross") separating the Sanctuary and choir from the body of the nave. The rood screen had the rood -- the Crucifix -- often flanked by images of the Virgin and St. John and by oil lamps. This screen totally separated the sanctuary from the place the people sat so that the sanctuary was truly treated as the Holy of Holies. (In Eastern Catholic churches and in Orthodox churches, the sanctuary is separated from the congregation by a lovely iconostasis -- a screen or wall with at least two icons (some are covered with them). The iconostasis has three doors: the Door of the Proskomide (preparation for Liturgy) on the left; the Royal Door in the middle which leads directly to the altar; and the Deacon's Door at the right (from the parishioner's point of view).

The rise of Renaissance architecture saw the disappearance of the choir area, the bringing forward of the sanctuary, and the general disappearance of the rood screens. The sanctuary was, instead, separated from the nave (as they should be today if there is no rood screen or iconostasis) by altar rails at which communicants must kneel to receive the Eucharist. Aside from being the place of the Altar, the sanctuary is the place where the Tabernacle, which holds the Blessed Sacrament, is kept and over which there should always be burning a tabernacle light. The other place where the Tabernacle might be kept is a separate, conspicuous, well-adorned side chapel in churches in which the Altar area is used for the solemn conduct of the Divine Office or for Pontifical ceremonies. When we see the Tabernacle, we genuflect. If the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, we kneel on both knees. Altar The High Altar (the main altar) is the place where the Eucharistic Sacrifice is offered (in a single church, there should be more than one Altar).

While ancient synagogue liturgy was oriented toward Jerusalem, Christian liturgy is supposed to be celebrated with the priest and the congregation facing East ("ad orientem"), the direction whence Jesus, as symbolized by the rising Sun, will come again; the High Altar , therefore, has traditionally been at the East side of the church. In older churches, you might still see gorgeous altar screens or "Altar pieces" behind the Altar. The more fanciful, ornate ones are called "reredos" and can be quite exquisite, full of sculpture and with different panels. The High Altar should: be fixed, of natural stone (bishops conferences have some leeway here), and contain a relic of a Saint (martyrs are favored). The Altar is venerated because it is the place of sacrifice, and because it is the place of Sacrifice, the Tabernacle is usually kept on it. Pulpit The podium on the left side of the church as you face the Altar (the "Gospel side"), from where the Gospel is read (and which is reserved for clergy). Not all churches have both a lectern (see below) and a pulpit; some just have one single speaker's podium called an ambo.

Note that the Gospel side of the church is also informally referred to as the "Mary side" of the church because it is there a statue of her is often placed. Lectern The stand on the right side of the church as you face the Altar (the "Epistle side") from where the Epistles are read (and which can be used by lay-people). Not all churches have both a lectern and a pulpit (see above); some just have one single speaker's podium called an ambo. Note that the Epistle side of the church is also informally referred to as the "St. Joseph side" of the church because it is there a statue of him is often placed. You can remember which side of the Church is which by taking the vantage point of Christ on the Crucifix: His right is the Gospel/Mary side of the Church; His left is the Epistle/Joseph side of the Church. Mary and the Gospel are greater than Joseph and the Epistle so are at Jesus' right. This will be so unless there is a statue of, say, our Lord, in which case it will be placed to the right of Jesus' vantage point from the Crucifix while Mary is to the left.

Ambulatory An ambulatory is basically a sort of walkway which can be either inside or outside of a structure. In Gothic architecture, ambulatories often had projecting chapels and were especially common around the apse. If an ambulatory is outdoors and is built such that one side is wall while the other has columns or arches, especially opening onto a courtyard, it is often called a cloister (the word "cloister" also refers to the area within a monastery to which some religious are confined). Sacristy (or "Vestry") The Sacristy is where sacred vestments, liturgical vessels, etc., are stored. When the sacristy is behind the chancel and has two entrances, the priests enter on the Gospel side and exit through the Epistle side door. In the sacristy you will find the sacrarium -- a special sink with a pipe that bypasses the sewer, unlike an ordinary sink, but instead goes straight into the earth. This sink is made thus to preserve the dignity of sacred things which can no longer be used. For ex., the sacred vessels are rinsed there so that no particle of the consecrated Host or no drop of the Precious Blood will end up in the sewer.

The first rinse used to clean Altar linens, old baptismal water, sacred oils, blessed ashes, etc., all these are disposed of in the sacrarium, returning those substances to the earth. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Narthex Home > Catholic Encyclopedia > N > Narthex Narthex Help support New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download . Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more  all for only $19.99... In early Christian architecture a portion of the church at the west end, separated from the nave by a low wall or screen and reserved for the catechumens , energumens, and penitents who were not admitted amongst the congregation. The narthex was of two kinds, exterior and interior: the former consisted of an open atrium arcade continued across the front of the church; in the latter, the aisle and gallery were returned across the nave . A survival of the exterior narthex may be found in the church of San Ambrogio at Milan ; of the interior narthex, in Santa Agnese, at Rome .

The outer narthex was sometimes used as a hall of judgment and for other secular purposes, and, after the sixth century, as a place of burial, while the inner narthex sometimes called the matroneum, was used, probably for certain persons of rank or distinction, rather than as a women's gallery. After the abandonment of the atrium in the West, about 1000, the narthex developed by degrees into the great west porch which is so characteristic of the churches of southern France . Among the monastic orders it continued in use down to the beginning of the thirteenth century as, for example. in the abbeys of Cluny and Vézelay. With the full development of Gothic it disappeared, its place being taken by the three great western porches or doorways. Properly speaking, the name should have ceased with the function and the so-called narthex of medieval churches and abbeys should justly be called a porch . For the same reason there is no excuse for the recent revival of the word as a designation either of an exterior porch , or an interior vestibule .

Narthex | Definition of Narthex by Merriam-Webster 1 : the portico of an ancient church 2 : a vestibule leading to the nave of a church Origin and Etymology of narthex Late Greek narthēx, from Greek, giant fennel, cane, casket First Known Use: circa 1673 Learn More about narthex

Question: A narthex is part of which type of building?
Answer: Church