What Are the Royal Doors in an Orthodox Church?

The Royal Doors, also called Holy Doors, are the central doors of the iconostasis leading toward the altar in an Orthodox church.

What is usually depicted on them? Many Royal Doors bear an image of the Annunciation together with icons of the four Evangelists, although artistic arrangements can vary.

Why are the doors sometimes open and sometimes closed? Their opening and closing follows the liturgical structure of particular services and helps express the sacred action taking place.

Can anyone enter through them? Their liturgical use is governed by Church order and is not the ordinary entrance for the congregation.

For the larger screen of icons surrounding them, see What Is an Iconostasis in an Orthodox Church?.