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What is the significance of the Iconastasis. What do each of the doors mean?
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The iconostasis is a panel of icons which separates the sanctuary of a church from the nave. From the writings of church fathers, such as St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregory and also the Church historian, Eusebius, a screen across the sanctuary is evident in the early church. The iconostasis has three entrances or doors used during the celebration of the Divine liturgy and other services. In the centre are the Royal Doors (in Slavic tradition) or Holy Doors (in Greek tradition) and on either end of the iconostasis are the deacons� doors. Only the priest and hierarchy go through the Royal Doors. The servants of the altar such as subdeacons, servers and deacons go in and out through the deacons doors� Deacons such as St. Stephen or angels who are God�s servants are usually the icons on the dean's doors.
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Interesting. I was reading that the doors remain closed except during the Liturgy, when they represent the opening of Heaven to earth. Is this accurate?
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The opening of the Royal doors does represent the opening of the Heavens or salvation to humankind. The Royal Doors are opened and closed during various parts of the Divine Liturgy and other services. You will notice when no liturgical services are being celebrated the Royal Doors are closed.
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Era Might,
Glory to Jesus Christ!
The interior of a Byzantine Catholic Church is described as "heaven on earth" - the place where God dwells and where man can "lay aside all earthly cares." Between the altar and the congregation there is the iconostasis, which establishes the unity between God and man; where the material and sensory worlds meet.
The screen symbolically divides the heavenly world (the altar area) from the human world (the main body of the church), and unites these worlds into one whole. Standing on the boundary line between the heavenly and human worlds are the images (icons) of Christ, the Mother of God, and the saints, through whom salvation is accomplished.
The iconostasis is composed of three doors and up to four rows of icons. Most churches today build lower screens of only one or two rows of icons.
The icon screen has a double door in the middle. These are called the Royal or Holy Doors because only the bishop or priest can pass through them. These doors are usually decorated with the Annunciation (Angel Gabriel telling Mary she is to be the Mother of God), and the four Evangelists (those who announced the good news of salvation to the entire world). These doors represent the gates of heaven. On either side of the Royal Doors are the Deacon or Servers Doors. These are single doors used by the deacon or servers who assist the priest during the liturgy. On these doors can be found icons of a deacon saint, usually Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, or an angel, usually St. Michael.
To the immediate right of the Royal Doors is the icon of Christ the Teacher. To the left, is the icon of the Mother of God. On either side of the Deacons' Doors is the patron saint of the church (right side) and St. Nicholas, patron saint of the Byzantine Catholic Church (left side).
If the iconostas has a second row of icons, the twelve major feast days of the Byzantine liturgical year can be found over the doors. These represent the main events to salvation. In the center of this row, above the Royal Doors, is the icon of the Mystical Supper. Since this event is reenacted during every liturgy, it is a focal point on the iconostasis.
If the iconostasis contains more than two rows of icons, the central figure of the upper sections is that of Christ in His glory, the Pantocrator, sitting on a throne as the King of the Universe. On both sides of Christ, in the third and fourth rows, are the Apostles, Prophets and Patriarchs of the Old Testament. It is topped with a Crucifixion, with the Mother of God and St. John the Evangelist standing beneath the cross. It was through the Crucifixion and the Resurrection that salvation was accomplished and the gates of heaven opened.
Hope this helps,
Deacon El
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Dear Deacon El,
Thank you for this wonderful explanation of the iconostasis. I really could not add any more other than there may be some variants in regards to the placement of certain icons, i.e. The Baptist vs the patronal icon, etc. These are generally regional traditions depending on the ethnic roots of a church (Greek, Slav, Middle East, etc.). I have to say though, a superb explanation.
In IC XC, Father Anthony+
Everyone baptized into Christ should pass progressively through all the stages of Christ's own life, for in baptism he receives the power so to progress, and through the commandments he can discover and learn how to accomplish such progression. - Saint Gregory of Sinai
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Throughout Bright Week - the week beginning with Easter Sunday - the doors remain open 24/7. Salvation is open to all through the Resurrection. Tradition has it that anyone who dies during Bright Week goes straight to Paradise.
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