Sanctuary doors are the main doors of the altar-screen in an Orthodox church. Richly decorated with paintings and carvings these two-leaved doors lead to the altar, which symbolises Heaven. During the divine service, the Sanctuary doors are opened at a certain point for the religious to see the main sanctuary of the altar – the throne. Entering the doors was allowed only to churchmen, for instance, during the solemn procession. The left and the right parts of the altar-screen have side doors – southern and northern. They are also called small doors.

he barbican canopy is beatified by compositions of the Crucifixion and the Holy Communion – Supper of the apostles with bread and wine.

The upper part of the doors depicts the New Testament Trinity, Mother of God, John the Forerunner and angels on clouds. The columns have pictures of Enlighteners. In the old times, Sanctuary doors were ornamented with a silver and gold revetment only small fragments of which survived. The revetment is made using the basma technique, which means toreutics on metal and leather.

By assumption of the researchers, initially the Sanctuary doors were located in the main altar-screen of the Prophet Elijah Church. It was renovated at the end of the 17th century when the Doors were divided into separate elements. The door leaves were most likely dismantled into separate icons and left in the main altar-screen. Canopy and columns were taken to the side-chapel of Barlaam Khutynsky. New door leaves were ordered – they stand out from the other parts of the altar-screen by time of creation and their colour solution. When painting the canopy and columns, painters used richer but less eye-catching colours, which stand out against the golden background. The door leaves, which were created later, have more pink and lilac tones.