Discover the saints depicted on the Iconostasis by clicking the top picture

Iconostasis is one of the most striking elements in Orthodox churches. It is a screen of icons, that separates the altar and the main hall. Iconostases vary from church to church, but there are elements that repeat in each iteration. On the left, there’s an icon of mother of God, and on the right Jesus Christ and in the middle, the royal doors. The icons of Archangel Michael and Gabriel respectively hide servant doors that lead into the altar. The royal doors are only opened during religious services and only clergymen are allowed to walk through them. 

The iconostasis is one of the original art pieces made specifically for the Uspenski Cathedral by Pavel Siltsov and it is the last known iconostasis by him that is still in one piece. The 22 oil painted icons have been painted in academic style which was inspired by Italian art and emphasizes more anatomically correct portions.

The iconostasis has been under renovation since the start of 2018, and it’s planned to be finished by 2026. The whole wall has been repainted, pillars re-gilded and icons repainted to their former glory. There’s a bit of old paint left on the left side of the iconostasis to show how it looked before the renovation.