This is a very interesting article, particularly the parts that speak of a NARTHEX. What is the definition of NARTHEX? Will explain my interest in this word later. I assume an exonarthex simply means one of these on the outside of the building. Ruth At 10:09 AM -0400 10/19/08, Gabriel Orgrease wrote: this I have found on the web, if anyone would like to see the movie about the restoration of the silver gate please let me know Saint Sophia Cathedral (Sofiiskyi sobor). (Photo: <http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/picturedisplay.asp?linkpath=pic%5CS%5CA%5CSaint%20Sophia%20Cathedral.jpg>Saint Sophia Cathedral.) A masterpiece of the art and architecture of Ukraine and Europe. It was built in Kyiv at the height of <http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CY%5CKyivanRushDA.htm>Kyivan Rus', in the Byzantine style (see <http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CB%5CY%5CByzantineart.htm>Byzantine art), and significantly transformed during the <http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CB%5CA%5CBaroque.htm>baroque period. The cathedral was founded by <http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CR%5CGrandPrince_01.htm>Grand Prince <http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CY%5CA%5CYaroslavtheWise.htm>Yaroslav the Wise and built between 1037 and 1044 (some suggest 1017-37). The original building, most of which remains at the core of the existing cathedral, is a cross-in-square plan with twelve cruciform piers marking five east-west naves intersected by five transverse aisles. Each nave springs from an apse in the east. The central nave and the main transverse aisle (transept) are barrel-vaulted and twice the width and height of the side naves. A balcony tops the north and south naves and narthex. -- Ruth Barton [log in to unmask] Dummerston, VT -- To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to: <http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>