Apse


In architecture, an apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an exedra. In Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic Christian church architecture, the term is applied to a semi-circular or polygonal termination of the main building at the liturgical east end, regardless of the shape of the roof, which may be flat, sloping, domed, or hemispherical. Smaller apses may also be in other locations, especially shrines.

Definition

An apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault. Commonly, the apse of a church, cathedral or basilica is the semicircular or polygonal termination to the choir or sanctuary, or sometimes at the end of an aisle. In relation to church architecture it is generally the name given to where the altar is placed or where the clergy are seated. An apse is occasionally found in a synagogue, e.g. Maoz Haim Synagogue.
The apse is separated from the main part of the church by the transept.
Smaller apses are sometimes built in locations other than the east end, especially for reliquaries or shrines of saints.

History

The domed apse became a standard part of the church plan in the early Christian era.

Related features

In the Eastern Orthodox Church tradition, the south apse is known as diaconicon and the north apse as prothesis. Various ecclesiastical features of which the apse may form part are drawn together here:

Chancel

The chancel, directly to the east beyond the choir contains the High Altar, where there is one. This area is reserved for the clergy, and was therefore formerly called the "presbytery," from the Greek presbuteros meaning "elder", or in older and Catholic usage, "priest".

Chevet-apse chapels

Hemi-cyclic choirs, first developed in the East, came to use in France in 470. By the onset of the 13th century, they had been augmented with radiating apse chapels outside the choir aisle, the entire structure of Apse, Choir and radiating chapels coming to be known as the chevet.

Gallery