The Premier Site for Russian Culture
Carved icons were popular in north Russia and Nizhny Novgorod Province in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They were erected on wooden posts in Old Believer settlements or next to the graves ...
Double-sided procession icons were traditionally placed alongside the communion table in the altar – the holy of holies in the Russian Orthodox church. The special place allotted to double-sided icon...
Pectoral crosses made of expensive metals and decorated with precious stones and pearls were worn on a chain over the vestments. They often contained relics and were specially endowed to churches, wh...
The chasuble was the outer liturgical garment of the priest and chasuble consisted of three sections – the shoulderpiece, body and tail. Chasubles were traditionally sewn from rich imported cloths – ...
The Russian Orthodox marriage ceremony is called “crowning” in Greek and Russian, explaining the importance of wedding crowns during the service. Old Russian crowns were traditionally made from wood,...
A wide array of silver crosses were created in medieval Russia, ranging from simple four-ended crosses to handsome works decorated with multiple braiding and multi-coloured enamel. Body crosses were ...
The tabernacle was used to store the holy sacrament when communing with the sick or during the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Hosts of St Gregory Homiliastes in Lent. It was placed in the centre of th...
The various lighting appliances in Russian Orthodox churches were of great liturgical importance. The presence of living sources of light during the church service symbolised the Light of Christ and ...
Chandeliers consisted of a bowl hanging from chains and were an important element in the interior decor of Russian Orthodox churches. There were various types of lighting appliances – candlesticks fo...
The asterisk (Greek: “little star”) is a sacred vessel consisting of two arched metal bands joined together in the shape of a cross. It was placed on the patin to prevent the veil from touching the p...