arcosolium
(lat.) A tomb carved out of a wall (solium) with an arched niche (arcus) above it.

bema
The area at east end of the naos in Byzantine churches, containing the altar, also referred to as the presbetery or hierateion (sanctuary). In these area take place the Holy Eucharist.

Hetoimasia
A representation, inspired by the Psalms, that depicts the throne prepeared for Christ's Second Coming. The image shows an empty richly adorned throne combined usually with either a Gospel codex and the Dove (the Holy Spirit), thus becoming an allegorical image of the Trinity, either with the instruments of the Passion. In this case emphasis is put on the mystic presence of Christ, according to a common use of the empty throne in imperial iconography.

Imperial Door
The entrance to the naos (main church).

katholikon
The main church in a monastic complex, heart of the monastic activity.

loros
A long and broad scarf, arranged in an X on the chest. A vestige of the Roman consuls, it was later worn by both the Emperor and the Empress in Byzantium. In iconography it was used for archangels representations.

maphorion
A women's garment covering the head and shoulders and sometimes reaching down to the feet. In Byzantium maphorion was the name of the Virgin's outer veil. According to the christian tradition it was preserved by apostle Thomas after the Dormition and 4-5 centuries afterwards it was transfered to Constantinople and deposited at the church of Blachernai. It was one of the most important relics gathered in Constantinople.

megas hetaireiarches
Ηead of the Hetaireia, a military officer (10th-11thC), in charge of the security of the imperial palace.

narthex
A portico or a rectangular entrance-hall, parallel with the west end of an early Christian basilica or church.

orans
(lat., mean. praying): An iconographic type which was used mainly for representations of the Virgin in Byzantine art. It depicts a standing, frontal figure with its hands open, lifted to shoulder height to either side.. It was the typical early Christian posture of praying, byt in Middle Byzantine years, when the prayer is depicted with the proskynesis type, the orans type becomes more rare.

patrikios
(from lat. patricius) Higher title of honour, placed, according to the "Tactika" of the 9th and the 10th centuries, between anthypatos and protospatharios. It was given to the most important governors and generals. Gradually, however, it fell into disuse and from the 12th century did not exist any more.

praepositos
(from lat. praepositus sacri cubiculi) The praepositos or praipositos (πραιπόσιτος του ιερού κουβουκλίου or του ευσεβεστάτου κοιτώνος) was a grand chamberlain by the Early Byzantine period the highest official, usually Eunuch, in the imperial service. After the 6th C. his functions were assumed by the parakoimomenos. The dignity involved in palace ceremony and disappeared until the end of 11th C.

tympanum (lunette)
(Rom., Byz.) The arched panel (lunette) inside an arch or an arcosolium.

vestes
High-ranking title first mentioned under John Tsimiskes (969-976). In the 10th-11th C bestowed upon important generals. At the end of the 11th C assumed by the protovestes. The titles vestes and protovestes disappeared after the reign of Alexios I (1081-1118).