The arrangement of icons in the temple halls of Orthodox churches is not accidental, however, as well as the canons used in writing the images themselves. Each icon located there is subject to certain traditions, the rules of location on the central iconostasis.
The specific order in which specific images are located has its own name. By chance or arbitrarily, not a single icon can be placed in the temple hall. The Deesis tier is one of such unshakable rules for the arrangement of images on a part of the central iconostasis in the temple, but not only. This concept has other meanings.
What is this in the iconostasis?
The Deesis tier of the iconostasis is the traditional order of images in its second row. It is the second row that is considered the main one, both in the large, main iconostasis of the Orthodox church, and in the small one.
Of course, the central place in this row is occupied by the image of the Lord. As a rule, this is an icon depicting Christ the Almighty, less often - another, for example, an image"Savior in the Force". Next in the row are John the Baptist and, of course, the Mother of God. The Deesis rank is, of course, not limited to these images.
What other icons are included in the deesis row?
The second row in the iconostasis of an Orthodox church includes both obligatory and secondary images. Their number directly depends on the size of the iconostasis and the status of the church. This means that the deesis tier will contain much more images in a city cathedral than in a rural, not very large church.
As already mentioned, the central place in the rank is occupied by the image of the Lord. Further on the sides of Jesus are two images, they are included in each deesis rank, regardless of the status or size of the temple. These are icons depicting the Mother of God and John the Baptist.
Further, the places on the iconostasis are occupied by the archangels - Michael and Gabriel, the apostles - Paul and Peter. Following them are icons with images of martyrs, saints, reverends.
What is the meaning of the deesis series?
Of course, the Deesis rank arose for a reason, and the arrangement of icon-painting images carries a certain meaning. It is absolutely not difficult to understand it even for a person who is far from a religious worldview with a careful look at the iconostasis.
In the center of the row is the image of the Lord, staring sternly before him. The Deesis rite is continued by the Mother of God, who is at the right hand of Christ. The gaze of the Mother of God is no longer directed at the believers, but at the Lord. Image of John the Baptist orThe Baptist, located on the left hand of Jesus, is also turned towards the Lord. The location of the rest of the images that complete the row is similar.
Thus, the essence of this row is intuitive and perceived by every person. The Deesis tier depicts the judgment of the Lord over people. The Mother of God and John act as intercessors, intercessors for human souls. Therefore, their images in the iconostasis are turned towards Christ, turned to him, and not to the parishioners of the temple looking at them.
Why is the series called that?
The word behind the name "deesis" is of Greek origin. Its exact pronunciation is a subject of dispute between linguists and philologists. Many of them are inclined to believe that “deesis” is a simplified pronunciation, that is, a Russified form of the word. Pronounce it more correctly - "deisis". However, the clergy have no position on the correct pronunciation, the clergy allow both options.
The word "chin" is originally Slavic. It has several meanings, but in worship this word means a strictly defined order of something. This can be either a sequence of prayers during a service, or its charter, or some other order.
What does the name mean?
The semantic meaning of the word "deesis" is a petition, a prayer for something or someone. The main row of the iconostasis is named in this way because it is executed in the traditional Orthodoxy style of prayerful intercession. All secondary figures are turned with their faces or even bodies to God, they pray for his mercy andforgiveness.
It is precisely in the intermediary prayer for forgiveness and mercy that the dogmatic meaning of the deesis rank lies. The Mother of God and other saints pray for the forgiveness of the human race Jesus, they embody intercession for the souls of people before the Lord's throne.
Is that what they call only a row in the church iconostasis?
The Deesis tier is not only a row in the temple iconostasis. Rather, the term denotes an artistic composition that expresses a specific meaning. It can be either a combination of many icons lined up in one row, or a long wall fresco. Of course, simple icons are also made in the same style and with a similar meaning.
Deesis-style icon painting arose thanks to the formation of the liturgy in Byzantine churches. This period was associated with the so-called time of iconoclasm. In the temples of Byzantium at that time, during divine services, a small icon with a deesis plot was placed on the architrave of the altar barrier. As a rule, only the Lord himself, John the Baptist and the Mother of God were depicted on it. This was due to the fact that such content of the icon most accurately conveyed the essence of Christianity - forgiveness, intercession, love and mercy.
After the end of the era of iconoclasm, the deesis genre remained one of the most popular. Small altarpieces developed into triptychs in homes and, of course, a whole row on Orthodox church iconostases.
What are they like?
A separate composition, placed on a small board, is called "The Queen appears at the rightYou". Christ is depicted on such an icon as the King of Kings. The images of the Mother of God and John are also written in solemn clothes.
No less famous is the icon-painting composition, on which the Lord is with two archangels - Gabriel and Michael. An icon with such a composition is called "Angelic Deesis". The history of the appearance of this variant of the plot of the Deesis icon is unknown. Many historians who study Orthodoxy and everything connected with it believe that this image is not related to the deesis direction, but is a rethought presentation of the plot of the Trinity. However, the clergy attribute this version of the icon to the deesis images.
In addition to individual small images, the composite rows in the home Red corner are also referred to as deesis. The red corner is a place in the house where images of saints, lamps, candles are placed. That is, this is a place in the house intended for prayer. In the home deesis row, various deviations from the canons observed in temple iconostases are allowed. For example, the image of the Baptist in Russia is quite often replaced with an icon with the face of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Temple deesis rows can be chest, height or main. Regardless of how the row is designed, the order of the images in it is strictly observed. The central place is occupied by the Lord, next to him are the figures of the Baptist and the Virgin. Two archangels follow. Following their images, the turn of the apostles comes, and then the martyrs, saints, reverends are located.
When designing iconostases in templeshalls, this order is never violated. However, this is also true for deesis wall paintings in churches. Images with the plot "Angelic Deesis" are presented in temples exclusively in the form of individual icons located in the hall.
