The Iconostasis of the Katholikon

The original iconostasis of the Katholikon of the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, was erected during the time of its construction by Hosios Christodoulos, at the late 11th or early 12th century. It was made of marble, with balustrades and parapets. At the end of the 15th century, it was replaced by a wooden one, adorned by icons made by the exquisite Cretan painter Andreas Ritzos, now exhibited at the Monastery’s museum. The iconostasis the visitor can see today, is a donation of Nektarios, the Patmian Metropolitan of Sardis. Its construction was completed after a whole year's work by 12 craftsmen, in 1820. Made of carved wood, with fully sculpted figures, it is gold plated with several painted panels, decorated with carved scenes from the Holy Bible. It appears disproportionately large and elaborate in comparison to the Katholikon. The icons that adorn it are of the Russian cycle. Two of them, Christ and the Virgin, on the right and left of the central entrance, dated at 1702, are a donation of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia (1762-1796). The renowned leader of Russia was trying, at the time, to tighten Russia’s relationships with the Orthodox institutions of the Mediterranean, in an attempt to gain a leading role at the area.