Home iconostasis with their own hands: photo

Home iconostasis is a kind of small church for a believing Orthodox Christian. They must have a special place in the dwelling, where one can quietly pray before the images.

The history of the red corner

Home iconostasis appeared in Ancient Rus. For them, a whole corner was assigned, which was called red (ie, beautiful). In this place were placed icons, candles and lamps were lit. In the morning and in the evening, as well as during the hours of special spiritual need, the members of the household said their prayers here.

The iconostasis of those times was a multi-tiered shelf, on which hung a goddess - a small curtain, which was covered with images of saints and Savior on the sides. Icons were hidden under the evangelist - a special canvas, which was withdrawn only during prayer. Such a tradition appeared in Russia not by chance. It is known that the first image of the Savior would have been created by Himself, according to His will: after Jesus sprinkled the face with water and wiped it with a cloth, this face remains on His face. This painting he sent to the aching ruler of small Asia - Avgar, thanks to which he was healed. After this, the prince gave orders to nail the sacred fees over the gates of the city. After 900 years, the sacred image was transferred to Constantinople. Now every year on August 29, the Orthodox celebrate the feast of finding the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands and consecrate hand-woven cloths.

What else was on the shelf for the images?

Home iconostasis of those times was also intended for the storage of holy water and prosphora. The homeland hid the Gospel and memorials (special books in which the names of all the deceased and living Orthodox families of this family were kept). Particularly skilled needlewomen created pigeons (as a symbol of the Holy Spirit) from improvised materials and hung them to the iconostasis. In the red corner, the presence of a lamp and candles, which were lit during the home service, was mandatory.

Such a small church was in every Orthodox house until the revolution of 1917. After the Bolsheviks came to power, people continued to pray, but they did it in secret. Therefore, from the richly decorated home iconostasis there were only a few images that people carefully hid from the eyes of others, for fear of persecution. The modern red corner is somewhat different from that created by our ancestors, as many of the traditions of its creation are simply forgotten.

Create your own red corner

What will be the home iconostasis depends only on the owners of the house. However, do not forget to follow the following rules:

• Holy images must be installed away from technology (television, computer, etc.) - the farther from all worldly, the better.
• Before the icons there should be enough space for the worshipers not to feel cramped. And during the prayer, church books (prayer books, the Gospel) are better placed on the folding anal (stand).
• You should not place icons individually on bookshelves, in lockers, while making these images other worldly objects: souvenirs, pictures, etc. This is categorically forbidden, because by that we are disrespectful to God. After all, for some reason, photos of loved ones and dear to us people, especially those who left this world, many put in the most prominent place, not cluttering them with extra items. So it is necessary to act with icons, showing love and respect for holy images.

The difference between icons and objects of painting

If you have reproductions of pictures at home that reflect biblical stories, they should not be installed on the iconostasis.

The main difference between the holy image and painting is that in the first case we communicate with the Lord through icons. And since the iconostasis is a sacred place reserved for solitude in prayers, the inclusion of reproductions in it will simply be inappropriate.

Icons can not be hung on the wall next to the posters of celebrities - this we insult the holy images, putting them on a par with the earthly idols.

Home iconostases are best placed in the eastern part of the house, since this part of the world has special significance in Orthodoxy.

For example, it is known from the Old Testament that the Lord created a paradise for people in the eastern part of Eden. And the Gospel says that as lightning comes from the east to the west, so does the Lord come from Heaven. The church altar is also in the eastern part. If windows come out on this side, the home iconostasis, the photo of which you will find in this article, is installed in any other place suitable for it.

What shelf to buy?

Will you create home iconostases with your own hands made of wood or buy them in a furniture store or a church shop, completely depends on you. If you want to buy a shelf, do it in specialized Orthodox stores. There is a wider range of iconostases, and sellers will always prompt and help with the choice. The material is distinguished by wooden and plywood shelves for icons. They can be single-deck and multi-tiered, straight and angled. There are even whole iconostases, in which there are already holy images. But such shelves are mostly made only to order. To understand what this home iconostasis looks like, the photo is presented in this article.

If you decide to create a real red corner, choose multi-tier shelves. It will be much easier for them to recreate the majestic wall with holy images, like those that are installed in the temples. What will be your home iconostasis - angular or direct depends on where it will be placed (on the wall or in the corner of the room).

What icons are needed?

First of all, in every house there must be images of the Savior, the Mother of God and Nicholas the Wonderworker. Of all the icons of Our Lord for domestic prayer, the waist-type image of the Almighty is most preferable. On this icon, Jesus Christ holds an open book in his left hand, in which it is written: "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." With his right hand the Lord baptizes the person praying.

Of the images of the Mother of God, the Russian people were especially fond of icons such as "Affection" and "Odigitria" (Guidebook). On the first image, the Virgin Mary holds an infant in her arms, who gently hugs her neck and presses her cheek. The most famous icon of this type is Vladimir's image of the Mother of God. Its distinctive feature is that the left heel of the baby is completely turned outwards. On the image of the Hodegetria, the Mother of God is depicted with a baby holding a bundle in her right hand, and with her left cross overshadows all the worshipers with a cross sign. A vivid example of this image are the Kazan icon, "The Skoropodshnitsa", "Sporuchnitsa Sinful".

Additional Images

In addition to these basic icons, the iconostasis of the home needs to put images of saints, after whom members of your family are named. It is also desirable to purchase the icon of the healer Panteleimon, the healer of mental and bodily diseases. The choice of other images entirely depends on the needs of the household. For example, you can purchase the image of Peter and Fevronia, who pray for family well-being. Before the icon of Sergius of Radonezh ask for help in teaching and good endeavors. Unmarried women can pray in the manner of Xenia of St. Petersburg, which, by the will of God, became a helper of people in matters of marriage.

Recently, in many houses of one of the central icons was the image of the blessed old Matrona of Moscow. Even after her death on earth, she helps all those who come to her to the Intercession Church or to the grave at the Danilov cemetery, or simply turns to the Matrona in home prayers. Already very many people have received from her healing and help. No wonder she said: "Come to me and tell me everything as alive." By this Matrona meant that her earthly death does not mean spiritual death: she is still with us.

Home iconostasis. How to Arrange Icons

It is very important to correctly place the images in the space allocated to them. Above the iconostasis are the Crucifixion. You can buy it in a church shop or make it yourself from wood. In the next tier the icon of the Holy Trinity is located. On the lower shelf should be placed images of the Savior, the Mother of God and Nicholas the Wonderworker. At the same time, the image of the Lord should be in the middle, at the right (at the right) - the Virgin Mary, and the left (the left) - Nikolai the Sinner.

A little lower icons are revered by the family of saints. On the last level, you can put a bottle of holy water, candles and the Gospel.

Make the corner red

Decorate the iconostasis home You can live flowers, branches of pussy willow after the twelve-day festival - Entering the Lord in Jerusalem. And on the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the poles with images are framed with birch branches, as a symbol of the grace of the power of God.

On the shelf for icons, you can also set reproductions of images. Beforehand, they must be sanctified and then added to the home iconostasis. Beaded embroider a kiot (frame) for them, and then they will look harmoniously with other icons.

We produce a shelf

If you do not have the opportunity to purchase a support for images, or all those models that you have seen, you did not like or do not fit (for example, a small number of tiers, limited space, etc.), then the iconostasis with your own hands, photos of which are presented in the article , Can be made by yourself. For a standard three-level iconostasis, you will need wooden boards, a drill and screws. In order to collect it, you need to create drawings of the home iconostasis. On them you can easily calculate the size of the wooden panels, which will depend on the number of icons on the iconostasis.

A simple process

The most basic pedestal for holy images can be made from plywood. Beforehand, it is necessary to attach icons to it using screws in accordance with the celestial hierarchy. After that, you should make a rifle for the icons - this is a special salary that frames the images. It can be created from embroidered fabric or from beads and beads. This will give the shelf for the icons a festive and solemn appearance. That's how you can make the iconostasis home with your own hands. Photos of similar works in this article will help you in its design.

Thus, the creation of a small church at home is not so much an indispensable condition for the life of an Orthodox Christian as his spiritual impulse and desire. After all, he who believes and loves the Lord always wants to address him in prayers and during the liturgy, and in the home service. It does not matter whether your iconostasis is made of expensive materials and is lined with gilded images, or you manually created it by collecting holy images. The main value is your faith and striving for spiritual perfection.