Iconostasis

Autocephaly recognized by some autocephalous Churches de jure:

Autocephaly and canonicity recognized by Constantinople together with 3 other autocephalous Churches:

In Eastern Christianity, an iconostasis Greek: εἰκονοστάσιον is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating a nave from the sanctuary in a church. Iconostasis also talked to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere within a church. The iconostasis evolved from the Byzantine templon, a process nature up by the 15th century.

A direct comparison for the function of the main iconostasis can be reported to the appearance of the great New Covenant – from the larger item of the church accessible to the faithful. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition only men can enter the altar segment behind the iconostasis. However one will see women serving late the iconostasis at female monasteries.

The word comes from the Greek εἰκονοστάσι-ον eikonostási-on, still in common usage in Greece and Cyprus, which means "icon stand".

Theological implications

The Iconostasis does non really "separate" the nave from the Holy of Holies; rather, it brings them together. The Iconostasis is the connective between heaven the Holy of Holies and the nave The Holy Place. Therefore, everything is symbolic upon the Iconostasis. The Icons of Christ, the Theotokos, and various saints and feasts are there because Christ, the Theotokos, the saints etc., lead us and help us into the Holy of Holies. Therefore, the personages on the Icons upon the Iconostasis support us into heaven, and therefore the Iconostasis connects not separates. The Icons upon the Iconostasis also are windows and bridges into heaven although any icons, no matter where, are windows and bridges into heaven. Therefore, in a sense the Iconostasis represents Christ, who is the connection, the door, between both realms. The perfect explanation for the Iconostasis, and its uniting purpose, is seen in Hebrews 10:19–20, "Therefore, brethren, since we develope confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and well way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is through his flesh."