Article Contents:
Our factory also produces:
Get Consultation
The iconostasis is an indispensable element of an Orthodox church. This barrier, separating the main part of the church (naos) from the altar, is entirely composed of icons and is a true adornment of the church. The iconostasis has a vast history, but it was precisely the Russian type of high "wall" with rows of icons that emerged in the 14th-15th centuries.
Separating the altar from the naos, the iconostasis serves as a boundary between two worlds — the earthly, visible, and invisible. The rich history of the iconostasis significantly influenced the appearance and structure of such a partition. The historical path of transforming an ordinary partition between the naos and the altar into a high iconostasis began under Emperor Justinian, who installed 12 columns in the Church of Holy Wisdom, corresponding to the number of apostles. By the 12th century, images of Jesus Christ and the Theotokos had gained considerable popularity on the iconostasis.
In the churches of Kievan Rus' during the pre-Mongol period (11th-12th centuries), the iconostasis was a beam made of wood (tyablo), directly onto which icons were mounted. Typically, icons were grouped by theme and placed on special tyablo. The first high iconostasis, according to available data, appeared in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. According to the history of iconostases, by the 15th century, the iconostasis consisted of three rows, and by the end of the century, a fourth — prophetic — row appeared. In the 16th century, a fifth row — the patriarchal — emerged. By the 17th century, the five-tiered iconostasis had firmly established itself in Orthodox churches and is considered the classic form.
In subsequent periods, the evolution of the iconostasis continued. In the 17th-18th centuries, the addition of rows and height of this element persisted. Six- and seven-tiered iconostases appeared, including the Passion rows, the Piatnichny row, the Cherubim and Seraphim tiers. In some cases, additional tiers included images of various Greek philosophers. From the mid-19th century, Orthodox churches began to feature iconostases in an original "Byzantine-Russian" style. The 19th-20th centuries are characterized by the application of the modern style in creating such items.
On the website of the company "Stavros", each client can view photos of iconostasescreated by the hands of skilled masters. High-quality natural wood, exclusive design, and masterful craftsmanship of iconostases. Our company also engages in production of balusters in Moscow under the most favorable conditions.
