Church architecture for Byzantine Catholics

[Hesychios]

Just a point for clarification.

It is true that many of the ‘sub-Carpathian’ Ruthenian parishes had pews in Europe in
the years before migration to the USA. Probably some in Galicia too. This had the
effect of changing the nature of worship for them, that is what these people became
accustomed to.

But pews are not really proper to either Byzantine nor Latin worship. They are a
borrowing from the Protestants, who had a quite different emphasis and thinking about
posture and behavior in church.

There is actually theology associated with the use of pews. Protestant worship very
often emphasized the Word over the Sacrament (or dispensed with the
sacrament entirely), and churches became more like audience halls.
Pews made a lot of sense in that context, as the worshiper was listening
to the preaching for long periods and freedom of movement was not as
necessary. One becomes more of an observer.

Latin Catholic churches did not have pews originally, and many if not most of the old
cathedrals in Europe still do not have them. There is no telling how this may have hurt
the liturgical practice. I have often imagined that the Latin Mass would be so much
more dynamic if the congregation gave up pews. I once saw a motion picture about
Saint Francis of Assisi, and it was true to this historical fact. The people who sat in
Mass (in front, near the altar) were the rich merchants and benefactors, the common
folk stood in the back and knelt on the floor!
http://ocaphoto.oca.org/filetmp/200...rg/filetmp/2004/August/89/Detail/DSC_0045.jpg

For Greek-Slavonic Christians the open floor space makes possible a freedom of
movement and gesture that adds substantially to the worship experience. One can
turn easily to follow the deacon or priests as he censes the icons and the faithful. It
also allows for greater interaction…and a deeper sense of belonging. Every worshiper
is only a few steps away from every other, or also only a few steps to a shrine or
candlestand.
http://ocaphoto.oca.org/filetmp/200...org/filetmp/2004/June/114/Detail/DSC_0087.jpg

 

[Hesychios]

Just a point for clarification.

It is true that many of the ‘sub-Carpathian’ Ruthenian parishes had pews in Europe in
the years before migration to the USA. Probably some in Galicia too. This had the
effect of changing the nature of worship for them, that is what these people became
accustomed to.

But pews are not really proper to either Byzantine nor Latin worship. They are a
borrowing from the Protestants, who had a quite different emphasis and thinking about
posture and behavior in church.

There is actually theology associated with the use of pews. Protestant worship very
often emphasized the Word over the Sacrament (or dispensed with the
sacrament entirely), and churches became more like audience halls.
Pews made a lot of sense in that context, as the worshiper was listening
to the preaching for long periods and freedom of movement was not as
necessary. One becomes more of an observer.

http://www.wpcd.org/images/500worship.jpg

Latin Catholic churches did not have pews originally, and many if not most of the old
cathedrals in Europe still do not have them. There is no telling how this may have hurt
the liturgical practice. I have often imagined that the Latin Mass would be so much
more dynamic if the congregation gave up pews. I once saw a motion picture about
Saint Francis of Assisi, and it was true to this historical fact. The people who sat in
Mass (in front, near the altar) were the rich merchants and benefactors, the common
folk stood in the back and knelt on the floor!
http://ocaphoto.oca.org/filetmp/200...rg/filetmp/2004/August/89/Detail/DSC_0045.jpg

For Greek-Slavonic Christians the open floor space makes possible a freedom of
movement and gesture that adds substantially to the worship experience. One can
turn easily to follow the deacon or priests as he censes the icons and the faithful. It
also allows for greater interaction…and a deeper sense of belonging. Every worshiper
is only a few steps away from every other, or also only a few steps to a shrine or
candlestand.
http://ocaphoto.oca.org/filetmp/200...org/filetmp/2004/June/114/Detail/DSC_0087.jpg

 

[pickguard1]

Latin Catholic churches did not have pews originally, and many if not most of the old
cathedrals in Europe still do not have them.
​

I have sometimes wondered about this. I have seen many pictures of old European churches and cathedrals which have no pews, or very few, on the side, with large open spaces through the center (presumable for large processions?). I always had a vague idea that the earliest Christians all stood in the open areas, and then knelt on the floor. The most thought I have usually given to it though, is that I attribute to these early Christians a toughness that modern Christians lack - we don’t even want to kneel unless it’s on a padded kneeler! However, I don’t think I ever really thought about the “Why?” Whay do have kneelers at all? Did they only appear anywhere after the Protestant Reformation?
Were there a few, just for the rich prior to this, as a status symbol? (I find this in distaste for a Catholic Church to be giving preference to any laity - but culture is often hard to overcome). I for one wouldn’t mind going back to no pews/kneelers.

The image to me is one of, if we were all going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (which is kind of what Mass/Divine Liturgy is like) we would all be in a large group following our leader (the priest). We probably wouldn’t bring along benches to sit down on for half the trip. ​

 

[Cluny]

There was a time that churches–Protestant and Catholic–charged pew rent.

This was especially the cases in some churches that had box pews: basically enclosed spaces with seats on three sides (not necessarily facing the front) and a door into them on the fourth.

 

[pickguard1]

There was a time that churches–Protestant and Catholic–charged pew rent.

This was especially the cases in some churches that had box pews: basically enclosed spaces with seats on three sides (not necessarily facing the front) and a door into them on the fourth.

My father is Episcopalian(well actually Anglican - he’s part of a parish that broke from the ESA) and he took a lot of trips to attend church conventions etc as he was the chair of the parish vestry committee. He usually went on church tours of the areas he went to and took pictures, and I remember seeing some of the older Protestant churches along the east coast that had the pews with doors. I always thought it was kind of strange. Did any Catholic Churches have these types of pews?