The Christian Church is a figurative embodiment of the unity of two worlds - the Heavenly (spiritual) world and the Earthly (material) world. The external architectural appearance of the temple is inextricably linked with the history of the development of Christian worship.
The external structure of the Christian church
The entire external appearance of the Christian church and its internal structure fully and completely express their striving for the Lord, and also serve the salvation of the human soul. Usually, the part of the temple, in which the altar is located, faces east. The fact is that it is the east that symbolizes paradise.
Any Christian church can have from one to several domes. One dome is the Savior, three domes are the Holy Trinity, five domes are Christ and four apostles-evangelists. If the temple has twelve domes, these are twelve apostles-disciples of Jesus Christ. The domes of the Christian church are crowned with eight-pointed crosses, symbolizing salvation.
The part of the church, separated from it by a solid wall, is called the narthex. It serves as a dwelling place for the repentant and the catechumens. In general, the porch is a symbol of earthly existence. Also, a belfry (or bell tower) is usually located next to a Christian church.
The inner structure of the Christian church
Altar. It is a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven and the area of God's existence. The semicircular altar is usually separated from the middle part of a Christian church by a special altar barrier. It develops into an iconostasis. Inside the altar there is a special altar, which serves for the performance of certain church sacraments.
There is usually an altar on the left side of the throne. This place is necessary for the performance of the proskomedia. To the right of the throne is the deacon, i.e. the place where the liturgies are performed. The east-facing part of the altar has one or three apses - rounded in shape. The elevation, which is located between the altar and the middle part of the Christian church, is called a sole. This is the seat of all the clergy. In its center is the pulpit required for preaching.
The middle part of the Christian church is a kind of world of Angels and the righteous, symbolizing the human nature of Jesus Christ and the soul of man. This part can have a variety of shapes - from oblong or rounded to octagonal. Today, the most common cross-domed form of the church. Choirs (galleries) are usually located inside the middle part of the church, as well as additional side-altars - special altars facing east and separated from the main church by their own iconostasis.
It is worth noting that the entire interior of the Christian church is covered with wall paintings. These are frescoes. They are arranged according to the principle of a hierarchy of sacred images and in accordance with the symbolism of all parts of the temple. All frescoes represent a stylistic unity - a single dogmatic system that is directly related to the liturgical action. The altar is also painted with frescoes.
