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Church Items
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Holy Doors Curtain (Katapetasma)
2 itemsThe holy doors curtain — the katapetasma in Greek, the zavesa in Slavic use — hangs behind the royal doors of the iconostasis and is drawn open and closed at the appointed moments of the Divine Liturgy. Ours are sewn from heavy brocade in the liturgical colour of your choice and fully embroidered with a cross, an icon, or the patronal feast of your parish.
We size every curtain to the exact width and height of your royal doors. Send us the opening dimensions and we will cut the curtain, hem and line it, and fit it with a heading and rings ready to hang.
About the katapetasma
The curtain of the royal doors recalls the veil of the Temple in Jerusalem — the katapetasma that was torn in two at the moment of Christ’s death. In the Orthodox church it veils the sanctuary behind the royal (holy) doors, and its opening and closing through the service marks the rhythm of the Liturgy: drawn back at the Little and Great Entrances and the Communion of the faithful, closed at the moments of preparation and at the dismissal.
Colour and the liturgical year
Like the altar covers and vestments, the curtain follows the colours of the season — gold for ordinary Sundays, red or purple for Lent and Holy Week, white for Pascha and Theophany, blue for feasts of the Theotokos. Most parishes keep one curtain in gold and add a penitential colour; larger churches maintain a full seasonal set.
Embroidery and construction
- Heavy liturgical brocade with a stiff interlining so the curtain hangs straight and draws smoothly.
- Central embroidery — a cross, the Annunciation, the patronal saint, or the Mother of God “Platytera,” worked separately and mounted onto the brocade.
- Lined back, hemmed edges, and a reinforced heading with rings or a rod pocket to suit your existing track.
Measuring your royal doors
Send us the width of the doorway and the height from the track to the floor, plus a note of how you hang the curtain (rings on a rod, a track, or a fixed rail). We add the necessary fullness and hem allowance and confirm the finished dimensions before we cut.
Frequently asked about holy door curtain
What is the katapetasma?
The katapetasma is the curtain that hangs behind the royal (holy) doors of the iconostasis, veiling the sanctuary. It is drawn open and closed at the appointed moments of the Divine Liturgy. The name recalls the veil of the Temple in Jerusalem, torn in two at the death of Christ.
What colour should the holy doors curtain be?
It follows the liturgical season, like the vestments and altar covers: gold for most Sundays, red or purple for Great Lent and Holy Week, white for Pascha and Theophany, blue for feasts of the Theotokos. Most parishes start with a gold curtain and add a penitential colour.
How do you size the curtain to our royal doors?
Send us the width of the doorway and the height from the track to the floor, and tell us how you hang it (rings on a rod, a track, or a rail). We add fullness and hem allowance, confirm the finished dimensions with you, then cut, line, and finish the curtain ready to hang.
Can you embroider an icon on the curtain?
Yes. The most common choices are a cross, the Annunciation, the Mother of God "Platytera," or the patronal saint of the parish. The icon is embroidered on its own frame and mounted onto the brocade, so it can be re-mounted onto fresh fabric if the curtain ever wears out.
How long does a custom holy doors curtain take?
A curtain with a simple embroidered cross ships in about 4-6 weeks. A fully embroidered icon panel adds several weeks. If you need it for a particular feast, tell us the date when you order and we will confirm the schedule.
