FESTIVE TIER

The third tier from the bottom consisting of eighteen icons represents the Terrestrial Life of Christ and Virgin Mary from Her Nativity to Dormition. This tier is called the Festive for annual church feasts connected with evangelic events reflected in the icons. There are more icons dedicated to the Easter Cycle than before, and the images of the Trinity and the Descent of the Holy Spirit are included into it. This became characteristic for this tier from the mid 16th century.