Orthodox churches generally take one of several shapes that have a
particular mystical significance. The most common shape is an oblong or
rectangular shape, imitating the form of a ship. As a ship, under the guidance
of a master helmsman conveys men through the stormy seas to a calm harbor, so
the Church, guided by Christ, carries men unharmed across the stormy seas of
sin and strife to the peaceful haven of the Kingdom of Heaven. Churches are
also frequently built in the form of a Cross to proclaim that we are saved
through faith in the Crucified Christ, for Whom Christians are prepared to
suffer all things. Less frequently churches are built in the shape of a circle,
signifying that the Church of Christ shall exist for all eternity (the circle
being one of the symbols of eternity) or in the shape of an octagon, signifying
a star, for the Church, like a star, guides a man through the darkness of sin
which encompasses him. Because of the difficulties of internal arrangement,
however, the latter two shapes are not often used.
A peculiar feature of Russian Orthodox churches is the presence of
onion-shaped domes on top of the cupolas. In the early history of the Russian
Church, especially in Kiev, the first capital, the domes of the churches
followed the typical Byzantine rounded style, but later, especially after the
Mongol Period, Russian churches tended toward the onion domes, which, in many
places, became quite stylized. Historians are not in agreement as to the origin
of this particular style, but some point to the possible influence of Persia on
this peculiar feature of Russian church architecture, while others argue that
since this style was more popular in the far North of Russia, it had a
practical application, in that the shape was particularly suited to shed the
large amounts of snow common in the region.
Every cupola, or where there is none, the roof, is crowned by a Cross, the
instrument of our salvation. The Cross may take one of many different shapes,
generally according to the national tradition of a particular local Church. In
the Russian Church, the most common form is the so-called three-bar Cross,
consisting of the usual crossbeam, a shorter crossbeam above that and another,
slanted, crossbeam below. Symbolically, the three bars represent, from the top,
the signboard on which was written, in Hebrew, Latin and Greek, Jesus of
Nazareth, the King of the Jews (John 19:19); the main crossbeam, to which the
hands of Jesus were nailed; the lower portion, to which His precious feet were
nailed.
The three-bar representation existed in Christian art from very early times
in Byzantium, although usually without the bottom bar slanted, which is
particularly Russian. The origin of this slanted footboard is not known, but in
the symbolism of the Russian Church, the most common explanation is that it is
the pointing upward to Paradise for the Good Thief on Jesus’ right and downward
to Hell for the Thief on His left (Luke 23). Sometimes the bottoms of the
Crosses found on Russian churches will be adorned with a crescent. In 1486,
Tsar Ivan IV (the Terrible) conquered the city of Kazan which had been under
the rule of Moslem Tatars, and in remembrance of this, he decreed that from
henceforth the Islamic crescent be placed at the bottom of the Crosses to
signify the victory of the Cross (Christianity) over the Crescent (Islam).
COLORS
OF THE DOMES OF ORTHODOX CHURCHES
By Carolyn Robbinsr
The Orthodox Church has a long history of constructing magnificent places
of worship, ornately decorated on the interior with richly symbolic and vibrant
iconography and topped by towering domes reaching to the heavens. Each country
and culture has developed its own flavor of Orthodox architecture, and there
are no set specifications for the size, shape or color of the domes. The colors
of the domes carry deep theological significance and are intended to point
their viewers toward God.
HISTORY
The use of domes in sacred architecture dates far back in Orthodox history.
Basilicas, or large church buildings, date as far back as the fifth century.
The best- known domed church, the Hagia Sophia, was raised between 532 and 537
A.D. in Constantinople, the city now known as Instanbul. The dome of this
Church of Divine Wisdom was designed to inspire meditation on heaven and the
mysteries of the Almighty. Since then, Orthodox domes have taken on many different
appearances, from the onion-shaped structure common in Russia to the
pear-shaped dome favored in Ukraine.
COLORS
NUMBER
SYMBOLISM
Source: http://holytrinityoca.org/the-meaning-of-the-domes-in-orthodox-church-architecture/
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