Beholding the sacred mysteries: programs of the Byzantine sanctuary

Gerstel (Byzantine art history and architecture, U. of Maryland) analyzes the decoration of the Byzantine sanctuary from the perspective of its contemporary viewers, from monk to liturgical celebrant, from bishop to lay worshipper. She particularly reveals to modern readers what was and is manifest only to the clergy after the sanctuary was separated from the body of the church in the 12th and 13th centuries and only men ordained by the Church could enter. She includes a glossary without pronunciation guides. Distributed by U. of Washington Press. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)