ICON. See Eastern Church, III., § 6.
ICONOCLASM, ICONOCLAST. See Images and Image-Worship, II., §§ 2-3.
ICONOSTASIS, aVloo-nes'ta-sis: In the Eastern Church, a screen, generally decorated with pictures, which stands before the altar and conceals it. From the first, it was customary in the Christian Church to mark off the bema by rails, but, these being very low, the altar was not hidden until pillars were placed before it and curtains were used. The iconostasis became more and more frequent as the Greek service increased in symbolism. Thus orig inated the modern templon, which is generally a latticed screen, more or less gilded, with three doors, the middle and largest of which is called the royal and opens toward the altar. This screen is deo orated with pictures,, and hence derives its name (Gk. eikonoatasis, " picture-place "). The pictures are usually four in number, one representing the saint in whose honor the church is dedicated; the second representing Mary; the third Christ; and the fourth John the Baptist They are impressive, are painted on a gold background, are often gor geously set with jewels or paste, and are brightly illuminated by the lights and lamps placed or sus pended before them. The so-called" Painters' Book of Mt. Athos " (2d ed., Athens, 1885) gives technical directions for the production of these screens.
Bibliography: Symeon of Thessalonica, Heel ro'v ayiov vao-v, in MPG, clv.; Nicholas of Bulgaria, sarftnoLc iepa, Venice, 1681; H. Brockhaus, Die Kunst in den AtkosKl6stern, Leipsic, 1891.
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