- a. On the right side of the Royal Gate there is the icon of our Lord Jesus holding a bible on which is written the verse, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). This icon proclaims that Jesus Christ is the unique gate that leads to the Kingdom of God and that He is the Good Shepherd who opened the gates of heaven through His life-giving sacrifice. Next to this icon is the icon of St. John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the Lord. Next comes the icon of the patron saint, in whose honor the church was built. It is usually followed by a number of select icons of martyrs, saints, archangels, or depictions of some events from the scriptures.
- b. On the opposite side is the icon of St. Mary the Theotokos, representing the Church, being the Queen who sits at the right hand of Christ the King. This is followed by the icon of the Annunciation, then Archangel Michael, St. Mark, and sometimes the apostles.
- c. Above the Royal Gate there is an icon of the Last Supper, and to its right and left there are usually icons of each of the twelve apostles, reminding us that our Church is apostolic, its faith is apostolic, that it follows apostolic thought, and is led by apostolic shepherds.
- d. On the top of the iconostasis, a holy cross stands with St. Mary and St. John the Beloved standing on each side.