Question

Which of these was NOT a part of the imperial ritual in Justinian's churc of Hagia Sophia?

a) The emperor and patriarch met under the dome at key points in the liturgy.
b) The public were only given partial views of the central nave.
c) The congregation filled the space under the domes and sang hymns.
d) The priests were invisible most of the time behind a screen.

Answer 1

The incorrect option regarding the imperial ritual in Justinian's Hagia Sophia is c) The congregation filled the space under the domes and sang hymns, as the ceremony was hierarchical and didn't involve the congregation in such a direct manner.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks which part was not a feature of the imperial ritual in Justinian's church of Hagia Sophia. The answer is option c) The congregation filled the space under the domes and sang hymns. In the context of Justinian's Hagia Sophia, the liturgy was an elaborate and hierarchical ceremony. The emperor and the patriarch would meet under the dome, emphasizing the unity and the involvement of secular and ecclesiastical power. The general public did not have complete views of the central nave. Instead, their experience was more restricted, something that increased the mystery and authority of the liturgical proceedings. Priests often performed ceremonies behind a screen, which was not uncommon in Byzantine churches, to delineate the holy space of the sanctuary from the congregation.