The Royal Doors are hinged doors in a Christian church opposite the Holy Table, located in the altar part. They are the main doors of the iconostasis in the Orthodox Church. Besides that, the Royal Doors have a symbolic meaning. They lead to the altar part of the temple and symbolize the Gate of Paradise. In ancient Christian catacomb temples, the altar was separated from the rest of the temple space by two columns or a special barrier.
After the great schism of the Christian Church in 1054, the altar barrier in the Orthodox Church developed into an iconostasis. This process is believed to have been actively promoted by the famous 4th century Christian saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, church writer and theologian. According to Christian belief, during Holy Communion, the main sacrament of the liturgy, a special service of the Church, the King of Glory himself — Jesus Christ — miraculously exits through the Royal Doors. In addition, the name “Royal Doors” has another historical basis.
After Christianity became an official religion in the Roman Empire, services were held in the basilicas, which were the largest public buildings. Only the emperor and the bishop had the right to enter through the main entrance. This entrance was therefore called the King’s Entrance. For all others the side doors were reserved. Later, altars developed in orthodox temples, and this name was transferred to the main hinged doors leading to them. However, such a term was predominantly used in Russian Orthodoxy. In the Greek tradition, for example, this gate is called the Holy Doors.
The four Evangelists and the Annunciation are most often depicted on the Royal Doors. If the doors are small, the living creatures, symbolizing the Evangelists, can be placed on the doors instead — the so-called tetramorph, showing an eagle (symbol of Apostle John the Evangelist), a lion (Apostle Mark), a calf (Apostle Luke), an angel (Apostle Matthew).
This exhibit is the left door of the Royal Doors. In the upper part is an icon of Matthew the Evangelist. The middle section features an image of Archangel Gabriel. At the bottom is an image of Luke the Evangelist. These Royal Doors were part of the general structure of the iconostasis of the Church of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” of the city of Michurinsk from the 1940s until the early 21st century.
After the great schism of the Christian Church in 1054, the altar barrier in the Orthodox Church developed into an iconostasis. This process is believed to have been actively promoted by the famous 4th century Christian saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, church writer and theologian. According to Christian belief, during Holy Communion, the main sacrament of the liturgy, a special service of the Church, the King of Glory himself — Jesus Christ — miraculously exits through the Royal Doors. In addition, the name “Royal Doors” has another historical basis.
After Christianity became an official religion in the Roman Empire, services were held in the basilicas, which were the largest public buildings. Only the emperor and the bishop had the right to enter through the main entrance. This entrance was therefore called the King’s Entrance. For all others the side doors were reserved. Later, altars developed in orthodox temples, and this name was transferred to the main hinged doors leading to them. However, such a term was predominantly used in Russian Orthodoxy. In the Greek tradition, for example, this gate is called the Holy Doors.
The four Evangelists and the Annunciation are most often depicted on the Royal Doors. If the doors are small, the living creatures, symbolizing the Evangelists, can be placed on the doors instead — the so-called tetramorph, showing an eagle (symbol of Apostle John the Evangelist), a lion (Apostle Mark), a calf (Apostle Luke), an angel (Apostle Matthew).
This exhibit is the left door of the Royal Doors. In the upper part is an icon of Matthew the Evangelist. The middle section features an image of Archangel Gabriel. At the bottom is an image of Luke the Evangelist. These Royal Doors were part of the general structure of the iconostasis of the Church of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” of the city of Michurinsk from the 1940s until the early 21st century.
