DEISIS TIER

The subject of the Deisis tier is praying, intercession to God for mankind. In the centre of the Deisis tier there is a canonical composition Christ in Majesty with interceding (on the right hand — the Mother of God and the Archangel Michael, on the left hand — St John the Precurser and the Archangel Gabriel. The figures of the apostles are located on both sides of this composition, which is why the whole tier is also called the Apostles’ tier. The Christ in Majesty is the semantic core of the iconostasis.

The Mother of God is shown half-turned toward the centre of the tier in a prayer. In her left hand she holds a scroll with the prayer. The preacher's aspect is highlighted in the image of St John the Baptist wearing a melote and himation as an ascetic anchoret. His right hand is raised in blessing, while in his left hand he holds a scroll with the text concerning the approach of the Kingdom of Heaven and time of repentance.

The Archangels are presented with spheres and thin batons in their hands, wearing the garments with the Loros, adopted from the garments of Byzantine emperors.

All the depicted apostles are the twelve selected disciples who were sent by Christ to evangelize. Among them are Simon the Zealot; St Andrew the First-Called, the first one summoned for the apostle service and preach Christ among the Slav; Apostles and Evangelists St John the Theologian and St Matthew; prime Apostles Peter and Paul, and Apostles Jude and Jacob.