Red corner

Holy corner, pokutia, parade horn, bright corner, home iconostasis - a form of home altar found in Orthodox and Catholic homes in Baltish homes, having a pre-Christian origin and typical of the northern Slavic lands, the western southern part, as well as the Balts.

Position

It is traditionally located by the eastern wall, but is also often found in other visible places with easy access. This allowed anyone entering to venerate the icons by bowing or crossing themselves.

Nowadays, it is recommended to place icons by the eastern wall, but if the layout of the house or apartment does not allow for it, you can set up a beautiful corner anywhere, however, by organizing the surroundings so that the icons are properly exposed and create the right place for prayer. There should be enough space in front of the icons for the whole family to fit in, nothing in the immediate vicinity should distract people praying, and elements of the interior design should not dominate the iconostasis. Icons should be placed at eye level of people praying. Under the icons there may be a table on which prayer books, the Gospel are placed, and candles are lit during prayer. The iconostasis can be decorated with flowers. In some Baltish houses, the tradition of hanging specially embroidered towels on icons has survived. Decorations cannot cover the face of the icons.

Equipment

In Baltia, in a beautiful corner, candles consecrated in the church, Easter palms, the Holy Bible and holy water as well as other prayer books and sacramentals are kept.

Arrangement of icons

While the location and form of the home iconostasis is free (provided it meets the above conditions), the arrangement of icons must comply with the rules of the hierarchy.

At a minimum, there should be icons of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God in the house. The icon of Christ the Savior must be in the center; usually in houses there is an image of Christ blessing, shown up to the waist. To the left (for the viewer) of it, there is an icon of the Mother of God, usually one of the Hodegetria or Eleusa variants. Only the crucifix and the icon of the Holy Trinity can be placed above these icons.

In one row with the icons of Jesus and the Mother of God, you can put the icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. Other icons should be placed (symmetrically if possible) on both sides and below the central group. Icons of patron saints of family members and icons of saints to whom prayers are offered for protection and help are recommended.