www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Photo Gallery Iconostas in Izhevsk, Russia

This struck me as a very beautiful Iconostas.

Would that the men and boys in the church viewing this beautiful iconastasis were more appropriately attired. Where's a good Babushka when you need one?

Fr David Straut

Wonderful!

The Iconostas is indeed beautiful - pity we don't have some close-ups. As to the attire, the only really objectionable one is the young man in shorts - someone should tell him we don't dress that way in Church.

Fr. Serge

I would've liked some closeups also. It's a single picture from Wikipedia. I couldn't find anything else.

I really like the simple whitewashed walls juxtaposed with the exquisite iconostasis. Very nice.

Alexis

I am not crazy about the iconography. Looks too 19th century "Imperial Russian Court" style to me. Especially that picture of the so-called "New Testament Trinity."

Are women allowed to have bare arms showing, as does the woman in the headscarf to the right of the picture? I assume that more conservative Orthodox churches' dress code is similar to that at "traditional" Roman churches - where, as far as I've ever experienced, women are not allowed to bare their arms in such a manner.

Alexis

It is proabably a museum, that is why everyone is in shorts. Reminds me of one church my teacher visited that the communists converted into a museum of the history of athiestism.

If it is a museum, which it probably is, it is tragic. I can only imagine what an Iconostas like that would cost to build here.

A small church could probably be built for the same price!

The iconostasis is breathtaking.

It does not look as if there is a service going on.

These are most probably tourists. I wouldn't worry so much about how the people are dressed.

There is so much religious apathy in today's young generation, that anything that might touch them spiritually, including visiting a church as a tourist, is indeed a good thing...

Alice

Click on the photo and look at the top middle icon of the 'Trinity'.

Is this a proper icon or not? I've heard from some that an icon of the Father is not proper. Does anyone know?

Monomakh

Technically, it is NOT proper. That being said, you will find numerous examples of icons of God the Father in the Slavic Tradition. Even the Kurskaya Mother of God has an image of God the Father on Her riza. This practice seems to have crept into the Church around the time of Pyotr Mogila's introduction of some Western thinking into the Church. I am not aware of any Old Rite representations of God the Father, and when it comes to iconography, the Starovertsi have remained the guardians of what is proper.

Alexandr

Old Rite icons often show God the Father. Icons of the 'Paternity' and 'New Testament Trinity' are common, despite their prohibition by the Stoglav Council in 1551.

Spasi Khristos - Mark, unworthy monk.

It makes me wonder if the walls are white because the church was captured and used for other purposes during soviet times. Perhaps at one time the walls were alive with icons and perhaps they will be again one day.