The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Bridgeport Connecticut Welcomes you!

COVER
HIS RESURRECTION AND OURS
THE GREEK ORTHODOX FAITH
THE SACRAMENTS
THE SYMBOLISM OF THE CHURCH
THE TEMPLE
THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEDDINGS, DIVORCES, BAPTISMS, FUNERALS, AND MEMORIALS
WEDDINGS
DIVORCES
BAPTISMS
FUNERALS
MEMORIALS
CHURCH POSITIONS ON CIRCUMCISION, SUICIDE, AUTOPSY, AND CREMATION
ONE VOICE : AN INTRODUCTION TO THE DIVINE LITURGY
THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
GREEK ORTHODOXY
FAITH HOPE AND CHARITY

The Greek Orthodox Church and Symbolisms

THE TEMPLE

The Greek Orthodox place of worship is the Temple. A distinct architectural characteristic of the Temple is the exterior shape which is either that of a ship (the ship of Salvation) or that of the Cross (the emblem of Salvation). The Temple is always constructed so that the Sanctuary within the church is at the eastern end of the Temple. The symbolism behind this is that Christ was born in the East and it was from the East that His Teachings were spread to the world. The congregation faces the Sanctuary and the East for according to the Holy Bible, Paradise lies toward the East.

The Temple may have either one, three, or five domes. The one dome symbolizes the One Head of the Church, Christ, our Lord; the three domes represent the Holy Trinity; and the five domes symbolize Christ and the four Evangelists.

THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH

     The Temple is divided into two main parts: the Sanctuary, and the main body of the church. The Ikonostasion, Image-screen, divides the two parts. This division is symbolic of the two natures of Christ, the divine and the human.

A. THE ALTAR
     The Altar is within the Sanctuary, and it represents Golgotha, where Christ was Crucified for our Salvation. There are two coverings over the Altar. The first, the white linen which represents the Winding-Sheet in which the Body of Christ was wrapped, and the second, a covering of brilliant, fine material which represents the Glory of God's Throne.

     On the Altar are placed: the Book of the Gospel, a double-branched candlestick ( which represents the divine and human natures of Christ), and a triple-branched candlestick (which represents the Holy Trinity). Also on the Altar and place between the two candlesticks is the Tabernacle, or Arto-forion, which contains the Holy Gifts, the Body and Blood of Christ reserved for the ailing and for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, during the Great Fast—Lent.

     At the opening of the Liturgy of the Faithful, the Corporal, or Antimension (a silken cloth on which the Deposition of Christ in the Tomb and the four Evangelists are depicted) is placed on the Altar, and at the close of the Liturgy, it is folded again and is resting on it. In the event of emergency, or when no Altar is available (as on board ship, in an army camp, etc.), the Corporal can be used as an Altar.
Relics of the Saints are kept within the Altar, and are also depicted on the Corporal, significant of the fact that the blood of the martyrs, as well as that of Christ, is the foundation of the Church. Early Christians celebrated the Holy Eucharist at the tombs of the martyrs.

      The Holy Liturgy can be celebrated only once during a day on an Altar or the Corporal.

B. THE TABLE OF OBLATION
     To the left of the Holy Altar is the Table of Oblation-Prothesis or Proskomide ,which represents the cave-stable of Bethlehem where Christ was born.

     The preparation of the Holy gifts is conducted on the Table of Oblation and the following sacred vessels and instruments are used:
     1. The PATEN—into which the Holy Bread is placed. The Paten symbolizes the Manger of Bethlehem.

     2. The CHALICE—for the wine. The Chalice is the symbol of the Cup which Christ used during the Last Supper.

     3. The LANCE—with which the Priest cuts the Holy Bread or Prosfora. The Lance is symbolic of the lance with which the

soldier pierced Christ's side while He was on the Cross.

    4. The STAR-COVER—which supports the small veil with which the Paten is coved, and prevents the veil from coming into contact with the Holy Bread. The Star Cover is symbolic of the guiding Star of Bethlehem, which led the Wise Men to the Christ-child.

     5. The AER—a veil which covers both the Paten and the Chalice. (The Paten and the Chalice are also covered with a separate veil each.) The Aer is symbolic of the linen cloth in which the Body of Christ was enclosed by Joseph when Christ was taken down from the Cross. (The individual veils for the Paten and the Chalice symbolize the swaddling clothes of the Christ-child in the Manger.)

     6. The SPOON—with which Holy communion is administered. The Spoon symbolizes the spoon which an Angel used to take burning coals from the Altar and with it touched Isaiah's lips, cleaning him of his sins.

     7. The ZEON—a small vessel used by the Priest to pour warm water into the Chalice. The Zeon symbolizes the fact that warm blood and water flowed from the side of Christ when He was pierced by the soldier's lance.

     C. CANDLES
     The Orthodox Christian lights candles upon entering the Church. This denotes that the heart of the Orthodox Christian holds within it a flame of Christian love for the Lord and for the Saints of the Church.

     D. CANDELABRA (NOT ALWAYS USED TODAY)
     These are placed near the inside entrance to the Church, and also before the Ikonostasion. There are two candelabra before the Ikonostasion, and the one before the Icon of the Mother of God symbolizes the pillar of fire which led at night the Hebrews and Moses on their way to Canaan. (Exodus 13:21 The other candelabrum before the Icon of Christ signifies the words of the Savior: "I am the light of the World; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life." (John 8: 12)

     E. THE CROSS
     The Cross was originally an emblem of infamy (as shown by the fact that a cross was used upon which criminals were nailed) but the Sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross, and the Redemption of Man brought about by the Crucifixion of Christ upon the Cross, transformed the Cross and the emblem of honor and triumph and the emblem of Christianity.

     1. THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
     The Greek Orthodox Christian makes the Sign of the Cross thus: he joins the tips of his thumb, the index, and the middle finger of his right hand (symbolizing of the three persons of the Holy Trinity), and the third finger and little finger are bent touching the palm (symbolizing the descent of Christ to earth and of His two natures, the divine and the human). Holding this position of his fingers, in making the Sign of the Cross, the Greek Orthodox Christian then raises his right joined fingers (signifying "that the Holy Spirit has sanctified his mind), he then touches his breast (signifying that his feelings are sanctified), he touches his right shoulder (signifying that his acts are sanctified), he then touches his right shoulder (signifying that his desires are sanctified).

     2. THE CROSS - The Ensign of the Church
     The Cross has been accepted by all denominations as the ensign of Christianity. There are many forms of the Cross, among which are the Tau Cross, the Latin Cross, the Greek Cross, the St. Andrew's Cross, the Heraldic Crosses, and the Maltese Cross.

     F. INCENSE
     The symbolism behind the censer and the incense is that the fumes that rise from the censer represent the prayers of the Priest and the congregation arising to God. Incense is also a tribute of honor to the Saints depicted in the Icons of the Church.

     G. BOILED WHEAT
     For memorial services a tray of Boiled Wheat prepared with sugar is placed before the Ikonostasion. This is in remembrance of the faithful Greek Orthodox Christians who have fallen asleep in our Lord. However, in every presentation of the Divine Liturgy, prayers are also included for the dead.

     The Boiled Wheat symbolizes the resurrection of the dead, that is, even as the wheat is sown in the earth and springs into a living plant, so shall the dead be resurrected. The sugar mixed with the wheat represents the sweetness and bliss of life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

     H. MUSIC AND ART OF THE CHURCH
     The Icons, pictures and frescoes of the Greek Orthodox Church serve as a means of Christian teaching and of spiritual edification. They serve as "the Bible of the unlearned", and as inspiring reminders of the virtues of the Saints. "The walls of an Orthodox Church are like an open book, whose vivid pages tell of holy persons and events. They make a strongly ethical impression, since they continually remind one of the Faith, and the piety and mighty deeds of great heroes of the Faith."

     Orthodox Christianity employs all the various forms of art with the exception of sculpture. Poetry appears chiefly in the church hymns. In these hymns, "the power and energy of thought is united with the harmony and sound of the word, with the variability and beauty of expression."

     Church music, with its great warmth and deeply symbolic sense, plays its part in the full expression of the Orthodox Church. The choir is so developed as to deserve to be a model for the highest forms of church music. The church pictures, icons, and murals, are more than mere decorations of the Church; they are an open picture-bible and church history, written with an artist's brush. They arouse and maintain the religious mood which is further stimulated by the choral music.

Provided for you Courtesy of: The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Bridgeport
Rev. Demetrios A. Recachinas, Protopresbyter
Booklet & Web Version Designed by:
Vicky Andriotis


For information about obtaining hard copies of this booklet, please contact:

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 4070 Park Avenue Bridgeport CT 06604 Church Phone (203) 374-5561 Church Fax (203) 374-5770 E-mail: fatherdemetrios@