I see many Orthodox people venerating the icons of the iconostasis. Is this correct? Indeed, I read this was reserved in fact to priests, deacon and bishops? Moreover, someone told me this was never done in Mount Athos. Does anyone know somethnig about this subject?
Personally, I do not venerate them...
Priidite, poklonimsja i pripadem ko Hristu.
The large icons of Christ and the Theotokos are the bishop's icons. Only the bishop venerates these. The priest and deacon venerate the portal icons that are on the beam that the toyal doors are attached to. Out of ekonomia, if there are no portal icons the priest and deacon may be given a bledding to venerate the iconostasis icons, but the laity are not supposed to ever venerate them. I have heard that in the Old Rite this is different however.
Yes but what about the other icons composing the iconostasis? At the right and left of the Theotokos and Christ's icons. Are they "open" to veneration? By whom?
Priidite, poklonimsja i pripadem ko Hristu.
I see the elderly ,I mean Elderly(70-90 year Old) Russian old calendar men and women venerating the Iconostas every vigil and Divine Liturgy, I thought that the rule is, when The Bishop is at the Church these Icons dont get venerated, just like when the bishop is at the church we only get Blessings from the Bishop himself and not the Priest, unless of a grave or lack of knowledge situation.....
The Iconostas are reserved for the bishop where ever his Staff and cloth are standing by the Main Icon of CHRIST on the right of the Iconostas,
sometimes there is a staff there, but with no cloth meaning he isnt there, RIGHT?
so again we should all learn these rules of respect for our Bishops
like the Iconostas, how we approach a Bishop and ask for a Blessing,
on this group one day someone brought up an archPriest who should be old calendar/traditionalist, because of his Piety and words of wisdom, yet he has surpassed all this human error stuff and remained with his bishops, his name is Fr.Basil of a new calendar OCA church ,I heard him once say that" when the Bishop comes we should all flock with respect and listen to his words as he is the Apostolic succession from Christ Himself " another thing I once heard is that Angels are all around these Bishops, and they rejoice when we approach in love,respect, and this is also the reason why the staff is left outside by the iconostas, because the bishop doesnt minister to the angels, as they watch and protect outside of normal time...
Yes I was asking this question because I see too many people venerating the iconostatsis. However, I was learnt by different sources this is wrong :
1° by a Serbian priest who told me this is not made in Mount Athos
2° by the book a Guide to Orthodox life (published by ETNA) was clearly told that this was incorrect even if it xas practiced even in Traditionnalist parishes
I have seen this practice essentially in Russian parishes but very few people did so in the Serbian parish...
I think technically this is problematic because venerating the iconostaisi would mean for a layman climbing on the ambon... which is reserved to the clergy...
Priidite, poklonimsja i pripadem ko Hristu.