24. THE WOODEN PARTITION USED TO DIVIDE THE CHURCH
Since in line with ancient custom, to which the blessed Chrysostom bears witness, and which was once frequently encountered in many places in this province, that men must be separated from women in church, the criteria for the division of the church can be as follows. A wooden partition will be set up in the church, particularly in the most important, in the middle of the nave, leading in a straight line from the entrance of the main chapel to the principal entrance.
This partition will be affixed to solid small wooden columns, five cubits apart, firmly attached to the floor. If the wooden panels, from which it is constructed, must at times be removed, they will be set into grooves [tracks] gouged out or made otherwise on either side of the columns. The partition will be about five cubits high. It will begin in the main doorway so that the entrance is divided in half, thus providing for separate access into the church for men and for women.
There will be a few openings in given places in the partition. Closed with door panels and bolts, they will be opened only when it is necessary to go from one side to the other. So that the faithful may more easily and conveniently see the preacher, the partition, in correspondence to the place where the sermon is given, must be considerably lower at this time. The upper part will therefore consist of panels attached with iron hinges and held in place on both sides by small bolts. When necessary, they can be opened and lowered, hanging down from the hinges.
Sometimes in the churches when Mass is celebrated on one side of the partition, those who are on the other side also participate in the Mass. In this case the same criteria regarding the lowering of the partition may be applied.
The hinges for lowering the panels will be two cubits from the floor, so that the faithful, when kneeling, can see the priest celebrating on the other side. If only the sermon is to be heard, then they will be three cubits from the floor.