medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Jim wrote about the cathedras in the axis of church apse and mentioned the
basilica Eufrasiana from Poreč (Parentium) somewhere in ex-Yu. The subselium
belongs to an earlier phase on the site, to preeufrasiana. Such architecture
is typical for eastern Alps, northeast Italy and Dalmatia, see Th. Ulbert
some twenty years ago in "Vranje bei Sevnica, fruehchristliche
Kirchenanlagen auf dem Ajdovski Gradec", KiM 12, Ljubljana (somewhere in ex
Yu), 1975 .... and many later excavations of late antique churches in the
area. Matej
-----Original Message-----
From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious
culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of jbugslag
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 5:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] Arranging Furniture
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
George,
Better examples of a cathedra located in the axial position in the apse can
be seen from the
6th-century Basilica Euphrasiana at Parenzo (or Porec) in some part of the
former
Yugoslavia, and in the Church of S. Vitale in Ravenna (the city website has
some wonderful
"virtual tours" of its buildings, including this one, which make this very
visually immediate).
Usually, the cathedra was flanked by a curving bench following the line of
the apse, the
synthronon, for use by the clergy. This usage continued in the Byzantine
east but was, at
some point, superceded in western Europe -- I suspect, on no very firm
grounds, during the
Carolingian period, at which time altars in churches began to proliferate
wildly. By the end of
the Middle Ages, it was more usual for the bishop's throne to be located in
the choir, in
association with the stalls of the canons, usually at the east end of the
stalls, opposite the
stall of the dean of the chapter.
Cheers,
Jim
On 30 Oct 2008 at 21:13, George R. Hoelzeman wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
> culture
>
> Was there any typical placement of the bishop's chair and seats for
> other liturgical ministers prior to Trent? My initial impression is
> not.
>
> From what I can tell, there is a tendency to place the bishop or
> presiding cleric's seat at the back of the apse during the early
> centuries. I seem to recall that there is indication at Dura Europos
> that a seat of some sort stood at the head of the main room
> (Eucharistic space?) and I've seen seats for presiders/ministers
> arranged as a bench at the back of the apse with arm rests (of sorts)
> for the seat in center. And there is the iconography of the
> Pantocrator, cross, etc. in the apsidal dome representing a sort of
> divine presidership. . . and the list goes on.
>
> The question comes up because I have a client trying to decide where
> to place their presider's chair and they want to know what the
> ancient/medieval model was. . .
>
> Thoughts, insights, corrections?
>
> Thanks
>
> George the Less
>
> George R. Hoelzeman
> G.R.Hoelzeman Studios
> Liturgical Design Consultant
> grhstudios.com
> [log in to unmask]
>
> **********************************************************************
> To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
> to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it
> to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the
> message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order
> to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
> [log in to unmask] For further information,
> visit our web site:
> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
>
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|