La Croix et son Lieu consacré dans l'église, une lecture mystagogique de l'espace ecclésial / The Cross and its Consecrated Place in the Church, a Mystagogic Reading of Ecclesial Space

Abstract

This paper discusses the place of the cross in ecclesial spaces in context of western medieval Christendom based on the study of the three liturgical arrangements: the pergula/templon, the altar of the Cross and the trabs doxalis. We shall see that these liturgical arrangements emphasize the symbolism of the Cross as the true sign of the relationship of humanity and heaven. This also reveals a unifying schema established between the cross and the structure of these liturgical arrangements within the space of the church. This relationship questions the liturgy and the common conception of ecclesial space, which does not take account of this universal symbolism.

Keywords

• : pergula/templon
• cross
• trabs doxalis
• symbolic
• ecclesial space