Cultural aspects in Christian and Islamic religions - unesdoc - Unesco

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Parts of the church:
denominations, shapes,
and aim
Baptistery: As there were more and more baptisms, and
as baptism is linked with the Eucharist, baptismal fonts
have been built inside the church or next to the church.
Architecture and shapes are liturgical in reference to the
Salvation. There is the round octagonal shape with a dome
in the Roman tradition. The round shape is in reference to
the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and the octagon has a
special symbol, since six is for the six days during which God
created the world, seven is for the resting day, and eight is
for the Resurrection of Christ for eternal life.
The Altar: The altar is a table made of wood, marble,
or stone. It is in the center of the church around which Christians
gather to break the bread and to reenact what Christ did in
the Last Supper, so that He may be remember until His second
coming. The altar is fixed beside the east wall or in its middle.
Around it are the throne of the Bishop and seats of the priests,
on the chancel, above which there is an arch supported by
columns. The altar may be separated from the believers with
a screen. This separation is known in the Byzantine rite as the
‘iconostasis’, i.e. the screen of icons. The altar symbolizes the
manger where Christ was born, the mount where he taught
Iconostasis (Screen of Icons) is a screen made of wood, marble, or other material, that
serves as a support for tiers of icons of Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary and the Apostles. It
separates between the altar and the congregation in Byzantine churches.