Epitrachelion
The Epitrachelion ( Greek ἐπιτραχήλιον, "around the neck") is a liturgical garment of the priests and bishops of Orthodox and Uniate Eastern Churches. It is the symbol of the priesthood and corresponds to the western stole .
Appearance
The Epitrachelion is a wide band that is worn around the neck. The two ends hang straight down over both shoulders at the front and almost reach the ankles . The two adjacent sides are sewn or buttoned together so that it looks like a single wide ribbon. Most of the time, the Epitrachelion is already tailored this way, and not unbuttoned and buttoned every time. Sometimes the drooping front part is even just a single piece of fabric and does not consist of two ribbons sewn together.
Usually the epitrachelion is made of brocade fabric. Traditionally, seven crosses with decorations are sewn on, one on the neck and three on each drooping side. Instead of the crosses, icons of the twelve apostles can also be attached. There are very simple, but also extremely ornate specimens.
use
The priest wears the Epitrachelion in all official acts as a priest, but not when he B. only attends one service . When he is fully clothed for the Holy Liturgy , the Divine Liturgy, he wears the Epitrachelion above the Sticharion , but below the Zone and the Phelonion . If a priest only attends the service, he does not wear liturgical clothing, but puts on the epitrachelion and usually his epimanics before receiving communion .
A bishop wears the Epitrachelion over the Sticharion, but under the Zone, the jacket and the Omophorion .
The deacons wear the orarion instead of the epitrachelion
The Syriac Orthodox Hamnikho , German "collar", corresponds to the Epitrachelion.
When mooring, the priest says the prayer:
- “Blessed be our God, who pours grace on his priests like noble anointing oil on his head, which flows down into Aaron's beard, which still trickles onto the hem of his dress. Like the dew from Hermon that sinks down to Mount Sion. All there the Lord promises blessings and life for ever. "
Individual evidence
- ^ Alfred Joshua Butler: The Ancient Coptic Churches of Egypt . Volume 2. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1884, p. 129 (reprint. Elibron Classics, Boston MA 2005, ISBN 1-4021-6087-9 ), (English); Konstantinos Vafeiades: The epitrachelion of the Great Sacristan Demetrius Varianos . In: Βυζαντινά 25 (2005) 279-292.
- ^ Orthodox parish “St. Symeon Stylites “: The Divine Liturgy according to Johannes Chrisostomus and Basilios the Great ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. ; P. 7; www.orthodoxinfo.de (PDF file)
