Iconostasul – expresie a rugăciunii și artei bisericești

Studii de caz

Abstract

The iconostasis represents the stone or wood wall that separates the nave from the Holy Altar in an Orthodox church. Starting with the sixth century, during the reign of Emperor Justinian, the iconosta- sis developed from its simple structure of a chancel (cancellumul), adding a series of columns that support the icons. Those were fixed by a horizontal bar. The first icons that constituted the structure of the future iconostasis, were of the Mother of God, of the Savior, of the angels, of the Apostles, of the prophets. They had the Holy Cross above them, on the architrave.

Starting with the 11th-14th centuries, other thematic icons will be placed on the iconostasis. Its structure in the East churches, even in our country, dates from the sixteenth century, developing, especially under the influence of Russian church art. In its composition there are five rows of icons (royal, of the great feasts, of the Holy Apostles, of the Prophets, of the Patriarchs) which are finished in the upper part by the Cross with the molins.

A series of examples from the Romanian space define the proposed research. Among these, the wall ones with two entrances stand out: Râmeţ, Cicău and the latest ones, made of wood with three entrances. The latter ones are found in Moldova, Transylvania and in Wallachia: Humor, Iaşi, Hlincea, Neamţ, Crasna, Clocociov, Râmeţi-Vâlcea, Bistriţa’s Hospital, Cotroceni, Hunedoara, Lupşa, Făgăraş, Curtea de Argeş, Hurezi, Blaj, Peri, Iaşi.