In contrast to the long timber roofed nave crossed at one end by a shorter transept eastern churches had four wings of equal size projecting from a central square domed crossing area.
Greek cross church floor plan.
The most commonly found floor plans in ukrainian churches are the tripartite plan the greek cross plan and the cross in square plan.
Churches of the greek cross form often have a narthex or vestibule which stretches across the front of the church.
Within the context of the theology of eastern rite architecture one sees particular floor plans frequently employed in ukrainian churches that demonstrate the tradition of the three sections of the church.
Greek cross plan church plan in the form of a greek cross with a square central mass and four arms of equal length.
The greek cross was a popular floor plan for eastern churches at one time.
Often found in conjunction with the ankh the greek cross predates the latin cross and was not intended to represent the cross of the crucifixion but instead the four directions of the earth representing the spread of the gospel and the four platonic elements.
This type of plan was also to later play a part in the development of church architecture in western europe most notably in bramante s plan for st.
In constantinople anatolia and eastern europe where the orthodox church flourished a plan known as the greek cross dominated ecclesiastical building.
This type of plan was also to later play a part in the development of church architecture in western europe most notably in bramante s plan for st peter s basilica 2 8 and christopher wren s design for st paul s cathedral.
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