Cyprus: Yeroskipos, Ayia Paraskevi (Friday in Greek): Iconostasis In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis (the plural is iconostases) is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. Iconostasis also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere within a church. The modern iconostasis evolved from the Byzantine templon in the fifteenth century. The word comes from the Greek word which means 'a stand to put icons'. The picturesque five-domed Byzantine church of Ayia Paraskevi is the church featured in an important scene in John Fowles' classic book The Magus. 固opFoto / Fortean