Royal doors

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Beautiful Gates" redirects here. For the gate in the Jerusalem Temple, see Gates of the Temple Mount.
"Holy Doors" redirects here. For holy doors in the Roman Catholic tradition, see Holy door.
Tree of Life (Old wooden church in Chotyniec, Poland
).

The royal doors, holy doors, or beautiful gates are the central doors of the

Archangels Michael and Gabriel. These are the doors that the clergy will normally use when entering the sanctuary. The central double doors are the "holy doors" (Slavonic
: Svyatýa Vratá), which are considered to be most sacred, and may only be entered at certain sacred moments during the services, and only by ordained clergy (deacons, priests, bishops).

King David and Solomon
.

The term Royal Doors (Greek: Ωραία Πύλη: Slavonic: Tsárskiya Vratá) is commonly used to describe the Holy Doors,

Antiochian Orthodox Church
all use the term "Royal Doors". In Russia, they are sometimes called the "Red Gates", red being synonymous with beautiful.

Prophet Elias church, Yaroslavl
. The Beautiful Gates are in the center.

Whatever its name, a typical gate consists of two hinged doors. Often they will be only half-height, but sometimes they go almost all the way to the top of the opening. The doors themselves are made of wood or metal and usually have painted on them an icon of the Annunciation in the form of a diptych (the Theotokos on the right door, and the Archangel Gabriel on the left), either alone or with the four Evangelists. Other icons may be used also. The doors may be intricately carved and gilded, and are almost always topped by a cross.

Theologically the Holy Doors represent the gates of

Holy Communion
. Most of the time the doors are closed. This is symbolic of penitence, a reminder that sin separates the individual from God.

Dormition Cathedral, Smolensk, Russia

There is also a curtain or

High Priest" may take place of the doors and curtain and certain churches may have no physical barrier at all.[4]

Twelve Apostles, and Saints

Only the higher clergy (bishops, priests, and deacons) are permitted to go through the Holy Doors, and even they may only pass through them when it is prescribed by the liturgical rubrics.

During

Tomb of Christ. The Epitaphios (icon representing the burial shroud
of Christ) is visible on top of the Holy Table (altar table) through the open Holy Doors as a witness of the Resurrection. During Bright Week, the clergy, who would normally use the Deacons Doors to go in and out of the sanctuary, will always enter and exit through the Holy Doors

Ipatiev Monastery, Kostroma, Russia. The six medallions on the doors depict the Annunciation (upper right: Theotokos, upper left: Gabriel) and the Four Evangelists
.

When a bishop serves the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Doors and veil are left open for the entire service (except during the communion of the clergy). The bishop will always pass through the Holy Doors, even at times when priests or deacons cannot. If the rubrics call for the Holy Doors to be closed, they will be opened for him to pass through, and then immediately closed again.

In addition to referring to the Holy Doors, the term royal doors can also (and more properly) refer to either of the following:

References

  1. ISBN 0-86012-216-6
    ), p. 256.
  2. ISBN 0-88465-044-8
    ), p. 532.
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-631-18966-1
    ), pp. 420–421.
  4. ^ "Royal Doors - Questions & Answers".

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal doors.
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