INTERIOR - NARTHEX and
SANCTUARY
Saint Nicholas Greek
Orthodox Cathedral
36 N Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs, FL
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral - Official Website
On this page below:
- Narthex
- Narthex Candle Room
- Pan photo: Sanctuary, Dome, and Nave
- Sanctuary Inconostasis Apostle Icons
- Sanctuary Mother of God Mural
- Sanctuary Iconostasis Last Supper Mural
- Sanctuary Iconostasis Blind Arcades
- Three Iconostasis Royal Doors
- Iconostasis Four Icons Flanking the Center Royal Door
- The Relics of Saint Nicholas
NARTHEX Narthex/Entrance/Vestibule Narthex: The area where the faithful make an offering, receive a candle, light it before an icon, and offer a personal prayer before joining the congregation.  Outside front entrance doors into the narthex Note the three stained glass windows Four details below:  Outside front entrance door into the narthex - Detail #1: Etched glass on door features Latin cross and cross pattées  Outside front entrance door into the narthex - Detail #2: Stained glass window features cross pattée flanked by stenciled alpha and omega  Outside front entrance door into the narthex - Detail #3: Stained glass window illustrating Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist  Outside front entrance door into the narthex - Detail #4: Stained glass window illustrating Double-headed eagle  Narthex Left: Nave and sanctuary seen through doorway Three transom murals over the doors leading into the nave Saint Nicholas icon in display case Details below:  Narthex Mural above the center doors leading into the nave Display stand with icon Mural and icon detailed below:  Narthex Transom mural over the center door leading into the nave: Jesus with childen  Narthex Icon on display stand in front of center doors leading into the nave  Narthex Transom mural over the left door leading into the nave: Jesus watches Elijah taken to heaven in a chariot (2 Kings 2:1-13)  Narthex Transom mural over the right door leading into the nave: Mother of God  Narthex Chandelier with icon  Narthex Saint Nicholas icon in display case Two details below:  Narthex Saint Nicholas icon in display case - Detail #1 Double-headed eagle  Narthex Saint Nicholas icon in display case - Detail #2 This icon of Saint Nicholas by George Saclarides is famous for the drops of moisture that formed inside the glass, believed by the faithful to be tears shed by the saint. The tiny droplets, first seen by a parishioner cleaning the church, began in 197o. They continued for several years and were declared a"phenomenon beyond human comprehension" by His Eminence Archbishop Lakovos.  Narthex Silver plated icon of Mother of God Detail below:  Narthex Silver plated icon of Mother of God - Detail  Narthex Icon  Narthex Votive candles above Saint Nicholas mosaic, 1 of 2 mosaics of Saint Nicholas in the narthex Two details below:  Narthex Top: Greek key design Votive candles  Narthex Saint Nicholas mosaic  Narthex The second narthex Saint Nicholas mosaic |
Narthex Candle Room  Candle room is on the left side of the narthex Note the votive candles Two details below:  Narthex candle room  Narthex candle room  Narthex candle room Stained glass window features crown and cross patté  Narthex candle room Icon: Saint Panteleimon the Unmercenary Healer, a martyred physician who dedicated his life serving the poor  Narthex candle room Silver-plated icon of Michael Archangel Detail below:  Narthex candle room Silver-plated icon of Michael Archangel - Detail  Narthex candle room Silver-plated icon of the Annunciation |
Sanctuary, Dome, Nave 
TOP:
Beginning of the nave, including chandelier.
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Sanctuary Iconostasis
Apostle Icons  Sanctuary. Iconostasis: altar screen; a wall of icons with three doors (In this photo only the center Royal Door is shown; other side doors are shown below). Only clergy, during mass, are allowed through the Royal Door to the Greek-imported marble altar behind the iconostasis. The APOSTLE ICONS are the nine gold-framed round icons plus the two icons below:   Apostle Peter - Lower left  Apostle Philip - Above Peter  Apostle James the Greater  St. Andrew the Apostle - saltire cross attribute  St. John the Evangelist - beardless young man with flowing hair depiction  St. Matthias, chosen as an apostle in Acts 1:21-26 to replace Judas Iscariot  St. Bartholomew the Apostle  Apostle James the Less  Apostle Thomas  St. Simon the Zealot Apostle  Saint Paul (not an original apostle) - Lower right Detail below:  Saint Paul - Detail |
Sanctuary Mother of God Mural  Sanctuary Mother of God mural originally decorated the earlier 1925 church. Mother of God mural is located behind the iconostasis and above the altar which is not shown in this photo. Two details below:  Sanctuary Mother of God mural - Detail #1  Sanctuary Mother of God mural - Detail #2  Sanctuary Chandelier |
Iconostasis - Last Supper Mural Last Supper mural is located in this photo behind the hanging chandelier - see below:  Sanctuary Iconostasis: Crucifix, Eye of Providence, Jesus in Gethsemane, Last Supper, Jesus carrying his cross  Sanctuary Iconostasis: Eye of Providence  Sanctuary Iconostasis: Eye of Providence, Jesus in Gethsemane, Last Supper, Jesus carrying his cross  Sanctuary Iconostasis: Chandelier  Last Supper mural |
Iconostasis - Blind arcades Blind arcades flank the Last Supper - See below:  Blind arcades flank the Last Supper  Atop the left blind arcade: Rooster  Iconostasis: Left blind arcade 2 details below:  Iconostasis: Left blind arcade - Detail #1: Annunciation, Birth of Jesus  Iconostasis: Left blind arcade - Detail #2: Presentation in the Temple, Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptists  Atop the right blind arcade: Bible  Iconostasis: Right blind arcade 2 details below:  Iconostasis: Right blind arcade: - Detail #1: Crucifixion, Resurrection from the Tomb  Iconostasis: Right blind arcade: - Detail #2: Ascension, Room |
Three Iconostasis Royal Doors "The Royal doors, holy doors, or beautiful gates are the central doors of the iconostasis in an Eastern Orthodox. In Orthodox Churches, the sanctuary is separated from the nave by a wooden screen callecd the iconostasis and located east end of the church. The iconostasis represents Christian continuity from the veil of the Temple of Jerusalem which separated the people from the Holy of Holies that housed the Ark of the Covenant. "Normally, the iconostasis has three doors in it. The two single doors to the right and left are "deacon doors" or "angel doors" and they usually have on them icons of either sainted deacons (Saint Stephen, Saint Lawrence, etc.) or the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. "These are the doors that the clergy will normally use when entering the altar. The central double doors are the "Royal Doors" or Holy Doors or beautiful gates", which are considered to be most sacred, and may only be entered at certain sacrd moment during tbhe sevices, and only by ordained clergy (deacons, priests, bishops)." - Saint Nectartios Greek Orthodox Church and Shrine (online April 2025)  Note door to the left of the iconostasis. Painted on the door is Michael the Archangel. Detail below:  (Left) Angel door Michael the Archangel  Iconostasis: Central Royal Door Four details below:  Iconostasis: Central Royal Door - Detail #1: Christ as The High Priest (See Wikipedia: "High Priest of Israel," online April 2025). At left in photo are blind arcade icons (shown above on this page.) Three details below:  Iconostasis: Central Royal Door - Detail #2: Marble surround  Iconostasis: Central Royal Door - Detail #3: Christ as High Priest  Iconostasis: Central Royal Door - Detail #4: Christ as High Priest  Iconostasis: Angel door to the right of the iconostasis. Painted on the door is Archangel Gabriel. Detail below:  Iconostasis: Angel door to the right of the iconostasis - Archangel Gabriel detail |
Iconostasis - Four Icons Flanking the Center Royal Door Sometimes there are 8 flanking icons (Ex.: Saint Nectartios Greek Orthoidox Church and Shrine; online April 2025)  Iconostasis: Icons to the left of the Central Royal Door: St. Nicholas, Mother of God  Iconostasis: Icon to the left of the Central Royal Door: St. Nicholas Detail below:  Iconostasis: |