www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Icons & Iconography Iconostasis

I recently attended my first Divine Liturgy and I have a question. What is the purpose of the iconostasis and the restriction that only the priest/deacons may go behind it?

Thanks

Dear Wynd,

The Eastern Church sees the temple of God as divided into three different areas: The narthex, nave, and sanctuary (holy of holies). The narthex is at the entrance and is where catechumens would stand in times past, and corresponds to the OT temple's "Court of Gentiles", the nave is where the congregation stands and corresponds to the same area in the OT temple, and the the sanctuary - the altar area, is meant to symbolize the Holy of Holies in the OT temple which always represented heaven.

The iconostasis in an Orthodox temple symbolizes the divide between heaven and earth, rather than the OT idea that God is personally unapproachable to us. One can rightfully assume that the iconostasis and/or the use of altar rails in our Churches come directly from the Jewish temple. Albeit, the former has been developed a bit over the centuries. God bless!

Pax tecum,

Adam

This was common in the West in early times, as well. The original St. Peter's, according to archaelogical research, had an actual wall between the sanctuary and the congregational areas.

St. Peter's basilica in Rome is the basilica church of the Patriarch of the East. It has always been an Eastern basilica.

The basilica church of the Patriarch of the West is St. John Lateran.

Joe Prokopchak
archsinner

the Rood screen in the west may have been a rather late development in some areas, but before the Reformation it was very common. I suppose it evolved (in most cases) into the altar rail in later church building design. In the last 40 years a lot of altar rails were removed entirely.
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These are some examples of an English type of church with a Rood screen, hang some icons on it and one might be confused as to what kind of church they were in.

In some Eastern settings the equivalent device grew to a considerable scale, it was adorned with icons and later higher rows became common.

This is not just a Byzantine characteristic, the icon screen is used in Coptic churches in Egypt as well (possibly some others).

Hi Wynd ,

I'll take a wee bit of a stab at your second question as no-one else has

OK why the restriction that only Priest/Deacon may go behind it ?

Well actually that's not quite true - after all Servers will be seen in the Altar , but they are there because they are needed.

No-one should enter the Holy of Holies except for a good need - to get a blessing to vest , to actually Serve or to prepare the Altar [ or indeed do some 'housework' ] Having said all that no women should enter the Altar

Now I'll stand back and await the coals of fire that will surely descend upon me :p

Anhelyna

Welcome to the forum!

Yes, in the Holy of Holies only the priest was allowed to enter, no one could see beyond the Veil in the Temple. Ask, if you have the opporunity and see if you can go up to the Holy Doors and glance behind the Iconostasis - you will see a place filled with the mystery of God. If you go to the Book of Leviticus, you will see the altar. Even to the point of what the Bible or a service book would be covered with which would be laid on the altar are important, especially the materials the altar is made from. Everything in the East leads to worship. Everything has a definate purpose or meaning.

Women, as Anenlyna said, ocassionaly a woman might go back there for housekeeping. However, if so, it is ususally an older woman - most times someone whose husband is memory eternal+ Truly this is very, very seldom.

Pani Rose

Dear Wynd,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Adam is correct that the iconostas divides the sanctuary from the nave, just as the Kingdom of God is divided from the earth where we now live. And as a barrier, the iconostas is quite formidable.

However, now cast your eyes on the icons which are there, presumably for some purpose. Remember in Eastern Christian spirituality, the icon is the presence of the person portrayed. This is why icons are known as �windows to heaven�. Even though we are separated from the Kingdom of God, with the mercy of God, it is through Christ, through the Mother of God, and through the saints that we will attain salvation.

By ourselves we cannot cross the barrier. But with the salvation given to us by Christ, and by our actions throughout our lives (i.e., faith and works) we can be liturgical people (remember liturgy is the work of the people) and hopefully enter His Kingdom.

I find the iconostas a marvelous hope and promise of salvation whenever I stand in front of it.

My prayers are with you,

Deacon El

Wynd, think of it as a portal, not a wall. The central part of the Iconostasis is precisely the Holy Doors. Heaven and earth become mystically commingled during the Liturgy, transfigured.

While the OT parallels cannot be overlooked, they risk becoming allegorical sorts of historical parallels. Everything in the OT not only becomes fulfilled, but takes on a new meaning and incarnation with Christ.

I sometimes think of the three parts of the Church as the cosmos yet to be enlightened (the Narthex, hence where the catechumens enter the church to become enlightened); the nave the place where we hear the Word, and partake of the Holy Mysteries (the Cosmos enlightened, where heaven and earth meet, where salvation becomes real); and the Altar, the place of the heavenly Liturgy on earth, evocative of the Parousia and the final and eternal accomplishment of all through the Most Holy Trinity, where we cannot penetrate fully yet but have our glimpses when the portal is open, and partake in a mystical way.

And since everything about a Byzantine church makes it "heaven on earth", before that holy Altar are Christ, His Mother, and all of the saints and heavenly hosts.

Paul