An introduction to "The Vesting"
Learn the basics before you proceed to the lecture.
Priest
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The priest’s tunic, called a sticharion, is the “garment of salvation” and a “robe of gladness;” and donning it the priest is described in the Liturgy as being crowned according to the Oriental wedding rite. The sticharion is believed to have always been white with stripes running across the sleeves and the body. Over the course of the centuries it became more ornate, probably influenced by the Imperial prototype of the Eastern Roman Empire. The material used, though, was a matter of taste. Today the sticharion of a priest or bishop is a simple tunic reaching to the feet and is made of plain silk or satin. Putting on the sticharion, the priest cites Isaiah 61:10: “My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He has clothed me with the garment of salvation, and with the robe of gladness He has encompassed me. As a bridegroom He has set a crown upon me, and as a bride He has adorned me with an ornament.” Worn as the undermost vestment by bishops and priests, it is usually made from a simple white or gold fabric. |
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The zone (Greek: ζώνη) is the vestment with which a priest or bishop fastens the sticharion and the epitrachelion on his body in order to facilitate his movements and attest his readiness for service, as a man girds himself when he sets out on a journey or undertakes a task. So also the priest girds himself when he sets about his sacred ministry, and regarding his girdle as the strength of Divine Power. It signifies chastity, the mortification of the body, and the girding of the loins with the power of truth. Blessing the belt and kissing it, the priest puts it on, saying: “Blessed is God, who girds me with strength and has made my path blameless.” |
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Epimanikia (singular epimanikion) are liturgical vestments. The two cuffs, which are embroided with crosses, are tied closely around the wrists so as to avoid interfering with liturgical activity. The prayers used when donning the cuffs glorify the hands of the Lord in creating humanity and in shattering His enemies. Blessing and kissing the right cuff, the priest quotes the Song of Moses from the book of Exodus: “Your right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Your right hand, O Lord, has shattered Your enemies, and in the multitude of Your glory You |
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The Epigonation / Palitsa (‘Επιγονάτιον, Shield, A Symbol of elevation). If the Priest holds an ecclesiastical office and is entitled to wear the Epigonation, he puts this vestment piece on next. According to the Greek Orthodox tradition, when he puts this piece on, he says a prayer that is based on Psalm 44(45):3-4 which speaks of girding the sword at your thigh, bowstrings prevailing in justice and righteousness. This vestment piece is referred to as representing the Sword of the Holy Spirit. Again, very much the image of a warrior, fighting the Good Fight, in the Church Militant (the Church in the world) that continually works at helping the faithful toward salvation. |
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| The Phelonion (Φελόνιον, Chasuble). The Phelonion is the last vestment piece the priest puts on. This is the beautiful, long flowing garment that covers all the other vestment pieces. Likened to the the glory of the Kingdom of God, the glory of the Lord covering and protecting His flock from dangers through the Sacraments of the Church, the Priest says a prayer as he puts the Phelonion on that comes from Psalm 131(132):9 which acknowledges that the priest is clothed in the righteousness of the Lord and he (the priest) is joyfully thankful to be allowed to serve the Lord in this way. |
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Bishop
The omophorion (Greek: ὠμοφόριον, meaning "[something] borne on the shoulders"; Slavonic: омофоръ, omofor) is the distinguishing vestment of abishop and the symbol of his spiritual and ecclesiastical authority. Originally of wool, it is a band of brocade decorated with four crosses and an eight-pointed star and is worn about the neck and shoulders. By symbolizing the lost sheep that is found and carried on the Good Shepherd's shoulders, it signifies the bishop's pastoral role as the icon of Christ. Clergy and ecclesiastical institutions subject to a bishop's authority are often said to be "under his omophorion". The omophorion has two forms: the ancient great omophorion, which passes around the neck, is folded in the front, and hangs down past the knees in both the front and the back, like a loosely-worn long scarf; and the small omophorion which is much simpler, passing around the neck and hanging down in the front similar to an epitrachelion (stole), only wider and shorter, coming down only a little past the waist. Because of the complexity of the great omophorion, and because of the dignity of the episcopal office, whenever the bishop puts on the omophorion or takes it off, he is assisted by two subdeacons. |
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Sakkos is a vestment worn by bishops instead of the priest's phelonion. It is a short, wide tunic in the shape of a T, with short, broad sleeves. The two parts which go to make up the garment are sewn together at the shoulders, while the sides remain open and are tied together with cords or ribbons. It has images embroidered on both sides. There is normally a cross in the center of the back, which the bishop kisses before it is placed on him. The sakkos was originally worn by the Emperor as an imperial vestment, symbolizing the tunic of disgrace worn by Christ during his trial and mockery. |
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The miter, also spelled mitre, in Orthodox Christian usage is a type of head-covering worn by certain clergy of the Orthodox Church as a part of their ceremonial dress. The word is derived from the Greek μίτρα, meaning a 'headband' or 'turban'. A head-covering, as a mark of position of certain religious and secular officials, has a long history. A miter in the imperial form was not use by Orthodox bishops until after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Today, the typical miter in Orthodox churches is based on the imperial crown of the late Eastern Roman Empire. The present day miter is made in the shape of a bulbous crown and may be constructed of number of materials such as brocade, damask, or cloth of gold. Embroidery may be used in its construction as well as use of jewels for decoration. The miters, while often of gold, may use other liturgical colors. Normally, there are four icons attached to the miter. These usually are icons of Jesus Christ, the Theotokos, John the Baptist, and the Cross. A cross surmounts the miter, either upright for bishop’s miters or laying flat on miters awarded to priests. The wearing of the miter is a prerogative of bishops, but it may be awarded to archpriests, protopresbyters, and archimandrites.
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