South Deacon’s Door
Early 18th century
Copy
St. Philipp is depicted in a pink-brown sticharion, a greenish cassock and a blue-black orarion. He is holding a censer in his right hand and a tabernacle in his left hand. The saint’s image is painted on the South (Deacon’s) Door leading to the sacristy — a room where church vessels, vestments and liturgical books are kept.
Archdeacon Philipp lived in Caesarea Maritima and was one of the seven deacons (coming after Stephen), appointed by the Apostles themselves, and therefore he is called ‘archdeacon’. He was the bishop of Tralles in Lydia and was one of the seventy disciples (or Apostles).
