exonarthex

The term "exonarthex" refers to the outer narthex of a church that has two narthexes. A narthex itself is a long, enclosed porch, often with columns or arches, located at the entrance of a church and spanning its width. It is typically separated from the main body of the church (the nave) by a wall or columns. In Byzantine churches, the narthex is divided into two parts: the exonarthex, which serves as the outer entrance, and the esonarthex, which opens into the nave. Sometimes, the exonarthex is a separate structure attached to the main church building. Historically, the narthex was accessible to catechumens and penitents in early Christianity.12