The soleas (( el, σολέα, other form σολέας) = lat, solea meaning (“bottom, base”, as used in "sole of a shoe", cf. also the "sole" from the resemblance of fish to a flat shoe. Of uncertain origin)) is an extension of the

sanctuary A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a sa ...

platform in an

Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism. Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or "canonical") ...

temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

(church building). The soleas projects beyond the

iconostasis In Eastern Christianity, an iconostasis ( gr, εἰκονοστάσιον) is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a Church (building), church. ''Iconostasis'' also refers to a portable icon stand t ...

, forming a narrow walkway running the full length of the iconostasis.1) The Vestibule; 2) The Nave; 3) The Altar; 4) The Soleas; 5) The Ambo
Drawing showing the positions, ''Orthodox World'' In the center of the soleas is the

ambon Ambon may refer to: Places * Ambon Island, an island in Indonesia ** Ambon, Maluku, a city on Ambon Island, the capital of Maluku province ** Governorate of Ambon, a colony of the Dutch East India Company from 1605 to 1796 * Ambon, Morbihan, a c ...

, directly in front of the Holy Doors, where the communicants stand to receive

Holy Communion The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instituted ...

and where the clergy come out for public prayers, sermons, etc. At either side of the soleas are places for two

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which ...

s, called the

kliros The kliros ( Greek: κλῆρος ''klēros'', plural κλῆροι ''klēroi''; Slavonic: клиросъ, "kliros" or sometimes крилосъ, "krilos") is the section of an Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic church dedicated to the choir. It ...

(meaning lots, since in ancient times Readers and

Singers Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

were chosen by lot). In some major churches in Greece, the soleas sometimes extends far out from the iconostasis into the nave. On it will be two

s to either side, the bema (pulpit) to one side and the Bishop's throne on the other. The solea will be separated from the main part of the nave by a waist-high wall with icons and a central opening. Liturgically in these churches, the solea will be where the Deacon stands to read the petitions, where the readings will take place and where the people will come to receive communion (by entering the sides of the solea to north and south and leaving through the center opening. While the wall serves to separate the laity from the elevated solea, the laity may still enter to receive communion or to receive blessings from the Bishop on his throne, or at the end of the service to receive holy bread and a blessing from the celebrant.

References

Eastern Orthodox liturgy Eastern Christian liturgical objects Church architecture Altars {{Church-architecture-stub