The more usual plan of Christian churches is that of a parallelogram, which form is said to have been derived from the heathen courts of justice; but ere entering upon the consideration of this matter, it will he well to give some description of the parts and arrangement of the early Chris tian churches, as collected from the descriptions of Eusebius above given, and front the writings of other authors ',s ho allude to the subject.
From such authorities, it would seem that churches of this period consisted not merely of a building for public service, but also of exhedne or out-buildings, employed for the secular as well as religious concerns of the church; such as schools, libraries, houses of residence for the clergy, &c. ; the whole being surrounded and enclosed by an outer wall. This arrangement is very similar to that of our existing cathedrals. That all within this outer wall was considered as belonging to the church, and consecrated ground, is evident from the fact of its being acknowledged as a :sanctuary in after times. The position of the church within this enclosure, was generally east and west, having the altar toward the east ; but this custom was not always observed, as we meet with many exceptions. That such a custom did prevail in spite of such exceptions, we have the authority of several writers. Socrates, noticing an example of the contrary practice, says, that the church at Antioch stood in a different position to other churches, for that the altar did not look towards the east, but to the west ; and a similar observat ion is made by Paulinus Nolanus, respecting one of his ow it churches, and he gives the reason for his departure front the usual custom. namely, that the structure was made to look towards another, in memory of the Saint in whose name the latter was dedicated. The Apostolieal Constitutions direct that churches should be built toward the east, but Walafridas Strabo says, "The ancients were not nicely curious which way their churches stood, but yet the most usual custom was for Christians to pray toward the east, and therefore the greater proportion of churches were built with respect to that custom." Allowing this custom to have prevailed then, we shall have our first or outer entrance in the west wall of the enclosure, and.this is called by Eusebius the Trpo7rv'Aov fteya
and rrporti etaooll. Through this vestibule, admittance w as obtained into a large quadrangle or open area. surrounded by cloisters, which is called by Eusebius, and ar).71, and by the Latins, atrium; the cloisters being distinguished in the former case by the name of °roar, and consisting of a covered way,the roof supported by pillars or an open arcade. The object of this court seems to have been to receive the peni tents of the first order, or mourners, st ho were not permitted to enter the main body of the church ; in after times it was used for a place of burial, but then only for persons of distinction ; kings thinking it a great honour to be buried within the gates. This place was sometimes named impluvium. In the centre of the open area was a fountain or large basin of water, in which it was customary for the Christians to wash their hands and tlice, and perhaps their feet, ere they entered the church, such practice being a symbol of the purity of heart which should attend them there. Tertullian speaks of the absurdity of going to prayer with washed hands and a polluted soul. A similar custom still prevails in the IZomish church, borrowed doubtless from primitive practice, although differing in the intention and object for which it is observed. The fountain is called indifferently, (plaX71 Oyeap, nymphavm, cantharns, and lcontarium, the latter term supposed to have been applied from the spouts being sometimes in the 6)rm of lions' heads. Socrates, speaking of the skirmish between the Catholics and the Maeedonian heretics, says, " Such a slaughter was made, that the court (avA.r)) was tilled with blood, insomuch that the fountain ((hpcap) was overflowed therewith, and ran through the adjoining cloisters (groat) even into the street." Exam ples of the atrium in its primitive shape are yet preserved in the churches of San Clemente, San Lorenzo, San Paolo, San Georgio in •elabro, Sta Maria in Trastevere ; remodelled in San Giovanni Laterano, and Sta Maria Maggiore, and rebuilt in modern shape in St. Peter's. At San Anibrogio, Milan, the atrium is fully as large as the nave.