Orarion
The Orarion ( Greek ὀράριον, Slavic орарь) is a liturgical garment of the deacons and sub-deacons of Orthodox and Uniate Eastern Churches.
Appearance and use
The Orarion is a narrow stole , about ten centimeters wide and three meters long, made of brocade fabric . Seven crosses are embroidered over the entire length or attached as an appliqué . Sometimes the word “Holy” is embroidered three times in large letters. It is usually worn over the sticharion .
The deacon carries the Orarion over his left shoulder, with the front part draped over the left forearm. He takes this part in his right hand when he leads a litany or wants to draw attention to a specific liturgical act. This simple orarion is the oldest form, as can be seen from ancient icons.
Deacons can also be awarded a double orarion, which is twice the length. This award is given by the bishop for long service or outstanding achievement. The double orarion is also carried over the left shoulder, but tied like a sash once over the right hip over the upper body back to the left shoulder. In the Greek rite , all deacons wear the double orarion.
When the deacon prepares for the Eucharist , he ties the Orarion around his waist, puts the two parts over the shoulders so that a cross is formed on the back, and tucks the ends, also crossed, under the hip part.
The sub-deacon also wears an orarion, but always tied around the body in the form mentioned above.
The priests and bishops wear the place of Orarions epitrachelion .
According to the prescriptions of the Holy Liturgy , the Orarion is put on in silence without prayer.
Special features in the various rites
In the Greek tradition, acolytes also wear the orarion in the form of the subdeacon, but it only forms a cross on the back and hangs down parallel over the belly. It is also possible in the Greek tradition that altar servants receive the authorization to carry an Orarion in this form through a special blessing. In the Slavic rite, however, altar servants never wear oraries.
The use in the Armenian rite is the same as in the Byzantine use, but the deacons only wear a simple orarion, which is called Urār .
Eastern Catholics follow the same traditions as the respective Orthodox churches of origin. In Greek Catholic practice, the double orarion is often only folded over the left shoulder, but due to its length. The deacon wears it over a cassock when he preaches at a mass but is otherwise not actively involved in the celebration. This practice is often found in the Ruthenian and Ukrainian rites, which is seen as a visible demarcation from the Byzantine tradition, in which an orarion is never worn without a sticharion .
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Holy Liturgy (PDF file)