What does the color of the domes mean? How many chapters can an Orthodox church have and what does their number mean?

HISTORY OF THE APPEARANCE OF DOMES

Dome (Italian Cupola - domes, vault, from Latin cupula, diminutive of cupa - barrel) is a spatial, load-bearing structure of the covering, in shape close to a hemisphere or other surface of rotation of a curve.

The main thing in the temple is the domes. They receive special attention and treatment. The dome can be of different shapes, colors, and have a different number of chapters. All characteristics have their own symbolic meaning.

The history of domes dates back to prehistoric times. Domes began to be built during the Roman architectural revolution, when they began to be used in the construction of temples and large public buildings. It is believed that the oldest dome currently in existence is located in the Roman Pantheon, erected around 128 AD. Later, the tradition of dome building was adopted by Byzantine religious and cult architecture.

Russian art, starting from the 10th century. and until the end of the seventeenth century it was inextricably linked with the Church and the Christian faith. The first city in Rus' to be baptized was Kyiv. The service in the great Orthodox church of Byzantium - the Church of Hagia Sophia in the city of Constantinople influenced the ambassadors of Prince Vladimir of Kyiv. “We don’t know whether we were in heaven or on earth, for there is no such view and such beauty on earth... » It was this experience of beauty as holiness that formed the basis of new art on Russian soil. Byzantine craftsmen erected many temples in the traditions of Byzantine architecture.

DOME SHAPE

It is known that domes, or rather, domes over temples, are helmet-shaped, onion-shaped, pear-shaped and cone-shaped.

Helmet-like coverings most often they call a specific form of dome coverings, close to the shape of an ancient Russian helmet. The helmet shape is a symbol of warfare, the spiritual battle waged by the Church against the forces of evil and darkness.

The Byzantine Empire gave Rus' the ability to build temples. But young Christian Rus' did not at all feel like a timid student. Russian architecture, created by Russian masters, introduced its own finds and original ideas into construction practice and became a new embodiment of Christian art. Having analyzed the drawings of the temples, you can see that the shape of the dome is also changing. Already in the 11th century. the domes resemble a military helmet.

Onion dome has a convex shape, smoothly tapering at the top, similar to an onion. Most often, such domes are used in Russia, Turkey, India and the Middle East. The shape of the onion is a symbol of the candle flame, the victory of the forces of light. An Orthodox church, symbolizing the earth, with a dome symbolizing heaven, is interpreted as a model of the universe, which, according to religious views, is the creation of God. Believers direct their thoughts towards heaven and God. Therefore, the “onion” shape of the dome was not chosen by chance. It resembles a flame pointing upward, a burning candle that is lit during prayer addressed to God. This dome shape symbolizes spiritual uplift and the desire for perfection. The shape of the onion is a symbol of the candle flame, turning us to the words of Christ: “You are the light of the world.” In the textbook by A.V. Borodin “Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture” it is written that the domes of churches are shaped like a candle or a helmet. This is also no coincidence, this form seems to connect the meanings: the burning of Orthodox hearts and military protection

“Our domestic onion embodies the idea of ​​deep prayerful burning to heaven, through which our earthly world becomes involved in otherworldly wealth. This is the completion of the Russian temple - like a fiery tongue, crowned with a cross and pointed towards the cross.”

E.N. Trubetskoy

It is this idea of ​​fiery, burning that is emphasized by the gilding of domes, so widespread in Russia.

Oval domes are part of Baroque architecture. The first Baroque oval dome was built by Giacomo da Vignola for the church of Sant'Andrea in Via Flamida in 1553. The largest oval dome was built in Vicoforte by the architect Francesco Gallo.

Umbrella domes divided into segments by ribs radiating from the center to the base of the dome.

Horizontal sections polygonal domes are polygons. One of the most famous examples of such domes is the octagonal dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, built by Filippo Brunelleschi.

Tent. In architecture, a tent is the end of towers and temples in the form of a tetrahedral or octagonal pyramid. A new page in the history of medieval Russian architecture Liberation from the Horde yoke stimulated a new upsurge in architecture. By this time, another national type of temple had emerged. The dome system characteristic of Byzantium was transformed into a pointed top of the tower. This shows the undoubted influence of defensive architecture, a typical example of which is given by Pskov with its powerful towers, devoid of any decorations and serving as protection from enemy attacks. With the particularly obvious power of the walls, masonry, narrow loopholes, windows, the harmony of the forms emphasizes their harmony and grace. The geometric shape of the octagonal tent, which in plan resembles the eight-pointed star of Bethlehem, allows one to interpret such churches as the image of the Mother of God, to whom the numbers 8 and 9 symbolically correspond. BUT tent coverings are prohibited, but this form was preserved in the construction of bell towers. And this is no coincidence. The tent on the bell tower is preserved as a symbol of the gospel and, of course, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tiered bell towers were also built (the bell tower of the Moscow Novodevichy Convent).

Saucer dome lower than other types of domes. Such a dome, it turns out, is not visible from the outside, but inside it creates a feeling of increased space. These domes were used in the construction of Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques.

NUMBER OF DOMES

According to church symbolism, the dome indicates to Christians the need to strive from the earthly to the heavenly. Orthodox churches are built with an odd number of domes. The number of heads of the temple reveals in numerical symbolism the hierarchy of the structure of the heavenly church. The different number of domes, or chapters, of a temple building is determined by who they are dedicated to.

Single-domed temple the dome symbolizes the unity of God, the perfection of creation. Single-domed churches were most often built in the pre-Mongol era and were a symbol of the One God and the perfection of creation (Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, Church of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir, Kazan Church). Sometimes bell towers or chapels and two domes were attached to them, then they symbolized the two natures of the Lord Jesus Christ - Divine and human (Church of St. John the Climacus in the Moscow Kremlin).

Double-domed temple the two domes symbolize the two natures of the God-man Jesus Christ, the two areas of creation (angelic and human).

Three Domed Temple three domes symbolize the Holy Trinity, may not always be Trinity (for example, St. George's Cathedral of the Yuryev Monastery in Velikiy

Four-domed temple. the four domes symbolize the Four Gospels, the four cardinal directions.

Five-domed temple five domes, one of which rises above the rest, symbolize Christ as the Head of the Church and the four evangelists. Five-domed churches became widespread in Rus', and their construction was carried out both in ancient times and in our days. One of the domes, as a rule, rises above the others, which symbolizes Jesus Christ and the four evangelists. Sometimes an initially five-domed cathedral after restructuring could turn into a six-domed one (St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod), however, just as it appeared from a previously three-domed cathedral. The reasons for such reconstructions were, as a rule, dilapidation and fire. Five-domed churches have also been built recently, such as, for example, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, recently revived in Moscow.

Seven Domed Temple seven domes symbolize the seven Sacraments of the church, seven Ecumenical Councils, seven virtues.

Nine Domed Temple nine domes are associated with the image of the heavenly Church, consisting of nine orders of angels and nine orders of righteous people.

Thirteen-domed temple

thirteen domes symbolize Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles.

Twenty-five chapters may be a sign of an apocalyptic vision of the throne of the Holy Trinity and the twenty-four elders (Rev. 11, 15-18) or denote praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary, depending on the dedication of the temple.

Thirty-three chapters- the number of earthly years of the Savior.

The number of heads of temples is associated with the dedication of the main throne of the temple, and also often with the number of thrones connected in one volume.

DOME COLOR

The color of the dome is also important in the symbolism of the temple.

Gold is a symbol of heavenly glory. The main temples and the temples dedicated to Christ and the twelve feasts had golden domes.

Gilding domes is a purely Orthodox tradition that is not found among other faiths. This apparent extravagance has its own unbreakable logic. For an Orthodox person, gold is primarily a symbol of eternity, incorruptibility, royalty and heavenly glory. It is not for nothing that one of the gifts brought by the Magi to the baby Jesus was gold. In Rus', the heads of the main temples, as well as temples dedicated to the Savior, were covered with gold.

The use of gold foil in the decoration of churches began during the Byzantine Empire, which did not spare the precious metal for the splendor of churches. Subsequently, the tradition of decoration was adopted by baptized Russia. The Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary on the Nerl River became one of the first whose dome, by order of Saint Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, was covered with gold leaf.

Domes are blue with the stars crowned churches dedicated to the Mother of God, because the star recalls the birth of Christ from the Virgin Mary.

Trinity churches had green domes, because green is the color of the Holy Spirit.

Temples dedicated to saints are also crowned green or silver domes

Meet in monasteries black domes- this is the color of monasticism.

One of the most important elements of Christian architecture is the dome. It is the dome of the church that gives it its recognizable appearance and distinctive splendor.

In Orthodox doctrine, such a wedding of churches symbolizes the heavenly world and is often decorated with images of God, saints and angels.

Despite the similarity of structure, the domes of the church amaze with the variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

Variety of dome shapes

The first dome structures appeared in ancient times, even before the advent of Christianity. These were the so-called belt domes, formed by a stepped vault. With this method of laying, each new layer protrudes above the previous one. A classic example is the ancient Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae.

Today there are several main types of domes known:

As you can see, the shapes of the domes are very diverse. This is due to different stages of development of architecture and the exchange of experience between cultures of different countries. In addition to the variety of shapes, domes have other differences.

The meaning of the color of the domes

A distinctive feature of Orthodox churches is the richness of the color palette of their “tops”. The use of a certain color not only decorates the appearance of the church, but also carries a sacred meaning.

For example:

The variety of colors is what attracts Russian churches and what makes each church unique and inimitable. What other information about the temple can be obtained by knowing about the features of its chapters?

The value of the number of domes

Each individual dome is already a work of art. If you take all the domes into account at once, even more meaning will emerge. After all, their number is not accidental and has great symbolism. Thus, a single dome on the temple personifies the One God. If the church has domes:

Thus, the domes can be called a kind of “passport” of the temple. From it you can learn about the history of the church, who it is dedicated to and what meaning it wants to convey to people. Having dealt with the symbolism of church domes, let’s move on to the technical part, namely their production and design.

How domes are made

A dome is a very “useful” structure that is highly valued in architecture. The use of this structure allows you to cover large spaces with minimal use of additional supports. A modern church dome typically consists of a metal frame, fiberglass shell, and roof cladding.

Today, only the name remains of most golden domes. Due to its high cost and fragility, natural gold is used less and less. It was replaced by titanium nitride, which is used to coat stainless steel plates. This material is not much inferior to gold in beauty, but is superior in reliability and ease of processing. Titanium nitride-coated panels are attached to the dome support, after which it rises to the top.

There is no doubt that dome building is a unique craft. It combines the genius of architectural thought and the depth of biblical implications.

Story

The history of domes began in prehistoric times [ specify], but technologically complex and large domes began to be built during the Roman Architectural Revolution, when domes began to be used in the construction of temples and large public buildings. It is believed that the oldest dome currently in existence is located in the Roman Pantheon, erected around 128 AD.

Types of domes

Belt dome

Belt dome

Belt dome differs from a “true dome” in that it consists of separate horizontal layers. Each next layer protrudes slightly above the previous one and is supported by a cantilever, converging towards the center at the very top. An example of such a dome is the Treasury of Atreus.

Onion dome

Onion dome

Onion dome has a convex shape, smoothly tapering at the top, similar to an onion. Most often, such domes are used in Russia, Turkey, India and the Middle East. Domes of this shape are most often used in the construction of churches of the Russian Orthodox Church. Although the earliest stone churches in Rus' had Byzantine (sail) style domes, they were later almost completely replaced by onion domes. Such domes have a larger diameter than the base, the drum, on which they are mounted, and their height usually exceeds their width. Although the earliest surviving buildings with this type of dome date back to the 16th century, illustrations from old chronicles indicate that they were in use no later than the end of the 13th century. Like tents, domes were originally used only in wooden churches and began to be used in stone architecture much later. But even then they were made of wood or metal and installed on a stone drum. A famous engineer-architect who specialized in the domes of Orthodox churches was Sergei Nikolaevich Padyukov (1922-1993), who designed the domes and participated in the construction and reconstruction of 44 churches in the USA.

The church with several onion domes is a typical form of Russian church architecture, which distinguishes Russia from other Orthodox nations and Christian denominations. In many Western countries, the silhouette of a church with such domes is often associated with Russia as a whole. Historically, the first examples of such Russian churches are the wooden predecessor of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod with 13 domes (989) and the first temple on the site of the stone Church of the Tithes with 25 domes in Kyiv (989-996). The number of domes usually has a symbolic meaning in Russian architecture, for example, 13 domes symbolize Christ with the 12 apostles, and 25 domes also symbolize the 12 prophets of the Old Testament. Compared to Byzantine (sail) domes, Russian church domes are usually smaller and often gilded or brightly painted.

Oval dome

Oval dome

Oval domes are part of Baroque architecture. The name itself comes from the Latin word ovum, meaning egg. Most often, oval domes are associated with the names of the architects Bernini and Borromini, but the first Baroque oval dome was built by Giacomo da Vignola for the church of Sant'Andrea in Via Flamina (also called Sant'Andrea del Vignola). Construction was commissioned by Pope Julius III in 1552 and completed the following year.The largest oval dome was built in Vicoforte by the architect Francesco Gallo.

Polygonal dome

Polygonal dome

Horizontal sections polygonal domes are polygons. One of the most famous examples of such domes is the octagonal dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, built by Filippo Brunelleschi.

Sail dome

Sail dome

Also called Byzantine domes, sailing domes are a sail, the bases of which do not simply form arches to support the dome above it, but converge towards the center of the space, thus forming a dome themselves. Such domes are similar to a square sail, fixed from below in the four corners and blown from below.

Saucer dome

Large saucer dome

Saucer dome It is shallow, with a small angle between the horizontal and the surface at the base. Geometrically, the horizontal section of such domes is a circle, and the vertical section is a sector of the circle (that is, its part). Saucer domes are lower than other types of domes. Many of the largest domes in existence today are of this shape.

Saucer domes gained popularity in the 18th century and remain popular to this day. They are often used as an element of the interior design of a room, located in the attic space. In this case, the dome is not visible from the outside, but inside it creates a feeling of increased space. Often, such domes are decorated with ornaments or frescoes.

Such domes were sometimes used in the construction of Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques. Most mosques in India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan are covered with a saucer dome.

Dome umbrella

Dome umbrella

Umbrella domes divided into segments by ribs radiating from the center to the base of the dome. The material between the ribs is arranged in the form of arches, which transfer the vertical load to the ribs. The central dome of the St. Sophia Cathedral was built according to this design, which allowed the architect to place stained glass windows between the ribs on the base of the dome. The main dome of St. Peter's Basilica also has this shape.

Famous dome structures

The world's largest dome ceiling is over the stadium in Oita (Japan). Its span is 274 meters, it covers 43,000 seats.

Dome in religion

Domes occupy an important place in Christian and Muslim architecture. Most Orthodox churches and Muslim mosques, as well as many Catholic cathedrals, are crowned with domes.

For many faiths, the dome has symbolic meaning. So, in Orthodoxy, the dome is an image of heaven; it is decorated with images of the Heavenly Kingdom, God and angels.

In art

• song “Russian Domes” by V. Vysotsky 1979 (also known performed by G. Leps)
• song "Dome" by M. Krug
• Church domes are a popular tattoo motif in prison symbolism.

see also

Links

Notes

An Orthodox church without a dome or dome seems unreal. There are, of course, temporary churches or various rooms adapted for worship without domes, but, you must admit, there is neither proper beauty nor grandeur in such walls. And yet, beauty is not the main thing. The domes symbolize the heavenly world, the Kingdom of Heaven, where the gaze of believers is directed.

Russian architects borrowed this most important detail for Orthodox architecture from Byzantine masters. Let us remember the huge dome over the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. It was “invented” back in the 6th century and made a real revolution in architecture - it seemed that the dome crowned the temple without any supports, it seemed to float in the air. By the way, this type of dome is called sailing.

The dome always ends with a dome, where a cross is installed in honor of the Head of the Church - Jesus Christ. But you, of course, know that it is impossible to find two absolutely identical churches. Somewhere the temple is covered by one large vault, and somewhere three, five or seven onions rush upward. Why?

Of course, for good reason. The two chapters mean the two natures in Jesus Christ - divine and human. Three chapters symbolize the Holy Trinity, five chapters symbolize Jesus Christ and the four Evangelists, seven chapters symbolize the seven Ecumenical Councils, nine chapters symbolize the nine ranks of angels, and thirteen chapters symbolize Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles.

Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kronstadt

The color scheme of the domes also varies. The color gold is a symbol of heavenly glory. Such domes are found at the main churches dedicated to the Savior and the Twelve Feasts. You will see blue ones with stars on churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary, as the star reminds us of the birth of Christ from the Virgin Mary. And on Trinity churches, as a rule, the domes are green, since this is the color of the Holy Spirit. Green (and sometimes silver) domes are also found on churches in honor of various saints. In monasteries you can see churches with black domes. This is explained simply: black is a symbol of monasticism.

What can you say about the multi-colored onions of the Intercession Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral) on Red Square? They are called to remind us of the beauty and joy of Heavenly Jerusalem, which righteous Christians will be rewarded with.

Today tattoos are becoming more and more popular. You can find a great variety of images (tattoos) on the body. These are hieroglyphs, Celtic patterns, animals, and nature... You can’t count everything. But the “Dome” tattoo is found only on certain people. What significance does it have?

Who can see such a tattoo?

Only a certain circle of people apply “Dome” tattoos to their bodies. Agree, unlike all kinds of butterflies, dragons and other popular designs, you don’t see such a tattoo very often. This is due to the fact that it is a prison. The person whose body is depicted or the cathedral is a former prisoner.

If you delve into the literal meaning of this tattoo, you can translate it as “a prison for a thief is a home.” However, it also carries a deeper meaning. In order to understand it, you should study the history of the origin of tattoos.

Origin story

Tattooing began to develop its history at the beginning of the twentieth century. Then many people were sent to prison. The bulk of them were those in whom the Bolsheviks saw a threat. These included church ministers who did not want to follow the lead of the new government. It was here, in places of detention, that priests, together with some prisoners, formed a certain movement. It was designed to fight atheism.

The authorities, in turn, banned the wearing of crosses and other church paraphernalia. It was then that the prisoners decided to tattoo the top of a cathedral or church on their bodies.

What does the "Dome" tattoo mean?

Today, such tattoos are also tattooed in prisons. However, it carries a slightly different meaning. If you meet a person with domes on his chest or back, you can find out about his criminal record. Namely: how many years a person spent in prison or the number of convictions handed down to him. If we talk about how many walks he had.

So what is the meaning of the Dome tattoo? The number of domes applied to the body corresponds to the years spent in prison. But the number of crosses on them indicates the number of people entering the prisoner’s area. Sometimes prisoners impale domes immediately upon arrival at the camp. In this case, their number will indicate the years that the prisoner still has to serve in captivity.

Any of the convicts can get such a tattoo, since it does not require “explanations and obligations” in the criminal world, unlike truly thieves’ tattoos (stars) or epaulettes. The only exception is the demand for matching the number of domes with the actual period spent in prison. Sometimes the windows on the church even talk about the term of imprisonment.

But if you meet a person who has six dark domes on his body, this will mean that he spent six months in solitary confinement for some violation of prison regime or order. On the hands, domes will have the meaning of protest. This tattoo can also be applied to the forearm or thigh.

In addition, the tattoo we are considering has a separate meaning depending on gender. For female prisoners, the “Golden Domes” tattoo is worn by those convicted of robbery and theft.

Current meaning

In modern times, the “Dome” tattoo has not changed or lost its meaning in the criminal world. And it became more formal in character. There are no longer such questions and quibbles about this prison tattoo. But still, it’s not worth filling out such a drawing yourself, since most of the prisoners are people of principle.

You should not get such a tattoo even if you have nothing to do with the criminal world. There is a stereotype that this is exclusively a prison tattoo, although in general it is so. Such a tattoo may cause some misunderstandings regarding the identity of its owner. This can happen regardless of the intent with which she pricked herself. For example, in Buddhism, the dome symbol is absolutely not associated with prison concepts. In this case, the tattoo carries the idea of ​​spiritual protection. However, in our country, “Dome” tattoos refer exclusively to prison tattoos.

Despite the fact that over the past decades some of the prison tattoos have changed both in appearance and in designation, they still carry a certain meaning. Each of them contains a certain history of the prisoner’s criminal path.