Church Shapes & Meaning
This design leads us to Golgotha, it models the body of the crucified Lord and Savior.
What is the Cruciform (Cross shape)
Turning to the East during prayer is a physical sign that we are turning our backs on this darkness
Sin
Icons teach us the mysteries of this holy book
the Holy Gospel
This entrance section of the church building was historically the area reserved for people preparing for baptism
Narthex
This early Christian symbol was used as a secret sign because its Greek letters spell out "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."
Fish
This shape reflects the eternal nature of Christ because it is a line with no starting or ending point.
Circular shape
St. Ephrem the Syrian taught that we pray toward the East to remember this holy home lost by Adam and Eve
Paradise (the Garden of Eden)
The Iconostasis defends against this movement that wanted to destroy holy images
Iconoclastic Movement
The name for a student who is studying the Christian faith before getting baptized
Catechumen
Formal public worship, including the Seven Sacraments and prayers offered to the Father through the Son, is called this
Liturgy
This architectural style reminds us that the Church safely carries her children through life’s stormy waters to the heavenly harbor
Ship
We face East because Christ’s Second Coming will appear like this sudden, bright weather event across the sky
Lightning
An iconographer starts by laying down these colors first to show how Christ shines light into our dark fallen nature
Dark Colors
In Acts 8, Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch in a river, which is an example of this environment type of baptism
Open-Air Baptism
In the Old Testament, mobile altars and Abraham offering Isaac showed that the true purpose of sacrifice is this
Reconciliation with God
Ancient Gentiles often carved ship drawings onto tombs because they viewed passing away not as an end but as....
A journey
St. Athanasius pointed out that Jesus faced West while on the Cross, meaning when we pray facing East, we see Him like this
Face-to-face
Large eyes on a Coptic icon symbolize the "spiritual eye," while small mouths remind us to avoid these
Empty or harmful words (gossip)
If a priest has no body of water available, he can perform a baptism by doing this to the person's head three times
Pouring water
Special items like the Chalice, Paten, and Star that are reserved exclusively for the altar are called this
Sacred Vessels
Gentiles referred to ships using 'she' because a vessel protects travelers within it much like....
A Pregnant mother
In the First Hour of the Agpeya, praying toward the sunrise reminds us of the new spiritual life we gained through this Sacrament
Baptism
We can paint icons of Jesus in the New Testament because God revealed His physical face to us through_____
the Incarnation
During times of heavy Roman persecution, early Christians held secret baptisms in these underground tunnels
Catacombs
King Solomon was led astray into idolatry, violating the commandment that forbids these.....
Second Commandment (or the commandment against idols)