To participate in the Divine service, deacons put on the following clothes: surplice, orarion and bridles.
The surplice is a long garment without a slit in the front and back, with a hole for the head and wide sleeves. The surplice signifies the purity of the soul. The right to wear the surplice can be given to both psalm-readers and laymen serving in the church.
Orarion is a long wide ribbon made of the same material as the surplice. Signifies the grace of God that the deacon received in the sacrament of the Priesthood. Worn by the deacon, protodeacon, hierodeacon and archdeacon on the left shoulder, over the surplice.
Handrails are narrow sleeves, fastened with laces. They tighten the sleeves of the deacon's surplice and the sacristan of priests and bishops. They are wide stripes of dense material with the image of a cross. The guards resemble the bonds (ropes) on the hands of the Savior during His suffering.

Priest's Robe.

To correct the Divine service, the priest puts on such garments as a cassock, epitrachelion, belt, armbands, phelonion (or chasuble), and a loincloth.
The surplice is a type of surplice intended for vestments of priests and bishops. The cassock is a long toe-length garment with narrow sleeves of a light (white, yellow) color. The bishop's cassock has gammata, or springs - ribbons that tighten the sleeves at the wrist, which are considered as a symbolic representation of the flow of blood from the pierced hands of Jesus Christ. The cassock resembles the tunic (underwear) in which Jesus Christ walked the earth.
The epitrachelion is a long ribbon that goes around the neck and goes down with both ends. Signifies the double grace, compared to the deacon, given to the priest to perform the sacraments. The epitrachelion is worn over a cassock or cassock. Without an epitrachelion, a priest or bishop cannot officiate. Seven crosses are sewn onto the stole. Six in front (three on each half), indicating that the priest can perform six sacraments. Another cross, the seventh, is on the neck and symbolizes that the priest has accepted his priesthood from the bishop and is subject to him, and bears the burden of serving Jesus Christ.
The belt is worn over the epitrachelion and cassock. The belt resembles the towel that Jesus Christ wore when he washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper.
Riza (Phelon) – outerwear priest, worn over other clothes. The clothing is long, wide, sleeveless, with an opening for the head and a large cutout in the front, reaching to the waist, for free movement of the arms. The upper shoulders of the phelonion are firm and high. The rear, upper edge of the phelonion has the shape of a truncated triangle or trapezoid and rises above the shoulders of the clergyman.
In its appearance, the phelonion resembles the scarlet robe in which the suffering Jesus Christ was clothed and is interpreted as the robe of truth. On top of the chasuble on the priest's chest is a pectoral cross.
Gaiter - a quadrangular plate, hung on a ribbon over the shoulder at two corners on the right thigh. Issued to priests of the Russian Orthodox Church as a reward for diligent, long-term service. Symbolizes the spiritual sword.

Vestments of the Bishop (Bishop).

The bishop (bishop) puts on all the clothes of a priest: cassock, epitrachelion, belt, armbands. Only the robe is replaced by a sakkos, and the legguard by a club. In addition, an omophorion, miter, and panagia are worn.
Sakkos - the bishop's outer robe, replacing the chasuble and having the same symbolic meaning- the scarlet robe of the Savior. The cut is a long, loose garment (usually not sewn at the sides) with short, wide sleeves and a neckline for the head. Both the cassock and the stole are visible from under the sakkos.
The club is a quadrangular board hung at one corner, above the sakkos on the left thigh. In its symbolic meaning, the club, like the legguard, has the same meaning of a spiritual sword, that is, the Word of God, with which the shepherd must always be armed. But compared to the legguard, the club belongs to more high level, since it also symbolizes the edge of the towel with which Jesus Christ wiped the feet of his disciples.
An omophorion is a long, wide, ribbon-shaped cloth, decorated with crosses. It is placed on the bishop's shoulders in such a way that, encircling the neck, one end descends in front and the other behind (the great omophorion). Without the omophorion, the bishop cannot perform any service. The omophorion is worn over the sakkos and symbolizes a sheep that has gone astray and was brought into the house on the shoulders of the good shepherd ( Luke 15:4-7), that is, the salvation of the human race by Jesus Christ. And the bishop dressed in it depicts Christ the Good Shepherd, who took the lost sheep on his shoulders and carried it to the unlost (that is, the angels) in the house of the Heavenly Father.
Panagia - a small round image of the Savior or Mother of God, decorated with colored stones. Worn on the chest, over the sakkos.
Orlets is a small round rug with an image of an eagle, placed under the feet of the bishop during services. It means that the bishop must, like an eagle, ascend from the earthly to the heavenly. Spiritual meaning An eagle with an image of a city and an eagle soaring above it indicates, first of all, the heavenly origin and dignity of the episcopal rank. Standing on the eagle everywhere, the bishop seems to rest on the eagle all the time, that is, the eagle seems to constantly carry the bishop on itself.

The vestments of the clergy (Video).

Signs of Pastoral Authority.

During divine services, bishops use a rod or crozier as a sign of supreme pastoral authority. The staff is also given to archimandrites and abbots, as heads of monasteries.

Hats.

During services, the heads of clergy are decorated with a miter, or kamilavka. For more everyday needs, skufja is used.
Miter is a bishop's headdress, decorated with small images and colored stones. It commemorates the crown of thorns that was placed on the head of Jesus Christ. The miter adorns the clergyman, since during the service he depicts King Christ, and at the same time reminds of the crown of thorns with which the Savior was crowned. In the Orthodox Church, when putting the miter on the bishop, the prayer is read: “ Place, O Lord, a crown on your head and from other stones..."as in the celebration of the sacrament of marriage. For this reason, the miter is also understood as an image of the golden crowns with which the righteous are crowned in the Kingdom of Heaven at the wedding feast of the union of Jesus Christ with the Church.
In the Russian Orthodox Church, until 1987, not all bishops wore a miter with a cross, but only archbishops, metropolitans and patriarchs. According to the proposal of Patriarch Pimen, the Holy Synod at its meeting on December 27, 1987 determined that all bishops have the right to wear a miter with a cross. It should be noted that in some pre-Chalcedonian churches (in particular, Armenian and Coptic), a miter with a cross was worn by subdeacons.
A type of Orthodox miter is the crown miter, which has a toothed crown (usually 12 petals) above the lower belt. The crown miter was the main type of miter until the 18th century.

Kamilavka is a tall cylindrical headdress with an extension towards the top. purple, honorary award Orthodox priests.
Skufya is an everyday headdress of Orthodox clergy of all degrees and ranks. It is a small round black, softly folding cap; the folds of the worn skufia form the sign of the cross around the head.
In the ancient Russian church they wore skufia, according to ancient custom Greek church, not only priests, but also deacons to cover their heads, on the crown of which a small circle (humentse) was cut.
The purple velvet skufia is given to representatives of the white clergy as a reward - second only to the legguard. The skufja award has received significance since 1797.

Casual Attire.

The main everyday attire of the clergy and monasticism of all degrees is the cassock and cassock.
The cassock is an undergarment that is a long robe, reaching to the toes, with a tightly buttoned collar and narrow sleeves. For monastics, the cassock should be black. The colors of the cassocks of the white clergy are black, dark blue, brown, gray and white for summer. Material: cloth, wool, satin, linen, comb, less often silk fabrics.
Cassock is an outer garment with long, wide sleeves below the palms. The most common color of the cassock is black, but there may be cassocks of dark blue, brown, white, less often cream and gray. The materials for cassocks are the same as for cassocks. Both cassocks and cassocks can be lined. For everyday use, there are cassocks, which are demi-season and winter coats. These are cassocks of the first type, with a turn-down collar, trimmed with black velvet or fur. Winter cassocks-coats are made with a warm lining.
All services, except for the liturgy, are performed by the priest in a cassock and cassock, over which special liturgical vestments (robes) are worn. When serving the liturgy, as well as in special cases When, according to the Rules, the priest must be in full liturgical vestments, the cassock is removed and the cassock and other vestments are put on over the cassock. The deacon serves in a cassock, over which is worn a surplice. The bishop performs all divine services in a cassock, on which special priestly vestments are put on. The only exceptions are some prayer services, litias, cell services and other sacred services of the bishop, when he can serve in a cassock or cassock and mantle, over which an epitrachelion is worn.
Thus, the everyday attire of the clergy is an obligatory basis for liturgical vestments.

The color of liturgical robes symbolizes holidays, events, and days of remembrance on which the service is performed. Let's list these colors:
- Golden (yellow) of all shades (Royal color).
Days of remembrance of prophets, apostles, saints, equal to the apostles, and other ministers of the Church, as well as blessed kings and princes, and on Lazarus Saturday (sometimes they also serve in white).
Golden vestments are used on Sunday services, and also on most days of the year, unless someone's memorial is being celebrated.
- White (Divine color).
Holidays: Nativity of Christ, Epiphany, Presentation, Transfiguration and Ascension, Lazarus Saturday (sometimes also served in yellow), ethereal heavenly powers, and also at the beginning of the Easter service. White vestments symbolize the light that shone from the tomb of Jesus Christ at His Resurrection.
White vestments are used during the sacrament of baptism, weddings and funeral services, as well as when vesting a newly ordained person in the priesthood.
- Blue (the color of the highest purity and purity).
Theotokos holidays: Annunciation, Laying of the Robe, Assumption, Christmas Holy Mother of God, Intercession, Introduction, days of memory of the Mother of God icons.
The robes of metropolitans are of various shades of blue, even blue.

Purple or dark red.
Cross Worship Week of Lent; Origin (deterioration) of honest trees Life-giving Cross Lord's Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Episcopal and archbishop's robes, as well as award skufiyas and kamilavkas, are purple.
- Red, Dark Red, Burgundy, Crimson.
The color of holidays and days of remembrance of martyrs. Maundy Thursday.
At Easter - the joy of the Resurrection of Christ. On the days of remembrance of martyrs - the color of the blood of martyrs.
- Green (the color of life-giving and eternal life).Disqus

Bishop's vestments (bishop's, bishop's, episcopal), like the vestments of a priest, consists of a vestment (podsakkosnik), stoles, belts, handrail, only chasuble he is being replaced sakkos, A legguard club. On top sakkosa the bishop puts on omophorion, panagia With cross And miter.

Photo gallery will help you choose bishop's vestments (bishop's, bishop's, episcopal) to your taste.

When you hover your cursor over one of the images below, you will be taken to a page with a description of the image you selected. bishop's vestments (bishop's, bishop's, episcopal).

SACCOS

Sakkos- it is decorated with bells upper bishop's vestment, similar to a deacon's surplice shortened at the bottom and in the sleeves. On the sides sakkosa 33 brooches-buttons are sewn on (16 on the sides and one near the neckline for the head), which reminds of the number of years Christ lived on earth. Translated from Hebrew" sakkos" means "rubbish". Sakkos considered a garment of repentance and humility, the ancient Jews wore sakkos on days of repentance, fasting and sorrow. Sakkos symbolizes the scarlet robe of the Savior (purple robe - robe purple, in ancient times - clothes kings - a sign of supreme power). It was worn on Jesus for the purpose of ridiculing him. robe purple in color, possibly the red cloak of Roman soldiers (in Matthew 27:28 called purple, in Mark 15:17, 20 and John 19:2, 5 - purple). Under sakkos the saccos is put on. In Byzantium sakkos was clothes the emperor and his entourage. In the XI-XII centuries. sakkos began to enter into liturgical practice as vestments Constantinople Patriarch, then in sakkos other eastern patriarchs began to put on vestments, as well as the Moscow Metropolitan. From the 16th century in the east and from early XVIII V. in Russia sakkos becomes mandatory vestments of bishops, replacing the felonion. Sakkos decorated with gold embroidery, personal images, ornamental embroidery and sewn-on crosses.

OMOPHORUS

Omophorion- a long wide ribbon decorated with crosses, which is worn over sakkosa, It happens great omophorion And small omophorion. Omophorion symbolizes the lost sheep brought into the house on the shoulders of the good shepherd (Luke 15:4-7), i.e. omophorion commemorates the salvation of the human race by Jesus Christ. And dressed in omophorion bishop depicts the Good Shepherd (an allegorical image of Jesus Christ in the form of a shepherd with a sheep on his shoulders, borrowed from the Old Testament), who carries a lost sheep on his shoulders to the unlost (that is, to the angels) in the house of the Heavenly Father. Great Omophorion made in the form of a long wide ribbon with images of crosses, it goes around the neck bishop and descends with one end onto his chest and the other onto his back. Small omophorion- this is a wide ribbon with images of crosses, both ends of which descend to the chest. Front tape omophorion sewn or fastened with buttons.

MACE

Mace- a quadrangular cloth board (rhombus), hung from sharp corner at the right thigh on top sakkosa on the tape. Mace is a part liturgical vestments of the bishop, from the 16th century archimandrite and from the 18th century. priest, which is given as a reward for excellent and diligent service. Mace- a symbol of spiritual weapons - the word of God. Ppalitsa is a necessary accessory liturgical vestments of bishops and archimandrites. Archpriests receive the right to wear club from the ruling bishop as a reward for diligent service. Compared to the legguard club refers to a higher level, since it also personifies the edge of the towel with which Jesus Christ wiped the feet of his disciples.

Our workshop produces sewing church vestments (bishop's vestments, bishop's vestments, bishop's vestments, bishop's vestments ) With embroidery, including sakkos, omophorion, club etc.

What does the color of a priest's vestment mean? Why does the color of the vestments change depending on the day? What color does a priest wear for Christmas services? For Easter? On other holidays? Colors of vestments: we tell you the main thing you need to know.

Liturgical vestments

Liturgical vestments are varied and depend on the rank of the priest, whether he is a priest at all (maybe a deacon, for example, or a sexton), and also on certain moments of the services.

We will definitely tell you in detail what the liturgical vestments of a priest consist of. But if we talk now in the most general outline, then it is distinguished by external solemnity, and without it - worn partially or completely - the priest cannot perform divine services or some of the Sacraments. For example, a priest cannot serve or confess without an epitrachelion.

Depending on the day the service takes place, the priest’s vestments may be different colors: yellow, red, blue, purple, black, white or green. No other colors are used.

What does the color of priests' vestments mean?

The set of colors that are used in the church has developed traditionally in the Church over two millennia. And they put on different colors not only the priest, but also everyone who concelebrates with him - deacons, altar servers, sextons. Also, depending on the day, the color of the vestments of the throne and, if possible, other details in the structure of the temple change (for example, on Easter in some churches the lamps are changed to red - the color of this Holiday).

What does the color of a priest's vestment mean? On the one hand, each color really acquired its symbolic meaning in the Church and from this point of view, some unspoken rules were established. For example, priests serve all the feasts of the Mother of God in blue, and on Easter days - in red.

On the other hand, the color of vestments is precisely a tradition, not a dogma, therefore in certain cases, depending on the temple, the principles for choosing colors may differ slightly. But in general terms, the rules for forming the color of a priest’s vestments are the same everywhere and look like this:

Blue Priest's Robe

Required for the Mother of God holidays. For example: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 21) or Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 28). Or on the day of celebration of especially revered Mother of God icons.

(By the way, if a church has a blue dome, then it was also most likely consecrated in honor of the feast of the Mother of God. Although in general, there are no rules at all for domes regarding color... See text:)

White Priest's Robe

Intended for the holidays of the Nativity of Christ (January 7), Epiphany (January 18), Ascension of the Lord (date depends on the day of Easter), Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19) and Circumcision of the Lord (January 14).

Priests, deacons and altar servers also dress in white on the days of the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostle John the Theologian, and also on the days of remembrance ethereal forces, maidens and virgins.

Burial, as a rule, is also performed in white vestments, and not black ones - because death in Christianity is not a tragic event, but on the contrary - a bright one, for the soul goes into Eternity.

White vestments are also used during the Sacraments of Baptism and Wedding.

Purple Priest's Robe

Intended for the feasts of the Holy Cross. For example - the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 27).

In addition, priests wear purple during Lent. Sundays and days of Great Holidays. For example, on the Day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, which is celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent.

Red Priest's Robe

Clergy wear red on days of remembrance of martyrs. In addition, it is the color of Easter week. Although during the Easter service itself it is customary that the priests alternately put on vestments of different colors, and greet the Resurrection of Christ itself and the first message “Christ is Risen!” proclaimed in white.

On Maundy Thursday - the last Thursday before Easter - the priest also dresses in red (the memory of the Blood given by Christ to his disciples at the Last Supper) - but in a dark red shade, so that it is not Easter.

Green color of vestments

Green vestments are intended for the holidays of the Holy Spirit (51st day after Easter), the Holy Trinity (50th day after Easter), the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (a week before Easter) and, in addition, on the days of remembrance of holy fools, ascetics, etc.

Black color of vestments

Black vestments are required for fasting. Moreover, on some days it can be not only black, but dark blue or dark green. However, in Lent- especially on Holy Week - the vestments are exclusively black.

The exception for “Lenten” vestments are Great Feasts or Sundays, when priests also wear purple vestments or black, but with gold or colored trim.

Yellow or golden priestly vestments

Yellow color - apostles, prophets, saints and other servants of the Church.

In addition, a priest can wear this color in poor or rural parishes on those days for which he does not have vestments of the appropriate color.

Another thing that can be said about the priest’s vestments is that they are usually made of silk or brocade.

At the same time, the vestments on the pattern can be very diverse. For example, “minimalistic” like this:

Or vice versa - with an exquisite pattern, like this:

However, the choice of pattern, unlike the color of the vestment, does not carry any rules at all and depends entirely on the tastes of those who sew and the person who purchases the vestment.

Read this and other posts in our group at

Types of sacred vestments.

If for worldly affairs, on important ceremonial occasions, they don’t dress in the usual casual clothes, and in the best, it is all the more natural that when serving the Lord God, priests and clergy put on special clothes, the purpose of which is to distract the mind and heart from everything earthly and lift them to God. Special liturgical clothing was introduced for clergy back in Old Testament. It was strictly forbidden to enter the tabernacle and the Jerusalem temple for service without special vestments, which after the service had to be removed when leaving the temple. And at present, sacred - church ministers during the commission church services the person is dressed in sacred clothes, which, according to the three degrees church hierarchy, are divided into deaconal, priestly and episcopal. According to the teachings of the Church, each highest degree of the church hierarchy contains grace, and at the same time the rights and advantages of the lower degrees. This is clearly expressed by the fact that the sacred clothes characteristic of the lower degrees also belong to the higher ones. Therefore, the order in vestments is as follows: first they put on clothes belonging to the lowest rank, and then to the highest. So the bishop dresses first in the robes of a deacon, then in the robes of a priest, and then in those belonging to him as a bishop. The priest also first puts on the deacon's robes, and then the priest's robes.

Clothes of a reader or singer.

This is a short phelonion (the outer vestment of priests for worship in the form of a brocade robe woven with gold or silver without sleeves), which in modern times is put on the reader only at his ordination. It has the appearance of a priestly phelonion, but differs from it in that it is very short, barely covering the shoulders. It is worn as a sign of dedication to serving God. Nowadays the reader performs his service in clothing called a surplice.

Surplice

- These are long straight clothes with wide sleeves. Since priests and bishops wear a surplice under other vestments, their surplice is slightly changed in shape and is called a surplice. The surplice is made mainly of white or light-colored material in order to remind the wearer of the purity of life that is required of him. The surplice also signifies “the robe of salvation and the robe of joy,” that is, a calm conscience and the spiritual joy that comes from this.

The clothing of the subdeacon and deacon also comes with an orarion. This is a long wide ribbon with which the subdeacon girds himself crosswise, and the deacon wears it on his left shoulder. The girdling with an orarion serves as a sign that the subdeacon must serve God and people with humility and purity of heart. When consecrating a subdeacon to deacon, the bishop places an orarion on his left shoulder. Only at the Liturgy, after the prayer “Our Father,” does the deacon gird himself with an orarion in the shape of a cross, thereby preparing himself for communion of the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Usually, when proclaiming litanies and other exclamations, he raises the end of the orarion, holding it with three fingers right hand. In ancient times, the deacon used an orarium to wipe the lips of those receiving communion. The word “orar” comes from the Latin “oh” - I ask, or I pray. Orar signifies the wings of angels, because the deacon's service symbolizes the service of angels at the Throne of God. Therefore, an angelic song is sometimes embroidered on the orar: “Holy, Holy, Holy.” When placing the orarion on himself, the deacon does not read any prayer.

The deacon's robes include hand guards, or "oversleeves." They are used to tighten the edges of the sleeves of the lower clothing - as if to strengthen the hands, to make them more capable of performing sacred functions. The instructions remind the clergyman that he must rely not on his own strength, but on the strength and help of the Lord. The bonds remind us of the bonds with which the Savior’s most pure hands were bound.

The clothes of the priest include: a vestment (surplice), epitrachelion, armbands, belt and phelonion. There are also two more accessories that are not included in the mandatory clothing of a priest - a legguard and a club. They are awards that the bishop bestows on honored priests.

Stole

- this is nothing more than a deacon’s orarion, wrapped around the neck so that both ends of it descend in front. In ancient times, when consecrating a deacon to the priesthood, the bishop, instead of placing the stole on him, transferred only the back end of the orarion to his right shoulder so that both ends hung in front. This is indicated by the very shape of the epitrachelion, which looks like an orarion folded in half. Epitrachelion means the deep grace of the priesthood given to the priest. A priest without an epitrachelion, like a deacon without an orarion, does not perform a single service. He performs less solemn services in one stole.

Belt

- a ribbon with which the priest girds himself up to the top of his vestment and epitrachelion in order to make it more convenient to perform sacred functions. The belt resembles the girdle of the Lord Jesus Christ before the Last Supper and symbolizes the power of God and at the same time readiness for priestly service.

Gaiter and club

- these are the clothes that the priest receives as a reward, and the legguard is the first priestly award, and the club already belongs to the bishop’s clothes. It is also given to some archpriests, archimandrites and abbots. The legguard is a rectangular oblong plate worn on the clergyman’s thigh on a long ribbon thrown over the shoulder, and the club is a quadrangular equilateral plate made in the shape of a rhombus. The legguard and the club symbolize the spiritual sword, the spiritual weapon, which is the Word of God. The Gaiter is a reward introduced in the Russian Church. In the East only the club is known. The legguard is put on the right thigh, and when the club is given, the legguard is hung on the left thigh, and the club is placed on the right.

Felonion (chasuble)

– means “all-covering garment.” This is a long, wide, sleeveless garment covering the entire body with an opening for the head. The phelonion is worn over other clothes and covers them. The phelonion, decorated with many crosses, was also called “polystavrion” - “baptized robe”. The phelonion symbolizes the clothing in which the Lord was clothed by the soldiers who mocked Him, and reminds the priest that in his service he portrays the Lord, who sacrificed Himself for the justification of people. The priest wears a phelonion during more solemn services. At the same time, according to the Charter, during the service the priest dresses himself and undresses several times, which is now not always observed in parish churches due to various abbreviations introduced into the service.

Monastics wear special headdresses - a klobuk, kamilavka and skufia - black, and priests of the white clergy are given skufia, and then a purple kamilavka, as a distinction or award. The name “skufia” comes from the word “skyphos” - bowl, because its shape resembles a bowl. “Kamilavka” comes from the name of the material from which it was previously made in the East and which was made from the neck wool of a camel.

Bishops, in addition to priestly clothes (epistrachelion, vestment, belt and brace), also have clothes characteristic of their rank: sakkos, omophorion, miter and cross with panagia.

Sakkos

- “clothing of sadness, humility and repentance.” This is the outer bishop's clothing, similar in shape to the surplice but shorter, somewhat wider in volume and decorated with bells. Sakkos has the same meaning as phelonion. In ancient times, only a few bishops wore sakkos; basically everyone wore a phelonion. The bells at the sakkos symbolize the gospel of the Word of God coming from the lips of the bishop.

Omophorion

- clothes worn by the bishop on his shoulders. This is a long and wide board, reminiscent of a deacon's orarion, but only wider and longer. The omophorion is placed on top of the sakkos, with one end going down forward onto the chest, and the other back, onto the back of the bishop. Without the omophorion, the bishop does not perform a single service. The omophorion was previously made from wave (wool), which signified a lost sheep, i.e. sinful human race. The bishop with the omophorion symbolizes the Good Shepherd - Christ the Savior carrying the lost sheep on His shoulders. Due to this significance of the omophorion, it was removed and put on again several times during the service of the Liturgy. At those moments when the bishop symbolizes Christ, he wears an omophorion; when he reads the Gospel, makes the Great Entry and Transmission of the Holy Gifts, the omophorion is removed from the bishop, for in the Gospel and the Holy Gifts Christ Himself appears to those praying. Usually, after the first removal of the omophorion from the bishop, another omophorion of smaller size is put on him, which is why it is called a small omophorion. The small omophorion falls with both ends in front onto the bishop's chest, and it is significantly shorter than the first great omophorion.

Miter

– (from Greek - “I bind”), means “bandage”, “diadem”, “crown”. In liturgical books, the miter is called a cap. This royal decoration is given to the bishop because in his ministry he portrays the King - Christ. At the same time, the miter also serves as a sign of episcopal authority. It should remind the bishop himself of the crown of thorns that the soldiers placed on the head of Christ, as well as of the sudara with which His head was entwined during burial.

In the Russian Church, the miter is given to archimandrites and some archpriests. IN certain moments During divine services the miter is removed. The bishop removes the miter during the great entrance, before the Creed, for the entire time when air is blown over the Holy Gifts, from the words “Take, eat...” - to the application of the Holy Gifts, during communion, and also when he himself reads the Gospel ( but not when listening to reading). Archimandrites and archpriests remove their miter for the entire time when the Typicon prescribes standing with uncovered heads.

Mantle

There is a monastic robe that covers the entire body except the head. It depicts the wings of angels, which is why it is called angelic clothing. Embracing the entire body, the mantle symbolizes the all-covering power of God, as well as the severity, reverence and humility of monastic life. Monastics must wear robes when performing divine services.

An ordinary monastic robe is black and does not have any decorations on it.

Bishop's Robe

- purple in color, so-called tablets and sources are sewn on it. There are also tablets on the archimandrite's mantle.

Tablets

- these are quadrangular plates, usually dark red (and green for archimandrites), which are sewn to the upper and lower edges of the mantle. They personify the Old and New Testament, from whence the clergy should draw their teaching. Sometimes crosses or icons embroidered with gold or colored threads are also sewn onto the tablets. Sources are ribbons of different colors, for the most part white and red, which are sewn along the mantle and depict streams of teaching flowing from the lips of the bishop. There are also bells on the bishop's mantle, just as they were on the outer clothing of the Jewish high priest. According to custom in some Local Churches senior bishops, such as patriarchs and metropolitans, wear green and blue robes. All monastics, not excluding bishops, serve in a robe in all those cases when it is not required according to the Rule to put on full vestments.

Orlets

– small round rugs with an image of an eagle flying over the city, symbolizing the area of ​​control entrusted to the bishop. The eagle signifies the purity of teaching, radiance - the light of theological knowledge and grace-filled gifts. During the service, the Orlets rest at the feet of the bishop and remind him that he must, with his thoughts and deeds, be above all earthly things and strive for heaven like an eagle.

Also, different attire is used for religious services and for everyday wear. Robes for worship look luxurious. As a rule, expensive brocade is used to sew such vestments, which is decorated with crosses. There are three types of priesthood. And each has its own type of vestment.

Deacon

This is the lowest rank of clergy. Deacons do not have the right to independently perform the sacraments and services, but they assist bishops or priests.

The vestments of the clergy-deacons conducting the service consist of a surplice, an orari and a bridle.

The surplice is a long garment that does not have slits at the back or front. A special hole was made for the head. The surplice has wide sleeves. This clothing is considered a symbol of the purity of the soul. Such vestments are not limited to deacons. The surplice can be worn by both psalm-readers and those laypeople who simply regularly serve in the church.

The orarion is presented in the form of a wide ribbon, usually made of the same fabric as the surplice. This robe is a symbol God's grace which the deacon received in the Sacrament. The orarion is worn on the left shoulder over the surplice. It can also be worn by hierodeacons, archdeacons and protodeacons.

The priest's vestments also include straps designed to tighten the sleeves of the surplice. They look like tapered sleeves. This attribute symbolizes the ropes that were wrapped around the hands of Jesus Christ when He was crucified on the cross. As a rule, the handrails are made of the same fabric as the surplice. They also depict crosses.

What is the priest wearing?

The clothing of a priest differs from that of ordinary ministers. During the service, he must wear the following attire: cassock, cassock, armband, legguard, belt, epitrachelion.

Only priests and bishops wear a cassock. All this can be clearly seen in the photo. The clothes may differ slightly, but the principle always remains the same.

Cassock (cassock)

The cassock is a kind of surplice. It is believed that Jesus Christ wore a cassock and cassock. Such robes are a symbol of detachment from the world. Monks in ancient church They wore such almost beggarly clothes. Over time, it came into use among the entire clergy. A cassock is a long, toe-length men's dress with narrow sleeves. As a rule, its color is either white or yellow. The cassock of the bishop has special ribbons (gammata) with which the sleeves are tightened around the wrist. This symbolizes the streams of blood flowing from the perforated hands of the Savior. It is believed that it was in such a tunic that Christ always walked the earth.

Stole

Epitrachelion is a long ribbon that is wrapped around the neck. Both ends should go down. This is a symbol of double grace, which is provided to the priest for conducting divine services and sacred sacraments. The epitrachelion is worn over a cassock or cassock. This is a mandatory attribute, without which priests or bishops have no right to conduct sacred rites. Each stole should have seven crosses sewn on it. The order of arrangement of the crosses on the stole also has a certain meaning. On each half, which goes down, there are three crosses, which symbolize the number of sacraments performed by the priest. One is in the middle, that is, on the neck. This is a symbol that the bishop has given the priest the blessing to perform the sacrament. It also indicates that the minister has taken upon himself the burden of serving Christ. It can be noted that the vestments of a priest are not just clothes, but a whole symbolism. A belt is worn over the cassock and stole, which symbolizes the towel of Jesus Christ. He wore it on his belt and used it to wash the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper.

Cassock

In some sources, the cassock is called a chasuble or phelonion. This is the priest's outerwear. The cassock looks like a long, wide dress without sleeves. It has a hole for the head and a large cutout in the front that almost reaches the waist. This allows the priest to move his hands freely while performing the sacrament. The mantles of the cassock are stiff and high. The upper edge at the back resembles a triangle or trapezoid, which is located above the priest's shoulders.

The cassock symbolizes the purple robe. It is also called the garment of truth. It is believed that it was worn by Christ. Over the cassock the clergyman wears

The gaiter is a symbol of the spiritual sword. It is given to clergy for special zeal and long service. It is worn on the right thigh in the form of a ribbon thrown over the shoulder and freely falling down.

The priest also puts on a pectoral cross over the cassock.

Clothes of a bishop (bishop)

The robes of a bishop are similar to those worn by a priest. He also wears a cassock, epitrachelion, armbands and a belt. However, the bishop's cassock is called a sakkos, and instead of a legguard, a club is worn. In addition to these vestments, the bishop is also dressed in a miter, panagia and omophorion. Below are photos of the bishop's clothing.

Sakkos

This robe was worn in the ancient Jewish environment. At that time, sakkos was made from the coarsest material and was considered a garment worn in mourning, repentance and fasting. The sakkos looked like a piece of rough cloth with a cutout for the head, completely covering the front and back. The fabric is not sewn on the sides, the sleeves are wide but short. The epitrachelion and cassock are visible through the sakkos.

In the 15th century, sakkos were worn exclusively by metropolitans. Since the establishment of the patriarchate in Russia, patriarchs began to wear them. As for spiritual symbolism, this robe, just like the cassock, symbolizes the scarlet robe of Jesus Christ.

Mace

The vestment of a priest (bishop) is incomplete without a club. This is a board shaped like a diamond. It is hung at one corner on the left thigh on top of the sakkos. Just like the legguard, the club is considered a symbol of the spiritual sword. This is God's word that should always be on the minister's lips. This is a more significant attribute than the loincloth, since it also symbolizes a small piece of the towel that the Savior used to wash the feet of his disciples.

Before late XVI centuries in the Russian Orthodox Church the club served as an attribute only for bishops. But from the 18th century it began to be given as a reward to archimandrites. The liturgical vestments of the bishop symbolize the seven sacraments performed.

Panagia and omophorion

An omophorion is a long ribbon of fabric decorated with crosses.

It is put on the shoulders so that one end goes down in front and the other end goes down at the back. A bishop cannot perform services without an omophorion. It is worn over the sakkos. Symbolically, the omophorion represents a sheep that has gone astray. The good shepherd brought her into the house in his arms. In a broad sense, this means the salvation of the entire human race by Jesus Christ. The bishop, dressed in an omophorion, personifies the Savior Shepherd, who saves the lost sheep and brings them in his arms to the house of the Lord.

A panagia is also worn over the sakkos.

This is a round icon framed with colored stones, depicting Jesus Christ or the Mother of God.

The eagle can also be considered a bishop's vestment. A rug on which an eagle is depicted is placed under the bishop’s feet during the service. Symbolically, the eagle says that the bishop must renounce earthly things and ascend to heavenly things. The bishop must stand on the eagle everywhere, thus always being on the eagle. In other words, the eagle constantly carries the bishop.

Also during worship, bishops use a symbol of supreme pastoral authority. The staff is also used by archimandrites. In this case, the staff indicates that they are abbots of monasteries.

Hats

The headdress of a priest conducting a service is called a miter. IN Everyday life clergy wear skufia.

The miter is decorated with multi-colored stones and images. This is a symbol of the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus Christ. The miter is considered to be an ornament on the priest's head. At the same time, it resembles the crown of thorns with which the Savior’s head was covered. Putting on a miter is a whole ritual during which a special prayer is read. It is read during the wedding. Therefore, the miter is a symbol of the golden crowns that are placed on the heads of the righteous in Kingdom of Heaven, present at the moment of the union of the Savior with the Church.

Until 1987 Russian Orthodox Church forbade everyone except archbishops, metropolitans and patriarchs to wear it. The Holy Synod at its meeting in 1987 allowed all bishops to wear the miter. In some churches it is permissible for subdeacons to wear it, decorated with a cross.

Miter comes in several varieties. One of them is the crown. Such a miter has a crown of 12 petals above the lower belt. Until the 8th century, this type of miter was worn by all clergy.

Kamilavka is a headdress in the form of a purple cylinder. Skufya is used for everyday wear. This headdress is worn regardless of degree and rank. It looks like a small round black hat that folds up easily. Its folds around the head form

Since 1797, the velvet skufia has been given to members of the clergy as a reward, just like the legguard.

The priest's headdress was also called a hood.

Black hoods were worn by monks and nuns. The hood looks like a cylinder, widened at the top. There are three wide ribbons attached to it that fall down the back. The hood symbolizes salvation through obedience. Hieromonks may also wear black hoods during services.

Apparel for everyday wear

Everyday vestments are also symbolic. The main ones are the cassock and cassock. Servants leading a monastic lifestyle must wear a black cassock. The rest can wear a cassock of brown, dark blue, gray or white flowers. Cassocks can be made of linen, wool, cloth, satin, chesuchi, and sometimes silk.

Most often the cassock is made in black. Less common are white, cream, gray, brown and dark blue. The cassock and cassock may have a lining. In everyday life there are cassocks that resemble coats. They are complemented with velvet or fur on the collar. For winter, cassocks are sewn with a warm lining.

In a cassock, the priest must conduct all services, with the exception of the liturgy. During the liturgy and other special moments, when the Rule forces the clergyman to put on full liturgical attire, the priest takes it off. In this case, he puts a chasuble on the cassock. During the service, the deacon also wears a cassock, over which a surplice is worn. The bishop is obliged to wear various vestments on top of it. In exceptional cases, at some prayer services, the bishop may conduct the service in a cassock with a mantle, on which an epitrachelion is worn. Such priestly clothing is the obligatory basis of liturgical vestments.

What is the significance of the color of a clergyman’s vestments?

Based on the color of the clergyman’s robe, one can speak about various holidays, events or days of remembrance. If the priest is dressed in gold, this means that the service is taking place on the day of remembrance of the prophet or apostle. Pious kings or princes may also be venerated. On Lazarus Saturday, the priest must also dress in gold or white. A minister can be seen wearing a golden robe at Sunday services.

White color- a symbol of divinity. It is customary to wear white robes on holidays such as the Nativity of Christ, the Presentation, the Transfiguration, and also at the beginning of the service on Easter. White color is the light emanating from the tomb of the Savior at the Resurrection.

The priest wears a white robe when he performs the sacrament of baptism and wedding. White robes are also worn during the initiation ceremony.

The blue color symbolizes purity and innocence. Clothes of this color are worn during holidays dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as on days of veneration of icons of the Mother of God.

Metropolitans also wear blue robes.

During Lent and on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Great Cross, clergy wear a purple or dark red cassock. Bishops also wear purple headdresses. The color red commemorates the memory of the martyrs. During the service held on Easter, the priests also wear red robes. On the days of remembrance of martyrs, this color symbolizes their blood.

Green symbolizes eternal life. Servants dress in green robes on the days of remembrance of various ascetics. The robe of the patriarchs is the same color.

Dark colors (dark blue, dark red, dark green, black) are mainly used on days of mourning and repentance. It is also customary to wear dark clothes during Lent. IN holidays During fasting, robes decorated with colored trim may be used.