Holy Doors

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Revision as of 17:15, December 12, 2006 by ASDamick (talk | contribs) (Royal Doors moved to Holy Doors: In traditional church architecture, the "Royal Doors" are an entrance to the nave from the narthex.)
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An image of the Royal Doors at the Troyan Monastery in Bulgaria.
The Royal Doors (also called the Holy Doors or the King's Gate) are the central doors of the iconostasis, directly in front of the altar in an Orthodox church.

On the Doors there is usually a diptych of the Annunciation. Sometimes they may also have the icons of the four evangelists. To the right of the Doors (facing the iconostasis from the nave there is always an icon of Christ, to the left is an icon of the Theotokos holding Christ, and directly above is the Last Supper icon.

The Doors are opened at different points during the Divine Liturgy and other liturgical services depending on local tradition. However, they are almost always opened during the Great and Little Entrances, the Gospel reading, and the distribution of the Eucharist.

Sources and External links