Do you know where the royal gates are located? Read and find out.
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Temples in any of the religions are created according to certain canons with a number of mandatory components. For Christians, one of the most important temple elements is the so -called royal gates - from ancient times (from the 4th century) the main, “front” entrance to the altar and the central part of the iconostasis.
Tsarist gate - entrance for rulers
Historians argue that initially the royal gates were really the front entrance for the rulers. The fact is that initially Christianity was an underground religion, which a few professed - mainly, at home, gathering in a narrow circle of like -minded people.
Gradually, the popularity of this religion increased, and in The 4th century AD has become a state religion in Rome. It was then that for the rituals of Christianity to the followers of Christianity, the Roman rulers identified the most spacious buildings in cities - basilica, which also served as a place for trade and resolve legal issues. In the basilica, royal gates were already built, like an entrance for representatives of the ruling elite, while ordinary people had the right to use only secondary passages.
It was so that the head of the community was the bishop, as well as the emperor (who were expected by all the audience) entered the basilica through the royal gates, and this was not only a signal to the beginning of the liturgy, but also a solemn element of worship as a whole.
At first, in ancient churches, the altar part was not allocated, but over time it began to be conditionally designed with the help of low partitions, then - curtains called catapesma. The curtains were used during worship, especially during the consecration of gifts, and in the second millennium they began to abundantly decorate with embroidery and scenes from the life of the saints.
After allocation of the altar part of the temple, the doors leading to the altar - the holy of holies, and not the front door, acquire the ritual meaning in the liturgy. And only somewhere by the XV century a iconostasis is formed with an altar and royal gates, familiar and today's believers.
Royal gates as an important symbol in Christianity
In the process of the development of Christianity, the church community has grown so much that it gradually began to be divided into smaller components - parishes in the temples of which the services were carried out by priests without the participation of the bishop. Because of this, at the beginning of the 9th century, the process of entering the bishop itself both to the church as a whole, and in the altar itself was filled with new rites and meaning, called “Small Entrance” (another option is the entrance with the Gospel).
The gospel is given special importance, since during the origin of Christianity this book had to be carefully hidden and solemnly carried out during the service. After the need for the concealment of the book disappeared, it began to be stored on the throne and introduced through the deacon gates, and already endure - through the royal ones.
Also, through the royal gates, a great entrance is carried out, during which a group of priests takes a bowl with the blood of Christ (wine) and a discos (the body of Christ) for the performance of a cherubic song. This tradition is traced from the end of the 4th century as a symbol of the deceased body of Christ with subsequent laying into the coffin and further resurrection, in the interpretation of the Byzantines - as a meeting of Christ as a king, accompanied by angels.
Royal gates as an architectural element
Since the royal gates are considered to be the entrance to Paradise - the Kingdom of Heaven, the Church is very serious to their design. Firstly, they are located exclusively along the central axis of the temple, and behind them-the throne and a high place. This is the most decorated element of the iconostasis with all kinds of jewelry.
Interesting fact: The royal gates are allowed to be moved from one church to another, and in the era of militant atheism, when the temples were massively destroyed, the believers were in a hurry to save them in order to subsequently put them into restored or re -erected temples.
The image of four evangelists of the apostles and the Annunciation or their schematic representation on the royal gates of the four evangelists is considered traditional. For example, in the form of animals, birds and divine entities: an eagle instead of John the Theologian, Taurus instead of Luke, a lion instead of Mark and an angel instead of Matthew.
From above, a secret petroleum, communion of the apostles or the Holy Trinity is traditionally placed on top - a certain way of salvation of the human soul, which opens thanks to the birth and sacrifice of Jesus and is explained in the Gospel.
Due to the absence of hard canons regarding the material for the manufacture of the royal gates, beautiful memos made by ancient architects of wood, stone, porcelain and even iron have been preserved to this day.
When are the royal gates open?
Royal gates - A very symbolic part of the temple, and therefore they can open only in some cases. For example, during the Easter week, they do not close at all, symbolizing a possible entrance to paradise for all mortals thanks to the self -sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The very discovery of the royal gates demonstrates the most important periods of service, and the clergy themselves emphasize this, offering prayers before entering them, referring to the entry into the holy of the Holy Temple, where in Jerusalem everyone except the high priests was strictly prohibited.
Video: What are the royal gates?
