6 The Shape of The Church Building

It was not a random outcome that the church building consistently conformed to a specific, well defined shape. For each of the three designs, the cruciform, the circle and the ship reveals a substantial aspect of the nature of the church, her character and message.

1. THE CRUCIFORM.

This design uncovers the churches. Mystical nature, as being the Crucified Body of Christ. Its prime task is to take all mankind to Golgotha, in order to gain unity with the Beloved Savior.

As we have mentioned before, this type was very common in the Byzantine style and was never introduced into Coptic churches. Apparently, as Butler[1] reported, Coptic builders were never interested in it and perhaps never knew about it at all.

1. THE CIRCULAR SHAPE.

This design refers to the eternal nature of the church, as being an endless line[2] (without beginning and without end)... She bears the nature of her Bridegroom.

Once again, this type is very scarce in the Coptic Architecture.

Now, we shall talk about the third and the most common shape in our Coptic churches, namely the shape of a 'SHIP'.

CHURCH BUILDING AS A SHIP

THE SHIP' IN THE GENTILES THOUGHT

It is rather fascinating to realize that the symbolism of the 'ship' held a special mystical significance even before Christianity. Various shapes of ships were found Inscribed on tombs of the Egyptians, Greek, and Romans etc... , and also on many of their rings and jewellery. This can only lead us to:

1. Their beliefs about immortality[3]', for they regarded death as a journey in a ship to the other world, and consequently engraved It on their graves. Later when these people accepted Christianity, the symbol of the ship continued to express their new beliefs, being a symbol of the New Life or the Risen Life in Jesus Christ[4].
2. Their optimistic views on a happy and hopeful trip of the soul in this world and the world to come , which is evident from the shapes and decorations of their rings and Jewells.
3. One other remarkable aspect about the ship is that Gentiles considered it as a major symbol for the female, since she provides safety for those who are 'contained' within her they always spoke about it as 'she', evidently because it resembles a pregnant mother enclosing the travelling souls to the place of rebirth. [5]This realization actually fits the church which bears her militant children, looks after them till finally delivering them safely to their heavenly port I.

SHIP SYMBOLISM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

Not only did the ship held a mystical view to the Gentiles, but the ancient people of God also regarded it as a symbol of God's salvation and love towards His people. No doubt, Noah's ark (ship) represents a substantial element as a shadow of the church of the New Testament in many aspects[6] especially the following:

1. The EIGHT persons that were saved through the ark of Noah refer to the nature of the saved church. According to ST. Augustine, number EIGHT means surpassing number seven or week days, to commence a new week. Likewise the people of the New Testament have gone beyond this limited life, to the 'New Life' in Jesus Christ. In other words, they practice the heavenly (world to come) life while they are yet on earth.

This is further supported by the rising of the Lord on the eighth day of the week, or the first day of the new week. Also the children of the Old Testament were circumcised on the eighth day of their birth and the reward of the eighth beatitude given in the Gospel of ST. Matthew (5 - 10) is receiving the kingdom of heaven.

1. The ark of Noah was, in fact, a divine plan, in which God arranged for man's salvation. He personally sealed its door, and preserved it till the end of the flood. Likewise the church of the New Testament is a divine work whereby we receive church membership through the grace of the Lord. Thus throughout our struggle in the flood, God's hand is preserving us. His Holy Spirit seals our inner doors, so that evil water is no longer capable of sneaking to the ship of our life and upset its balance.
2. As it was only possible for Noah’s ark to be saved from the flood, likewise the Church of God alone have the ability to save men. ST. Cyprian says that no salvation can be achieved for anybody outside the church. [7].
3. ST. Augustine[8] commended on Noah's ark as a symbol of the church by saying:

"Undoubtly, the ark is a symbol of the city of God on its pilgrimage in history, a figure of the church which was saved by the wood on which there hung the 'Mediator between God and men, Himself man, Christ Jesus'1 Tim. 2: 5.

Even the very measurements of length, hight and breadth of the ark are meant to point to the reality of the human body into which He came as it was foretold that He would come. It would be recalled that the length of a normal body from head to foot is six times the breadth from one side to the other and ten times the thickness from back to front.... That is why the ark was made 300 cubits in length, 50 in breadth and 30 in height.

As for the door in the side that , surely symbolizes the open wound made by the lance In the side of the Crucified - the door by which those who come to Him enter in, in the sense that believers enter the church by means of the sacraments which issued from that wound.

It was ordered that the ark be made out of squared timbers - a symbol of the four - square stability of a holy life, which like a cube, stands firm however it is turned.

So it is with every other detail of the ark's construction. They are all symbols of something in the church... ".

THE SHIP OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

The theme of the church as a ship or the ship as a symbol of the church has formed a part of the general church tradition. Christians in every age are aware they are sailing among frightful dangers. However, as long as they remain within the Lord's ship, i. e. His Church, they are filled with the hope of reaching the Eternal rest, conquering all powers of darkness by the Cross[9].

Hereunder we give sayings of the Early Fathers about the Church as a ship.

SOME SAYINGS OF THE FATHERS.

• The body of the church as a whole is like a ship carrying men of many different origins through a violent storm. There fellows an allegory; in which God is the owner of the ship and Christ the pilot. The Bishop is like the look - out man, the Presbyters are the crew, the deacons the leading oarsmen and the catechists are the stewards.

PSEUDO - CLEMENT[10].

• The sea is the world, in which the Church is set, like ship lossed in the deep, but not destroyed, for she has with her the skill Pilot, Christ. And she bears in her midst also the trophy over death, for she carries with her the Cross of the Lord……….

Her tillers are the two Testaments, and the ropes that stretch around her are the love of Christ, which binds the Church, and the net which she bears with her is the laver of regeneration which renews the believers.

As a splendid sail, the Spirit from heaven is present, by whom those who believe are sealed;

she has also anchors of irons accompanying her , i. e. the holy commandments of Christ Himself, which are strong as iron.

She has also mariners on the right and on the left, assessors like the holy angels, by whom the Church is always governed and defended.

The ladder in her leading up to the sail yard is an emblem of the Passion of Christ, which brings the faithful to the ascent of heaven.

And the topsails aloft upon the yard are the company of prophets, martyrs and apostles, who have entered into their rest...

FR. HIPPOLYTUS[11].

• The sea cannot be crossed unless the sign of victory, which is the mast, remains unharmed upon the ship.

ST. JUSTIN[12].

• We have no difficulty in seeing the sign of the Cross in a ship when it moves across the water with belling sails.

MINUCIUS FELIX.

• The ship prefigured the Church, which on the sea of this world is buffeted by the waves of persecution and temptation, while the Lord in His patience seems to sleep, till the last moment, when, awakened by the prayers of the saints, He subdues the world and gives back peace to His own.

TERTULLIAN[13].

• God's Logos will steer your ship and the Holy Spirit will grant a safe return to heaven's harbor.

ST. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA[14].

• Noone, even in this world of visible things, can traverse the sea and pass over it by His own unaided strength, he needs for that a craft... that is fashioned out of wood and can for this reason alone pass over the water. Similarly the soul cannot traverse of its own power the bitter sea of sin and the perilous abyss of the evil powers and passions.

PSEDO MACARIOUS[15].

• The sea ruins one man, while Another spreads His shining sails and as He passes over the water looks down smiling at this great grave of the shipwrecked.

GREGORY NAZIANZUS[16].

• Let not your ship be painted in pleasing colors. Let no harlot's comeliness be carried on the strong back on the sea. Nay, a good ship should be firmly nailed and seaworthy and soundly fashioned by its builder. Only such a ship as this will truly cleave the waves.

GREGORY NAZIANZUS[17].

• (to the recently ordained bishop).

When you assemble God's church, be like the pilot of a great ship and keep watch that the gatherings are conducted in orderly fashion...

See that the deacons show the brethren to their places, as sailors do with passengers...

See that the church is turned towards the east. as it is proper for a ship;that the doorkeepers stand at the men's entrances to guard them and that the deaconesses are at the women's doors as stewards.

APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS[18].

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CONCLUSION

Now we can understand the reasoning for adopting the shipshape in our Coptic Church Architecture, and for the recommendations given in the Didascalia to that effect.

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