How to Choose An Iconographical Program For Your Church?

Admin
Apr 24, 2017
7 min read

Iconography and Liturgy

The Icon in the Eastern Church is not a luxury. The icons illustrate the history of the salvation and the life of Jesus, Mary and all Saints. This work of visual art is based on symbols of the theology illustrated with geometrical forms and meanings for each color, also it includes the history of the church. The icon is integral aspect of the Liturgy as texts, gestures, and chants. Celebrating liturgy in the Eastern Church without icons is like watching movie without moving images.

Iconostasis Icon Program

Iconostasis Programs are governed by a number of guidelines and traditions. The rules can vary by region and period and rites. Some Iconostasis has one tier and it can go up to seven tiers. Keep in mind there is some room for variation according to traditions and rites.

A- Complete Iconostasis

1- The Bottom First Tier Called Sovereign.

The Royal Gate; the middle gate of the iconostasis usually holds the Annunciation Icon in the middle and the four Evangelists divide two on each door.
The Last Supper is usually located over the Royal Gate.

Right Side

On the right side of the Royal Gates; the middle gate, is an icon of Christ .
On the right side of the Pantocrator Icon is located the Deacon Door or the right side door. The Icon of a Deacon or an Angel can be located on this door.
On the right side of the right deacon door is the icon of St. John the Baptist.

Left Side

On the left side of Royal Gates; the middle gate, is an icon of the Theotokos; the Virgin Mary with child.
On the Left side of Theotokos Icon is located the Deacon Door or the right side door. The Icon of a Deacon or an Angel can be located on this door.
On the right side of the right deacon door is the icon of the patron saint of the church as St. Nicholas, St Georges or Other Saint.

2- The Second Tier – Interchangeable.

On this tier are located the Icons the Twelve Great Feasts:

The Nativity Of The Theotokos
The Presentation Of The Theotokos
The Annunciation
The Nativity Of Christ
The Presentation Of The Lord
The Theophany
The Entrance Into Jerusalem
The Resurrection
The Ascension Of The Lord
The Descent Of The Holy Spirit
The Transfiguration
The Dormition Of The Theotokos
The Exaltation Of The Cross

See My Icons Here

3- The Third Tier – Interchangeable.

In the center of this tier located the icon of Diesis.

On the left and the right of the Diesis Are located the Icons the Twelve Apostles;

Saint Simon The Apostle, who was called Peter.
Saint Andrew The Apostle.
Saint James The Apostle, the son of Zebedee.
Saint John The Apostle, the Evangelist.
Saint Philip The Apostle.
Saint Bartholomew The Apostle.
Saint Thomas The Apostle.
Saint Matthew The Apostle also called Levi.
Saint James The Apostle, the son of Alphaeus.
Saint Jude The Apostle also called Thaddaeus.
Saint Simon The Apostle, the Zealot.
Saint Matthias The Apostle, who filled the place of Judas the traitor

4- The Fourth Tier.

This tier is interchangeable with the fifth tier.

The fourth tier is includes the Icon of “Our Lady of the Sign” in the middle and on the left and right of this icon are the Icons of the Old Testament Prophets, as:

Jonah, Joel, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Daniel, Obadiah, Haggai, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Malachi

5- The Fifth Tier.

This tier is interchangeable with the fourth tier.

The Fifth tier is includes the Icon of “Holy Trinity” in the middle and on the left and right of this icon are the Icons of the Patriarchs and the Fathers of the church.

6- The Sixth Tier.

This tier can includes some of the Icons of the Parabolas;

The Lamp, The Speck and The Log, New Cloth on Old Garment, The Divided Kingdom, The Sower, The Growing Seed, The Good Samaritan, The Friend at Midnight, The Rich Fool, The Barren Fig Tree, The Weeds Among the Wheat, The Mustard Seed, The Leaven, Hidden Treasure, Pearl of Great Price, The Net, The Invited Guests, The Heart of Man, The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, The Prodigal Son, The Rich Man and Lazarus, The Persistent Widow, The Pharisee and The Publican, The Unforgiving Servant, Laborers in the Vineyard, The Two Sons, The Tenant Farmers, Marriage Feast or Great Banquet, The Budding Fig Tree, The Faithful vs. The Wicked Servant, The Ten Virgins, Ten Talents or Gold Coins.

7.The seventh Tier.

This tier can includes some of the Icons of the Miracles of Jesus Christ;

Changing water into wine.
Healing of the royal official's son.
Healing of the Capernaum demoniac.
Healing of Peter's mother-in-law.
Healing the sick during the evening.
Catching a large number of fish.
Healing a leper.
Miracle of healing a centurion's servant .
Healing a paralyzed man.
Healing a withered hand.
Raising a widow's son.
Calming the storm.
Healing the Gerasene man possessed by demons.
Healing a woman with internal bleeding.
Raising Jairus' daughter.
Healing two blind men.
Healing a mute demon-possessed man.
Healing a 38 year invalid.
Feeding 5000 men and their families.
Walking on water.
Miraculous healing of many people in Gennesaret.
Healing a girl possessed by a demon.
Healing a deaf man with a speech impediment.
Feeding the 4,000 men and their families.
Healing a blind man.
Healing a man born blind.
Healing a demon-possessed boy.
Catching a fish with a coin in its mouth.
Healing a blind and mute man who was demon-possessed.
Healing a woman with an 18-year infirmity.
Healing a man with dropsy.
Healing 10 lepers.
Raising of Lazarus.
Healing Bartimaeus of blindness.
Jesus curses the fig tree with no fruit.
Restoring a severed ear.
Catching 153 fish.

8- The Calvary Scene Tier

This tier uselly located on top of all tiers and includes the the icons of Christ on the cross in the middle Saint John the Apostle on the right, and the Virgin Mary on the left

B- Basic Iconostasis

Usually the first tier of the Iconostasis is called the Basic Iconostas.

The Royal Gate; the middle gate of the iconostasis usually holds the Annunciation Icon in the middle and the four Evangelists divide two on each door.
The Last Supper is usually located over the Royal Gate.

Right Side

On the right side of the Royal Gates; the middle gate, is an icon of Christ .
On the right side of the Pantocrator Icon is located the Deacon Door or the right side door. The Icon of a Deacon or an Angel can be located on this door.
On the right side of the right deacon door is the icon of St. John the Baptist.

Left Side

On the left side of Royal Gates; the middle gate, is an icon of the Theotokos; the Virgin Mary with child.
On the Left side of Theotokos Icon is located the Deacon Door or the right side door. The Icon of a Deacon or an Angel can be located on this door.
On the right side of the right deacon door is the icon of the patron saint of the church as St. Nicholas, St Georges or Other Saint.

Church with Iconostasis - Iconography Program

The Easiest way to decide what icons to include in your church program is to start with your Iconostasis.

Decide if you are going to have an Iconostasis in your church or not.
If you want an iconostasis in your church Decide how many tiers your Iconostasis will be
Check the above Complete Iconostasis program. The rest of the Icons tiers that you are not using in your iconostasis can be spreaded around the church interior or at least choose some of them.
The Pantocrator inside the main dome if you have one, if you don’t have a dome consider having a flat icon of the Pantocrator hanging on the ceiling.

The Most Holy Theotokos as Platytera Ton Ouranon, Enthroned with two Angels Behind the altar.
The last Supper Behind the altar under the Platytera or over the exit door. in front of the altar.

Also consider integrating the following icons in your program:

Saints Icons, including Saints Icons is a grate way to collect donations from Church parishioners and give saint for each family
Angels Icons, you can dedicate Angels for families in your Parish
Seraphim and Cherubim Icons – can be on the church wall or inside the dome with the Pantocrator.
The Pantocrator inside the dome
The four Evangelists on the four corners of the Dome
Sundays Icons, Also include the portable icons that you display every Sunday in your program, usually the size of this icon is 13in x 16in. these icons can be saints icons and the great feasts.

Church without Iconostasis - Iconography Program

If you choose to not have an Iconostasis in your church I suggest that you do the followings;

Dedicate 2 fixed places on the side of the altar one on the Left for the Icon of Virgin Mary and one on the right for the Icon of Jesus Christ.
Find a place to spread the 12 Icons of the Holy Apostles around the altar or consolidate them to 2 groups of six, and install them one group on the right wall and the other group on the left wall of the Altar.
The twelve Feasts Icons can be installed around the Nave of the Church. Make sure that the icon of the Baptism of Jesus be near to your Baptismal Fount.
Also consider to integrate some of the followings icons: Icons of the Old Testament Prophets, Icons of the Patriarchs, Icons of the Parabolas, Icons of the Miracles of Jesus Christ, The Icons of the Calvary and the Theological Icons as the trinity.
Saints Icons, including Saints Icons is a grate way to collect donations from Church parishioners and give saint for each family.
Angels Icons, you can dedicate Angels for families in your Parish.
Seraphim and Cherubim Icons – can be on the church wall or inside the dome with the Pantocrator.
The Pantocrator inside the dome.
The four Evangelists on the four corners of the Dome
The Most Holy Theotokos as Platytera Ton Ouranon, Enthroned with two Angels Behind the altar.
The last Supper Behind the altar under the Platytera or over the exit door. in front of the altar.
Sundays Icons, Also include the portable icons that you display every Sunday in your program, usually the size of this icon is 13in x 16in. these icons can be saints icons and the great feasts