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Slava Isusu Khrystu!

I am wondering if any of the good members of the Byzantine Forum might know what the Miters of Byzantine Bishops are made of. I would presume that they may not be metal because it would make them quite weighty on the head of the good Bishops. Any assistance in this matter is appreciated.

Bude eemya Hospodne!

John Doucette

The 'kamelafkion', as the name implies is made of camel hair - sturdy and shape-able. The bishop's crown used to be made similarly from other animal hair, although more recently it is made of other sturdy fabric. (Until about 10 years ago, stiffening-agent material available in fabric emporia was still made of horse hair, stiffened with starch. It's been replaced with fabric that is now infused with plastics. I forget the name of the 'old' material, it may have been called "buckram", but I'm not sure - encroaching senility.) The panels are then covered in velvet or brocaded material, and icons and other decorative pipings are added.

Your homework assignment for the upcoming weekend is to create....

Dr John

Dr. John remembers his terminology correctly; the material is called 'buckram' and originally it was made of a warp of linen or coarse wool and weft of horsehair. Nothing like it for tailoring men's suit jackets, although it is expensive.