Christianity and the Roman East 
ABSTRACT
This lecture discusses Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, how it was built and its unique spatial characteristics and function. It discusses the role of icons. It also discusses the unique contribution of Armenian churches to the history of architecture in particular because of their dressed stone.

KEY CONCEPTS
•	Stylobate
•	Prothesis
•	Diaconicon
•	Gmbet
•	Barrel Vault
•	Groin Vault
•	Squinch
•	Pendentive
•	Skeuophylakion
•	Baptistery

KEY PLACES
•	Saint Simon Cathedral (Church of Kalat-Seman) Syria (459 to 599)
•	Hagia Eirene, 1380, (rebuilt in present form 8th century)
•	Zvartnots, 650, near Echmiadzin
•	St. Hrispime, Echmiadzin, Armenia (618 CE)
•	Borobudur, Java, Indonesis, ca. 800
•	Parma Baptistery, 1200

NOTES ON SELECT TERMS 
Small Entrance
The pages of the Gospel were hand printed and richly ornamented by the hands of pious monks, making them very valuable texts. In turn, the book of the Gospels was kept in the skeuophylakion (lit. "the place for guarding vessels"), which is either a vestry in or a separate building from the Church proper. This made it necessary for the priest to process to and from the skeuophylakion in order to bring the Gospel into the sanctuary where it would be shared with the faithful.

Great Entrance
The Great Entrance is made with a line-up and a procession. The line-up consists of altar boys who carry a Cross, fans, candles, or the censor and the clergy who carry the precious gifts, and/or liturgical items. It originates in the Sanctuary, advances into the midst of the people, and concludes at the Altar Table in the Sanctuary. In symbolizes the Eucharist and the transfer of the spirit into the bread and wine.

Roman Basilica 
- Forum + transcept + atrium + altar
- Stone rubble walls. Small windows. Dark Interior illuminated by lamps
- Wooden roof. Lavishly decorated on interior
- Representing imperial splendor
- Procession (During Easter and other Saint Days): bishop enters last, people seated, observing  
proceedings from the alter

Justinian Church
- Geometry built around primacy of volumes.
- Dome resting on vaults, mosaic (liminal) surfaces
- Shimmering weightless interior. Visigoth capitals
- Brick structure, thin vaults, mass serving as counterweights to vaults, no concrete
- Bishops comes in first, followed by the people

Blessing of the Holy Muron (Holy Oil)
The blessing of Holy Muron (the Holy Oil) began with St. Gregory the Illuminator and has continued to the present day. The oil is a symbol of reconciliation and peace. The Holy Muron is composed mostly of olive oil and forty-eight aromas and flowers, which are used in the preparation of the Holy Oil. The pouring of the remaining portion of the previous oil into the newly prepared oil during the blessing ceremony passes the blessing from generation to generation for nearly 1700 years. The Muron of Tchmiadzin is distributed to all Armenian churches throughout the world.
Before Christianity, Muron was reserved only for the enthroning of royalty and for very special events. In the Old Testament it was used to anoint those called to leadership be it in a spiritual or a secular sense, such as priests, prophets, and kings. The anointing with the Holy Oil signifies the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit. Churches are consecrated with the same Holy Oil as well as articles and pictures used in the church.