I ‘The Narthex as Desert: The Symbolism of the Entrance Space in Orthodox Church Buildings Goong Gerov THE Doser is one ofthe sever metaphors for space, troogh “vbic he bounds of Orr Chur bing an above al of hi enzance space, ar tansfomed int a mbelc nage wth ‘own spa conten. vey sce space seeks wo snd out in postion «anything ‘sounding it para to ces which we wn defies pote, ‘hiss expec ve of Orthos churches whe the cone eres te sce and the oie is understate of parr ance the entrance spaces oy inthe wetrn pat of the ‘or thst, ath ane less. The pion ca sled on ent lee dough the specie sls of worship and Chisin| Pein the langage of architec volunes and spe ant at et ent oh es peso gms derton wo peal comer lection chacttiste of the Orthodon The preent ary i fused val sent ee ‘on monumental painting whote {neo os ft bond spc decor pp We sl ty 0 stostewa commentary un he oponton bere he credo ShRulinin th etc pc fy cach An mporan pa o commentay blow gener symblealages coma, eine potential worthy of thee bj. nthe ese othe cance ‘urn asbesear ts spaces of Onhodox haces ono the rl apie Ecce In ial cle the eset wi aot so: mich specie ceil acon a sobs ety? Bag be Doe ed {Sot of very Chin ose eo patie mon sn ers Crim demense common t nt pcs na he Dee, But there a iftrenaing fxs Io he med ena, he Des {med ihe cue bone ofthe ne wo Inte mrocoeeof the Chin rey th nce pu filed te sme cto. ‘Tas bode vss ony spa ws ho ppcnoga The Deer wi te pce forts aps nose wo ag God wer ae ecw the elo he po whose ak th the pat tne i al hee power The De wu hee + it for mpcnunce® Ip Onion chutes te ean fac toma sonar fant, The pe thither te poson ‘tthe repent othe mest fhe hah Tacs Chsuanity sloped she OX Fear raion of ing she Dest Ste Rea of Dowd? ts presente Sk ‘ween Dest an he Desert 1 pce the fe of Brits a Aesth ote wo precaing fe ps ent Ta he pag of ‘odo churches the st of Goh ws eb Sed ‘fewer prs ete cance pce. “These malops aston te Dat in suible mcophor fc the carh nance sacs in tonne ping this metaphor tas been sie vn shrowgh the impor pre ote screen Fl sabi ‘emt ands pec the weer sone 0 ep OF the church" Aa imei fact tt ries he il "Le of te wrt ae Fs mein} Gol Loe mee Ot le, tad Cae, Lampe 04 ON pg Cif a tN‘hops wee depict in entice spaces, thy wore the monacha “The eet known example wich weve come acon ater re he ‘wlth century Tis ia the church of the Haly Tein she moaastery oF Sait Joba Croton nea he wlage of Koutovene in Cypr ‘There i pining of «group of bishops (Grogry of Agrigetum, Gregory of Neosat, Gregory fe Hama oes al in the Jie of hiromorks. Thi porta ae i the weer par of the ‘heh (Je en he etanes)” We sce the ate i the fourteen ‘enay monster of Ze, Macedonia where a lege aoup of sy ‘emi and monks hasbeen aol inthe athe ofthe church of ee ‘Tansfguaion. The leading Bgucs i= ths group ate the einen (Chorch Father: Baal te Gren, Gregory of Nasu, Nica of ‘Myra, and pos Job Chrysostom, leering the monastic abit ‘Sir image can be dtl the pont Beanie pei, for ‘xampl inthe martes ofthe monastery church of Se Nila the Vilage of Sens n Bulgin, where the decorations dated 1616 show St Hlstion of Mogen dred ara monk cen though he ea a tschichop and emisonaly ported in asheinepal vestments? ‘The same is tne of the culo in the monastery of Rosen in sousher Bugis where he wall pings in he mar dating om the second half ofthe absent centr, show nthe owe to ors of tins many of whom were peach or metopaians fo ‘uample Atanas and Cy of Aleande, Pljarp of Sora, Epipaniss of Cpeus, Soplventr of Jemlet, Dionysia the Arcopapie, Theoptyler of Niomeda and ofhes® They ae al ‘preset in monastic habs with he sok exagpton of Atanas of ‘Nleandia,These are all examples ofan overt non-confomty with talon iooograpie practice, or whch the only expen the ‘treme mponanee forthe panes ote thew Geral des the sao of the space where the poss wee 116 Gon, Pao K. Bon, Cae Pee eh, Sift mst Bulgin monuments oe 2 ure expe of drastic deviion from conventional iconegaphy. The foc io the scvenenth century narthex of the momaticchach a the vilge of Ella indude rpeesematons of the Reamer Connie, Unsoaly he piscopal purpane are werng the meraai habit? img of tnd monks and hermit chur entrance spaces ‘ae aot the onl means of ging ial exreson fo the Entance Desen? meuphor These ae mamerost marae nage seed by mers to sgt Meda leas Sock the case with the feces the inner saher ofthe cation of the monary of Chana (Gount Athos), where alnom the ene space of the val ht bea ‘Secorate wih sens fran the ves of ies heme and ks such as Paphouca, Macarius the Gre, Pacis the Gres, Pal repost, Father Dovoths, Isidore Seanopemer Father Nata, Paul of Thebes, Ephosyn Poe Father Pano aad oes. Sea ature is the defor ia the ther of the cbaion of the furcemh cerry monsey of Jones in Yugo!” Howetet, sch ces in whch monastic ha boc xo bry sent nt ‘resptons Uni the Enmance Deer? mcaphor i nid by the Syothesis of one otro panting the mor anal hemes amg em ‘ing ‘The proper Elan fed by x aten inthe dese’, Se Antony visting St Pua, Se My of Egypt reesng holy se Pacis and te angel the Dost of St Epi he yi Se Gers aod the fe and St Macros of Rome ac the Bon erry etn some cass pace the empha th ucharsic maare ofthe theme (The proper Esk i the dese’ St Anny visting St Paul of Thebes St May of Fgpe reeng Rly commonin) = 16 Swindon Hames me maton mt wane op ¥ ett timate War ea pe 992M, HS, Hepa ps a mer nfo sn, Cn ee Mn Be 5 TE Phe Ls of Heme in sa Pg oft Mansy of Jost a ay La Wat Sas Sa Paw of Kt Pe, “SL Modan, Cason neon Cole ncn’ Bt yest i ohne Cn Tae pope ORE ue nce Ope ae a ee, ee 3,a ‘once csnoy ‘Without denying the presence oft seman component, Two ke + poi out tha was fa om obey forthe pier Ti can be proved by the fit that the echaric thee absent fom ete sages ofthe Desert place in chuth entance spur, foe example Se Pachomiss ad the Ane, Se Maca of Rome and the kom ad "The Dorion oft an CCorent research fis inerprtod the dineon Serween the ‘cats’ and non-ocharsic groups of pining in the cote oF ‘he conection berween actu spuce ie he enue space of the ‘hrc symbole pce (he Deer) ad rpeseted space foe the ret takes plc) nts iad he tational ene nth ee the Daser) pas «bang ie a the fotowing ecto, we go on to examine a dei the ecnes steady enone 1, Tet ofthe, The prophet ih by en a he act tsa pide ne Teams oe eee en King 71 he Tir debe oa Sion he bank oh roi mete of ee se yea Tis pose tate fe Ol Tena ee oe 4 pec of meal meee sl mos Beno ees tee of he ene the eye of The popes Pp dead cal ey serch dar pce Coe xtc camp (1199 can found in te bee oa Ses Sy new Roi wun of Nove Sone Se oll sendy be en oe al pang new te eek cae Here are afew examples: o ON of en arin he mn of Ve Tero a Bale, th wal pgs tang fam ete "2M Thee with The prophet fish fly near Keeccartaga ti tat hom Te 2905 ee pc ans ES Med ‘esac asDesenr » ‘ben pte in the immediate vcnly of the door eo the sane 2 The monastery of Cig in Romans (rand 1391). The same ene stated fo the eather, inmedely ext 0 the cance leading to the mos 3. The church of 57 ij in Dales, Macedon (1454/5) sts sung he tht seb hn ped {eects fhe naman abn eo re tu he seule al ar Ge Kontrol So he ‘age othe pops Eph ne a pce fe pave 4. There oft Vin of Mn Vine onary of Dien Baga (ete ge pane ine fee elo ie 5. Syn the sew mop cach in Nex, Baa (ney The sue en ewe pe he ‘Spigot ne othe ne Ks npr © ‘wren Macao guia Be descr a bey pat Shoei sin he am f+ pena oe cae a of ene ch 6 Ft weal mem Fs compan te momar hc of Yi (04-8) on ewe {Socom tren wa in tno. The ‘hyena eed wih i ae 2 hej nthe deer ee we pepe pn sl ‘te cams ey tn. ns pce hs Ben albeed « ‘Ci rir ar wo mann da by mpeg [Se pope i ined he at pes ae Sonja more an is coarse oper: for hem he Terence REAR na Le oeacemenen ea‘opogrpy ofthe ever represented ao contsned «major ene Mt Amony visting S Paul of Thebes’ The eps oa wich tii ed fas be ote in he Lo Say by Se ‘Ants of Alen btw atone in wo ven of be {31 Pa Tike, oe Copia he oe by Jose” Thee iso ofthe st eof Se Pl when God had sat St Antony dees Jno the desc in sea ofan seta thon hn, He wecadad the emi be of Pal of Ther nd the two open un de ‘opt. Soy ar Pal of Thebes sen hs gos ay, 5 Any ‘une; enly fn tise bd ped ey 4 0 Bn ok we oe ter he ie sede th emer the Macedon dys elo te Sg of te poste Tas one of he tee pence el ‘ng of eipych dang fe em eth cea Pl se ‘Antoy apse ena witht one a Font of he ches Thee thing toss hth pt acy teed topos the mesg bream Anny he Gre an Palo es he hee ample of the equi in nae oun ‘gin the ets homelnd Fp whe, nthe esos ot ‘Mak bn Mager oso the seventh ene ‘wo heme ae pred oly onto ead to seh id rigs bn of trend nm = igs of the nares ofthe hrc of Apo Femi Tay net nae (hea gues of the lin cee Thema else sy ae ln errs en Amony meting a centaur ding hs journey ough te eo codeg vith he eth ofS Pao Tete nen Se at ‘acm ase 18 Teaco ot ae 8158, koa et 8 1,9. In the church ofthe Foy Magy, Veliko Turow, (om aie 1250) only he most pone epithe meng Herween the 0 ss fe been nopreene The see bas ben ied ex he hoor eg o the mates, I epesnaon and oct corespond to "The prophet Fijh nthe desert mone! shore “Two epandes the orig berween Se Amony an Se Pal of ‘Thebes, ant the meeing of Se Antony aad St Pal Prepost ae represented inthe cur of the Ving, Mat, Macedonia (186-138) ‘on the western wal ofthe chuch rte et of he doo" Inthe church of St non nea Saha, teehee ele of be sini epee OF the scenes porta i fe anche, ‘80 foci on fs meting wich S Pal of Teles ‘About the tine when the yl depicing the meting berween St ‘Autny ad Se Paul of Thebes wat paimed in Sun Angelo in Fors, Italy the meting berween Se Papas and St Ono ws pas a Vala in Byes teiory (11-117) Teonogrphical he Fring is almost heal to ane of the meng Hereen Se Antony fel St Pel of Thebes, The two berms we sted ened i= ‘pita desso, sted aly by palm se, The composi is Inthe western pt of they, 0 he ef te entra aig to ‘henna pst ofthe crc TL, ‘Se Mary of Egypt reeving holy communion fom $¢ “Zowimust The neve Hatt 4 hey epode ofthe sas He She Teed eo kad an immo Ife ane the moment whet, ang in Jerse with » group of pis be experienced pina ei ‘She then spent long yes inte desert 0 atone for be sin, God Inmicwer #vtuos monk, St Zetia, 0 Gnd her inthe deer He fee her oly communion aad when, shor afte, be ound her ea, Rebar ber” SL Manon te 1,2 ek - SU MAS tn ay pn ee ‘WL Sinn tsp eB Pon wep SERA ae RS ape pot Rey Egat ope Ses Tan SSC mot tet Ace aii ‘osoucecano¥ ‘The eal of Se Mary of Esp began 1 fe the val ate ot ave ey de® We see her fe depict in the chach of Firm indi Rome (72-882) Abou conta arte eommeron sad build een pated in the enmance set he tl) of iad ‘abe (le church wih he sma) in Cappaocn (enh cote, besining of cevect)® Ltr on, wo snes "Te fist meting of St ‘asin and Se May of Fay at bee Communion wee pated ‘he south-west eton of leh pinta chute) in Cappaoce (cot ceary.™ Inthe teak cetay St Mary of Rap Fern ‘omanasion bean to be repeat independent Ft the set her life As « mje of eacharie significance was pte fn the ‘ate par of churches soch at Takaki andy fete veh zay at in (100) ee Sama nd of tlh ecg) A he nmi ola ut hin 2A to 167% i nar A elt Sane A He of S Cama J os TAGEe eT Pama, hoor vo lames, reno TT at a ee RM at Gye pa at ems eae SF ts ante 8 Naor oe 308of Rote i Bly where iis othe south wall co the ight of the faurance dor. Inthe church of $7 Saenin Nextar Belgas St “Mactio f Rome is represented without the lon inthe with of the Yestem catanee doce. In the monary of Hagin Nils Pion in oania, Se Maca of Rome has been reece id i two exert namesake he het Macaios of Fagyp ad Maca of Alsada®™ YI The conpson “he Doin of pain he Syn 3 lo dy kel occ cute en he see snot fom st te deri fc ee sa) tak an hemi than 8 era an ‘anwion Se Abi) oa ne ps es Se act ‘th Se acc ont bog terete Sed ae ain cnet fh ee cnpenaiore a ie ting porns of son enane ad eee Dat te empwpicoanis lovely be Dora oe Epinan te Sit red ie eh ese zn wih te puns nb dues ofS he Kanone es (3 ete pe Inte weed on Cre 5 pl Te Domino Fea th eee Sabina tothe western entree space. Sach i the cae dhe monsxy chuth of 51 Naka npaur ithe Meta, fe ‘monary Alga Nik tn Pimpin in cuit sd the {atom ofthe monster of Darin In he sventeth ene ‘se ims were pied inte momstay of Rabo a Daa, seeteepetaetsaen isomers ttm Sone persone thn etme Tehama om show 1400, Vid MCh an dbo oe ce ea Teen aa ea fut toon Ute Sefton none ge heme guee MCh on a font, ‘cases ry the "The Dormiton ofS Epi’ ix ely le on the wet wall ofthe mater above he etn oot” "The sum ofthe evince clog above pois to he flowing wachins 1, "Theda hat the gine of chuchenrance pues could ‘be caphaiaed and ed a 2 etaprfo the Dever had found is embodiment inte eweth aad it al of the thie entry. 2 This wae puiaay sony empl inthe founeenth ena, Quie nanaly the Hee wae most popula among ‘ona comacies 3. The enon wes il cy mich ave ding the pst Byantne pe again tos owing t the mae mona the concept of From the thetic and iconographic point af view, the coer ecg ge ofa td rt te Dr ea he ‘huh entance i talon the ambuae Enrance Desert entity Foe wore borne te vy pep hs ey wd be Scepken tren sce ty weld se fo he mes sel frunngs td aly en eshte ermine he image of Bixee wt = ne pe ave denon cng, & ‘omy need nw the Cian fat On a in elope pln hs alc someone who ene 4 huh ot of ‘Td ofthc protic bee sed nl ees the chuck, ad Jrcpucs lin remount sce ety fhe ee 1 andy by Ea Sala he Deion of Sat pin of Si ‘acho, resend aa wanes on he oan of te ie ‘sot cee aos ed