Thursday, May 6, 2021

"A Protestant Visits an Antiochian Orthodox Church"

narthex när´thĕks [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.
also...
narthex (n.) "porch at the west end of early churches," the end furthest from the sanctuary (used by penitents not admitted to the body of the church), 1670s, from Late Greek narthex, in classical Greek "giant fennel," a word of unknown origin, perhaps Pre-Greek. The architectural feature allegedly was so called from the fancied resemblance of the porch to a hollow stem. The word also was used in Greek to mean "a small case for unguents, etc." According to Hesiod ("Theogeny"), Prometheus conveyed fire from Heaven to Earth in hollow fennel stalks. Related: Narthecal.

10 comments:

  1. It is good to see an Antiochian Priest dressed like a real Orthodox Priest, rather than in Roman collar + vestments and sans beard, like "that last guy" wanted his Priests to appear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Samuel, your post illustrates that our prayers that Met. Phillip's memory be eternal are answered. You do realize that he reposed seven years ago?

      Delete
  2. I am sorry but to me it is an embarrassment,,,a pony tail and unkempt beard,,,, this is not the 10 the century,,,,when I see this lack of relevancy I see someone who is focused on the externalities and not the internalities if the faith. Sorry guys but we can learn a lot from the protestants we love to criticize,,,when we have our community hospitals,,,our own universities then we perhaps will have gotten it. By criticizing others we bring ourselves down and them up. Our clergy need to lead us into being part of the fabric of the communities in which we live and not keep us isolated especially with outdated externalities,,,,no wonder we lost 20 percent of our membership over the past ten years.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you. RJ. At least somebody gets it. Well kept is preferred this century.

    ReplyDelete
  4. r.j, to get all those things you mention the Protestants like our Orthodox brethren before us became either an actual or a de facto 'state church'

    While providing many external benefits it also presents many challenges. Today the universities and hospitals have each and all been corrupted by the dark and evil spirit of the age. Not something I want to strive for.

    As to beards: some men, like me, cannot grow a decent beard ever. Mine would always look unkempt. Others, like my brother, an Orthodox priest, have beards that always look great no matter what. My brother's nick name in college was 'Beard'.

    Maybe there should be genetic testing for all Orthodox priesthood candidates or those with bad beards not allowed ordination. Oh and maybe we need a new Othodox magazine for priests: Presbyter's Quarterly.

    You do realize that should any one of our Fool's For Christ would be forcibly incarcerated in the closest secure "mental health" facility these days.

    A priest is a priest based on the inside of the cup. God forgive me, a sinner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not for the first time I wish there was a "like" button for blog comments.

      Delete
    2. This isn't aimed at you Michael but just prompted by your comment -- Maybe the fools for Christ these days are hiding out in secular places, or, heaven forbid, heterodox churches.

      Delete
    3. James, I have no idea. I sincerely doubt your hypothesis but who knows.

      Delete
  5. The questions the Protestant guy had were good questions. I especially liked the one on the fragrance. Although I hope for the sake of the older folks in the congregation there is another way up into the Narthex and sanctuary than those stairs. Made my poor old legs ache just looking at them. Lord have mercy

    ReplyDelete