Plastic Decoration of Holy Doors from the Fund of the National Church Historical and Archaeological Museum of the Holy Synod - Elements and Symbolism

Abstract

The proposed article examines the plastic decoration of the Holy doors from the fund of NCHAM of Holy Synod. The Holy doors are a completely complete separate element, but they also carry their semantic load as a part of a larger unified whole, such as the church iconostasis. The article focuses on questions related to the characteristic and symbolism of the plastic decoration of the Holy doors, the characteristic stylistic features and features of the era, the masters and individual schools. In the course of the exhibition, brief attention is paid and their use and importance of the worship services is presented. Parallels are mentioned and described, as they complete and further reveal the issues. Samples from the Fund of the National Church Historical and Archaeological Museum of the Holy Synod which are represented, are the subject of a comprehensive, independent study. I express my gratitude to the National Scientific Program "Young Scientists and Postdoctoral Scholars" 2020 of the Ministry of Education and Science for the financing of the scientific project at the Theological Faculty of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" on the topic: "Holy doors the fund of the National Church Historical and Archaeological Museum of the Holy Synod (Liturgical function, iconography, plastic decoration. Contributions to national identity)", with a scientific leader Assoc. Prof. Dr. deacon Ivan Ivanov. Thank you to the Director of the National church historical and archaeological museum of the Holy Synod Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivan Rashkov and his team for attention.