www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Eastern headcoverings for clergy

After reading a post about the SSPX and the West and seeing Teen's avatar, I began to wonder about the clergy of eastern tradition and head coverings. Of course, the bishops have crowns in many of the traditions, but is there a parallel in the East to the biretta or that wide-brimmed hat that priests commonly wore before the Second Vatican Council?

Cyril, curious

Yes - the traditional headgear of clergy and monastics is the kalymauchion (kamilavka in Russian, Church-Slavonic and Ukrainian). There are slight variations in style from one local Church to the next.

Incognitus

i guess i had a question about this too: do eastern Women ever cover their hair? or is this just a latin tradition?


Dominus Vobiscum,

Sam

Hair Styles - this also varies from one Local Church to another. In some countries, one finds that unmarried women do not cover their heads, but married women do. I merely report the fact, I do not claim to explain it!

Incognitus

Cyril, there is also something called the skufya which can be worn outside of church for processions, paraliturgical services, etc. It is creased in four folds and comes to a peak at the top, sort of a clerical "stocking cap". It is generally more in use amongst monastics, but some parish clergy wear them as well. They are sometimes lined for use in colder climates.
FDD

Not many women cover their heads in my parish or many parishes I visit. Before this turns into women should cover their heads (I'm aware of the verse) thread, let me just say I'm glad people come to church period.
I'm just glad God blesses us with the ability to go worship Him.
There is some neat headgear out there though.
There is a great thread archived here that explains how different vestment additions are awarded to OCA priests.
If I remember correctly from the thread
The Silver pectoral cross is given at ordination.
The Gold cross is given after a few years.
The kamilavka is given after a few years.

It is an interesting thread and perhaps later on today I will seek it out and provide a link.

http://catholicukes.org.au/tiki/tik...amp;desp=9&offset=0&imageId=1010[/IMG]

http://catholicukes.org.au/tiki/tik...mp;desp=13&offset=0&imageId=1015[/IMG]
These photos show a Russian Rite Dominican wearing the Skufya or skufis. He was made an Archpriest at this Liturgy and the occasion was celebrated in the Ukrainian Parish in Adelaide, South Australia.

ICXC
NIKA

Pavel,

Your photos are not showing up on the board. Try using another method.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Help I am stuck. The pics are on the Aust. UGCC Eparchy site.

Pavel,

Link over the page.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

here are pics of the Black Klobuk (Greek or Russian Style) - Kamaliavki & Veil

http://liturgix.safeshopper.com/63/931.htm?646

When would the priest wear this?

Also, we have a wonderful Melkite monk, who visits our parish from time to time, and he wears the russian style hat in gray (matches his robe) with the NIKA cross on the front.

Very distinguished!

Michael

http://catholicukes.org.au/tiki/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=65

Hopefully this will do it.

Fingers and toes crossed

Michael,

OK, a long reply for your question. A monastic's head should be never uncovered outside of church. He wears a soft cap, or skouffo when performing his non-church duties. A novice also wears this covering.
The kamilavki and veil is worn with full "habit", generally whenever the typicon calls for it. He wears it at the Divine Liturgy until the gospel reading then removes it and it is replaced at the prayer before the ambo. For Matins it worn except for the Gospel reading or veneration of an icon or gospel book. At Vespers it is removed for the entrance and anytime there is the intonation of "let us bow our heads to the Lord".

I as a monastic, have various skouffos from a skull cap to the Russian style (given as a gift). The cross with the variant IC XC NIKA is to designate most times that the monk has been tonsured into the schema, but is not always used. This depends on the monastery and its typicon.

I hope this helps.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Pavel, much better. I have heard in Russian circles of awarding the mitre to the rank of igumen or archpriest. This may be the case?

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

The Igumen has to be raised to the rank of Archimandrite to wear the Mitra. The Archpriest usually gets the Mitra. The only difference with the bishop's mitra is that it has no cross on top, where the bishop's does.

ICXC
NIKA

Dear Father Anthony,

Bless, please.

Thank you. What you described is consistent with Brother Linus' actions in and out of the church. Now I know the whys.

In Christ,

Michael

There were some post about women covering their heads...I came from a Protestant tradition where women were required to cover their heads as did most ..pre-Vat II...! My daughter now goes with me to my Rus' Orth parish, and I will NOT allow her to come UN-covered, and she has not balked at this a bit. Ther was a time when Prots' women would not be in church without at least a hat on. Oh, how times have changed. Tisk tisk, what will we do. It is akin to confession before each and every communion, the only ones practicing this are some...Russian parishes...but even then ..not all. S Bohom, Mikhailo

I dont think the non wearing of hats in Church had much to do with Vatican II or not. Women wore hats everywhere and come to think of it so did men. However there was a major fashon change in the 1960s and in regard to hat wearing and both sexes stopped wearing them. Hat wearing became something people did for weddings and special occasions like the going to 'ladies day' at the horse races, or because of the climate. Poor ol'Vatican gets blamed for everyting thats different or changed in the same time frame. I think that among the RoC the wearing of head scarfs never went out and with many traditional Russian designs on scarfs today many Orthodox young women are quite pleased to wear them. hat wearing was not encouraged among RoC congregations in Australia. with skin cancers becomign an issue world wide hat wearing out of doors a lot of younger males are now wearing them and are being encourged to wear them with brim all around.

ICXC
NIKA