What is the apse of a church used for?
apse, in architecture, a semicircular or polygonal termination to the choir, chancel, or aisle of a secular or ecclesiastical building. First used in pre-Christian Roman architecture, the apse often functioned as an enlarged niche to hold the statue of a deity in a temple.
Where is the apse located in the church?
Commonly, the apse of a church, cathedral or basilica is the semicircular or polygonal termination to the choir or sanctuary, or sometimes at the end of an aisle. In church architecture it is generally the name given to where the altar is placed or where the clergy are seated.
What is an apse in the body?
apsenoun. The nearest and furthest points to the centre of gravitational attraction for a body in orbit. More usually called an apsis.
What is the difference between nave and apse?
Glossary. Aisle: A pair of walkways that are parallel to the primary public spaces in the church, e.g. nave, choir and transept. The aisles are separated from the public areas by pillars supporting the upper walls, called an arcade. Apse: The end of the building opposite the main entry.
What is the aisle around the apse called?
Aisle - Aisle, portion of a church or basilica that parallels or encircles the major sections of the structure, such as the nave, choir, or apse (aisles around the apse are usually called ambulatories). The aisle is often set off by columns or by an arcade.
What is the apse of St Peter's basilica?
Peter's Basilica. St. Peter's Basilica, located in Vatican City, is perhaps the most famous Christian worship space in the world.
Why is the apse in the east?
The first Christians faced east when praying, likely an outgrowth of the ancient Jewish custom of praying in the direction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Due to this established custom, Tertullian says some non-Christians thought they worshipped the sun.
What is a transept in a church?
transept, the area of a cruciform church lying at right angles to the principal axis. The bay at which the transept intersects the main body of the church is called the crossing. The transept itself is sometimes simply called the cross.
What is a nave in a church?
nave, central and principal part of a Christian church, extending from the entrance (the narthex) to the transepts (transverse aisle crossing the nave in front of the sanctuary in a cruciform church) or, in the absence of transepts, to the chancel (area around the altar).
What is the entrance to a Catholic church called?
The narthexThe narthex is an architectural element typical of early Christian and Byzantine basilicas and churches consisting of the entrance or lobby area, located at the west end of the nave, opposite the church's main altar.
What is the attic of a church called?
4 Choir Loft In some churches, a raised area above the sanctuary, or a set of risers behind the sanctuary may be occupied by the choir.
What is the ceiling of a church called?
A vault (French voute, from Italian volta) is a self-supporting arching structure in architecture that serves to cover an area with a ceiling or roof.
What does an apse look like?
An apse is a semicircular recess, often covered with a hemispherical vault. The apse is separated from the main part of the church by the transept. Smaller apses are sometimes built in locations other than the east end, especially for reliquaries or shrines of saints.
Why is the apse in the East?
The Apostolic Constitutions, a work of eastern Christianity written between 375 and 380 AD, gave it as a rule that churches should have the sanctuary (with apse and sacristies) at the east end, to enable Christians to pray eastward in church as in private or in small groups.
What is an apse in a church?
Apse, in architecture, a semicircular or polygonal termination to the choir, chancel, or aisle of a secular or ecclesiastical building. First used in pre-Christian Roman architecture, the apse often functioned as an enlarged niche to hold the statue of a deity in a temple.
