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The church and its sections:
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Holy of Holies
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Sanctuary
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Altar
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Iconostasis
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Cathedra (the bishop has his cathedra (means "chair") or throne)
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NICHE
(It is a concavity in the eastern wall of the sanctuary referring to
God's bosom that is widely opened to embrace us. In it we can find
the icon of our Lord sitting on His throne. In front of the icon is
hanged a lit lamp.)
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The Nave (In
Latin word "navis" means "ship." The body of the church building
where the congregation assembles; called "nave" because the church
is often symbolized in art as a ship, and the people pulling
together in service.)
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Chancel (A specific section for the deacons, in front of the
Iconostasis.)
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Nave
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Aisles
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The Narthex
(The Greek word literally means "a small case." A vestibule, usually
a wide one across the front (west end) of a church, considered as a
part of the church nave. In the early ages catechumens, candidates
for baptism, and penitents occupied the narthex.)
The
bosom of the Father: An icon of Christ on His Throne. The following
icon has a lot of details:
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This icon depicts what St. John the
Beloved has seen in heaven in the revelation.
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You see the Lord on His throne,
under Him the earth and the different planets, because it says in
the psalms “The earth is your foot stool.” And He is always dressed
in red, because it was said about Him that he was like the one all
in red from the blood He shed for us.
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Around His throne is the rainbow as
St. John saw it in the revelation and also because since He
destroyed the world in Noah’s time, He promised not to destroy it
again and made the rainbow as a sign to remind Him not to destroy
the world again.
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Around the Lord are the sun and the
moon, and they don’t look shiny at all, because the Lord is the sun
of righteousness in front of whom they look dim. The Lord will be
our Light in the heavenly Jerusalem, there will be no need for the
sun or the moon, or any other light.
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The Alpha and Omega are the first
and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing that the Lord is
the beginning and end, he has no beginning and no end.
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The 4 incorporeal creatures, each
one has 6 wings and is full of eyes.
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The 24 priests, if you count they
are 12 and 12 around the throne, carrying in their hands censors.
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The 7 Archangels, Michael in the
middle and Gabriel always with the olive branch in his hand, then
the next will be Raphael, Sureal, Sadakeal, Saratheael and Ananeal.
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In the bottom there are 7 oil lamps
which symbolize the seven 7 spirits of God which he saw and the 7
sacraments of the church.
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The icon is surrounded with clouds
that are gradually getting lighter, giving the impression of heaven.
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There is always a light (an oil
lamp) in front of the Lord which should be lit 24 hours a day. This
is for the following reasons:
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Because He is the light of the world
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It is in the east, symbolizing the
star that appeared in the east to lead the wise-men to the Lord.
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It symbolizes the grace of the Holy
Spirit, the oil that is enlightening our lives
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