How to design a red corner. Where and how to place icons in the house

The tradition of having an iconostasis in the house has existed for many centuries. An alternative to purchased products is a homemade shelf for icons. The Orthodox religion allows the use of religious objects to decorate premises. With your own hands, you can make an interior element that best matches the size and color of frames, wallpaper and other surfaces. Let's consider what options exist for choosing the configuration, materials and methods of decorating such furniture.

Design options

There are various ways to make stands for images. The main condition is the absence of objects not related to religion. The frames should not overlap each other vertically and horizontally and be placed one on top of the other. It is recommended to provide a place for a candle or lamp. If you plan to purchase new images, then the shelf for icons should have a reserve place for their installation. It is possible to provide the possibility of attaching an additional level.

The following design options exist:

single-tier;
multi-tiered;
for icons.

The choice is made based on the layout, interior and size of the room, the number of images and their configuration.

Traditionally, religious items are made from wood and materials produced from it. But there are no strict prohibitions regarding the use of metal or plastic. Craftsmen recommend wood because of its ease of processing and presentable appearance.

To work you will need the following tools:

perforator;
wood hacksaw;
roulette;
hammer;
screwdriver.

To protect your hands, vision and breathing organs, it is advisable to purchase fabric gloves, assembly glasses and a gauze bandage.

To make a shelf for icons with your own hands you will need the following materials:

boards made of solid oak, pine, cherry or walnut;
plywood, OSB or chipboard;
slats 20-40 mm wide;
sandpaper;
wood varnish;
wood glue;
steel corners and hinges;
set of dowels and screws;
plugs for hardware heads.

Depending on the choice of finishing method, you may need paint, stain or colored film.

Decoration methods

Self-made shelves for icons need finishing and decoration. This will give them a fresh and solemn look that matches the purpose of the products.

There are the following decorative options for stands for images:

waxing;
stain impregnation;
varnish coating;
adding overhead openwork details;
artistic carving;
engraving or burning;
wood painting;
applying stencils and airbrushing;
glitter, beads and beads.

It is allowed to combine several finishing methods in one product. The main thing is that it does not look too colorful, overshadowing the image.

Wood carving

Each shelf should have a crucifix. It is performed in volumetric form by. In most cases, such work is entrusted to craftsmen and it is expensive. You can make an Orthodox cross yourself, using a set of well-sharpened cutters. In addition to the crucifix, relief images of domes, images of saints and martyrs, fish, birds, animals and fairy-tale characters are applied to the walls and sides. It is allowed to cut out patterns and bas-reliefs.

Execution of volumetric fragments is carried out in the following sequence:

Selecting or making an image, transferring its outlines and small details to the workpiece.
Sawing the part along the contour, grinding off sharp edges, removing sawdust.
Making convex parts with cutters. This should be done in stages, with thin petals.
Process the product with fine sandpaper. If necessary, coat it with a primer or other protective liquid.

The crucifix and overlays are glued to the back wall. To do this accurately and without distortions, you should make outlines with a pencil.

Simulation process

Natural wood and good quality metal are not always at hand. Often craftsmen have to improvise to give image shelves an attractive look.

The following methods are used for this:

Covering wood boards or plywood to match the color of valuable wood species, natural stone or metal. Individual pieces of film can be used to depict nature and church buildings.
Artificial aging of wood and metal. The wood is given the appearance of an antique product by treating it with stain and steel brush. Copper and brass are soaked in salt water to create a patina.
Adding gilding to the paint, which makes the carved domes look authentic.

Manufacturing of parts

You can make shelves for images with balusters under the crossbars. To do this, you need to buy or rent a portable lathe. It is advisable to use a pattern so that the side is made of identical symmetrical fragments.

Do-it-yourself home iconostasis is made in the following sequence:

applying markings to workpieces;
cutting out horizontal shelves, crossbars and vertical walls;
leveling and sanding the edges of boards;
production of balusters;
drilling holes for fastening parts;
connecting fragments into a single structure;
finishing and decoration.

Finally, the finished product is tried on the wall. Screws are screwed into it, and the shelf is hung on them.

Single tier straight shelving

Shelves of this type are chosen to accommodate a large number of images or if all the corners in the room are occupied. The shelves are hung on the east wall of the room. Even for such a relatively simple rack to manufacture, drawings are necessary. Preliminary planning will allow you to fit all the details with high accuracy and calculate the required amount of building materials.

For a single-tier structure, it is necessary to take boards with a thickness of at least 15 mm. The height of the back wall should be more than 30 cm so that the images do not protrude above it. The iconostasis should be placed at eye level, provided that there are no other bright or decorative interior items nearby. To install a candle or lamp, a non-flammable stand should be provided. In order not to clutter the product with the side, you can run a low threshold along the bottom crossbar to fix the frames.

Corner shelves

In most cases, a corner shelf for icons is made in 2 or 3 tiers. This is due to the need to place several images in a small space. The optimal size is considered to be a height of 70-75 cm and symmetrical shelves 40-50 cm wide. A larger structure will look bulky even in a large room.

With the blessing of Bishop Konstantin of Tikhvin

Alekseev Sergey Vladimirovich

In his home, every Christian ... places holy and honorable images written on icons on the walls, arranging a splendid place with all sorts of decorations and lamps, in them and candles before the saints the images are burned in every praise of God ... And those worthy of touching the holy image are pure conscience... And the images of the saints are placed in the same order at the beginning, sacredly reverent, and the essence of the names of the former. In prayers and in vigils, and in prostrations and in all praise of God, always honor them...

Monk Spyridon (Sylvester)
DOMOSTROY
XVI century

The icon painter, completing the icon, inscribes
the name of the One whose Face is revealed on the icon board.
There is a connection between words and images,
name and image - an Icon is born.

Quantity and quality are different categories. It is naive to believe that the more sacred images in the home of an Orthodox Christian, the more pious his life. An unsystematized collection of icons, reproductions, and wall church calendars that occupies a significant part of the living space can often have a completely opposite effect on a person’s spiritual life.

Firstly, thoughtless collecting can turn into empty collecting, where there is no question of the prayerful purpose of the icon.

Secondly (and this is the main thing), in this case there is a distortion of the concept of home as a dwelling, as the material basis of the Orthodox family.

“My house will be called a house of prayer” () - this is about a temple that was created for prayer and the performance of the Sacraments.

The house is a continuation of the temple, nothing more; a home is, first of all, a family hearth; There is prayer in the house, but private prayer; There is a Church in the house, but the Church is small, domestic, family. The principle of hierarchy (that is, the subordination of the lower to the higher), reflecting Heavenly harmony and order, is also present in earthly life. Therefore, it is unacceptable to mix the ontologically different concepts of temple and home.

However, there must be icons in the house. In sufficient quantity, but within reasonable limits.

In the past, every Orthodox family, both peasant and urban, always had a shelf with icons, or an entire home iconostasis, in the most prominent place in their home. The place where the icons were placed was called the front corner, red corner, holy corner, shrine, icon case or ark.

For an Orthodox Christian, an icon is not only an image of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, saints and events from Sacred and Church history. An icon is a sacred image, that is, separated from the realities of everyday life, not mixed with everyday life and intended only for communication with God. Therefore, the main purpose of the icon is prayer. An icon is a window from the heavenly world into our world - the world below; it is a revelation of God in lines and colors.

Thus, an icon is not just a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation, but a shrine; a shrine that unites all family members during joint prayer, for joint prayer is possible only when mutual insults are forgiven and complete unity is achieved between the people standing in front of the icon.

Of course, at the present time, when the place of the icon in the house has been taken by the television - a kind of window into the motley world of human passions, the traditions of joint prayer at home, the meaning of the family icon, and the awareness of one’s family as a small Church have been largely lost.

Therefore, an Orthodox Christian living in a modern city apartment often has questions: what icons should he have in his house? How to place them correctly? Is it possible to use reproductions of icons? What to do with old icons that have fallen into disrepair?

Some of these questions require only a clear answer; answering others, you can do without any strict recommendations.

So where to place the icons?

In a free and accessible place.

The laconicism of such an answer is caused not by the lack of canonical requirements, but by the realities of life.

Of course, it is advisable to place icons on the eastern wall of the room, because the east as a theological concept has a special meaning in Orthodoxy.

And the Lord God planted a paradise in Eden in the east, and placed there the man whom he created ().

Look, Jerusalem, to the east, and look at the joy coming to you from God ().

And the spirit lifted me up and led me to the eastern gate of the house of the Lord, which faces the east ().

...for just as lightning comes from the east and is visible even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man ().

But what to do if the house is oriented so that there are windows or doors in the east? In this case, you can use the southern, northern or western walls of the home.

The main thing is that there is enough free space in front of the icons, so that the worshipers do not feel crowded when praying together. And for books needed during prayer, it is convenient to use a folding portable lectern.

When choosing a place for a home iconostasis, it is necessary to avoid the close proximity of icons to a TV, tape recorder and other household appliances. Technical devices belong to our time, they are momentary, their purpose does not correspond to the purpose of sacred images and, if possible, they should not be combined together.

True, there may be exceptions here. For example, in the editorial departments of Orthodox publishing houses, the proximity of an icon and a computer is quite acceptable. And if the author or employee works from home, then the icon placed near the computer serves as confirmation that this technique is used to spread the Good News, that this human-made instrument serves as a conductor of God’s will.

Icons should not be allowed to be mixed with decorative objects of a secular nature: figurines, panels made of various materials, etc.

It is inappropriate to place an icon on a bookshelf next to books whose contents either have nothing in common with Orthodox truths, or even are contrary to the Christian preaching of love and mercy.

It is completely unacceptable for icons to be adjacent to posters or wall calendars with photographs of the idols of this century - rock musicians, athletes or political figures. This not only reduces the importance of venerating sacred images to an unacceptable level, but also puts holy icons on a par with the idols of the modern world.

An example from the practice of priest Sergius Nikolaev, author of the brochure “Icons in Our House”, shows how such an attitude towards a shrine affects the spiritual state of the family:

“Last year they invited me to serve a prayer service in one house, where, according to the owners, it was “not good.” Despite the fact that the house was consecrated, some kind of oppression was felt in it. Walking around the rooms with holy water, I noticed the room of the young men, the sons of the owner, where an artistically executed poster dedicated to a famous rock band hung on the wall. Moreover, it is known for its satanic orientation.

After the prayer service, over tea, I carefully, knowing about the fanatical devotion of some young people to their idols, tried to explain that “badness” in the house could well come from even such posters, that such images seemed to be trying to resist the shrine. The young man stood up silently and removed the painting in question from the wall. The choice was made right there” (Priest Sergius Nikolaev. Icons in our house. M. 1997, pp. 7-8).

...give to the Lord the glory of His name. Take the gift, go before Him, worship the Lord in the splendor of His shrine () - this is what the Holy Scripture says about the proper attitude towards the shrine dedicated to the Lord.

The home iconostasis can be decorated with fresh flowers, and large, separately hanging icons are often, according to tradition, framed with towels.

This tradition dates back to antiquity and has a theological basis.

According to Tradition, the lifetime image of the Savior miraculously appeared to help a suffering person: Christ, having washed his face, wiped himself with a clean handkerchief (ubrus), on which His Face was displayed, and sent this handkerchief to the leprosy King Abgar of Asia Minor in the city of Edessa. The healed ruler and his subjects accepted Christianity, and the Image Not Made by Hands was nailed to a “non-rotting board” and placed above the city gates.

The day when the Church remembers the transfer of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands from Edessa to Constantinople in 944 (August 29, new style), was previously popularly called the “canvas” or “linen Savior,” and in some places homespun linens and towels were blessed on this holiday.

These towels were decorated with rich embroidery and were intended specifically for the shrine. The icons were also framed with towels, which the owners of the house used during water blessing services and weddings. So, for example, after the water-blessing prayer, when the priest generously sprinkled holy water on the worshipers, people wiped their faces with special towels, which were then placed in the red corner.

After the celebration of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem, branches of willow consecrated in the church are placed near the icons, which, according to tradition, are kept until the next Palm Sunday.

On the Day of the Holy Trinity or Pentecost, it is customary to decorate homes and icons with birch branches, which symbolize the prosperous Church, carrying the grace-filled power of the Holy Spirit.

There should not be paintings or reproductions of paintings between the icons.

A painting, even if it has a religious content, such as “The Appearance of Christ to the People” or “The Sistine Madonna” by Raphael, is not a canonical icon.

What is the difference between an Orthodox icon and a painting?

The painting is an artistic image created by the artist’s creative imagination, which is a unique form of conveying one’s own worldview. The worldview, in turn, depends on objective reasons: the specific historical situation, the political system, the prevailing moral norms and life principles in society.

An icon, as we have already mentioned, is a revelation of God, expressed in the language of lines and colors. A revelation that is given both to the entire Church and to an individual. The worldview of the icon painter is the worldview of the Church. An icon is outside of time, outside of prevailing tastes, it is a symbol of otherness in our world.

The painting is characterized by a clearly expressed individuality of the author, a unique pictorial style, specific composition techniques, and a characteristic color scheme.

The picture should be emotional, since art is a form of cognition and reflection of the surrounding world through feelings; the picture belongs to the spiritual world.

The icon painter’s brush is dispassionate: personal emotions should not take place. In the liturgical life of the Church, the icon, like the manner of reading prayers by the psalmist, is devoid of external emotions. Empathy with spoken words and perception of iconographic symbols occur on a spiritual level.

An icon is a means of communication with God and His saints.

Sometimes among the icons in the red corner you can find photographs or reproductions of photographs of priests, elders, people of righteous, godly life. Is this acceptable? If you strictly follow the canonical requirements, then, of course, no. You should not mix iconographic images of saints and photographic portraits.

The icon tells us about the saint in his glorified, transfigured state, while a photograph, even of a person later glorified as a saint, shows a specific moment in his earthly life, a separate stage of ascent to the higher heights of the spirit.

Such photographs are of course needed in the house, but they should be placed away from the icons.

Previously, along with prayer icons - sacred images, in houses, especially peasant ones, there were also pious images: lithographs of churches, views of the Holy Land, as well as popular prints, which in a naive, but bright, figurative form, told about serious subjects.

Currently, a variety of church wall calendars with reproductions of icons have appeared. They should be treated as a convenient form of printed material for an Orthodox Christian, since such calendars contain the necessary instructions regarding holidays and fasting days.

But at the end of the year, the reproduction itself can be pasted onto a solid base, consecrated in the church according to the rite of blessing the icon, and placed in the home iconostasis.

What icons should I have at home?

It is imperative to have an icon of the Savior and an icon of the Mother of God.

Images of the Lord Jesus Christ as evidence of the Incarnation and Salvation of the human race and the Mother of God as the most perfect of earthly people, worthy of complete deification and revered as the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim (Song of Praise to the Most Holy Theotokos) are necessary for the home where Orthodox Christians live.

Among the images of the Savior, a half-length image of the Lord Almighty is usually chosen for home prayer.

A characteristic feature of this iconographic type is the image of the blessing hand of the Lord and an open or closed book.

The theological meaning of this image is that the Lord appears here as the Provider of the world, as the Arbiter of the destinies of this world, the Giver of truth, to whom people’s gaze is directed with faith and hope. Therefore, images of the Lord Pantocrator or, in Greek, Pantocrator, are always given a significant place in the painting of the temple, and on portable icons, and, of course, in the house.

From the iconography of the Mother of God, icons such as “Tenderness” and “Hodegetria” are most often chosen.

Iconographic type "Tenderness" or, in Greek, Eleusa, goes back, according to legend, to the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke. It is he who is considered the author of the images, the lists of which subsequently spread throughout the Orthodox world.

A characteristic feature of this iconography is the contact of the faces of the Savior and the Mother of God, which symbolizes the connection of the heavenly and the earthly, the special relationship between the Creator and His creation, expressed by such an endless love of the Creator for people that He gives His Son to be slaughtered in atonement for human sins. Of the icons of the “Tenderness” type, the most common are:

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God,
Don Icon of the Mother of God,
Icon "Baby Leaping"
icon “Recovery of the Dead”,
icon “It is worthy to eat”,
Igorevskaya Icon of the Mother of God,
Kasperovskaya Icon of the Mother of God,
Korsun Icon of the Mother of God,
Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God,
Tolga Icon of the Mother of God,
Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God,
Yaroslavl Icon of the Mother of God.

"Hodegetria" translated from Greek means “Guide”. The true path is the path to Christ. On icons like “Hodegetria” this is evidenced by the gesture of the right hand of the Mother of God, which points us to the Infant Christ. Among the miraculous icons of this type, the most famous are:

Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God,
Georgian icon of the Mother of God,
Iveron Icon of the Mother of God,
“Three-handed” icon,
Icon "Quick to Hear"
Kazan Icon of the Mother of God,
Kozelshchyna Icon of the Mother of God,
Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God,
Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God,
Czestochowa Icon of the Mother of God.

Of course, if holiday dates for the family are days of honoring any icons of the Savior or the Mother of God, for example, the Image of the Lord Jesus Christ Not Made by Hands or the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign,” then it is good to have these icons in the house, as well as images of saints whose names worn by family members.

For those who have the opportunity to place a larger number of icons in the house, you can supplement your iconostasis with images of revered local saints and, of course, the great saints of the Russian land.

In the traditions of Russian Orthodoxy, a special veneration of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker has been strengthened, whose icons are found in almost every Orthodox family. It should be noted that, along with the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God, the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker has always occupied a central place in the home of an Orthodox Christian. Among the people, Saint Nicholas is revered as a saint endowed with special grace. This is largely due to the fact that, according to the church charter, every Thursday of the week, along with the holy apostles, the church offers prayers to St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the miracle worker.

Among the images of the holy prophets of God one can single out Elijah, among the apostles - the supreme ones Peter and Paul.

Of the images of martyrs for the faith of Christ, the most common icons are those of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, as well as the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.

For completeness and completeness of the home iconostasis, it is desirable to have images of the holy Evangelists, St. John the Baptist, the archangels Gabriel and Michael and icons of the holidays.

The choice of icons for the home is always individual. And the best assistant here is the priest - the confessor of the family, and it is to him, or any other clergyman, that you should turn to for advice.

Regarding reproductions of icons and color photographs from them, we can say that sometimes it is more reasonable to have a good reproduction than a painted icon, but of poor quality.

The icon painter’s attitude towards his work must be extremely demanding. Just as a priest has no right to perform the liturgy without proper preparation, so an icon painter must approach his service with full responsibility. Unfortunately, both in the past and now you can often find vulgar crafts that have nothing to do with the icon. Therefore, if the image does not evoke a feeling of inner reverence and a sense of contact with the shrine, if it is questionable in its theological content and unprofessional in its execution technique, then it is better to refrain from such an acquisition.

And reproductions of canonical icons, pasted onto a solid base and consecrated in the church, will take their rightful place in the home iconostasis.

A purely practical question often arises:
How to paste a paper reproduction without damaging it?

Here are some useful tips.

If the reproduction is made on thick paper or cardboard, then to glue it to a solid base - a board or multi-layer plywood - it is advisable to use glue that does not contain water and, accordingly, does not deform the paper, for example, Moment glue. If the reproduction is on thin paper, then you can use PVA glue, but in this case the paper should be moistened with water, wait until the water is absorbed and the paper loses its elasticity, and only then apply the glue.

You need to press the reproduction onto the base through a clean sheet of paper so as not to stain the image.

After gluing, the reproduction can be coated with a thin layer of drying oil or varnish, but this should be done with caution, as some varnishes destroy printing inks. It should be taken into account that printing inks tend to fade under the active influence of direct sunlight, therefore, an icon made by your own hands and consecrated in the Church must be protected from their influence.

How to place icons, in what order?
Are there strict statutory requirements for this?

In church - yes. For a home goddess, you can limit yourself to only a few basic rules.

For example, if icons are hung haphazardly, asymmetrically, without a thoughtful composition, then this causes a constant feeling of dissatisfaction with their placement, a desire to change everything, which very often distracts from prayer.

It is also necessary to remember the principle of hierarchy: do not place, for example, an icon of a locally revered saint above the icon of the Holy Trinity, the Savior, the Mother of God, and the apostles.

The icon of the Savior should be to the right of the one ahead, and the Mother of God should be on the left (as in the classical iconostasis).

When selecting icons, make sure that they are uniform in their artistic manner of execution, try not to allow a variety of styles.

What should you do if your family has a particularly revered icon that is passed down by inheritance, but it is not quite canonically painted or has some loss of paint?

If the imperfections of the image do not seriously distort the image of the Lord, the Mother of God or a saint, such an icon can be made the center of a home iconostasis or, if space allows, placed on a lectern under the shrine, because such an image is a shrine for all family members.

One of the indicators of the level of spiritual development of an Orthodox Christian is his attitude towards the shrine.

What should be the attitude towards the shrine?

Holiness as one of the properties of God (Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts! () is reflected both in the saints of God and in physical objects. Therefore, the veneration of holy people, sacred objects and images, as well as one’s own desire for genuine communion with God and transformation are phenomena of the same order .

Be holy before Me, for I am holy, the Lord... ()

By the way family members treat the icon, in front of which their great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers offered prayers to the Lord, one can judge both the degree of churching of people and their piety.

The veneration of the ancestral icon has always been special. After baptism, the baby was brought to the icon and the priest or the owner of the house read prayers. Parents used the icon to bless their children for school, long trips, or public service. When giving consent to the wedding, the parents also blessed the newlyweds with an icon. And a person’s departure from life took place under the images.

The well-known expression “dispersed, at least take away the saints” is evidence of a conscientious attitude towards icons. Quarrels, inappropriate behavior or domestic scandals are unacceptable in front of images of saints.

But an Orthodox Christian’s careful and reverent attitude towards the icon should not develop into unacceptable forms of worship. Correct veneration of sacred images must be cultivated from a very early age. It is always necessary to remember that an icon is an image, sacred, but still only an image. And one should not confuse such concepts as image - the image itself, and the prototype - the one who is depicted.

What can a distorted, non-Orthodox view of the veneration of holy icons lead to?

To the distortion of spiritual life, both of an individual person, and to discord within the Church. An example of this is the heresy of the iconoclasts, which arose in the 7th century.

The reasons for the emergence of this heresy were serious theological disputes about the possibility and legitimacy of depicting the Second Person of the Holy Trinity - God the Word in the flesh. The reason was also the political interests of some Byzantine emperors, who sought an alliance with strong Arab states and tried to abolish the veneration of icons to please Muslims - opponents of holy icons.

But not only that. One of the reasons for the spread of heresy was the extremely ugly, bordering on idolatry, forms of veneration of sacred images that existed in the church life of that time. Not feeling the difference between the image and the prototype, believers often revered not the face depicted on the icon, but the object itself - the board and paints, which was a profanation of icon veneration and was associated with the lowest types of paganism. Undoubtedly, this served as a temptation for many Christians and led to disastrous consequences for their spiritual lives.

That is why a tendency arose among the intellectual elite of that time to abandon such forms of veneration of sacred images. Opponents of such icon veneration preferred to abandon it altogether in order to preserve the purity of Orthodoxy and, in their opinion, to “protect,” in their opinion, the ignorant part of Christians from the destruction of paganism.

Of course, such views of opponents of distorted icon veneration were fraught with a serious danger: the very truth of the Incarnation was called into question, since the very existence of the icon is based on the reality of the incarnation of God the Word.

The Fathers of the VII Ecumenical Council, who condemned the heresy of the iconoclasts, taught: “...and to honor them (icons) with kissing and reverent worship, not true, according to our faith, worship of God, which befits the only Divine nature, but veneration in that image, like the image of the Honest and Life-Giving One Honor is given to the Cross and the Holy Gospel and other shrines, with incense and the lighting of candles, as was the pious custom of the ancients. For the honor given to the image passes to the prototype, and the one who worships the icon worships the being depicted on it. Thus, the teaching of our holy fathers is confirmed, this is the tradition of the Catholic Church, who from end to end of the earth accepted the Gospel” (Book of the Rules of the Holy Apostles, Holy Councils of Ecumenical and Local, and the Holy Fathers. M., 1893, pp. 5-6).

It is advisable to crown a home iconostasis with a cross; crosses are also placed on doorposts.

The cross is a shrine for an Orthodox Christian. This is a symbol of the salvation of all humanity from eternal death. The 73rd Rule of the Council of Trulle, held in 691, testifies to the importance of venerating images of the holy cross: “Since the life-giving cross has shown us salvation, every care must be taken to pay due respect to that by which we are saved from the ancient fall... "(Quoted from: Sandler E. Genesis and theology of the icon. Magazine "Symbol", No. 18, Paris, 1987, p. 27).

During prayer in front of the icons, it is good to light the lamp, and on holidays and Sundays, let it burn throughout the day.

In multi-room city apartments, the iconostasis for common family prayer is usually placed in the larger room, while in others it is necessary to place at least one icon.

If an Orthodox family eats in the kitchen, then an icon is needed there for prayer before and after the meal. It makes the most sense to place an icon of the Savior in the kitchen, since the prayer of thanks after a meal is addressed to Him: “We thank You, Christ our God...”.

And one last thing.

What to do if the icon has fallen into disrepair and cannot be restored?

Such an icon, even if it is not consecrated, in no case should simply be thrown away: a shrine, even if it has lost its original appearance, must always be treated with reverence.

Previously, they dealt with old icons in the following way: until a certain state, the old icon was kept in a shrine behind other icons, and if the paints on the icon were completely erased over time, then it was released with the flow of the river.

Nowadays, of course, this is not worth doing; the dilapidated icon must be taken to the church, where it will be burned in the church oven. If this is not possible, then you should burn the icon yourself and bury the ashes in a place that will not be desecrated: for example, in a cemetery or under a tree in the garden.

We must remember: if damage to an icon occurred due to careless storage, this is a sin that must be confessed.

The faces looking at us from the icons belong to eternity; looking at them, offering them prayer, asking for their intercession, we - residents of the world below - must always remember our Creator and Savior; about His eternal call to repentance, to self-improvement and deification of every human soul.

Through the eyes of His saints, the Lord looks at us from the icons, testifying that everything is possible for a person who walks in His ways.

Application

Scheme of the high iconostasis

1 – Royal Doors (a – “Annunciation”, b, c, d, e – evangelists);
2 – “The Last Supper”; 3 – icon of the Savior; 4 – icon of the Mother of God;
5 – northern gate; 6 – South Gate; 7 – icon of the local row;
8 – temple icon;

I – forefather row; II – prophetic series; III – festive row;
IV – Deesis order.

Iconostasis

If the altar is the part of the temple where the greatest Sacrament of the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is performed, compared with the heavenly world, then the iconostasis, the faces of which look at those praying, is a figurative – in lines and colors – expression of this world. The high iconostasis, which the Byzantine Church did not know, which was finally formed in the Russian Church by the 16th century, served not so much as a visible reflection of the main events of the entire Sacred History, but rather embodied the idea of the unity of two worlds - heavenly and earthly, expressed the desire of man for God, and God for man .

The classic Russian high iconostasis consists of five tiers or rows, or, in other words, ranks.

The first is the ancestral one, located under the cross, at the very top. This is an image of the Old Testament Church, which had not yet received the Law. The forefathers from Adam to Moses are depicted here. In the center of this row is the icon of the “Old Testament Trinity” - a symbol of the eternal advice of the Holy Trinity on the self-sacrifice of God the Word in atonement for the Fall of man. The icon “Hospitality of Abraham” (or “Appearance to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre”), which is also placed in the center of the forefathers’ row, has a different theological meaning - it is an agreement concluded by God with man.

The second row is prophetic. This is the Church, which has already received the Law and through the prophets proclaims the Mother of God, from whom Christ will be incarnate. That is why in the center of this row there is the “Sign” icon, depicting the Mother of God with her hands raised in prayer and with the Child of God in her bosom.

The third - festive - series tells about the events of the New Testament time: from the Nativity of the Virgin Mary to the Exaltation of the Cross.

The fourth, deesis (or otherwise deisis) rite is the prayer of the entire Church to Christ; a prayer that is happening now and which will end at the Last Judgment. In the center is the icon “Savior in Power,” representing Christ as the formidable judge of the entire universe; on the left and right are images of the Most Holy Theotokos, St. John the Baptist, archangels, apostles and saints.

In the next, local row, there are icons of the Savior and the Mother of God (on the sides of the Royal Doors), then on the North and South Gates there are images of archangels or holy deacons. Temple icon - the icon of the holiday or saint in whose honor the temple is consecrated, is always located to the right of the icon of the Savior (for those facing the altar), immediately behind the South Gate. The Last Supper icon is placed above the Royal Doors as a symbol of the sacrament of the Eucharist, and on the gates themselves there is the Annunciation and images of the holy evangelists. Sometimes icons and creators of the Divine Liturgy are depicted on the Royal Doors.

SATIS
Saint Petersburg
2000

Is it possible to make shelves for icons yourself? What materials are better to choose? Let's try to figure this issue out together. Slavic Orthodox traditions allow the use of icons to decorate living spaces. This tradition testifies to people’s desire for religion and respect for church rituals and traditions.

As a home iconostasis for placing icons, you can consider a corner shelf for icons, as well as various church items. The canons of Orthodoxy suggest the installation of the main icons in the corner or on the eastern wall of the room.

Attention! In addition to Orthodox items, shelves for icons should not be loaded with other items.

Let's try to figure out how to make corner shelves for icons.

Creating shelves for icons

For work related to the creation of shelves for icons, you need special tools for woodworking: drill, lathe, milling cutter, jigsaw.

The materials needed to make shelves for icons include boards from any wood, pieces of slabs, wax or varnish, silver and black paints, and wood glue. Component materials and hardware require carved slats, a metal or wooden crucifix. Screws and original plugs are suitable as fastening elements. To secure the product to the wall, you need hinges and dowels.

Some of the carved elements can be made with your own hands. For example, start making carved elements and original shelf parts. The crucifix, which is the center of the icon, is made only in carved form.

Advice! Such parts for placing icons are made by craftsmen, and some industrial enterprises and church shops are also involved in their creation.

In addition to such details, the corner shelf for icons should have a back wall in the form of a carved iconostasis. The carving is made with floral ornaments, outlines of saints, and fabulous birds.

To decorate the upper part of the shelf for icons, you can choose the outline of an Orthodox church.

Advice! A do-it-yourself corner shelf for icons is suitable for those who have skills in working with wood.

You can cut out bas-reliefs yourself and choose interesting reliefs. To carve a crucifix, you must first select a high-quality sketch, and only after that begin to implement your plans.

The types of wood from which a crucifix can be carved include birch, aspen, spruce, pine, and juniper boards.

Attention! The work will require a set of wood cutting tools.

The procedure for making a shelf for icons

On a board, the thickness of which is fifteen millimeters, the outlines, as well as the main contours of the parts, are transferred from a paper sketch to the main board. Next, use an electric jigsaw to cut out the crucifix. Using cutters you need to make convex parts. The carving must be done in layers, carefully highlighting the internal parts with a thin cutter. Once the procedure for cutting the crucifix is completed, you can begin sanding the product, armed with fine sandpaper.

Advice! If you have to cut out bas-reliefs in segments, it is better to secure them with a sheet of plywood on the back side.

Then the decorative parts are glued together and attached to the sheet of the slab. To remove all excess, you can use a jigsaw or an electric cutter.

Using sandpaper, it is necessary to carry out high-quality sanding of the side of the finished product.

To make beautiful crossbars you will need certain professional skills, as well as certain equipment. After the balusters are made, it is important to carry out high-quality sanding of the product.

For a shelf for icons you will need several parts:

side panels;
vertical racks;
sides;
shelves

Shelf templates for icons can be made from pieces of wood board.

Attention! Professionals do not recommend using plywood for templates, since after cutting it needs to be significantly modified.

You will need two side panels for the shelf, and you also need to take care of purchasing high-quality fasteners.

Sequencing

First you need to attach the ready-made templates to the board. Next, the part is formed using an electric jigsaw. The edges are processed using a milling cutter; all irregularities and roughness present on the surface are sanded with abrasive paper. Before making holes, you need to mark them with a pencil. Next, the side panels are prepared using the same algorithm. After assembling the product, it is advisable to varnish the shelf.

Wall fixation

To attach a corner shelf under icons on the wall, you will need dowels. First you need to attach hanging loops to the finished product. Next, the shelf is applied to the wall, and the places where the dowels will be located are marked. The holes for them are made with an electric drill.

There are certain requirements that must be met in order for the finished shelf for icons to be beautifully mounted on the wall:

the product should hang at the level of human eyes or higher;
there should be no other decorative elements next to the icons;
if there will be functional lamps on the shelf, it is important to ensure fire safety (there should be no flammable materials near the shelf)

Decoration features

Basically, natural wood is used in the manufacture of shelves for icons. If you can’t make carved strips and parts with your own hands, you can limit yourself to creating an imitation of it. To obtain a similar effect, you can first burn out the design, then cover the finished fragments with decorative enamel. To do this, the contour of the ornament is transferred to the top panel or side, and all contours are outlined using burning devices.

Attention! The finished pattern must be uniform over the entire surface of the product, otherwise the shelf will have an unaesthetic appearance.

As soon as the contour application is completed, enamel is applied to the surface with a thin brush, then the product is coated with colorless varnish.

Master Class

Currently, the tradition of decorating your home with Christian icons is returning; even in city apartments you can find a homemade “red corner”, which is often called a shrine. If you choose the right materials for the shelf, it can be made into a functional decorative element of the apartment’s interior. The priests say that icon shelves should be in the home of every believer.

In the manufacture of such products, you can use wood, plywood, polymer materials, and metal.

Depending on personal preferences, shelves for icons can be single-tiered or multi-tiered structures. Icons for the iconostasis can be mounted on a table or placed on a shelf.

To create a three-tier structure, stock up on a hand-held milling machine, a jigsaw, a ruler, a pencil, nails or screws, abrasive material, a hammer, and wood glue.

In order for the shelf to be beautiful and delight its owner for a long period, it is important to carry out preliminary measurements of the width, height, and depth of the planned structure.

Advice! Professionals consider the optimal size for a corner shelf for icons to be 70 centimeters in height.

You need to transfer the drawing to plywood or wood. If the surface is dark in color, it is better to use a construction knife instead of a pencil. Professionals recommend numbering the parts of the drawing to prevent errors during assembly. As soon as the main details of the planned iconostasis are cut out with a jigsaw, all edges of the product are processed with a hand router.

To ensure that there are no rolling pins or irregularities on the surface of the shelf, the surface is sanded with sandpaper.

Attention! When grinding, the abrasive material must be moved in the direction of the grain.

To connect the parts together, you can use nails or screws. For strength, you can also arm yourself with glue designed for wood. You can varnish or stain wood to protect it from high humidity and temperature changes, and also to give the product an aesthetic appearance.

Basically, shelves for icons are arranged in three rows, but there is one main row - deisis. In order for the created iconostasis to be made correctly and reliably protect the apartment and its inhabitants, it is important to arrange the icons in a clear sequence.

The upper part is the deisis, in its center there should be an icon of Jesus.

To the left of her is the image of the protectress - the Most Holy Theotokos, and to the right side is always the icon of John the Baptist.

Ideally, the number of icons is 12 pieces - according to the number of major Christian holidays. On the bottom shelf of the iconostasis you create yourself, you can place any icons that are revered in a certain region.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that the twenty-first century is a time of innovative computer technologies, people still think about their souls and turn to higher powers for advice. Not everyone has time to attend church services, so improvised iconostases appear in private houses and city apartments. Don’t know where to start with the construction of a shelf for icons? In this case, first carefully study the recommendations of professionals, and also look at photographs of finished work:

After you get the first idea of the procedure for carrying out the work, you can proceed to the implementation of your idea. If you follow all the recommendations of professionals, you will receive a high-quality and original iconostasis for icons. Many people own icons that should be placed on a special shelf, and not placed next to the TV or tape recorder.

Icon.

We worship Icons and we revere them (as well as the Cross and the Gospel), believing that the worship shown to these symbols becomes real, that is, transmitted to the actual persons depicted on the Icons.
We worship the Creator, but not the created. We only use what we have created to honor the Creator. As the Old Testament says, idolaters believed that their gods lived inside idols or were idols themselves and therefore there was power in idols. We do not have such faith regarding paints, wood and other materials used in the creation of Icons, the Cross or the books of the Gospel; by themselves they have no power, they are lifeless.
Icons are painted in a special iconographic style, because their authors want to convey the nature of a person who has been transformed by the grace of God. That is why the icons are somewhat formalized and stylized. Insignificant worldly details, such as wrinkles or moles, are not depicted on icon faces. Icons try to show the power of God when He becomes visible to us, or they depict heavenly powers and saints reflecting the greatness of the Lord. The symbolism of the Icons serves to express the new creation, the transformed world; as the Holy Apostle Paul says: “...all (we) will change...” (1 Cor. 15:51).

Icon.
The cycle of Orthodox films “Man before God.

How to arrange a home iconostasis

Monk Spyridon (Sylvester)
DOMOSTROY
XVI century

The icon painter, completing the icon, inscribes
the name of the One whose Face is revealed on the icon board.
There is a connection between words and images,
name and image - an Icon is born.

Firstly, thoughtless collecting can turn into empty collecting, where there is no question of the prayerful purpose of the icon.

Secondly (and this is the main thing), in this case there is a distortion of the concept of home as a dwelling, as the material basis of the Orthodox family.

“My house will be called a house of prayer” (Matt. 21:13)- this is about a temple that was created for prayer and performing the Sacraments.

However, there must be icons in the house. In sufficient quantity, but within reasonable limits.

Some of these questions require only a clear answer; answering others, you can do without any strict recommendations.

Where to place the icons?

In a free and accessible place.

The laconicism of such an answer is caused not by the lack of canonical requirements, but by the realities of life.

Of course, it is advisable to place icons on the eastern wall of the room, because the east as a theological concept has a special meaning in Orthodoxy.

And the Lord God planted a paradise in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man whom he had created. (Gen. 2:8).

Look, O Jerusalem, to the east, and see the joy coming to you from God (Bar. 4:36).

And the spirit lifted me up, and brought me to the east gate of the house of the Lord, which faces the east (Ezek. 11:1).

...for just as lightning comes from the east and is visible even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Matt. 24:27).

But what to do if the house is oriented so that there are windows or doors in the east? In this case, you can use the southern, northern or western walls of the home.

Icons should not be allowed to be mixed with decorative objects of a secular nature: figurines, panels made of various materials, etc.

It is inappropriate to place an icon on a bookshelf next to books whose contents either have nothing in common with Orthodox truths, or even are contrary to the Christian preaching of love and mercy.

An example from the practice of priest Sergius Nikolaev, author of the brochure “Icons in Our House”, shows how such an attitude towards a shrine affects the spiritual state of the family:

After the prayer service, over tea, I carefully, knowing about the fanatical devotion of some young people to their idols, tried to explain that “badness” in the house could well come from even such posters, that such images seemed to be trying to resist the shrine. The young man stood up silently and removed the painting in question from the wall. The choice was made right there" (Priest Sergius Nikolaev. Icons in our house. M. 1997, pp. 7-8).

...give to the Lord the glory of His name. Take the gift, go before Him, worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness (1 Chronicles 16:29)- this is what the Holy Scripture says about the proper attitude towards a shrine dedicated to the Lord.

The home iconostasis can be decorated with fresh flowers, and large, separately hanging icons are often, according to tradition, framed with towels.

This tradition dates back to antiquity and has a theological basis.

After the celebration of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem, branches of willow consecrated in the church are placed near the icons, which, according to tradition, are kept until the next Palm Sunday.

There should not be paintings or reproductions of paintings between the icons.

A painting, even if it has a religious content, such as “The Appearance of Christ to the People” by Alexander Ivanov or “The Sistine Madonna” by Raphael, is not a canonical icon.

What is the difference between an Orthodox icon and a painting?

The painting is characterized by a clearly expressed individuality of the author, a unique pictorial style, specific composition techniques, and a characteristic color scheme.

The picture should be emotional, since art is a form of cognition and reflection of the surrounding world through feelings; the picture belongs to the spiritual world.

An icon is a means of communication with God and His saints.

Such photographs are of course needed in the house, but they should be placed away from the icons.

But at the end of the year, the reproduction itself can be pasted onto a solid base, consecrated in the church according to the rite of blessing the icon, and placed in the home iconostasis.

What icons should I have at home?

It is imperative to have an icon of the Savior and an icon of the Mother of God.

Among the images of the Savior, a half-length image of the Lord Almighty is usually chosen for home prayer.

A characteristic feature of this iconographic type is the image of the blessing hand of the Lord and an open or closed book.

From the iconography of the Mother of God, icons such as “Tenderness” and “Hodegetria” are most often chosen.

Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God,
Don Icon of the Mother of God,
Icon "Baby Leaping"
icon “Recovery of the Dead”,
icon “It is worthy to eat”,
Igorevskaya Icon of the Mother of God,
Kasperovskaya Icon of the Mother of God,
Korsun Icon of the Mother of God,
Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God,
Tolga Icon of the Mother of God,
Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God,
Yaroslavl Icon of the Mother of God.

Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God,
Georgian icon of the Mother of God,
Iveron Icon of the Mother of God,
“Three-handed” icon,
Icon "Quick to Hear"
Kazan Icon of the Mother of God,
Kozelshchyna Icon of the Mother of God,
Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God,
Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God,
Czestochowa Icon of the Mother of God.

Among the images of the holy prophets of God one can single out Elijah, among the apostles - the supreme ones Peter and Paul.

Of the images of martyrs for the faith of Christ, the most common icons are those of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, as well as the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.

For completeness and completeness of the home iconostasis, it is desirable to have images of the holy Evangelists, St. John the Baptist, the archangels Gabriel and Michael and icons of the holidays.

Regarding reproductions of icons and color photographs from them, we can say that sometimes it is more reasonable to have a good reproduction than a painted icon, but of poor quality.

And reproductions of canonical icons, pasted onto a solid base and consecrated in the church, will take their rightful place in the home iconostasis.

How to paste a paper reproduction without damaging it?

Here are some useful tips.

You need to press the reproduction onto the base through a clean sheet of paper so as not to stain the image.

How to place icons, in what order?
Are there strict statutory requirements for this?

In church - yes. For a home goddess, you can limit yourself to only a few basic rules.

It is also necessary to remember the principle of hierarchy: do not place, for example, an icon of a locally revered saint above the icon of the Holy Trinity, the Savior, the Mother of God, and the apostles.

The icon of the Savior should be to the right of the one ahead, and the Mother of God should be on the left (as in the classical iconostasis).

When selecting icons, make sure that they are uniform in their artistic manner of execution, try not to allow a variety of styles.

What should you do if your family has a particularly revered icon that is passed down by inheritance, but it is not quite canonically painted or has some loss of paint?

One of the indicators of the level of spiritual development of an Orthodox Christian is his attitude towards the shrine.

What should be the attitude towards the shrine?

Holiness as one of the properties of God (Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts! (Isa. 6:3) reflected both in the saints of God and in physical objects. Therefore, the veneration of holy people, sacred objects and images, as well as one’s own desire for genuine communion with God and transformation are phenomena of the same order.

Be holy to Me, for I am holy, the Lord... (Lev. 20:26)

What can a distorted, non-Orthodox view of the veneration of holy icons lead to?

To the distortion of spiritual life, both of an individual person, and to discord within the Church. An example of this is the heresy of the iconoclasts, which arose in the 7th century.

It is advisable to crown a home iconostasis with a cross; crosses are also placed on doorposts.

During prayer in front of the icons, it is good to light the lamp, and on holidays and Sundays, let it burn throughout the day.

In multi-room city apartments, the iconostasis for common family prayer is usually placed in the larger room, while in others it is necessary to place at least one icon.

And one last thing.

What to do if the icon has fallen into disrepair and cannot be restored?

Such an icon, even if it is not consecrated, in no case should simply be thrown away: a shrine, even if it has lost its original appearance, must always be treated with reverence.

We must remember: if damage to an icon occurred due to careless storage, this is a sin that must be confessed.

Through the eyes of His saints, the Lord looks at us from the icons, testifying that everything is possible for a person who walks in His ways.

Iconostasis in the Temple.

The classic Russian high iconostasis consists of five tiers or rows, or, in other words, ranks.

The third - festive - series tells about the events of the New Testament time: from the Nativity of the Virgin Mary to the Exaltation of the Cross.

In the next, local row, there are icons of the Savior and the Mother of God (on the sides of the Royal Doors), then on the North and South Gates there are images of archangels or holy deacons. Temple icon - the icon of the holiday or saint in whose honor the temple is consecrated, is always located to the right of the icon of the Savior (for those facing the altar), immediately behind the South Gate. The Last Supper icon is placed above the Royal Doors as a symbol of the sacrament of the Eucharist, and on the gates themselves there is the Annunciation and images of the holy evangelists. Sometimes icons of Basil the Great and John Chrysostom, the creators of the Divine Liturgy, are depicted on the Royal Doors.

Scheme of the high iconostasis

I – forefather row; II – prophetic series; III – festive row;
IV – Deesis order.

Each church has a large number of icons; many believers prefer to set up a place to worship God at home. It serves to read the prayer rule. Near the calm faces of heavenly patrons, it is much easier to make requests to the Lord.

The history of the emergence of church decoration goes back many centuries. Initially, there were no partitions in the churches at all, then curtains appeared, because of which the altar part was not visible. Over time, the design of Orthodox churches was transformed to its current state.

The personal home of a Christian should be, as it were, a continuation of the Church. This is what he talks about "red corner". It has primarily a prayer purpose. It is also customary to store revered objects in the “shrine” - consecrated willow, eggs, Epiphany water.

There are different types of iconostases; they can be purchased either in church shops or ordered. Prices for products by private craftsmen in Moscow start at 800 rubles. They depend on the size, shape, material and complexity of the work performed.

In this matter, many follow traditions - the iconostasis is positioned so that it is clearly visible right from the entrance. This is done because, according to ancient custom, the guest must immediately bow to the Lord and the saints. First you need to make the sign of the cross, then read a short prayer, wish peace to the house that receives the guest.

According to church tradition, in churches the altar part, fenced with an iconostasis, is located on the east side of the building. If there is such an opportunity, it is necessary to place home images according to this principle. But in practice this is not always feasible, and the Church does not require it. Where should the “red corner” be located?

The place near the icons is given only to the saint, there should be no foreign things on it - TV, posters, other modern things are located to the side.
According to ancient tradition, images (both in the temple and in the apartment) are usually decorated exclusively fresh flowers. They are a symbol of eternal life, resurrection, and God's power.
This is the place for the lamp, church candle, blessed church oil.
Bottle of holy water can be stored both on a shelf with icons and in another place.

The lamp can be anything - hanging or not. The burning flame symbolizes the human heart, which burns in love for God. It is expressed in prayer, so candles and (or) lamps are lit while reading the prayer rule, akathists, and Psalms. You can use special church oil or olive oil (first pressed), as was the case in the times of the ancient church.

You should not place photographs of famous confessors or modern righteous people next to the images. At least two people should be placed in front of the icons, because the family traditionally prays together.

Your prayer corner can be very different in size and shape. The simplest iconostases can be purchased at any church shop. The price of simple wooden corner shelves is quite low. It is also important which images will be in front of family members.

There are no clear rules for lay people in this matter. The main thing is that two main icons are present - Lord Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Most often, half-length images are taken. The hand of the Son of God is raised in blessing; overall, there is minimal dynamics in the composition. The Mother of God is most often depicted together with the Child of God - she holds the Son in her arms.

But, in general, you can be guided by personal preferences. Over time, it is likely that new images will appear in the family. It is absolutely not necessary to hang them all on the wall, because the main goal is not to show off your collection, but to gather a person’s attention to prayer. Excessive amounts will make it difficult for the believer to concentrate. Shrines can be stored in a box, from time to time remove some and display others, in accordance with the church calendar.

As a rule, in the apartments of believers in Moscow (and other Russian cities) you can see images of other Orthodox saints. For example, the patron saint of the capital is St. George the Victorious. They are also highly respected there. Elder Matrona. It would be useful to place on the shelf the faces of saints whose names are borne by the owners of the house.

Self-production

Many stores located in Moscow today sell goods remotely, delivering them by mail, some do not even require prepayment. You can assemble your own “red corner” literally without leaving your home.

But not everyone is satisfied with ready-made options. Some craftsmen make custom-made home iconostases. However, not everyone can afford it. Craftsmen can make a home shelf for icons from wood at home. Of course, it will take time and diligence, but in general, nothing is impossible in this matter.

First you need to make it or find it online internet drawings. The product may consist of one or several tiers. The design must be safe if the owners are going to use lamps. The distance between the shelves must be large enough so that the wood does not heat up.
The height of the structure does not play a fundamental role. It should be convenient for the owners to put up the images and take them down to wipe off the dust. It is desirable that holy icons were not much above eye level, then nothing will distract from prayer.
You can make not shelves, but locker - icon case. Then you should take into account the size of the images that will be located there. At the bottom you can make a shelf where the Holy Scriptures, candlesticks, blessed oil, etc. will be stored.

Conclusion

According to Orthodox tradition, holy images should not be attached to the wall; they must be placed on a special shelf or in a special cabinet. You can arrange the shrine yourself or purchase a ready-made version. Prices depend on the material, size, etc., every believer will be able to choose something to suit their budget. The main thing is not the cost of the iconostasis, but how much faith there will be in a person’s heart while near the holy place.