Just a note - we had some discussion of this same photo very recently on the Forum's Photo Gallery - see here.

Notably, we reached no conclusion at that time either. I will say, though, that, in viewing it again, I am really find myself wondering if it's been photoshopped to insert the couple.

The very recently suppressed Holy Ghost Byzantine Church in Cleveland is a striking example of a floor to ceiling iconostasis - see here.

I suspect that Father John's experience and exposure may have been colored by his location. Having viewed photos of several hundred iconostases in the past two years of working on the Directory, the more solid and higher ones are generally to be found in the East and Upper Midwest - particularly the 'Holy Lands' of the Coal and Rust Belts - whereas those in the Southwest are more likely to be open and/or shorter in height.

Many years,

Neil

Fr. John: St. Nicholas of Myra has a full height iconostas, and it's Ruthenian...

We used to have the "open" style, in fact, it was just ironwork and completely visible through, save for the 4 main icons. But many UGCC and Ruthenian parishes with the more open style have since installed/reinstalled more traditional iconostas.

For the record, most all of the EC Churches I've been in are in the east or midwest.

Oh well, so much for guessing

The railings in front of the iconostasis is not seen in many churches today. That might be a clue.

Oddities of lighting in the image cause me to think the couple in the ad are indeed graffed in from a different picture. It looks to me like just another photoshop job.

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Nice catch, Paul.

Ours is still the form you mentioned. Looks strange now that we are doing the walls.

In some ways, I miss the old Ironwork; It had several stages...
Stage 0: mosaic icons to either side of sanctuary (Pantocrator, Theotokos), no iconostasis at all. Sanctuary has mosaic icon of cross with crucifix mounted in front.
Stage 1: Just the ironwork, with doors; Icons still present
Stage 2: Add Pantocrator and Theotokos Icons on iconostas
Stage 3: Add Sts Nicholas of Myra and John the Forerunner on iconostas
Stage 4 (New Iconostas stage 1): replace with wooden iconostasis and doors, but missing upper icons, and using old icons
Stage 5 (Stage 2): Upper frame added, 4 great Icons on iconostas replaced, mosaic icons remain to sides, mosaic & crucifix in sanctuary remains. Nothing of old Iconostas remains in use.

New Iconostas has since had upper rack and door icons added a few at a time as the Iconographer completed them.

There doesn't appear to be an e-mail address on their site. I could only find a link where you can ask a question by "submitting a ticket": http://www.catholicmatch.com/help/ticket.html

How un-Byzantine, Ray

I sent an email to Catholicmatch.com about the church used in their advertising.

This was their response:

Griego,

I saw that identical response elsewhere. They've certainly gotten their money's worth from the photo - it has attracted attention, commentary, and analysis on OC.net, CAF, and at least one other site besides here - as well as on a couple of blogs.

Btw, as to the question of it being photoshopped, two friends of mine, both quite expert at such things, idependently examined it closely. Both assured me that it is not; each pointed out that detail of the iconostasis can be viewed through the diaphanous texture of the bride's veil as the basis for their conclusion.

Many years,

Neil

I also believe it to be photo shopped. I have some more questions about this.
1. Where are the sponsors?
2. Where are the crowns?
3. Where is the table with gospel, wedding chalice and icons on it?
4. And we have already covered where is the priest?