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Architecture of Light of the Orthodox Temple

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DOI: 10.4467/25438700ŚM.17.058.7679 MYROSLAV YATSIV* Architecture of Light of the Orthodox Temple Abstract Main tendencies, appropriateness and features of the embodiment of the architectural and theological essence of the light are defined in architecturally spatial organization of the Orthodox Church; the value of the natural and artificial light is set in forming of symbolic structure of sacral space and architectonics of the church building. Keywords: the Orthodox Church, sacral space, the light, architectonics, functions of the light, a system of illumination, principles of illumination 1. Introduction. The problem raising in such aspect it’s necessary to examine es- As the experience of new-built churches testifies, a process sence and value of the light in space of the of re-conceiving of national traditions and searches of com- Orthodox Church. bination of modern constructions and building technologies In religion and spiritual life of believing peo- last with the traditional architectonic forms of the church bu- ple the light is an important and meaningful ilding in modern church architecture of Ukraine. Some archi- symbol of combination in their imagination tects go by borrowing forms of the Old Russian church archi- of the celestial and earthly worlds. Through tecture, other consider it’s better to inherit the best traditions this it occupies a central place among reli- of wooden and stone churches of the Ukrainian baroque or gious characters which are used in the Saint- realize the ideas of church architecture of the beginning of ed Letter. From the first book of Old Testa- XX. In the east areas the volume-spatial composition of the ment, where the fact of creation of the light Russian “synod-empire” of the church style is renovated as by God is specified: “And God said: “Let it be the “national sign of church architecture” and interpreted as light!”(Genesis 1.3-4), to the last New Testa- the new “Ukrainian Renaissance” [1]. ment, where it‘s said: “A city needs neither In the most projects retreats are quite often traced from the a sun nor a moon, they could light it, because theological requirements for the spatial temple organization, God’s glory lighted it up…” (App. 21.23), we if not to take into account the direct reiteration of historical observe the presence of the light, a fight of standards, attempts of free interpretation are noticed by the the light and darkness [3]. builders of church canon. Such innovations quite often bring Consequently, from the point of theology the unusual architectonic forms and methods of the spatial orga- light is God’s creation and gift for people; nization in architecture of the Orthodox Church. symbolic appearance, dedicated to the ad- A symbolism of the light, as a basis of the traditional mode vent of God in the real world; sowing of di- of the church, is used not in a full degree by architects in vine energy, which has a reinforcement in the creative searches of the church architecture appearance. phenomenon of “Favor’s light” and repre- Purposeful appeal of the theory and practice of the modern sented in a sacral art as a “sowing” round the church architecture to the historical inheritance of the church image of Jesus Christ, sowing of sainted nim- building and light environment organization is necessary in buses. In architecture of the orthodox temple connection with principle orthodoxy of the East Church and light, except the necessary utilitarian tasks, it traditional character of its architecture and testifies the neces- concludes and organizes, incarnates and ex- sity to attract the formed principles by ages and facilities of presses, specifies and symbolizes, because it the temple building to problem solving of the modern church is the icon of God’s energies, all God’s pos- architecture. ing, eternal attribute of Divine Liturgy. The real light does not contain a final value, its 2. Basic material statement basic setting – symbolically to tell us about Sacral architecture unlike all other objects of the architecture Jesus Christ. is characterized with maintenance and structure, which do not In traditional architecture the concept of the get description exceptionally in rational concepts, but carry divine light altered in concrete perception: symbolic sign maintenance, marked with the mystic charac- a concept “light”, “spiritual light”, is translated ter and called to incarnate and express holiness, sacred ones from the books of Bible and works of Authors – the greatest spiritual values in a traditional form [2]. Exactly of the East Church into a language of archi- * Myroslav Yatsiv, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Department of Architectural Environment Design, [email protected] 147 tectural forms and architectonic phenomena in main space of the direct and reflected light creates soft of the church building. Such light emerges from the height of light-shadow, provides expressive forms and domes (calotte), the light of bright windows, oriented in a ce- volume details. lestial height, the light of icon lamps and candles, brilliance A principle of the minimal light sufficiency of gold background of mosaics, brilliance of silver and gilt of in the basic church volume sets intensity of icons, icon-range, church things and others. As an external light streams, which fill the temple space display of the light is its interaction with numerous elements and levels of luminosity of its surfaces. Re- of internal structure of the temple on a physical level. The dundant glazing is not intrinsic in a plane of light in unity with them creates light-symbolic structure of the walls for the architecture of the traditional church building; its significance and symbolism are literally orthodox temple. Arranging of light cuts “intertwined” into spatial structure of the church building. makes sense only then, when it is necessary This conclusion is based on the analysis of literary sources, to admit the light to the light sacred object, works of theologians, numerous visual and experimental only according to a principle of hierarchical researches of natural illumination of the traditional church illumination and a principle of prevailing of building, which served as a foundation for creation of a vivid the topside light. In this case the symbolism model of the light church environment – peculiar archetype Ill. 2. Most illuminated center church buts wall buried in the dark. Refectory of sacral space will be realized on a contrast in organization of church illumination of the east ceremony, Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra with a shade, which dominates on periphery which are an evaluation criterion of their architecturally spa- of the church building. tial organization [4]. Intensity of the natural daylight, which is reg- ple center, under a central dome. In the case of removal from In co-operating with the material frame of the church building ulated with an amount, sizes and placing in a center to the external temple walls, luminosity must gradu- and in a considerable measure, determining a position and space of temple windows, taking into account ally go down on a horizontal plane, to minimal luminosity un- sizes of separate tectonic elements of the temple (domes, the permanent being of the artificial light in der galleries, in narthex. Luminosity of vertical temple surfaces windows of apse etc.), the light juts out as a forming element Liturgy’s time, must not be considerable. For ill. 1. Dominance top light in the space of the church. Trini- also changes after a hierarchical order, due to symbolism of of architectural structure of the temple. Daylight which gets the criterion of luminosity of the horizontal ty Cathedral in Chernigov spaces: low luminosity of internal surfaces of external temple into the basic space of the temple through windows, together plane it follows to define luminosity neces- walls in its ground tiers is gradually increased to the topside with the light of candles and icon lamps designs light-shady sary for reading of religious texts. Systems of tiers of the sacred object and reaches its maximum on the sur- correlations on internal surfaces of the building. Reflected its internal space perception. The connection topside and combined (topside with lateral) faces of the dome light drum. light from icons, frescos, mosaics gives a gleam – radiations of symbolism of architectonic forms of the sa- natural illumination, through the high light ac- A system of space illumination of the sacred object, oriented of God’s glory, which are the most substantial display of cred object with the light symbolism makes tivity of windows, always provide necessary to the theological paradigm of organization of the church light spiritual connection of a human-being with God in orthodox a mechanism of evolution of architectural levels of utilitarian illumination on the hori- environment, owns universality, so as provides natural per- temples [5]. forms and temple architectural appearance zontal plane in a central part of the temple. ception of space and elements of tectonic temple structure On all stages of the temple building development in Ukraine removable: growth of a central part of the Light-creating, luminiferous and light-reflect- and decoration of its internal surfaces. The diffused lighting appropriateness of the organization of the light church en- church building upwards provides the charac- ing elements of the spatial mode of the church as a combination of direct and reflected light is created in vironment is traced in a close connection with its architec- ter of the pyramidal form. building make a complex of receptions and large church space. When the reflected light dominates in it, tonics. The light was always necessary, substantial, proof re- According to a principle of the topside light facilities of the light church environment or- shadows do not have clear borders that “muffle” architec- current and summarizing element of the whole mode in the prevailing in church space the intensity of light ganization.
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