INTERIOR - SANCTUARY
Saint Nicholas Greek
Orthodox Cathedral
36 N Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs, FL
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral - Official Website
On this page below:
- 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
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 Icon  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 icon 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 icon Mother of God - Detail #1  Sanctuary Mother of God icon - Detail #2  Sanctuary Chandelier |
Iconostasis - Last Supper Mural Last Supper icon 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 Icon |
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 American flag 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)  Largest icon decorates the center Royal Door The two icons to the left of the Royal Door are shown below:  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: |