Changes

Scared Christian architecture in the West, in particular Western Europe, has been influenced by a variety of architectural styles that initially derived from Roman pagan designs to new forms that attempted to break away from Roman influences. Christian church architecture indicates the cultural influences on Christianity but also reflected the spiritual ideas dominant in the period churches were built.

After 313 AD, as Christianity became accepted by the Roman government under Constantine the Great, early churches were beginning to be established in Western Europe and the Roman Empire. By this point, churches had already existed throughout the Sassanian Empire and Armenia, but had yet to be established, at least formally, in the Roman Empire.<ref>For a history on early Christianity, including its spread in areas outside of the Roman Empire, see: Atiya, Aziz Suryal. 2010. ''History of Eastern Christianity''. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press.</ref> Initially, late Roman Empire churches often utilized converted pagan temples, as these were readily available structures that could accommodate many people. It was also convenient to use existing worship areas for the masses that had converted. Perhaps the best example of this is the Pantheon in Rome, which is still used as a church today and is one of the longest continuously-used buildings in the world given its conversion into a Christian church.<ref>For information about early churches converted from old pagan temples, see: Doig, Allan. 2008. ''Liturgy and Architecture from the Early Church to the Middle Ages''. Liturgy, Worship, and Society. Aldershot, England ; Burlington, VT: Ashgate, pg. 83.</ref> In part, this was a quick solution as Christianity became an open religion but few places of worship were available as most had previously been in secret locations.

Soon, another popular earlier Roman design gained increasing use in the early Christian church. Early Christianity wanted to break from the Pagan past but also practically needed more space in their churches. Early church leaders, therefore, turned to the Basilica style architecture already in use in the Roman Empire, which consisted of a large building often with columns that had an apse and large central aisle that was usually raised to give it extra light.<ref>For background into the Basilica design of early churches and their origin, see: Kieckhefer, Richard. 2004. Theology in Stone: Church Architecture from Byzantium to Berkeley. New York: Oxford University Press, pg. 22.</ref> The central aisle, or nave, was usually flanked by side aisles with the building also covered by a dome. Basilicas were generally secular buildings in the Roman sense, but were used as areas of public gatherings and business, often located in the central town forums. In fact, Basilica architecture also becomes adopted by the Eastern Roman Empire, which developed into the Byzantine Empire. The most famous example is Hagia Sophia, which is a Byzantine period Cathedral. The style, therefore, began to spread to Eastern Christian churches as well. The apse, central aisle, and side aisles, in fact, were subsequently retained, and formed into a crucifix shape, in later and even modern church architecture, at least for some denominations.<ref>For information on the construction of Hagia Sophia, see: Mainstone, Rowland J. 1997. ''Hagia Sophia: Architecture, Structure and Liturgy of Justinian’s Great Church; with 305 Illustrations, 56 Plans and Drawings''. 1. pb. ed. London: Thames & Hudson.</ref>

==Later Church Forms==

With the birth of the Renaissance in Europe, the concept and idea of mathematical symmetry being a form of perfection became not only an important philosophical thought but also an idea that transpired in architecture.<ref>For more information regarding symmetry in thought in the Renaissance, see: Thomson, David. 1993. Renaissance Architecture: Critics, Patrons, Luxury. Manchester ; New York : ;New York, NY, USA: Manchester University Press Distributed exclusively in the USA and Canada by St. Martin’s Press, pg. 201.</ref> Buildings reflected a revived interest in structures from the Roman and Greek past, as artists, scientists, and philosophers began to take inspiration from the past in their new work. Buildings began to appear geometrically portioned with elements that contained Classical styles, including Roman/Greek style columns, portioned arches, and evenly spaced lintels across buildings. <ref>For more information on the development on Renaissance buildings and church designs, see: Anderson, Christy. 2013. Renaissance Architecture. 1st ed. Oxford History of Art. Oxford: Oxford Univeristy Press, pg. 32.</ref> The Renaissance began Italy in the 15th century and spread across Europe over the next two centuries. Perhaps the most famous example that derived from this period is St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican (Figure 4), which was built in Renaissance style with its well-proportioned dome and Classical-influenced layout. The symmetry of such buildings was soon seen as a way to be closer to God, as symmetry was an expression of perfection. The style went on to be highly influential to other similar designs, including Baroque and Palladian architecture. Famous examples outside of Italy include St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

==Conclusion==