Russian Iconostasis

Timeline

1. c. 988–1380Kievan Rus' and Novgorod · Kievan Rus'After the baptism of Rus' in 988, the Byzantine icon tradition entered with Orthodox liturgy; churches used low icon screens (темплон) to separate the sanctuary. The Mongol invasions of the 13th–14th centuries interrupted some artistic traditions, but Novgorod and Pskov continued and developed a native Russian icon style, accumulating the pictorial theology and craftsmanship needed for the tall multi-tiered iconostasis.
2. c. 1390–1430Moscow and Vladimir · Grand Duchy of MoscowThe Greek Theophanes and the Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev collaborated to create a large multi-tiered iconostasis for the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin (1405), establishing the classic structure of three or more tiers—the Deesis tier, the Feast tier (праздничный ряд), and the Prophet tier (пророческий ряд)—making the iconostasis a visible "theological book" encompassing the whole narrative of Christ's theology.
3. 1500–1530Moscow and Ferapontov Monastery · Grand Duchy of MoscowDionysius (Дионисий, c. 1440–1502) was the most important Russian icon painter at the turn of the 15th–16th centuries; his workshop dominated iconostasis creation in Moscow and northern monasteries. During the reign of Vasily III (1511–1520), Dionysius's successors continued his style of light, slender figures, bright tones, and delicate gold-line ornament, producing numerous five-tier iconostases in newly built or renovated churches, bringing Russian iconostasis art to a peak of technique and theological expression.
4. 1551–1700Moscow · Tsarist RussiaIn 1551 Ivan IV convened the Stoglav Council (Стоглав), adopting Rublev's icon style as the official standard, codifying the pictorial theology of the iconostasis, and prohibiting the intrusion of Western-style imagery. In the 17th century Westernized (Baroque) iconostases began to appear; under the influence of Peter the Great's reforms the icon tradition declined in some regions, but the Old Believer Orthodox Church has continued to maintain the classic iconostasis form to this day.