Lesson 1: What Is Real? Our Life in the Church

What is real in life?

·         Music?

·         Cars?

·         Money?

Discuss each of these and how they are real now, 1 year, 5 years, 20 years, and in 50 years. What about in 500 years? What place do each of those things have in their lives?

Compare this to the Church. How are these things different than “the Church”? What exactly is the Church?

·         Is it a building?

·         A group of people?

·         Someplace a Priest works?

·         A place to hold weddings?

 It’s all those things and a lot more! But how does it relate to their lives? What is it that the Church does for people that all those things listed above do not?

 The Church is many different things, but we want to look closer at the messages which the building and the things in it hold for us.

Is there a message to the way that a Church is built? Churches are built in the form of a Cross. Why would we do that? What about all the things we place in an Orthodox Church? Why do we do all that? – Just to look nice? (as many would tell us) Or is there something more to it?

 Always when in the Temple, the message being given is that “God is with us”. With us how? What do you think about the following?

This is what the construction of an Orthodox Church tries to communicate. Every part of what we see, what we do and what happens is part of the “temple of the living God”.

 This year the class will be dedicated to discussing all the ways that the Church building helps us to know that God is always with us and the Jesus is the head of the Church.

 How does the form of a building give you that kind of message?

The Church has three basic parts:

1.       Narthex: Represents life on earth, or “this world”. In ancient times this is where people joining the Church were educated.

2.       Nave: Comes in two shapes, basilica or a cross. This is where people gather to be united with God as a Church.

3.       Sanctuary: This is the holiest part of the Church and where the Priests perform the Liturgies.

Starting next week we will begin this year’s project by constructing a narthex in our classroom. Please read the attached materials on the parts of a narthex to prepare for the classroom construction. In the following weeks we will be constructing the nave and finally a sanctuary.

Looking to Next Week: The Narthex

The Narthex in ancient times was a large, spacious place, where the Catechumens received instruction while preparing for Baptism, and also where those who were excluded from Holy Communion stood.

So, the Narthex of the Church represents this world in which mankind is called to repentance.

Things in the narthex:

·         Candle stand

·         Icon of Church patron Saint

Not only does the vestibule serve as a "buffer" of sorts between "the world" and "the Kingdom" as represented by the church building proper, but it also for rites which are conducted in this part of the church, such as the exorcisms which precede the sacrament of Baptism, the prayers of churching after birth, etc. On designated occasions certain Vesper prayers and rites are also celebrated here.