The interior of an Orthodox church is usually divided into three parts: the narthex, the main part and the altar. The altar is the holiest site of the temple. It is there that the miracle of applying bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ takes place.
In the Orthodox church, the altar is separated from the main room for worshipers by a wall with icons called the iconostasis. The altar itself occupies a smaller area than the main part of the temple, in which the believers are at worship. Since the altar is the holiest place of the temple, entrance to it is allowed only to priests and people who have the special blessing of the clergy.
In the center of the altar is the holy throne. It is on it that the sacrament of the Eucharist is performed during the Divine Liturgy. A priest stands before the throne during a service. On the throne itself are altar crosses, the gospel, antimins, as well as the gift-guard and the lamp. In the gift-guard, there are dried holy gifts for communion of believers at home.
In the northern part of the altar of the Orthodox church there is an altar. It is on it that the priest commits a proskomid, prepares bread and wine for the sacrament of the Eucharist. At a certain point in the liturgy, uninitiated bread and wine are transferred to the throne.
An integral part of the Orthodox altar is a menorah, located behind the throne closer to the eastern part. A menorah is a structure of seven lamps or candles. If the menorah is small, it can be located on the throne itself. A similar object was still in the altar of the Old Testament tabernacle.
The eastern wall of the altar is decorated with the icon of Christ the Savior. Most often the holy image depicts the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This part of the altar is called the high place. In front of the Savior’s icon, a lamp most often hangs, and on the very high place is a seat for the clergyman.
In the southern part of the altar, the place for the censer is most often arranged. There may also be an electric stove on which the altar can light coal for the censer.
Also in the altar can be located tombs with the shroud of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin. The specific location of these shrines is indicated by the rector of the temple.
It should be noted that the interior of the altar is decorated with various icons or wall paintings. Plots of paintings and holy images can be different. Sometimes these are events of the New Testament history, in other cases - the faces of saints, angels or the Mother of God.
