The Doors
It is our tradition to model our churches on Hagia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople. The main front doors there are called the royal doors since those were the doors by which the emperor entered the temple. Given that we pray facing east (the direction of the rising son and of Christ’s return), the front entrance to the church with its royal doors is typically at the western end of the building and the altar is at the eastern end.
When it isn’t possible to have the altar facing east, such as when a church is purchased instead of built as was the case of St. Sophia’s, we consider the direction the altar is facing to be “liturgical east.” In addition to the royal doors into the church, there are three prominent doors inside the nave and at St. Sophia’s, we have three additional non-prominent doors: in the front on either side of the iconostas are white doors which go to a sacristy and vestry. In the back corner, there is a door to a room used for counseling, spiritual direction, and confession.
Deacon’s Doors
The north deacon’s door and south deacon’s door are on either side of the iconostas. Deacons and servers use these doors for going between the sanctuary and the nave in their ministries.
Deacon’s doors have icons of either angels or deacon saints on them to indicate the messengers of God.
Our deacon’s doors have the Archangels Michael on the north and Gabriel to the south.
Holy Doors
The holy doors are the main doors in the center of the iconostas. During the Great Entrance, the priest and/or bishop walk with the gifts through the holy doors.
Our holy doors have icons of the four evangelists–Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John–and of St. Gabriel and the Ever-Virgin Mary at the Annunciation.
It is our tradition to model our churches on Hagia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople. The main front doors there are called the royal doors since those were the doors by which the emperor entered the temple. Given that we pray facing east (the direction of the rising son and of Christ’s return), the front entrance to the church with its royal doors is typically at the western end of the building and the altar is at the eastern end.
When it isn’t possible to have the altar facing east, such as when a church is purchased instead of built as was the case of St. Sophia’s, we consider the direction the altar is facing to be “liturgical east.” In addition to the royal doors into the church, there are three prominent doors inside the nave and at St. Sophia’s, we have three additional non-prominent doors: in the front on either side of the iconostas are white doors which go to a sacristy and vestry. In the back corner, there is a door to a room used for counseling, spiritual direction, and confession.
Deacon’s Doors
The north deacon’s door and south deacon’s door are on either side of the iconostas. Deacons and servers use these doors for going between the sanctuary and the nave in their ministries.
Deacon’s doors have icons of either angels or deacon saints on them to indicate the messengers of God.
Our deacon’s doors have the Archangels Michael on the north and Gabriel to the south.
Holy Doors
The holy doors are the main doors in the center of the iconostas. During the Great Entrance, the priest and/or bishop walk with the gifts through the holy doors.Our holy doors have icons of the four evangelists–Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John–and of St. Gabriel and the Ever-Virgin Mary at the Annunciation.