Altarul Catedralei Patriarhale
The Altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral
The parts of an orthodox church are: the exonartex
(the porch) opening on to the street, the narthex
(the antechamber to the nave, from which it is
separated by columns, rails or a wall), the nave and
the sanctuary (the part of the church containing the
altar, enclosed by the iconostasis. It is the
portion of the church reserved to the clergy).
The screen which separates the sanctuary from the
nave presents the form of a wall of wood or stone,
covered which icons, from which it derives its name:
„iconostas”. It is pierced by three doors, the
central or Royal Door admitting to the altar and
those on the left and of the right (to the
Diaconicon, the area to the south of the sanctuary,
so-called because it is in the charge of the
deacons. In it the sacred vessels are kept the
vestments, service books and other necessaries of
Divine service.
Inside the churches, Ionescu’s eye focuses on the
altar (to this space forbidden to the believer it is
dedicated an entire series: Cotroceni, the
Patriarchate, Plumbuita, Mavrogheni) and on the
mural paintings (sacred objects and votive images
with an encomiastic role). Ionescu frames frontal or
sides, with care so that he can catch the entire
composition.
