The
narthex is like a porch or entryway that one comes to before going into a house.
If the nave is where the faithful gather to worship, and represents part of
God’s kingdom. While in the narthex however, we are still considered in this
world.
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For most Orthodox parishioners narthex is the entry to
worship. This isn’t by accident as we will discuss in today’s lesson. Far
from simply being nice looking entry way, the narthex has deeper significance
for us.
The
first place we come to when we go into the Church is called the narthex.
The
narthex is like a porch or entryway that one comes to before going into a house.
If the nave is where the faithful gather to worship, and represents part of
God’s kingdom. While in the narthex however, we are still considered in this
world.
The first prayer we offer
up when going to Church is in the narthex. At Saint John’s there are icons of
Christ, the Theotokos and Saint John the Baptist. We kiss God’s Saints in
reverence and prayerfully light a candle.
Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).
We should see the
symbolism of being in this world, praying, and then entering into God’s
Kingdom.
In most Orthodox
Churches, we enter from the West end of the building. The Sanctuary where the
altar is, and where a portion of the Eucharist and thereby God’s presence, are
on the East end of the building. This is to remind us that as the Sun rises in
the East giving light, so we enter from the darkness of the West and seek the
light of God.
Now that we know a little
more about its symbolic message and how we use the narthex today, let’s look
at how is was used in the past.
Early in the Church the
narthex was usually large. This is because that is where catechumens who wanted
to become part of the Church were taught. They were not allowed in the nave
during most of the Divine Liturgy. This took up to three years! Only the
baptized faithful were allowed into the nave during Liturgy.
The narthex could also be
an area of punishment. When the Priest decided that someone’s sins were
serious enough them people from receiving Communion, they could only enter the
narthex. From here they would plead for the prayers of the faithful as they
entered the Church. This shows us that men can remove themselves from God by
there sins and become unworthy to stand with God’s faithful in worship of Him.
There was also a Baptismal Font (tub) large enough for an
adult to be fully submerged as part of their Baptism into the Church. In the
early Church narthex was also used for a meal at the end of Liturgy.
In some monasteries the narthex still serves as a dining room to this
day. In Eastern Churches, the narthex is also where funeral services are held
for the dead.
Sounds like a lot busier place than we give it credit doesn’t it?