Do-it-yourself home iconostases: photo. Kiota is not only a decoration, but also a protection

The kiot is not just an icon decoration. It has an ancient history and carries a semantic and functional load. Even in ancient times, representatives of different religions used icon cases to store all kinds of relics and scrolls. They protected items from dust and moisture, thereby extending their life. Today, the kiot is a frame for icons that can be seen in a church church. A special atmosphere is created inside it, which prevents any negative influence of the environment on the sacred image. In addition, one glance at such a handmade masterpiece as an icon case wakes up respect not only for religion, but also for the skillful hands of a person, his ingenuity, skill, fantasy and spirituality.

Types of icon cases

The kiot can be wall or floor. It depends on where exactly the icon is located. As a rule, in most churches you can see portable icon cases or, as they are also called, cabinets in the form of pencil cases or boxes, which are designed to store holiday icons on the central lectern. They can be fully closed or open.

Often, in addition to framing, glass is used. Such an icon case is intended for especially valuable images. The kiot for the icon can be quite simple, without glass and all kinds of decorations. But in churches, as a rule, there are beautiful icon cases, richly decorated with carvings. The style of the temple, the expediency of decorating a particular sacred image, as well as its location determine how the icon cabinet will be decorated.

What should be the correct kiot?

To make a high-quality and durable frame for the icon, you need to know a few important nuances. The most important thing is the space between the glass and the image, which should remain after the icon is inserted into the kiot. It should be two or three centimeters. To fix the icon inside the icon case, use wooden blocks, corrugated cardboard or thick paper.

The kiot is also the protection of the icon. Therefore, to preserve the holy face for many years, glass is used, not plastic. The latter flexes over time, which negatively affects the state of the image. In addition, harmful bacteria and mold develop under the plastic, which destroy the paint.

What you need to know to make an icon case at home?

Icon case for the icon can be made at home. It is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. To do this, stock up on wooden boards, carpentry tools, glass and fittings. You also need to purchase stain, varnish and paint. First of all, it is necessary to decide for which icon the kiot will be made, and where it will be installed. Lighting of the location of the icon case should also be taken into account. Based on all this, you need to choose the future color shade to frame the image. You also need to clarify what kind of deity will be, floor or table. Another important point is the number of images that will be placed in the icon case.

The first stage of making an icon case

To make an icon case with your own hands, you need to measure the dimensions of the icon. Next, you need to properly design the icon case: make a drawing and put down the dimensions. After that, you can start drawing a sketch of decorative elements. The best tree for making a goddess is pine or linden. Pine can be used for the frame of the icon case, and linden can be used for decorative carving elements. Home kiot can be made from birch, ash or fruit tree wood.

Between the icon itself and the glass sash there should be an air gap, which is equal to the sum of the thickness of the icon board and the protruding part of the dowels. The main thing is that this value should be at least two centimeters. The dowels should not rest against the walls of the icon case. Between the edge of the dowel and the wall of the goddess, a gap of one centimeter is usually left.

Second phase

When making such an ornament as a kiot for an icon with your own hands, it is necessary to take into account the bend of the warped board from which the image is made. In the inner frame of the wooden deity, a figured cutout should be made for this bend. The stock should be up to two centimeters. Next, inside the wooden cabinet, you need to stick a velvet strip. After all, the holy face should not come into contact with the icon case. Otherwise, the icon board may jam.

After these manipulations, it is necessary to fix the icon in the icon case. This is done using small wooden blocks or thick cardboard liners. At this point the glass can be inserted. The next step is to cover the icon case with a stain, and then a layer of varnish or paint. Ready. Hardware can be installed. It should not be forgotten that the kiot is not only an ornament for the icon. He protects the holy image, which must be treated with due respect. Having made an icon case, it is possible to protect an icon, valuable not only in material, but also in spiritual terms, from the adverse effects of the environment.

Mother Rus' has always been famous for its craftsmen and craftsmen. Icon painters were especially revered. An icon is a shrine, for the manufacture of which it was necessary to receive a blessing in the church. Now this rule is not so strictly observed, but, nevertheless, when making an icon with your own hands, you must definitely follow certain commandments. This is a symbol of Faith in God, so you must definitely read a prayer and, with God's help, get to work.

People come to God in different ways. Some feel the need to paint icons after a long illness, when the Almighty granted healing. The main thing is that it should not be blasphemy.

How to make an icon with your own hands from a photo

There are many options for transferring a photo icon to a wooden surface. The easiest way is to print with a printer on a well-finished wooden surface.

But the most valuable crafts are when a person makes them with his own hands. He puts his soul, skill, energy into them.

Here are some options for applying an image from a photo to a wooden surface:

The photo of the icon "Mother of God with a baby in her arms" is printed on a paper basis on a laser printer. Clean plywood or a wooden plank, sawn to the size of the photo, is taken.

The surface of the tree is smeared with diluted PVA glue at the rate of 3 parts of glue and 1 part of water. This is done so that the glue is absorbed into the texture of the wood.

The photo is applied with the front side to the surface of the board and gently smoothed so that there are no air voids. You can use a sponge for this. You need to smooth it very carefully so as not to tear the photo.

Leave to dry for 8-10 hours. The surface must be moistened with water and gently wipe the paper from the image. Varnish the image.

Some people use parchment for printing in order not to rub the paper. The technique is the same, only the parchment, after wetting, completely leaves the sheet, leaving the image on the tree.

You can stick photos printed on paper on a hard surface. There are a lot of options.

How to make an antique icon

The icon "Mother of God with a hand" will be made on a tree:

• Wooden board or plywood is stained.
• After drying, a layer of white paint is applied.
• Then you can cover with silver or gold paint.
• A thin layer of red paint is applied, but this is done if desired. You can leave it as is. A gold or silver base should show through a layer of red paint.
• Apply the newspaper to the wet paint and remove quickly.
• This needs to be done several times. This gives the effect of "aging".
• On top, you need to once again apply a thin layer of gilding and varnish.
• After drying, the cut-out image of the icon is pasted. You can apply the previous gluing methods.
• Everything is covered with a layer of transparent varnish.

This is a miraculous icon that gives people healing from many diseases.

Icons with beads

Many people ask how to make an icon with your own hands using beads. There is nothing complicated in this:

• Handicraft stores sell excellent ready-made kits for embroidery with beads on fabric. The icon "With a baby in her arms" is especially popular.
• There are many images, you need to choose the one to which the soul reached out.
• When embroidering with beads, the picture is printed on canvas with a ready-made scheme.
• Beads are also already selected.
• The technique of embroidery is described in detail.
• A special thin needle is included.
• Beads need to be scattered in special small containers that are sold in the same store. Each color will have its own closing cell.
• It is convenient to embroider on a special hoop.
• It is important to have good lighting.

This work will bring a lot of joy and happiness. Gradually, the icon will come to life under your skillful hands, shimmering with magnificent beads. First you need to learn a simple technique, and then, as skill grows, you can master more complex methods.

Believe me, having embroidered one icon, you will want to continue working. This is a lifelong hobby.

Think about it, because it is not without reason that your soul reached out to God. So it's necessary. Embroidery will give peace of mind and joy. Gradually, the tormenting fears and anxiety will go away, because you already have a purpose and meaning.

When reading prayers, thoughts come into harmony, anxieties recede away. The inner attitude is very important. You need to ask the saints for help and healing for yourself and your loved ones. Your prayers will be heard and you will be comforted.

The finished embroidered icon must be beautifully designed. It is better to give it to professional specialists in a framing workshop. The icon must be consecrated in the church. If desired, you can ask for a blessing.

But, if you do not embroider the face and hands, but only the background and clothes, then permission is not required for this. This is necessary when embroidering with threads, when the entire icon with the image of saints is completely embroidered.

You can give the icon as a gift or keep it for yourself.

DIY icons photo

The kiot is not just an icon decoration. It has an ancient history and carries a semantic and functional load. Even in ancient times, representatives of different religions used icon cases to store all kinds of relics and scrolls. They protected items from dust and moisture, thereby extending their life. Today, the kiot is a frame for icons that can be seen in a church church. A special atmosphere is created inside it, which prevents any negative influence of the environment on the sacred image. In addition, one glance at such a handmade masterpiece as an icon case wakes up respect not only for religion, but also for the skillful hands of a person, his ingenuity, skill, fantasy and spirituality.

Types of icon cases

The kiot can be wall or floor. It depends on where exactly the icon is located. As a rule, in most churches you can see portable icon cases or, as they are also called, cabinets in the form of pencil cases or boxes, which are designed to store holiday icons on the central lectern. They can be fully closed or open.

Often, in addition to framing, glass is used. Such an icon case is intended for especially valuable images. The kiot for the icon can be quite simple, without glass and all kinds of decorations. But in churches, as a rule, there are beautiful icon cases, richly decorated with carvings. The style of the temple, the expediency of decorating a particular sacred image, as well as its location determine how the icon cabinet will be decorated.

What should be the correct kiot?

To make a high-quality and durable frame for the icon, you need to know a few important nuances. The most important thing is the space between the glass and the image, which should remain after the icon is inserted into the kiot. It should be two or three centimeters. To fix the icon inside the icon case, use wooden blocks, corrugated cardboard or thick paper.

The kiot is also the protection of the icon. Therefore, to preserve the holy face for many years, glass is used, not plastic. The latter flexes over time, which negatively affects the state of the image. In addition, harmful bacteria and mold develop under the plastic, which destroy the paint.

What you need to know to make an icon case at home?

Icon case for the icon can be made at home. It is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. To do this, stock up on wooden boards, carpentry tools, glass and fittings. You also need to purchase stain, varnish and paint. First of all, it is necessary to decide for which icon the kiot will be made, and where it will be installed. Lighting of the location of the icon case should also be taken into account. Based on all this, you need to choose the future color shade to frame the image. You also need to clarify what kind of deity will be, floor or table. Another important point is the number of images that will be placed in the icon case.

The first stage of making an icon case

To make an icon case with your own hands, you need to measure the dimensions of the icon. Next, you need to properly design the icon case: make a drawing and put down the dimensions. After that, you can start drawing a sketch of decorative elements. The best tree for making a goddess is pine or linden. For the frame of the icon case, you can use pine, and for the decorative elements of the thread - linden. Home kiot can be made from birch, ash or fruit tree wood.

Between the icon itself and the glass sash there should be an air gap, which is equal to the sum of the thickness of the icon board and the protruding part of the dowels. The main thing is that this value should be at least two centimeters. The dowels should not rest against the walls of the icon case. Between the edge of the dowel and the wall of the goddess, a gap of one centimeter is usually left.

Second phase

When making such an ornament as a kiot for an icon with your own hands, it is necessary to take into account the bend of the warped board from which the image is made. In the inner frame of the wooden deity, a figured cutout should be made for this bend. The stock should be up to two centimeters. Next, inside the wooden cabinet, you need to stick a velvet strip. After all, the holy face should not come into contact with the icon case. Otherwise, the icon board may jam.

After these manipulations, it is necessary to fix the icon in the icon case. This is done using small wooden blocks or thick cardboard liners. At this point the glass can be inserted. The next step is to cover the icon case with a stain, and then a layer of varnish or paint. Ready. Hardware can be installed. It should not be forgotten that the kiot is not only an ornament for the icon. He protects the holy image, which must be treated with due respect. Having made an icon case, it is possible to protect an icon, valuable not only in material, but also in spiritual terms, from the adverse effects of the environment.

Instruction

It is customary to cover icon boards with salaries not only for decoration, but also for better preservation of the writing on them. After all, Old Russians are exposed to the aggressive effects of the modern atmosphere, ultraviolet, humidity, and dust. Only specialists-restorers have the right to remove salaries from famous icons.

Previously, chasubles were made of silver and gold, decorated with beads, pearls, and precious stones. Salaries were one of the types of applied art and became an integral feature of the Russian church. In religion, shining robes are the light emanating from the icon. Silver means purity of clothes, and gold - God's grace. The images of the most significant icons consist exclusively of pearls. That is why salaries and vestments so often become the object of desire for swindlers and thieves.

Salaries are solid and type-setting. Solid (broken) chasubles are chasing, with a convex pattern. Type-setting riza consist of several parts fastened to each other.

Icons of Christians and Catholics are made into salaries. A beautiful salary for a home icon can be made independently from threads, beads,. Prepare a wooden frame the same size as your icon. Pull the canvas over it, attach it with buttons to the side strips.

Draw the outline of the face and hands of your icon through tracing paper. Transfer the drawing to the canvas.

Come up with a beautiful salary pattern. Embroider it with bright colored threads. The style of embroidery depends on your desire. Can be embroidered with satin stitch, cross stitch or beads. Do not embroider in those places where the face and hands of the icon will be visible. Decorate the crown of the robe with beads.

Carefully cut out the places of the face and hands of the icon. Secure the edges of the canvas with PVA glue. Let the glue dry.

Remove the salary from the frame, carefully put it on, aligning all the cuts. Secure the oklad to the back of the icon with ribbons or glue. Put or hang the icon with the salary in place.

Helpful advice

Always follow the rules for storing icons. Do not expose them to sudden changes in temperature, protect them from bright sunlight and drafts, do not place them on the floor, inspect the icons more often to detect damage in a timely manner. Remember, icons bring goodness and faith.

For a believer, an icon is an indispensable attribute of life. Icons illuminate the house, because the house of a Christian is a symbol of the temple of God, and each temple has its own sacred altar. In the house, a red corner with icons serves as such an altar. They say that a house without images is like without windows. But what you should know and keep in mind when decorating your home with icons.

Instruction

The red corner is the most important and honorable place in the house. Here they are placed in a shrine or icon case - a special open cabinet or shelf with a lamp. Icons must stand, it is not worth them. The goddess must be wooden. Often it is decorated with a special long and narrow woven towel made of homespun canvas - a god, which covers the icons from above and from the sides, but does not cover the faces depicted on the images. The god at the ends was usually decorated with embroidery.

Another way to decorate icons is a riza or a salary. This is an overlay decoration that covers the entire icon board over a layer of paint, except for the hands and faces, for which cuts are made. Rises can be gold, silver, brass, copper, embroidered, decorated with enamel, colored glass and upholstered with velvet from the inside.

Measure the dimensions of the icons. Design the kiot properly: draw an isometric drawing, fill in the dimensions. Draw a sketch of the decorative elements.

Prepare a pine or linden to make a goddess. Make an icon case frame from pine, and decorative elements from linden

Home iconostases are a kind of small church for a believing Orthodox Christian. They should be given a special place in their dwelling where they can calmly pray in front of the images.

Home iconostases appeared in Ancient Rus'. For them, a whole corner was assigned, which was called red (i.e. beautiful). Icons were placed in this place, candles and lamps were lit. In the morning and evening, as well as during hours of special spiritual need, the household members said their prayers here.

The iconostasis of those times was a multi-tiered shelf on which the god was hung - a small curtain that covered the images of the saints and the Savior on the sides. The icons were hidden under the gospel - a special cloth, which was pulled back only during prayer. This tradition appeared in Rus' not by chance. It is known that the first image of the Savior would have been created by Himself, according to His will of God: after Jesus sprinkled his face with water and wiped it with a robe (cloth), His face remained on this canvas. He sent this canvas to the ailing ruler of Asia Minor - Avgar, thanks to which he was healed. After that, the prince gave the order to nail the sacred board over the gates of the city. After 900 years, the sacred image was transferred to Constantinople. Now, every year on August 29, Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of finding the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands and consecrate hand-woven canvases.

What else was placed on the shelf for images?

Home iconostases of those times were also intended to store holy water and prosphora. The household members hid the gospel and commemorations (special books in which the names of all the dead and living Orthodox of this family were kept) behind the god. Particularly skilled needlewomen created doves (as a symbol of the Holy Spirit) from improvised materials and hung them on the iconostasis. In the red corner, it was obligatory to have lamps and candles that were lit during home service.

Such a small church was in every Orthodox house until the revolution of 1917. After the Bolsheviks came to power, people continued to pray, but they did it in secret. Therefore, from the richly decorated home iconostases, only a few images remained, which people carefully hid from prying eyes, fearing persecution. The modern red corner is somewhat different from the one that our ancestors created, since many of the traditions of its creation are simply forgotten.

Create your own red corner

The way the home iconostasis will be depends only on the owners of the house. However, remember to follow the following rules:

• Holy images must be installed away from technology (TV, computer, etc.) - the farther from everything mundane, the better.
• There should be enough space in front of the icons so that the worshipers do not feel cramped. And during prayer, church books (prayer books, the Gospel) are best placed on a folding lectern (stand).
• You should not place icons one by one on bookshelves, in lockers, while forcing these images with other worldly objects: souvenirs, pictures, etc. This is strictly forbidden, because by doing so we show disrespect for God. Indeed, for some reason, photographs of people we love and care about, especially those who have left this world, are put by many in the most prominent place, without cluttering them with unnecessary objects. The same should be done with icons, showing love and respect for the holy images.

The difference between icons and paintings

If you have reproductions of paintings at home that reflect biblical scenes, they should not be installed on the iconostasis.

The main difference between a holy image and painting is that in the first case, through icons, we communicate with the Lord. And since the iconostasis is a sacred place intended for solitude in prayers, the inclusion of reproductions in it would simply be inappropriate.

Icons should not be hung on the wall next to the posters of celebrities - by doing this we offend the holy images, putting them on a par with earthly idols.

Home iconostases are best placed in the eastern part of the house, since this part of the world is of particular importance in Orthodoxy.

For example, from the Old Testament it is known that the Lord created a paradise for people in the eastern part of Eden. And the Gospel says that as lightning comes from the east to the very west, so the Lord comes from Heaven. The church altar is also located in the eastern part. If windows face this side, the home iconostasis, the photo of which you will find in this article, is installed in any other place suitable for it.

What shelf to buy?

Whether you will create homemade iconostases with your own hands from wood or purchase them at a furniture store or church shop is completely up to you. If you want to buy a shelf, do it in specialized Orthodox stores. There is a wider range of iconostases, and the sellers will always prompt and help with the choice. According to the material, wooden and plywood shelves for icons are distinguished. They can be single-tier and multi-tier, straight and angular. There are even solid iconostases, which already have holy images. But such shelves are mostly made only to order. To understand what such a home iconostasis looks like, the photo is presented in this article.

If you decide to create a real red corner, choose multi-tiered shelves. On them it will be much easier to recreate a majestic wall with holy images, like those installed in temples. What will be your home iconostasis - corner or straight depends on where it will be placed (on the wall or in the corner of the room).

What icons are needed?

First of all, in every home there should be images of the Savior, the Mother of God and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Of all the icons of Our Lord, the waist-length Image of the Almighty is most preferable for home prayer. On such an icon, Jesus Christ holds in his left hand an open book, in which it is written "I give you a new commandment: love one another." With the right hand, the Lord baptizes the one who prays.

Of the images of the Mother of God, the Russian people especially fell in love with icons such as "Tenderness" and "Hodegetria" (Guide). In the first image, the Virgin Mary holds a baby in her arms, who gently hugs her neck and presses against her cheek. The most famous icon of this type is the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Its distinctive feature is that the left heel of the baby is completely turned outward. On the image of Hodegetria, the Mother of God is depicted with a baby, who holds a bundle in his right hand, and with his left overshadows all those who pray with the sign of the cross. A vivid example of this image is the Kazan icon, "Soon to hearken", "Sinner's guarantor".

Additional images

In addition to these main icons, on the home iconostasis it is necessary to put images of saints, after whom members of your family are named. It is also desirable to purchase an icon of the healer Panteleimon, a healer of mental and physical illnesses. The choice of other images depends entirely on the needs of the household. For example, you can purchase the image of Peter and Fevronia, who are praying for family well-being. Before the icon of Sergius of Radonezh, they ask for help in teaching and good undertakings. Unmarried women can pray before the image of Xenia of St. Petersburg, who, by the will of God, became an assistant to people in matters of marriage.

Recently, in many homes, the image of the blessed old woman Matrona of Moscow has become one of the central icons. Even after her earthly death, she helps in everything those who come to her in the Intercession Church or to the grave at the Danilovskoye cemetery, or simply turn to Matrona in prayers at home. Many people have already received healing and help from her. No wonder she said: "Come to me and tell me everything, as if alive." By this, Matrona meant that her earthly death does not mean a spiritual death: after all, she is still with us.

home iconostasis. How to arrange icons

It is very important to correctly place the images in the space allotted for them. Above the iconostasis is the Crucifixion. It can be purchased at a church shop or made from wood yourself. The icon of the Holy Trinity is placed on the next tier. On the bottom shelf there should be images of the Savior, the Mother of God and Nicholas the Wonderworker. At the same time, the image of the Lord should be in the middle, the right hand (right) - the Virgin Mary, and the left (left) - Nicholas the Pleasant.

A little lower are icons of saints revered by the family. On the last tier you can put a bottle of holy water, candles and the Gospel.

Making the corner red

You can decorate the home iconostasis with fresh flowers, willow branches after the twelfth feast - the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. And on the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the shelves with images are framed with birch branches, as a symbol of the grace of the power of God.

On the shelf for icons, you can also install reproductions of images. They must first be consecrated and then added to the home iconostasis. Embroider a kiot (frame) for them with beads, and then they will look harmoniously with other icons.

We make a shelf

If you do not have the opportunity to purchase a stand for images, or all the models that you have met, you did not like or do not fit (for example, a small number of tiers, limited space, etc.), then do-it-yourself home iconostasis, photos of which are presented in the article , you can make your own. For a standard three-tier iconostasis, you will need wooden boards, a drill and screws. In order to assemble it, you need to create drawings of a home iconostasis. Using them, you can easily calculate the dimensions of wooden panels, which will depend on the number of icons located on the iconostasis.

Uncomplicated process

The most elementary stand for holy images can be made from plywood. First, you need to attach icons to it with screws in accordance with the heavenly hierarchy. After that, you should make a riza for icons - this is a special salary that frames the images. It can be created from embroidered fabric or from beads and beads. This will give the icon shelf a festive and solemn look. This is how you can make a home iconostasis with your own hands. Photos of similar works in this article will help you in its design.

Thus, the creation of a small church at home is not so much a prerequisite for the life of an Orthodox Christian, but rather his spiritual impulse and desire. After all, the one who believes and loves the Lord always wants to turn to him in prayers both during the liturgy and at home service. It does not matter whether your iconostasis is made of expensive materials and lined with gilded images, or you yourself created it by hand, collecting holy images. The main value is your faith and desire for spiritual perfection.