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Video: Why are the domes of different colors on Orthodox churches and what does their number mean?
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Orthodox churches have always impressed with their majestic beauty, special architectural elements and, of course, with their amazing domes crowning the religious building. Most often they dazzle with a golden sheen, however, blue, green, and sometimes black domes are often found. And their number may be different. At the same time, the choice of the color and number of domes of an Orthodox church is not at all a whim of the architect.
Dome color
It should be noted that not only the color of the domes is symbolic, but also the color of the outer walls of the temple. White - serves as a sign that the temple was consecrated in honor of the Transfiguration or Ascension, blue - in honor of the Mother of God, red - to the great martyrs, green - to the monk, and yellow - to the saint.
Most often, temples and churches are crowned with golden domes, which are a symbol of eternity and heavenly glory. Already when the foundation was laid, it was clear to whom or to what the temple would be dedicated, and in accordance with this, the color of the dome was subsequently chosen. Gold is a dedication to Jesus Christ or the great Orthodox holidays. At the same time, in the past, domes were really covered with gold, which was first dissolved in mercury, and then the finished mixture was applied to heated copper sheets. St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg was covered in this way, and the gilding of the domes took 100 kilograms of precious metal.
If an Orthodox church is covered with blue domes with stars scattered over them, this means dedication to the Mother of God. The stars are reminiscent of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced the birth of the Savior to the world, and the blue color is a symbol of the virginity of the Virgin Mary. Sometimes you can see just blue domes, like at the Trinity Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Initially, it was built for the Izmailovsky regiment, whose officers wore uniforms of the same blue color.
Green domes, which are a symbol of the Holy Spirit, crown churches dedicated to the Holy Trinity or Orthodox saints. In honor of the saints, silver domes are also installed, denoting holiness and purity.
Black domes can usually be found on the territory of Orthodox monasteries. Black in this case is a symbol of monasticism.
Not too often you can find multi-colored domes, as at the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed or the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. Bright colors are intended to remind believers of the beauty and radiance of Heavenly Jerusalem.
Dome shape
The recognizable spherical shape is a symbol of eternity, but the domes, similar to the helmet, remind the parishioners of the need to always be fully armed with God.
If a dome is installed on the temple, resembling an onion in its shape, then this is a symbol of prayer and striving for heaven. Some researchers believe that this shape of the dome resembles the flame of an Orthodox candle.
On temples and churches built in the 16th century, the usual domes were often not installed, but a temple was erected with a kind of tent, which was and remains a symbol of the Mother of God and the Heavenly Light.
Number of domes
Orthodox churches can have a different number of domes: from one to thirty-three, but you can never see churches with four or six domes. The quantity is invariably the symbol of a certain concept. One dome is the unity of God, two symbolize both the human and the Divine essence of the Savior, three - the Holy Trinity.
Five domes remind Orthodox believers of Jesus Christ and four evangelists, and seven speak of the number of sacraments of the church, just as nine - about the number of angelic ranks. while 33 domes is the number of years that Jesus spent on earth.
The small village of Kukoboi, located almost 200 kilometers from Yaroslavl, attracted everyone's attention at the beginning of the 20th century. A temple was built there, in beauty and size not inferior to the St. Petersburg Cathedral of the Savior on Spilled Blood, and it is not surprising - after all, it was designed by the architect of the Imperial Court and the director of the Institute of Civil Engineers Vasily Antonovich Kosyakov.
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