barrel-vault
vaulted, semi-cylindrical construction used often as roof.

bema
The area at east end of the naos in Byzantine churches, containing the altar, also referred to as the presbetery or hierateion (sanctuary). In these area take place the Holy Eucharist.

Christ in Glory (Majestas Domini)
Συμπληρώστε την περιγραφή στην γλώσσα μετάφρασης

christological cycle
In the iconographic programme of a church, the scenes inspired from the life of Christ, starting with the Annunciation and concluding with the Ascension.

Communion of the Apostles
Representation depicted usually in the cylindrical section of the apse of the Bema, where Christ distributes bread and wine to his disciples.

corner bays
In a cross-in-square church, they are the four compartements between the arms of the cross, that make inscribe the central cross into a square. They were usually covered with cross-or domical vaults.

cross-in-square church
Type of church in which four barrel-vaulted bays form a greek cross; the central square of their intersection is domed. The cross is inscribed into the square ground plan by means of four corner bays.

Deesis
Iconographic theme, an image of intercession for the salvation of the human race, which represents Jesus as the central figure, between the Virgin and St. John the Baptist

diakonikon
An auxiliary chamber of the church, also known in early years as skeuophylakion, which could be a separate building attached to the church. There were kept the sacred vessels but sometimes also the offerings of the faithful, the archive or library. In Byzantine churches the diakonikon becomes the sacristy to the south of the Bema, corresponding to the prothesis to the north, and forming along with them the triple sanctuary. It usually has an apse projecting to the east.

dome
A characteristic element of Byzantine architecture. The dome is a hemispherical vault on a circular wall (drum) usually pierced by windows. The domed church emerges in the Early Byzantine years and its various types gradually prevail, while they are expanded in the Balkans and in Russia.

donor's image
The representation of the church’s donors, usually depicted along with a holy figure. The representations are frequently accompanied by inscriptions mentioning the names of the donors.

Hypapante (Presentation of Christ)
Christian feast which celebrated the presentation of Christ Child in the Temple by Virgin Mary (February 2). In the representations there are always depicted Virgin, the Child, Joseph and the Elder Simeon, and often attends the Anna alter Lucas (2.22-38)

intrados, soffit
The internal surface of an arch or barrel-vault.

mandorla (doxa)
(and mandrole) A round, elliptical or rhomboid bright aureole that encloses the whole figure of Christ, or more rarely the figure of the Virgin, in some represantations

narthex
A portico or a rectangular entrance-hall, parallel with the west end of an early Christian basilica or church.

pendentive
Triangular surface used for the transition from the square base of the church to the hemispheric dome.

prothesis
Ιn ecclesiastical architecture, the sacristy to the north of the sanctuary. Usually it has an apse projecting to the east. It is the chamber where the eucharistic elements were prepared (Proskomide) before the Communion.

semi-dome
The vaulted crown of an apsed niche. The semi-dome of the apse of the Bema may be also called a conch.

symbols of the four Evangelists
The four parts of the Tetramorph in Ezekiel’s vision, that is, an angel, a lion, an eagle and an ox, each associated with one of the four Gospels from the 2nd century onwards and at some point considered as the symbols of the four Evangelists (Matthew - Angel; Mark - Lion; Luke - Ox; John - Eagle).

templon or iconostasis
A structure separating the sanctuary from the main church. At first, it simply divided the nave from the presbytery, but later it became higher, with small columns and an epistyle. From the 11th century onwards, icons were placed between the templon columns and, somewhat later, icons were also placed above the epistyle, thus forming the iconostasis. The templon were originally from marble. Wooden iconostases appeared from the 13th century.

triumphal arch
(Rom.:) A structure in the shape of a monumental archway, built to celebrate the victory of a Roman general or Emperor.(Byz. Archit.) The arch formed above the Horaia Pyle (Royal Door), which frames the curve of the conch of the apse and separates the bema from the nave.

tympanum (lunette)
(Rom., Byz.) The arched panel (lunette) inside an arch or an arcosolium.