Symbolism of the architectural space in early Christian basilicas in the Odessos region

Abstract

After accepting the Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, the construction of temples serving the new faith began. Church chroniclers claim that Odessos is one of the first cities in Lower Moesia to accept Christianity. The significance of the city as an Episcopal center is confirmed by the found of over ten early Christian basilicas on its territory. The Early Christian Basilica in the Odessos region experienced its prosperity in the IV-VI century. The open basilicas are of two types - a basilica with a wooden roofed roof ("Hellenistic" type) and an arched basilica. In a symbolic aspect the holy building is a space that is a real image of the inhabitants as an inner space used by man and it is the most immediate form of expression of his personality or in the case of the general consciousness.