concept
Royal Doors (Tsarskiye vrata)
royal doors
also: Царские врата
The central doors of the iconostasis separating an Orthodox church's sanctuary from the nave, normally opened only at set points in the liturgy; leaving them open throughout the Paschal service is a distinctive Easter-week practice symbolizing the tomb thrown open.
Reading notes
- On Holy Night §71 The royal doors stand wide open
The royal doors (Tsarskiye vrata) are the central doors of the iconostasis, the icon screen separating the sanctuary from the nave, normally opened only at specific points in the liturgy; leaving them open throughout the entire Paschal service is a distinctive feature of Easter week, symbolizing the tomb thrown open and heaven made newly accessible.