Abstracts of Papers

It is impossible in one book, albeit a Large one. to cover all the aspects of the
iconostasis or to give a detailed history of it. This collection does not encompass
many facts and a whole complex of technological, architectural-constructional,
stylistic and other questions. Attention is concentrated on the semantics, origins
and evolution of the symbolical structure in its direct connection with the
spiritual life of the age. The dominant subject, the “iconography” of the iconosta-
sis, is read as an historically determined text presented in visual images. The
chronological and geographical scope of the material is extremely broad. We are
able to trace the history of the iconostasis from the first structures of Constantine
the Great to the neo-Byzantine sanctuary barriers of the 19th century. The evo-
lution of the sanctuary barrier is examined using examples from Italy, Syria,
Armenia, Cappadocia and Sinai. Considerable space is devoted to purely Byzan-
tine subjects, first and foremost, to the art of Constantinople, which in this sphere
loo determined the ideals and tastes of the East Christian world. Two-thirds of
the book consists of art icles on Russian sanctuary barriers and high iconostases of
the 11th to 19th centuries.
The articles present a whole range of methodological approaches. From this
point of view it would be hard to find two works that are alike. Practically each
text which studies a concrete problem or historical monument offers a new
opportunity for theoretical interpretation which can be used in the further study
of the iconostasis. If one were to tty and define the general tendency, one might
say it is the striving of the author's to examine the symbolism of the iconostasis in
its liturgical context. This is fully justified, insofar as the original liturgical
function of the sanctuary barrier is a natural point of departure for all historical,
iconographical and even stylistic studies on the iconostasis theme.

Alexei Lidov
(Research Centre for Eastern Christian Culture, Moscow)
The Iconostasis: the current state of research
The first part of the article examines the main ideas of the origins and
symbolism of the iconostasis which have appeared in Russian and foreign lite-
rature over the last century and a half. An attempt is made to systematise existing
ideas and on their basis to form an up-to-date picture, a kind of point of depar-
ture for future research.
In the second part the author outlines some trends and current problems
wliich require further detailed study. We should mention the main landmarks in
the evolution of the iconostasis. In this respect it must be said that the history of
the iconostasis coincides for the most part with the history of the barrier itself, as
can be seen from the example of the 4th-century Lateran fastigium as the oldest
sanctuary barrier structure. The embodiment in icon images of the most impor-
tant ideologems of the age was, in all probability, the original task of sanctuary
barriers. This is borne out by the iconographic programmes of the pre-Icono-
clastic period, among which pride of place goes to the 6th-century sanctuary