Sanctuary

Perspective note

Comparative historical/source study. The original author's or church's reception is retained; inclusion does not make every claim Oriental Orthodox teaching.

Key points

• The sanctuary presents the Kingdom of God and the heavenly worship around His throne.
• Look for: The area surrounding the freestanding Holy Table.
• Illustrated location: Sanctuary / altar area
• Christ and the sanctuary (Scripture): The Temple’s inner sanctuary housed the Ark. John 2 identifies Jesus’ body as the temple, while Hebrews 9 describes Christ entering the heavenly sanctuary once for all. These passages inform Orthodox understanding of the church sanctuary and Holy Table.
• The church is not a reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple, and Christian Eucharistic worship does not continue its animal offerings.
• Prayer has a direction (Historical connection): Solomon’s prayer speaks of prayer toward the Temple and Jerusalem. A synagogue’s prayer direction therefore depends on its location. Orthodox churches commonly turn toward liturgical east, understood in relation to Christ and His coming.
• These directions are not identical. The biblical tabernacle and this Temple model have an eastern entrance and inner sanctuary to the west; liturgical east in a church can differ from compass east.
• Facing east and standing in Resurrection hope (Historical connection): Basil gives eastward prayer as an example of received, unwritten church practice. He relates the east to Eden in Genesis 2:8 and standing on the first day of the week to rising with Christ and seeking the things above in Colossians 3:1.
• Basil's interpretation is an important witness received especially in Eastern Christian worship, not proof that all churches in all places had an east-end altar. Liturgical east and geographic east need not coincide. Christian interpretations of unwritten tradition differ.

Scripture

• 1 Kings 6:1–35 — Christ and the sanctuary: The Temple’s inner sanctuary housed the Ark. John 2 identifies Jesus’ body as the temple, while Hebrews 9 describes Christ entering the heavenly sanctuary once for all. These passages inform Orthodox understanding of the church sanctuary and Holy Table.
• John 2:19–21 — Christ and the sanctuary: The Temple’s inner sanctuary housed the Ark. John 2 identifies Jesus’ body as the temple, while Hebrews 9 describes Christ entering the heavenly sanctuary once for all. These passages inform Orthodox understanding of the church sanctuary and Holy Table.
• Hebrews 9:1–12, 24–28 — Christ and the sanctuary: The Temple’s inner sanctuary housed the Ark. John 2 identifies Jesus’ body as the temple, while Hebrews 9 describes Christ entering the heavenly sanctuary once for all. These passages inform Orthodox understanding of the church sanctuary and Holy Table.
• 1 Kings 8:9, 27–30, 46–50 — Prayer has a direction: Solomon’s prayer speaks of prayer toward the Temple and Jerusalem. A synagogue’s prayer direction therefore depends on its location. Orthodox churches commonly turn toward liturgical east, understood in relation to Christ and His coming.
• Genesis 2:8 — Facing east and standing in Resurrection hope: Basil gives eastward prayer as an example of received, unwritten church practice. He relates the east to Eden in Genesis 2:8 and standing on the first day of the week to rising with Christ and seeking the things above in Colossians 3:1.
• Colossians 3:1-4 — Facing east and standing in Resurrection hope: Basil gives eastward prayer as an example of received, unwritten church practice. He relates the east to Eden in Genesis 2:8 and standing on the first day of the week to rising with Christ and seeking the things above in Colossians 3:1.

Sources and further reading

• 1 Kings 6:1–35 — World English Bible (Biblical text)
• 1 Kings 8:9, 27–30, 46–50 — World English Bible (Biblical text)
• Colossians 3:1-4 - World English Bible (Biblical text)
• Genesis 2:8 - World English Bible (Biblical text)
• Hebrews 9:1–12, 24–28 — World English Bible (Biblical text)
• John 2:19–21 — World English Bible (Biblical text)
• Basil of Caesarea - On the Holy Spirit 27.66 (Christian patristic primary witness)
• John of Damascus — An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book IV, chapter 12 (Christian patristic primary witness)
• Chabad — Synagogue Architecture (First-party Jewish teaching)
• OCA — Altar Table (First-party Orthodox teaching)
• OCA — Church Architecture & Orthodox Theology (First-party church guidance or teaching)
• OCA — The Church Building (First-party church guidance or teaching)

Related records

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• Most Holy Place (Biblical Architecture)
• Nave (Church Architecture)
• Prayer Direction (Biblical Architecture)
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• Communion Table (Church Architecture)