Royal Doors
Royal Doors is a two-leaved door located in the center of the iconostasis separating the altar part of the temple from the main one, where parishioners stay during divine services.
The holy doors serve as the entrance to the altar. It is through them that the clergyman passes during the liturgy, bringing out the Holy Gifts, intended for the communion of the faithful.
On the sides of the Royal Doors there are the Deacons’ Doors. Deacons pass through them to assist the clergyperson in conducting the liturgy.
The tradition of using the Royal Gates dates back to the early Christian era. In catacomb temples, the altar was separated from the rest of the space by symbolic columns or a small partition. Later, in the Orthodox Church, the altar hedge was transformed into an iconostasis, in the center of which the Holy Doors appeared.
Their canonical image was formed under the influence of Byzantine culture. Today, the plot of the Annunciation (Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary) is most often depicted on the leaves.
The Royal Doors symbolize the gates of Paradise and the Kingdom of Heaven. They remind us of the boundary between the earthly and heavenly worlds. At certain moments of divine service, the door opens, which means the opening of the entrance to Paradise.
What materials are the Royal Doors made of?
In modern temple architecture, brass (an alloy of copper and zinc), and sometimes in combination with marble, is in demand as a material for making iconostasis gates.
These materials have several advantages:
- Aesthetics. The warm tones of the metal give the doors a noble and solemn look, perfectly in harmony with the temple interior.
- UV resistance. The alloy retains its color and structure even under prolonged exposure to sunlight.
- Endurance. The materials are resistant to mechanical damage, including scratches, chips, cracks and deformation.
- Corrosion resistance. Brass and bronze are not susceptible to destruction from moisture, they are not afraid of exposure to aggressive environments, on the contrary, they acquire a noble antique appearance under their influence.
- Resistance to temperature changes, including cold and warmth. Alloys retain their properties under significant temperature fluctuations, which is especially important in a temple with unstable temperature conditions.
- Malleability in processing. Brass and bronze can be molded, milled, minted and cast, allowing you to create complex decorative elements.
The bronze and brass cast Royal Doors for the iconostasis can be decorated with gilding and silvering, which make it possible to emphasize the solemnity of the products. Silvering can be complemented with blackening to give the doors an aged effect.
Where to order the Royal Doors for the Orthodox Church
Dialit company specializes in custom-made church utensils and temple decorations. Full-cycle production allows you to complete a project from measurements to installation, and most often as part of a marble iconostasis.
The work process includes several stages:
- The craftsmen go to the facility and take measurements.
- Based on the measurements, the design engineers create a preliminary design of the Royal Doors for the marble iconostasis, select materials and calculate the cost.
- The project is submitted to the customer for review and approval.
- After approval, the product goes into production.
High-quality casting of bronze and brass products with careful detailing and fine surface roughness is carried out at Dialit’s own production facility. Specialists also perform gilding and silvering of metal, and blackening by hand.
If necessary, craftsmen can create themed temple sculptures or bas-reliefs with minting. All products are individually designed by Dialit company and are unique because they are tailored to the interior and style of each church.
Upon completion of production, Dialit craftsmen can install the Holy Doors in Ukraine and abroad. The cost of the project depends on the sizes, the materials chosen and the complexity of the decoration (gilding, silvering with blackening).
To place an order, leave a request on the website or contact the manager by phone. An employee of the company will provide photos of completed projects with an indication of the estimated price.