Innovativeness of the Tradition of Religious Architecture

Abstract

The innovativeness of the tradition of religious architecture - it sounds quite contradictory if we are to consider the accepted definitions of tradition - a sort of permanence or canonicity, and innovation (from the Latin innovatio - renewal) - a process of the introduction of new values or qualities concerning goals or manners of their achievement in the development of some structure. Innovativeness is usually understood as a result of all manners of scientific, technical, technological and other rational actions, which lead to the implementation of change in human life. Tradition is less rational, based on national or group stereotypes, customs or individual principles. Innovativeness in culture, faith or creative activity occurs as a factor based on human ideas, its representations which go beyond the sphere of ratio. Innovativeness occurs primarily as a contradiction of something, for instance said tradition, or - on the basis of said tradition or the capacity of innovation to cooperate with tradition, developing tradition itself, causing its change, development, adaptation to something new, preserving tradition as a form, message or symbol. The tradition of religious architecture is based on the tradition of Liturgy, the principles of faith, revelation. Tradition is strongly justified by the permanence of the phenomenon of eternity, about which man cannot gain knowledge rationally. This is why to fight tradition is to fight eternity, which makes no sense. If eternity is beyond rational categories, then tradition is not exhaustible by these terms. This is why tradition manifests itself through ritual, epos, images. Such manners are characterised by something that is beyond rational, at the same time exerting a strong impact through their syncretism and synergism. The synergy of the images of religious architecture is also very suggestive, evoking a strong influence on the thoughts and imagination of man. Liturgy, the parish, its members, contemplation, meditation, rituals, the architect, artists, the common efforts of the participants of the construction of a temple - that is what is important to the synergy of religious architecture. The temple - is a place of the work of the Holy Spirit, which is not a person, but an action, which is why the temple can more easily be expressed through its activity, the Word, Wisdom, instead of the image and likeness. The perfection of the non-figurative depiction within religious architecture is its skeleton and the abstract shapes occur in the form of images of a symbolic language. A temple is simultaneously a static element, embodied in its structural elements - floor plans, spaces, the external and internal surfaces of walls and ceilings, icons and frescoes, in being filled with liturgical objects and services. Sensing, achieving the theology of man, the icon and the temple through the Divine image and likeness, as well as the work of the Holy Spirit all express a deep innovativeness of the tradition of religious architecture.