ABSTRACT
Church buildings are conceived as 'heaven upon earth? and, like synagogues, were connected with the heavenly palace of God. In the second part of the service this is a key to understanding the design. The beginning of this part is a cry, 'The Doors!' From this point they are guarded and the church is closed.3 Maximus described this part of the service in a vocabulary of philosophy and theology. It is a change from the first part of the service, with its concern for material things and the lusts of the flesh. The second part is concerned with the intellectual realm, and the church becomes heaven itself, the bride-chamber of the Lamb with its banquet.4 The faithful are united with the angels in their cry of 'Holy, holy, holy'. 5 Those who are worthy are taught the secrets of the future and the unspeakable mysteries of God's salvation.6 Germanus links it in a slightly different way to the liturgy. He speaks of a procession of deacons to the altar. They are holding fans which represent cherubim. 7 Indeed with their vestments they themselves represent angels, just as the hazzan (or deacon) did in the synagogue.s Germanus sees them as a procession headed by Christ at his Second Appearance and his righteous saints.9 The Bishop as High Priest takes the role of Christ. 10
Germanus linked this procession with the burial procession to Christ's tomb, where after three days his resurrection was announced.!1 And they come now, in the Byzantine rite bringing the bread and wine, to the altar.
