Orthodox Vestments

Readers. A short Tunic (Felon), which barely covers the shoulders, is put upon the Reader when he is set apart by the Bishop, and (at the present time) is rarely worn except upon that day. It symbolizes his coming under the yoke of the Priest-hood, and his dedica­tion to the service of God. His usual vest­ment is a Dalmatic (Stikhar).

Sub-Deacons and Deacons. The Dal­matic (Stikhar) and the Stole (Orar). The Dalmatic, a long, straight vestment with wide sleeves, which covers the whole person, is called "the robe of salvation and the garment of joy. It is symbolical of a pure and tranquil conscience, a spotless life, and the spiritual joy in the Lord which flows therefrom, in him who wears it. The Stole is a long, wide band of material which is sometimes worn over the left

shoulder, sometimes crossed upon the breast and back, in the case of the Deacon. The Sub-Deacon wears his Stole always crossed, for conven­ience in the fulfilment of his duties. But the Deacon binds his Stole about him in the form of a cross shortly before the Holy Gifts are con­secrated, thus typifying the wings of the Angels who serve about the Altar, as the Deacons themselves typify the Cherubim and Seraphim. Sometimes the Angelic song, "Holy, Holy, Holy," is embroidered upon the Stole. The Stole is bound about the Sub-Deacon in the form of a cross at his Ordination, as a symbol that, through the meekness and continence of his members and the purity of his heart, he is to put upon him the robe of purity. The Deacon wears, also, the Cuffs (Porutchi), for convenience during the service, and to remind him that he must not put his trust in his own strength alone, but in the right hand of the Lord, the Almighty and merciful God, and in His strength and aid.

Priests. The Priest's stikhak or cassock (Podriznik), has close sleeves. His Stole (Epitrakhil) consists of a long piece of cloth like the Deacon's, but broader than the latter, which passes round his neck, is joined in front for its entire length, and falls low upon his cassock. It typifies the consecrating grace of the Priesthood. The Priest, like the Deacon, can celebrate no Office without his Stole. In it, without the Chasuble, he celebrates the less solemn Offices: Lesser Vespers, ordinary Compline, Lauds (Polunotchnitza), the Hours (if the Gospel be not appointed to be read in them); also various Prayer-services in private dwellings, such as that at the birth of a child, and the like.

The Zone (Poyas) is a sort of belt wherewith the Priest girds himself above his cassock and stole, for convenience in serving the Altar. It is symbolical of the gift of strength, wherewith God aids him in his ser­vice, and exhorts him to blamelessness of life. His Cuffs (Porutchi) typify the bonds wherewith the hands of our Lord were bound. The Epigonation (Nabedrennik) is an oblong piece of brocade, which is suspended upon the hip of a priest, and signifies the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It is also explained as being sym­bolical of the towel wherewith the Saviour girded himself to wash the disciples' feet.

The Palitza is identical with the Epigonation, except that it is suspended by one corner instead of by two corners. It is always worn on the right hip. The Epigonation is worn on the right hip; but if the Priest have also a Palitza, the Epigonation is worn on the left hip. Both the Epigonation and the Palitza are typical of profound zeal for the faith, and for the salvation of Christ's flock, and are conferred as rewards of honour. The distinguishing vestment of the Priest is the Chasuble (Felon), a long, ample garment without sleeves, short in front and with an open­ing for the head, which is put on over the other vestments. Archpriests and Priests also receive, as tokens of distinguished ser­vice, the pointed and the upright Biretta - the sknfya and the kamilavka.

Bishops. A Bishop wears all the vestments of a Priest, save the Chasuble and Epigonation, his biretta being perpendicular, black, and draped with

the monastic veil or cowl. In place of the Chasuble a Bishop wears a Dalmatic, which closely resembles the wide-sleeved Dalmatic of the Deacon. This Dalmatic (Sakkos) is symbolical of Christ's coat without a seam, woven from top to bottom. The Bishop's Stole (Omofor-Pall) is very broad, and hangs clown in front and behind over his other vestments. His Pall typ­ifies the wandering sheep, and the Prelate, when arrayed in this vestment, bears the image of the Saviour Christ, who, as the Good Shepherd, took upon his shoulders the wandering sheep and bare it to those who wander not; that is, to the Angels, in his Father's house. The Mitre is typical of a diadem or crown, and serves as an emblem of the power bestowed upon a minister of the Church. (The Mitre is conferred also upon Archimandrites, or Abbots, and upon certain Archpriests.) The Panagia, which is worn on his breast by a Bishop, is generally a small, circular Holy Image, or Ikona, of our Sa­viour and the Birth-giver of God. The Panagia (or "all-holy") reminds the Bishop that he must al­ways bear in his heart our Lord and his holy Mother, the Intercessor with God; and, to that end his heart must be pure, and his spirit upright. The Bishop's Mantle (Mdntiya) is a monastic vestment, which covers the whole person with the exception of the head. Its freely flowing lines typify the wings of the Angels; hence it is called "the Angelic vestment." The folds of the Mantle are symbolical of the all-embracing power of God;and also of the strictness, piety and  meekness of the monastic life; and that the hands and other members of a monk do not live, and are not fitted for worldly activity, but are all dead. All monks, when present at divine service, must be robed in their mantles.

The peculiarity of a Bishop's man­tle is that it is not black in hue, like the monastic mantle, but of purple, or some other colour; and upon it are sewn the so-called "Tables of the Law" (Skrizhali), and, in particular, the "Fountains " (Istotchniki). The Tables (squares of velvet at neck and foot) typify the Old and the New Testament, whence the ministers of God should draw their doctrine. The "Fountains" are ribbons, usually red and white in hue, sewn horizontally round the Mantle, and represent the streams of teaching which flow from the mouth of the Bishop. Small bells are attached to the Mantle of a Bishop, and to his Dalma­tic, as to the upper robe of the High Priest of the Jews. The Crozier, or Pastoral Staff (Posokli), is given to Bishops and to Archiman­drites, in token of their spir­itual authority over the monasteries or cities which they rule; and as a sign that it behooves them to feed the flock of Christ. The Eagle (Orlet) is a small circular rug, with the representa­tion of a one-headed eagle soaring over a battlemented city. A Bishop stands on this rug during divine service, and to him alone is its use accorded. He is led upon a large "Eagle" at his Consecration, as the Office of Consecration sets forth. The view of the city betokens the Prelate's rule over the city; the Eagle denotes the lofti­ness and purity of his teach­ing. Thus the Eagle-rug spread for a Bishop to stand upon signifies that he, by his life Crozier and doctrine, must resemble the eagle, which soars above all lower things, and aspires unto heaven.

From: Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church - Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, Englewood, NJ, 1983

(derived from the Archpriest Konstantin Nikolsky: An Aid to the Study of the Orthodox Church, St. Petersburg, 1894)