A New Look at the Byzantine Sanctuary Barrier
1993; Peeters; Volume: 51; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.3406/rebyz.1993.1878
ISSN2261-060X
Autores Tópico(s)Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History
ResumoREB 51 1993 France p. 203-228, 4 pl. Ch. Walter, A New Look al the Byzantine Sanctuary Barrier. — Profiting from the numerous studies of the subject published over the last two decades, the author attempts to establish with more precision what was the purpose of the Byzantine sanctuary barrier. While it effectively prevented the laity from entering the sanctuary and even from observing what took place there, it was also intended to be the focal point of lay piety. The lower icons were accessible to the laity for veneration. The icons on the architrave or epistyle were destined to nourish their meditation during the celebration of the liturgy. The Deësis recalled the necessity of the intercession of the saints. The Twelve Feasts provided a selection from the redemptive acts of Christ's life, analogous to the mysteries of the Roman Catholic rosary. Thus the purpose of the imagery of the sanctuary barrier was primarily to respond to the needs of lay devotion. It had its specific function independent of the programmes developed on the walls of Byzantine churches.
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