The Narthex, also called the Portico or Vestibule, is the first part of the church immediately after the main entrance. All the ancient Orthodox churches had a narthex; some even had two. In ancient times the narthex was used by the catechumens.
Catechumens were adults belonging to pagan religions who wanted to become Christians. But before they could be baptized and become members of the Church they had to be instructed and accept the Christian faith. This instruction was called "catechesis" (religious teaching, catechism). It took a long time, sometimes two or three years. The school which gave this instruction was called "catechetical school"; the teachers were called "catechists" and the pupils "catechumens."
It was in the narthex where the catechumens remained during the church ceremonies and especially during Divine Liturgy. They could not enter the central part of the church, for only the baptized faithful were allowed in the nave.
The narthex was furnished very simply in ancient churches. The only important object in it was the "font": that is, a wash-basin, usually luxurious in structure, in which the clergymen washed their hands before the ceremony. The "fount" of the Church of Agia Sophia is the most famous because of its beautiful construction and its meaningful palindromic inscription, "NIYON ANOMHMATA MH MONAN OYIN" (Wash not only your face but also your sins). This inscription is very famous not only for its profound meaning, but also because, if read in reverse, it sounds the same.
In later years, the "font" was replaced by the Baptistery or Kolymvethra (Baptismal Font), which was quite large and deep so that the, whole body of the adult who was to be baptized could be immersed.
Large Baptismal Fonts existed in the churches of the East and also in some of the most ancient churches of the West - i.e. the territory which came later under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church. This fact proves that in the Roman Catholic Church, too, the Baptism was performed by submerging the whole body. Today in the Roman Catholic churches the Baptistery has been replaced by a small basin containing blessed water.
In some of the larger churches the interior walls of the narthex were decorated with beautiful frescos (wall paintings) depicting scenes of Adam's exile from Paradise, the omnivorous (all-devouring) Hades (Hell), the Second Coming of Christ, and other such relative paintings. These frescos, in addition to being decorative, served as a reminder to the catechumens of the fate of non-Christians and of the need to be baptized and saved.
Today there are no catechumens; for this reason many churches, especially the smaller ones, do not have a narthex. However, a great number of the larger ones still include one, although it is well known that the narthex is not used for the same purpose as it was in ancient times.
Pangari
The only thing which is usually found in the narthex today is the "Pangari," a
special table on which the candles and the discs (trays) in which money given for the
financial aid to the church are placed. The only people who remain there during the
services are a few members of the Church Parish Council who are responsible for its
finances.
Balcony
In some of the churches, there is a second floor above the
narthex, the "Eperoon" (garret, balcony), which is reached by one or two inner
stairways from the sides of the narthex. The ancient churches did not have a garret; even
today many churches do not have one. This was added later and was used by the women
attending church services; hence, it is known as the "gynaeconitis" (place set
apart for women). In the churches in which the garret is used as a gynaeconitis, it has a
separate "proscinitarion" (holy icon stand) and seats.
Today the garret is very seldom used as a place set apart for women. Usually, it serves as a place for the church choir. (The choir is not located in a definite place in all churches. It depends upon the style of the church. In some churches it is located in the balcony, in some on the Solea (platform) and in others in a special compartment near the sanctuary).
Icon Stand
The Icon Stand ("Proskinitarion") is an elegant piece of furniture at the
entrance of the Nave, immediately after the Narthex (sometimes due to space constraints,
inside the Narthex as pictured here), upon which the icon of the patron Saint of the
Church is placed, To the right and left of this are large candleholders or candelabra
where the Christians may light and place their candles. The worshippers, upon entering the
Nave, light their candles, place them in the candleholders, make the sign of the cross and
kiss the icon on the stand; thus its name, "proscinitarion"; proscinitarion
comes from the verb "proscino," which means to bow and kiss with reverence.
© 1998, 1999, 2000 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of San Jose, California