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== Parts of a Catholic Church == [[File:Old St Peters Basilica plan.png|thumb|Plan of Old St Peter's Basilica, showing atrium (courtyard), narthex (vestibule), central nave with double aisles, a bema for the clergy extending into a transept, and an exedra or semi-circular apse.]][[File:Transept1.png|thumb|Cathedral ground plan. The shaded area is the transept; the darker shading at the centre represents the crossing.]]see [https://stpaulrepository.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/rcia-06-the-church-what-is-in-a-catholic-church-building-by-fr-guy-de-gaynesford.pdf What's in a Catholic church building?] === altar=== * from Latin ''altare'' for "high place for sacrifice" ** perhaps from combination of ''adolere'' for "sacrifice by burning" ** + altus for "high" * the altar is in the "sanctuary" and is where the "word of God" is proclaimed === ambo === * or "ambon" * commonly called "lecturn" *the raised platform from which the Liturgy of the Word readings and the homily are spoken === apse=== * rounded area at the back of the sanctuary * placed in the liturgical east end of the church === catacomb=== * "Sepulchral vaults" = underground burial tombs * from Latin ''cata tumbas'' "among the graves" ** ''cata'' = among + ''comb'' = graves or tombs *** derived from Latin ''cumbere'' "to lie: ** unrelated to "catechism" === bema === * the raised area that encloses the sanctuary * sometimes used interchangeably with "sanctuary" === cathedra === * the raised throne, or seat, for the bishop * from Latin ''cathedra'' for "arm chair" === chancel === * the enclosed area that marks the sanctuary of a church * from Latin ''cancelli'' for "grating," "bars" === ''ciborium'' === * canopy, or tent-like structure, over the altar ** supported by four columns * fist significant use was in the [[wikipedia:Hagia_Sophia|Hagia Sophia]] (Constantinople) * most modern churches do not have a ''ciborium'' ** note that in Italian, "ciborium" refers to the tabernacle (the container to store consecrated hosts) * the use of ''ciborium'' may have originated from a dome-like structure that stood over Jesus' tomb at what became the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem ** major churches in Rome and Constantinople built under Emperor Constantine used this structure to cover the altar ** they were often covered with plaques or other decorations made of silver or gold * see [[wikipedia:Ciborium_(architecture)|Ciborium (architecture) - Wikipedia]] === narthex === * the immediate area by the entrance to the Nave ** might be called a "lobby" in secular terms * traditionally, the narthex marks the close space between the atrium (front courtyard) and the nave * may also be referred to as a "vestibule," which in Roman architecture was a lobby and entranceway === nave === * the interior area of a church where the parishioners worship (w/ the pews) ** as distinct from the "bema", which is the raised area upon which the alter resides * "nave" = "ship" in Latin ** from PIE '''*nau-''' for "boat" (thus "navy" in English) === niche === * a recess or built-in area along a wall ** usually contains a statue ** is usually dome-shaped at the top like an apse === prie-dieu === * a kneeler placed before the altar === rose window === * from the Roman "oculus" or "eye", a rounded opening at the top of buildings that served as an architectural keystone (holding up the walls) as well as for light and ventilation * when above the altar, the stained glass window depicts Heaven and/or the Last Judgment ** usually shows Jesus and/or symbols of the Holy Spirit and the Triniity *** as well as the Apostles and important saints and archangels * when above the front entrance * when above one or both transepts, the rose windows usually depict or focus on the Mary, the Mother of God ** her title, "the Mystical Rose", is celebrated in these rose windows === sanctuary === * also called '''presbytery''' * the holy area of a church around the alter and where God resides ** = the area reserved for the priests ** it is sometimes marked off by a '''chancel''', which is enclosed by bars or grating === tabernacle === * "sacred house" * the container for the Eucharist (the consecrated communion hosts) === transept === * the horizontal cross portion of the church * the area of a cruciform (cross-shaped) church that marks the horizontal bar of the cross ** i.e., if the church is laid out like a Cross, the transept is its horizontal bar * seating in the transepts is on either side of the sanctuary ** referred to as the "left" and "right" transepts === vestibule === * see narthex <br />
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