Church vestments were not inherited from any other religion but gradually evolved out of the ordinary dress of the people of the Roman Empire. In those first days of Christianity the clergy presided in their ordinary clothing although undoubtedly costlier and more beautiful garments were used. The Church, therefore, did not invent something of the gracious and ample vesture once worn by all Mediterranean peoples. Beyond conservatism it seems that a deep human instinct prefers special clothing for ceremonial occasions and thus many of the ancient world religions have evolved ritual garments for their priests.
The use of such dress over the course of centuries and in all parts of Christendom gave rise to a sense of stability and continuity which is important in a religion concerned with eternal verities. Vestments strikingly remind the participants at the sacred mysteries that they are wonderfully joined to all generations of past believers forming but one undivided family of faith which spans both time and space.
Finally, the sacred vestments of the clergy clothe over to some extent the individual personality of the officiating priest who acts at the altar not simply in his own name but at the one Christ who still "is offered and offers" the Holy and Divine Liturgy. The use of noble and flowing vestments born in Christian antiquity tend to underscore the uniqueness of this Christ-action.
At present the following vestments are used by Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic clergy:
The Deacon:
The STICHARION or tunic which is worn by all clerics in slightly modified forms. Equivalent to the
Roman alb, it may be of any material and color although white is usual. Since no other vestment
is worn over the deacons STICHARION it is slightly more ornamented than that of the priest who
uses it as an undergarment.
The EPIMANIKIA or cuffs are worn by the deacon and higher ranks of clergy. The priest and bishop
wear the cuffs over the sleeves of the STICHARION while the deacon places them underneath his
STICHARION's broader sleeve. The cuffs were the symbols of civil authority in the Byzantine Empire
The ORARION or diaconal stole is a long band ornamented with crosses and often the word "holy"
repeated three times. The ORARION is worn on the left shoulder, passes across the chest and falls
down front and back. The ORARION recalls the ancient garb of a messenger where the sash
announced the family or the group that the messenger represented.
The Priest:
STICHARION or tunic. (see Deacon)
The EPITRACHELION or priestly stole is a long band worn around the neck and falling down to the
ground in front where the two extremities are sewn together. It is usually marked with six crosses.
The ZONE or belt-like cincture girds theSTICHARION and passing over the EPITRACHELION holds
it in place.
EPIMANIKIA or cuffs. (see Deacon)
The PHELONION or outer cloak has the same origin as the Roman chasuble. This ample vestment is
often cut slightly up the front to facilitate arm movements and is marked by a large cross on the back.
Its very full form in the Byzantine usage is reminiscent of the ancient PENULA which gradually
replaced the Roman toga toward the close of the imperial period.
The EPIGONATION is a lozenge shaped vestment suspended by a cord from the left shoulder and
hanging at the right knee. It is properly a Bishop's vestment but it is worn by some priests as a sign
of honor or dignity. It probably originated as a sort of purse or bag but now is purely ceremonial, marked with a cross and made of cloth covered cardboard.
Bishop:
The SACCOS is that vestment proper to Bishops which gradually replaced their use of the
PHELONION. Directly copied from late imperial regalia it is a shorter tunic with ample sleeves
and marked with a cross on the back. It is worn over the STICHARION or under tunic.
The OMOPHORION is probably one of the most ancient of the Bishop's vestments with a strictly
symbolic origin. Copied from the scarf of office worn by the Emperor and other officials it
identified the Bishop as head of the community. A large, long band of cloth it is marked with
crosses and is passed around the neck hanging in front and behind. A "small" OMOPHORION
worn simply around the neck and hanging in two pendants on the chest is properly worn in
place of the large one after the gospel at the Liturgy. The OMOPHORION is worn by all Byzantine
Bishops and corresponds to the Latin pallium.
The PECTORAL CROSS in the Byzantine usage is not a distinctive emblem of Bishops but may be
worn by any priest as a sign of a special honor or dignity. In Russian usage all priests make use
of it. The Bishop wears the pentoral cross in conjunction with the ENCOLPION.
The ENCOLPIA or medallions depicting Christ and the Mother of God are the distinctive sign of
the Bishop in the Byzantine Church. A Bishop usually wears one with the pectoral cross, a
Metropolitan Archbishop or Patriarch two.
The MITRA or Bishop's crown is equivalent to the Latin mitre as the Bishop's head covering. The
crown is embroidered and bears small icons and is surmounted by a cross. Its origin is similar to
that of the papal tiara and its use was adopted after the fall of the Byzantine Roman Empire.
Certain Archimandrites and Archpriests, although not of episcopal character, have the right to the
use of the crown.
The DIKERION and TRIKERION are double candles (symbolizing the double nature in Christ) and triple candles (symbolizing the Trinity) used by the Bishop to give solemn blessings.
The EPIGONATION.(see Priest)
The EPITRACHELION or stole, the ZONE or belt and the EPIMANIKIA or cuffs are also worn by the Bishop but not clearly visible in the illustration.
Bishop-Choir Dress:
The MANDYAS or mantle is the choir and processional dress of the Bishop. Purple in color it often
has embroidered medallions of the evangelists and is closed at the front bottom.
The PATERITSA or pastoral staff is the equivalent of the Roman crosier. It is terminated by two
serpents looking toward an orb surmounted by a cross, and is reminiscent of the brass serpent
erected by Moses to heal the Israelites. The Bishop carries a shorter and simpler staff of wood
topped by a simple knob when walking.
The PECTORAL CROSS and ENCOLPIA. (see Priest)
The KAMELAVKION (clerical hat) with the EPANOKAMELAVKION (black veil) is worn by Bishops,
dignitaries and monks. Only the Kamelavkion is worn by other clergy.
