If you are not familiar with Eastern Orthodox churches, the word analoy will probably mean nothing to you. And no, it is not a typographical misspelling of the name of a relative of the actress Myrna Loy.
In Russian it is an analoy/аналой; in Greek it is an analogion/ἀναλόγιον, or in its older form analogeion/ἀναλογέιον, derived from the Greek verb analegesthai, meaning loosely to read though something. That tells us it was originally a lectern, and it is partly still used for that purpose in churches.
Our interest in it, however, is because it also functions as an icon stand placed considerably out front of the iconostasis. It commonly has only a single icon placed on it, which will be the icon of a church festival celebrated on its day, or a calendar icon showing the saints for that month, or an icon of a saint commemorated on that day.
The analoy looks like a narrow, high table with a sloping top. It can also be a pillar with a sloping top added, or even a kind of folding open framework table. Some are very simple, some highly ornamented or carved.
The analoy may also be called a proskinitariy/проскинитарий in Russian, or in Greek a proskynetarion/Προσκυνητάριον. Perhaps you will recognize that word as being related to Greek proskynesis — meaning to bow or prostrate before something in honor or worship. It was discussed in an earlier posting.
This brief article gives me an excuse to share with you a photo of a very interesting person who seemed to have a fondness for analoy-shaped lecterns: Queen Marie of Romania/Roumania.
She had a style all her own, and if you are interested, you may get a glimpse into her world here:
ICONS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION 