The room at the entrance of the church, before the nave, where candles are lit and catechumens once stood.
Pronaosul este prima încăpere în care intri după pridvor. În bisericile vechi, aici stăteau cei care se pregăteau pentru Botez (catehumenii) și cei aflați sub canon. În bisericile de sat din Transilvania și Maramureș, pronaosul era numit „tinda femeilor”, pentru că acolo stăteau femeile.
În multe mănăstiri din Moldova, pronaosul adăpostește mormintele ctitorilor, iar pe pereții lui este pictat Calendarul (Minologhionul) sau Sinoadele ecumenice.
See also
- Founder (ctitor)The person who built or funded a church or monastery; the church is called their foundation.
- Nave (naos)The central part of the church where the faithful stand during services, between the narthex and the sanctuary.
- Porch (pridvor)The covered space at the entrance of the church, open or closed, before the narthex — typical of Romanian architecture.
In the same category
- Altar curtain (Armenian)In Armenian churches the raised sanctuary is closed not by an iconostasis but by a curtain drawn at certain moments.
- ApseThe semicircular or polygonal end of the church, usually to the east, where the altar stands.
- Bell towerThe tower or structure in which the bells hang; it can be attached to the church or stand separately.
- CellThe room where a monk or nun lives; also a small hermitage.
- Choir stall (strana)The wooden stalls in the church; the cantors sing from the stalls in front of the iconostasis.
- Deacons' DoorsThe two side doors of the iconostasis, used by deacons and servers; archangels are usually painted on them.