ARCHITECTURE OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN TEMPLES AND POSITION OF CATECHUMENS IN THE TEMPLE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 4TH CENTURY
/RANOKRESŤANSKÁ ARCHITEKTÚRA CHRÁMOV  A POSTAVENIE KATECHUMENOV V CHRÁME NA ZAČIATKU 4. STOROČIA/

Jan PILKO

lecturer, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Presov in Presov, Masarykova 15, 080 01 Presov, Slovakia, jan.pilko@unipo.sk, 00421517724729

Abstract

In this article, we try to outline the basic feature of the early Christian architecture of the temples built during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great. The history of the early Christian architecture is divided into two periods: from its creation to the arrival of Emperor Constantine and from Constantine to the fall of the Roman Roman Empire. In the first period, Christians were forced to hide and conceal the places of their meetings. Initially, Christian preachers were in synagogues, and assembly meetings took place in the homes of their members. At the time of Emperor Constantine, the construction of temples began throughout the Roman Empire, but especially in Rome, in Constantinople, which became the capital of the empire, in Jerusalem and other cities of Palestine, which were sacred places for Christians. During this period, it was the most common architectural type of the Basilica Temple. As we can see, the early Christian basilicas perfectly corresponded to the needs of the church, as well as to the taste of Emperor Constantine himself. We can emphasize that the vigorous construction of the temples alone could not create a cult of holy places, though it certainly contributed to it.

Keywords

Basilica, Architecture, Constantine the Great, Catechumen, Jerusalem

SUMMARY

In the first period of Christianity, Christians were forced to hide and conceal the places of their encounters. At the time of Emperor Constantine, the construction of temples began throughout the Roman Empire, but especially in Rome, in Constantinople, which became the capital of the empire, in Jerusalem and other cities of Palestine, which were sacred places for Christians. At the end of the 3rd century, the architecture of the basilica was rectangular in shape, which was divided into several parts. One part was intended for catechumens who were not allowed to participate in the Eucharist. In this article, we have approached the division and the place of catechumens based on the architectural description of the most famous churches of Christianity - Bethlehem Birth and Resurrection in Jerusalem. In the apostolic times, Christians did not particularly care about the grave in which Christos was buried. This interest has grown since the 4th century. The holy places had their hidden spiritual potential, which remained during the first three centuries during the persecution of the Christian Church. After the persecution, it was possible to use this spiritual potential and during the reign of Emperor Constantine, it was possible to realize it in fullness, which also determined the future character of Christianity.

(Language: slovak)

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