Iconostasis in the Liturgical and Church-Historical Contexts

Abstract

The article deals with study and attribution of rare portable iconostases (“movable church”). Their features include the Sovereign tier (with the Royal Doors) absence, the small size, and the four remaining tiers (Deisis, Great Feasts, Prophets, and Patriarchs) painted on one board. Portable iconostases were used during long pilgrimages, missionary trips, or military campaigns, as well as in Bezpopovtsy (priestless) houses of worship.

In liturgical practice, both in ancient times and now, portable iconostases were used under certain circumstances for long journeys. They are easy to set up in any place, whether it is a house, a tent or a field. In the 16th century, embroidered iconostases, rapidly installable in field and stationary conditions, were brought along in military campaigns. Thus, in his military campaigns, Emperor Alexander I used a silk-painted iconostasis made by masters of the Moscow Kremlin Armory. Movable chur­ches were also used in remote and sparsely populated areas (for example, in the Olonets Governorate). The services were held in a big house and lasted for two or three days.

There were quite a lot of portable iconostases in the past, but only few of them have been preserved, among which there are rather peculiar ones, shaped as cupboards, nightstands, kiots. At the beginning of the 20th century, an iconostasis icon was painted with five tiers on one board.