Templon
Sign in to savethumb|upright|A reconstruction of the templon of St. Paul's and Peter's basilica in Jerash (ancient Gerasa) A templon (from Greek τέμπλον meaning "temple", plural templa) is a feature of Byzantine churches consisting of a barrier separating the nave from the sanctuary near the altar.
~18 min read
Article
9 sectionsContents
- Origins
- Etymology
- Early templa
- Evolution
- Churches with existing templon
- Gallery
- See also
- References
- External links
thumb|upright|A reconstruction of the templon of St. Paul's and Peter's basilica in Jerash (ancient Gerasa) A templon (from Greek τέμπλον meaning "temple", plural templa) is a feature of Byzantine churches consisting of a barrier separating the nave from the sanctuary near the altar.
The solid templon first appeared in Christian churches around the 5th century and is still found in many Eastern Christian churches. Initially it was a low barrier probably not much different from the altar rails of many Western churches. It eventually evolved into the modern iconostasis, still found in Orthodox churches.