The temple with the largest number of domes. Domes and heads of churches in Russia

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SYMBOLS OF DOMES IN ORTHODOX CHURCHES

HISTORY OF THE APPEARANCE OF DOMES

Dome (Italian Cupola - domes, vault, from Latin cupula, diminutive of cupa - barrel) - a spatial, supporting structure of the coating, in shape close to a hemisphere or other surface of rotation of the curve.

The main thing in the temple is the domes. They receive special attention and respect. The dome can be of different shapes, colors, and has a different number of domes. All characteristics have their symbolic meaning.

The history of domes began in prehistoric times. Domes began to be built during the Roman architectural revolution, when they began to be used in the construction of temples and large public buildings. It is believed that the oldest dome currently in existence is located in the Roman Pantheon, built around 128 AD. Later, the tradition of dome building was adopted by Byzantine religious and religious architecture.

Russian art since the tenth century. and until the end of the 17th century it was inextricably linked with the Church and the Christian faith. The first city in Russia to be baptized was Kyiv. Divine service in the great Orthodox church of Byzantium - the church of Hagia Sophia in the city of Constantinople influenced the ambassadors of Prince Vladimir of Kyiv. “We don’t know whether we were in heaven or on earth, for there is no such kind and such beauty on earth ... » It was this experience of beauty as holiness that became the basis of the new art on Russian soil. Byzantine craftsmen built many temples in the traditions of Byzantine architecture.

DOME SHAPE

It is known that domes, or rather domes over temples, are helmet-shaped, onion-shaped, pear-shaped and cone-shaped.

Helmet-shaped coatings most often called a specific form of dome coverings, close to the shape of the ancient Russian helmet. The helmet-shaped form is a symbol of the host, the spiritual warfare waged by the Church against the forces of evil and darkness.

The Byzantine Empire gave Russia the ability to build temples. But young Christian Russia by no means felt like a timid student. Russian architecture, created by Russian masters, brought its own findings, original ideas into the construction practice and became a new embodiment of Christian art. After analyzing the drawings of the temples, you can see that the shape of the dome is also changing. Already in the 11th century. domes resemble a military helmet.

bulb dome has a convex shape, smoothly tapering at the top, similar to an onion. Most often, such domes are used in Russia, Turkey, India and the Middle East. The shape of the bulb is a symbol of the flame of a candle, the victory of light forces. An Orthodox church, symbolizing the earth, with a dome symbolizing the sky, is interpreted as a model of the universe, which, according to religious beliefs, is the creation of God. To heaven, believers direct their thoughts to God. Therefore, the "bulbous" shape of the dome was not chosen by chance. It resembles a flame sharpening upwards, a burning candle, which is lit during a prayer addressed to God. This shape of the dome symbolizes spiritual uplift and striving for perfection. The shape of the bulb is a symbol of the flame of a candle, referring us to the words of Christ: "You are the light of the world." In A. V. Borodin's textbook "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" it is written that the cupolas of temples are in the form of a candle or a helmet. This is also not accidental, such a form, as it were, connects the meanings: the burning of Orthodox hearts and military protection

"Our domestic bulb embodies the idea of a deep prayer burning to heaven, through which our earthly world becomes involved in otherworldly wealth. This is the completion of the Russian temple - like a fiery tongue crowned with a cross and sharpening to the cross."

E.N. Trubetskoy

It is this idea of fiery, burning that is emphasized by the gilding of domes, which is so widespread in Russia.

oval domes are part of baroque architecture. The first baroque oval dome was built by Giacomo da Vignola for the church of Sant'Andrea in Via Flamida in 1553. The largest oval dome was built in Vicoforte by the architect Francesco Gallo.

Umbrella domes divided into segments by ribs radiating from the center to the base of the dome.

Horizontal sections polygonal domes are polygons. One of the most famous examples of such domes is the octagonal dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, built by Filippo Brunelleschi.

Tent. A tent in architecture is the completion of towers, temples in the form of a tetrahedral or octahedral pyramid. A new page in the history of medieval Russian architecture The liberation from the Horde yoke stimulated a new upsurge in architecture. By this time, another national type of temple had developed. The dome system characteristic of Byzantium was transformed into a pointed top of the tower. In this, one can feel the undoubted influence of defensive architecture, a typical example of which is Pskov with its powerful towers, devoid of any decorations and serving as protection against enemy attacks. With the especially obvious power of walls, masonry, narrow loopholes, windows, the harmony of forms emphasizes their harmony and grace. The geometric shape of the octagonal tent, in plan forming a similarity to the eight-pointed Star of Bethlehem, allows us to interpret such temples as the image of the Mother of God, to whom the numbers 8 and 9 symbolically correspond. And this is no coincidence. The tent on the bell tower is preserved as a symbol of the good news and, of course, the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. Bell towers of a tiered structure were also built (the bell tower of the Moscow Novodevichy Convent).

dome-saucer lower than other types of domes. Such a dome, it turns out, is not visible from the outside, but inside it creates a feeling of increased space. These domes were used in the construction of Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques.

NUMBER OF DOMES

According to church symbols, the dome indicates to Christians the need to strive from the earthly to the heavenly. Orthodox churches are built with an odd number of domes. The number of domes of the temple reveals in numerical symbolism the hierarchy of the dispensation of the heavenly church. The different number of domes, or domes, at the temple building is determined by the one to whom they are dedicated.

One-domed temple the dome marks the unity of God, the perfection of creation. Single-domed churches were built most often in the pre-Mongolian era and were a symbol of the One God and the perfection of creation (the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir, the Kazan Church). Sometimes bell towers or aisles and two domes were attached to them, then they symbolized the two natures of the Lord Jesus Christ - Divine and human (the Church of St. John of the Ladder in the Moscow Kremlin).

double-headed temple two domes symbolize the two natures of the God-man Jesus Christ, two areas of creation (angelic and human).

Three-headed temple three domes symbolize the Holy Trinity, they may not always be Trinity (for example, St. George's Cathedral of the Yurievsky Monastery in the Great

Four-domed temple. four domes symbolize the Four Gospels, the four cardinal directions.

five-domed temple five domes, one of which rises above the rest, symbolize Christ as the Head of the Church, and the four evangelists. Five-domed churches were widely spread in Russia, and their construction was carried out both in antiquity and in our days. One of the domes, as a rule, rises above the rest, which symbolizes Jesus Christ and the four evangelists. Sometimes the initially five-domed cathedral after perestroika could turn into a six-domed one (St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod), however, as well as appear from the earlier three-domed cathedral. The reasons for such reconstructions were, as a rule, dilapidation and fire. Five-domed churches have been built in recent times, such as, for example, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, recently revived in Moscow.

Seven-domed temple seven domes symbolize the seven Sacraments of the Church, the seven Ecumenical Councils, the seven virtues.

Nine-domed temple nine domes are associated with the image of the heavenly Church, consisting of nine ranks of angels and nine ranks of the righteous.

thirteen-domed temple

thirteen domes symbolize Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles.

twenty five chapters may be a sign of the apocalyptic vision of the throne of the Holy Trinity and twenty-four elders (Rev. 11, 15-18) or denote praise to the Most Holy Theotokos, depending on the dedication of the temple.

thirty three chapters- the number of earthly years of the Savior.

The number of heads of temples is connected with the dedication of the main altar of the temple, and also often with the number of altars connected in one volume.

DOME COLOR

The color of the dome is also important in the symbolism of the temple.

Gold is a symbol of heavenly glory. Golden domes were at the main temples and at the temples dedicated to Christ and the Twelve Feasts.

The gilding of domes is a purely Orthodox tradition that is not found in other confessions. This seeming extravagance has its own unbreakable logic. For an Orthodox person, gold is primarily a symbol of eternity, incorruption, royalty and heavenly glory. No wonder one of the gifts brought by the Magi to baby Jesus was gold. Gold in Russia covered the heads of the main temples, as well as temples dedicated to the Savior.

The use of gold foil in the decoration of churches began during the Byzantine Empire, which did not spare precious metal for the splendor of temples. Subsequently, the tradition of decoration was adopted by the baptized Russia. The Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God on the Nerl River was one of the first whose dome was covered with gold leaf by order of St. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky.

Domes are blue with the stars they crown churches dedicated to the Theotokos, because the star recalls the birth of Christ from the Virgin Mary.

Trinity churches had green domes, because green is the color of the Holy Spirit.

Temples dedicated to saints are also crowned green or silver domes

meet in monasteries black domes is the color of monasticism.

In Orthodoxy, the dome is an image of heaven, it is decorated with images of the Kingdom of Heaven, God and angels.

In the modern lexicon, the dome is often understood as the top of the temple, i.e. his head. The real definition is as follows: “A dome is a spatial supporting structure of a coating, which is close in shape to a hemisphere or other surface of rotation of a curve (ellipse, parabola, etc.). Dome structures allow you to cover large spaces without additional intermediate supports. Forming forms are various curves, convex upwards.

The head in temple architecture is a decorative covering located above the dome and arranged on a light drum. Glauca - a chapter arranged on a decorative (deaf) drum. In historical, architectural and restoration practice, domes are often spoken about in a broad sense - as the completion of a temple, consisting of a drum, a dome and a dome cover. Accordingly, the simplest roof coverings (with metal or a plowshare directly on the roof) are often referred to as chapters.

Temple domes can be of various sizes and shapes depending on the size, type and design of the temple covering. The traditional number of domes on many-domed temples is three, five, seven, twelve, but it may be different. As a rule, the number of chapters is no less than the number of thrones in the temple.

Technologically complex and large stone domes of the correct vaulted design began to be built after the invention of concrete during the Roman Empire during the construction of pagan temples and large public buildings. The oldest dome in existence is located in the Roman Pantheon, built around 128 AD. Here, a hemispherical dome covers a round building 43.5 m in diameter.

Later, the tradition of dome building was adopted by Byzantine architecture. Byzantine architects for the first time solved the problem of placing a dome over the base of not only a round, but also a square and generally polygonal plan by means of tromps and sails. The culmination of this period was the erection of the 42-meter dome of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople.

The cross-domed type of the temple spread from Byzantium to all its provinces and countries that were influenced by it, including in Ancient Russia.

In ancient Russian architecture, domes are helmet-shaped or onion-shaped. Helmet-shaped is a specific form of dome coverings with a keeled top, close to the shape of the Old Russian helmet. The bulbous head also has a keeled top, but the maximum diameter of the head is greater than the diameter of the drum. The height of the bulbous head, as a rule, is not less than its width. In the helmet-shaped dome, the height is always less than the width.

In the presence of financial possibilities, the chapters in Ancient Russia were gilded, but much more often they were covered with a wooden plowshare or metal painted in any light-resistant color (most often green or blue, blue).

In modern temples, the shape and color of the chapters are not regulated. The choice of these parameters is based on the architecture of the temple, taking into account the traditional symbolism of color schemes.

Consider such features of domes and domes as base materials
and roofing

Vaulted domes can be traditionally made of brick, as well as concrete, shotcrete, metal frame and wood.

Brick dome. Brick domes are laid out on the formwork, based on circles and walls or on arches lowered in relation to them. After the mortar has hardened, the circles are removed and the formwork is removed. Bricks and stones used for laying domes are moistened before laying.

Concrete dome. Concrete structures can also be used in the dome cover. Domes with a span of up to 15 m are concreted in one step without interruption, laying the concrete mixture from the heels to the castle, so as not to cause the formwork to skew. For large spans, concreting is carried out in tiered ring sections with continuous concreting of each tier. Concreting of monolithic reinforced concrete structures of domes is carried out from heavy concrete of class B25 for strength, grade F50 for frost resistance.

Metal dome. Domes and domes on drums can be made on the basis of a metal frame in order to reduce weight and ease of installation. The necessary elements are made at specialized steel structures, then they are assembled and sheathed on the ground in a construction site and then installed in place with a crane.

However, the metal dome is difficult to process, requires coating with a primer and paint that protects from external influences. The metal dome is subject to corrosion. Of course, modern coatings make it possible to protect metal from destruction, but the need for periodic work to protect the dome at height requires the participation of specialists, which in turn affects the cost of maintenance.

Wooden frame of domes and domes. When constructing domes and domes, wooden structures are also used. Wooden domes do not corrode, but wood rots, which means that the dome requires more frequent maintenance than metal domes.

Such a dome is much lighter than a metal dome, but additional metal structures are used in the construction of a wooden dome. A wooden dome requires a metal frame, which is sheathed with wood, therefore, in a wooden dome, the main mass has a metal frame. All wood products must be protected from decay, fire and insect infestation.

The metal and wooden domes involve a large number of high-altitude work, as well as installation and assembly work using special equipment. Accordingly, this affects the timing of installation work and their cost.

The use of porcelain

The use of porcelain in the dome covering became unique for the temple-building practice: according to this technology, the church in the name of St. Igor Chernigovsky in Peredelkino near Moscow and the church in honor of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God on Sushevsky Val in Moscow. Such domes are well tolerated by weather overloads - from high positive temperatures to extreme negative ones.

Since the surface of the dome is curved, porcelain tiles of different sizes are used. The shape of the dome is set by a metal frame covered with a stainless steel mesh. Tiles are attached to it with the help of wires threaded through special holes from the back.

Metals in roofing

Various types of metals (and their alloys) are used as sheet materials for roofing domes and domes, which include steel, aluminum, zinc, aluminum zinc, and copper.

Light steel. The main supplier of special light steels is Finland.

Roof zinc. Roofing zinc is supplied to the domestic market from Germany, and aluminum zinc 185 - from Sweden.

For metal roofs made of galvanized sheet, effective measures that increase operational reliability are the application of anti-corrosion and anti-icing coatings. Both types of coatings extend the service life of roofs, reduce repair volumes and, as a result, make it possible to lengthen the turnaround time.

The practice of using galvanized coatings shows that after 5-6 years they begin to corrode, and in order to prevent further corrosion, they must be painted.

The oil paints used for these purposes do not adhere well to the galvanized surface and quickly peel off from it. Therefore, for galvanized steel, it is necessary to use other materials that have good adhesion to it.

Titanium nitride coated steel.

In modern temple building, steel coated with titanium nitride, which imitates the color of gold, is becoming increasingly popular.

Its advantages include:

High wear resistance to corrosion and weathering;

High reflectivity of the coating;

Variety of colors: gold, copper, blue.

The disadvantages are:

Atmospheric contaminants that are deposited on the porous structure of titanium nitride, distorting its original golden color over time.

Coating stability is influenced by:

1. The quality of the rolled base.

2. The quality of steel surface cleaning.

3. Selected spraying technology.

4. The quality of the spray components. With high-quality performance of all four positions, the cost per square meter of titanium nitride coating is about 2,500 rubles.

Mikhail Yurievich Kesler.

Publishing house "ORTOX Rusizdat" Journal "Church Builder" No. 43, 2014

Architect Kesler M.Yu.

Dome - what does the number of domes and their colors mean?

Dome (Italian) cupola- dome, vault, from lat. cupula, diminutive of cupa - barrel) - a spatial covering of buildings and structures, in shape close to a hemisphere or other surface of rotation of a curve (ellipse, parabola, etc.). The tradition of building one or more domes over the main building of the temple came to us from Byzantium. The dome is a symbol of the heavenly (sphere) and eternal (circle). The exterior of the temple often reflects its dedication - to the Lord, the Mother of God, to some saint or holiday. For example:

White - a temple consecrated in honor of the Transfiguration or Ascension of the Lord
Blue - in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Red - dedicated to the martyr(s)
Green - Reverend
Yellow - Saint

However, it should be noted that all this is not a dogma, but only a tradition, not always and not always observed.

Golden domes symbolize Divine glory. Therefore, temples dedicated to the Lord's holidays are most often arranged with golden-domed ones.

The blue or blue color of the dome symbolically depicts heavenly purity and purity. These domes crown churches dedicated to the Mother of God.

The domes of churches dedicated to the Most Holy Life-Giving Trinity are, as a rule, green. Temples consecrated in honor of saints also have green domes.

We must remember that we are talking about tradition, not rules. In reality, the coverage of the dome often depends on the material possibilities of the parish.

The number of domes on the temples is also symbolic:

1 - symbolizes the One God
3 - Holy Trinity
5 - The Savior and the four evangelists
7 - seven sacraments of the Church
9 - according to the number of angelic ranks
13 - The Savior and the Twelve Apostles
33 - according to the number of years of the Savior's earthly life.

The shape of the dome also has a symbolic meaning.

The helmet-shaped form reminded of the host, of the spiritual warfare waged by the Church against the forces of evil and darkness.
The shape of the bulb is a symbol of the flame of a candle, referring us to the words of Christ: "You are the light of the world."
The intricate shape and bright coloring of the domes on St. Basil's Cathedral speaks of the beauty of Heavenly Jerusalem.

The color of the dome is also important in the symbolism of the temple:

Gold is a symbol of heavenly glory. Golden domes were at the main temples and at the temples dedicated to Christ and the Twelve Feasts.
Blue domes with stars crown churches dedicated to the Mother of God, because the star recalls the birth of Christ from the Virgin Mary.
Trinity churches had green domes, because green is the color of the Holy Spirit.
Temples dedicated to saints are often crowned with green or silver domes.
In the monasteries there are black domes - this is the color of monasticism.

The tradition of domes came to us from the Byzantine Empire. For believers, they are symbols of the heavenly (sphere) and eternal (circle). In Russia, the golden color of domes has always been the most popular, in addition to it, blue, green and even black domes are found in churches.

What does the golden color of the domes symbolize?

Golden color in the Orthodox tradition is a symbol of heavenly glory. That is why golden domes in our country were at the main temples and at the temples dedicated to Christ and the Twelve Feasts. It is natural that the main church of modern Russia, the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, has domes of exactly this color. Initially, the domes of the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God (St. Basil's Cathedral) - the main temple of Red Square - were also golden.

Gilding of domes is present only in Orthodox traditions, you will not find it in other confessions. For an Orthodox person, gold is primarily a symbol of eternity, incorruption, royalty and heavenly glory. In this regard, we can recall that one of the three gifts brought by the Magi to the baby Jesus, along with frankincense and myrrh, was precisely gold.

What do the blue domes symbolize?

Blue domes with stars indicate that the temple is dedicated to the Mother of God. Blue, or blue, symbolizes heavenly purity and purity, and the stars are reminiscent of the Star of Bethlehem, which heralded the birth of Christ from the Virgin Mary.

Which temples have green domes?

Domes of green crown churches dedicated to the Holy Trinity, because green in the Orthodox tradition is the color of the Holy Spirit. Also, green domes may indicate that the church is dedicated to some saint. In addition, the domes of the temple dedicated to the saint can also be gray or silver.

In what temples can you find black domes?

Black domes are present on the monasteries. This is the color of monasticism. They can be seen, for example, at the famous Intercession Monastery, where the relics of the holy blessed Matrona of Moscow rest, and where thousands of pilgrims flock every day.

What does the number of domes on the temple mean?

Not only the color, but also the number of domes on the temple has a certain symbolism. So, one dome symbolizes the One God, three - the Holy Trinity.

The five domes represent the Savior and the four evangelists. Seven domes speak of the seven sacraments of the Church (baptism, chrismation, communion, repentance, priesthood, wedding and unction).

Nine domes symbolize nine angelic ranks. Thirteen - the Savior and 12 apostles. And 33 domes (yes, there are such temples) are erected in memory of 33 years of the Savior's earthly life.

What does the color of the temple say?

The color of the temple often gives an answer to the question - what holiday, or what saint is this or that church dedicated to.

The white color of the temple means that it is consecrated in honor of the Transfiguration or the Ascension of the Lord.

Blue Walls - the church was built in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Red Temple is usually dedicated to the martyr(s).

If the color of the church is green, then it is most likely consecrated in honor of the saint, and if it is yellow, then it was built in honor of the saint.

However, one must understand that in this case we are talking about traditions, and not about rules. In our life it happens that the covering of the dome depends on the material possibilities of the parish. And it happens that climatic conditions also make their own adjustments. For example, the Orthodox church in honor of the Holy Trinity in Antarctica, not far from the Russian polar station Bellingshausen, does not have green domes. It is completely made of wood and its color is natural. Wood in Antarctica does not rot because there are no bacteria that are harmful to this material in this area. Accordingly, there is no need for additional processing. This temple is the Patriarchal Compound of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and the southernmost Orthodox church in the world.

Why do domes of Orthodox churches come in different colors?

What does the golden color of the domes symbolize?

What do the blue domes symbolize?

Which temples have green domes?

Domes of green crown the temples dedicated to the Holy Trinity, because green in the Orthodox tradition is the color of the Holy Spirit. Also, green domes may indicate that the church is dedicated to some saint. In addition, the domes of the temple dedicated to the saint can also be gray or silver.

In what temples can you find black domes?

What does the number of domes on the temple mean?

Not only the color, but also the number of domes on the temple has a certain symbolism. So, one dome symbolizes the One God, three - the Holy Trinity.

The five domes represent the Savior and the four evangelists. Seven domes speak of the seven sacraments of the Church (baptism, chrismation, communion, repentance, priesthood, wedding and unction).

Nine domes symbolize nine angelic ranks. Thirteen - the Savior and 12 apostles. And 33 domes (yes, there are such temples) are erected in memory of 33 years of the Savior's earthly life.

What does the color of the temple say?

The color of the temple often gives an answer to the question - what holiday, or what saint is this or that church dedicated to.

The white color of the temple means that it is consecrated in honor of the Transfiguration or the Ascension of the Lord.

Blue Walls - the church was built in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Red Temple is usually dedicated to the martyr(s).

If the color of the church is green, then it is most likely consecrated in honor of the saint, and if it is yellow, then it was built in honor of the saint.