Editing Narthex (section)

==Purpose==
The purpose of the narthex was to allow those not eligible for admittance into the general congregation (particularly [[catechumen]]s and [[penitent]]s) to hear and partake of the service. The narthex would often include a [[baptismal font]] so that infants or adults could be baptized there before entering the nave, and to remind other believers of their baptisms as they gathered to worship. The narthex is thus traditionally a place of penitence, and in [[Eastern Christianity]] some penitential services, such as the [[Little Hours]] during [[Holy Week]] are celebrated there, rather than in the main body of the church. In the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] funerals are traditionally held in the narthex.

Later reforms removed the requirement to exclude people from services who were not full members of the congregation, which in some traditions obviated the narthex. Church architects continued, however, to build a room before the entrance of the nave.  This room could be called an inside [[Vestibule (architecture)|vestibule]] (if it is architecturally part of the nave structure) or a porch (if it is a distinct, external structure). Some traditions still call this area the narthex as it represents the point of entry into the church, even if everyone is admitted to the nave itself.

In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], the esonarthex and exonarthex had, and still have, distinct liturgical functions. For instance, the procession at the [[Easter Vigil|Paschal Vigil]] will end up at the exonarthex for the reading of the Resurrection [[Gospel]], while certain penitential services are traditionally chanted in the esonarthex.

In some Eastern Orthodox [[temple]]s, the narthex will be referred to as the ''[[Refectory|trapeza]]'' (refectory), because in ancient times, tables would be set up there after the [[Divine Liturgy]] for the faithful to eat a common meal, similar to the [[agape feast]] of the [[early church]]. To this day, this is where the faithful will bring their [[Easter baskets|baskets]] at [[Easter|Pascha]] (Easter) for the priest to bless the Paschal foods which they will then take back to their homes for the festive [[breakfast|break-fast]]. Traditionally, the narthex is where [[candles]] and [[prosphora]] will be sold for offering during [[Divine Services]].

The doorway leading from the narthex to the nave is sometimes referred to as the "Royal Doors",<ref>Sometimes the term "Royal Doors" is imprecisely applied to the [[Holy Doors]].</ref> because in major cathedrals (''[[Katholikon|catholica]]'') there were several sets of doors leading into the nave, the central one being reserved only for the use of the [[Byzantine emperor]].<ref>See {{bibleverse||Ezekiel|44:1–3|KJV}})</ref>

On [[feast days]] there will be a [[procession]] to the narthex, followed by intercessory prayers, called the [[Lity (Orthodox Vespers)|Litiy]].

In [[Armenia]] the local style of narthex is known as a ''[[gavit]]''.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:Predeal Murals2.jpg|In the narthex of a small Orthodox church in Romania, looking through the doorway into the [[nave]] and [[Holy Doors]].
File:C0168-Pechersky-Ascension-refectory.JPG|Side view of a narthex in an [[Eastern Orthodox]] temple. In the center is an [[analogion]] at which the priest hears [[Confession (religion)|confessions]], to the right of that is a silver [[baptismal font]] and vessels for dispensing [[holy water]]. The main hall is to the left ([[Pechersky Ascension Monastery]], [[Nizhny Novgorod]]).
</gallery>