I recently read a comment by an Eastern Catholic protodeacon which mentioned, in passing, the history of the use of sakkos as the "primary," if you will, vestment for bishops in the Byzantine tradition. He said that it was first used by the Patriarch of Constantinople and that the practice spread amongst the other Byzantine bishops following the fifteenth century.

I was surprised at this rather late development of such an obvious and important episcopal vestment. Indeed, I have wondered in the past why, in the Roman Rite, both bishop and priest share the "primary" vestment (the chasuble), whereas Byzantine priests and bishops do not share the primary outer vestment.

So, is there anyone here willing to perhaps discuss the history of episcopal vestments, particularly the sakkos, in the Byzantine tradition? Are the statements of this deacon correct, or have I misunderstood?

Alexis

I would be inclined to regard the Omophorion as the "primary" episcopal vestment in our Churches. To this day, hierarchs do not always wear the Sakkos for the pontifical Liturgy.

Fr. Serge

The Sakkos is the Imperial robe of office. The Emperor granted it to the Patriarchs of Constantinople, who I believe alone wore it until the Ottomans. The Patriarch then started to grant its use to others till eventually all Byzantine bishops wore it. A notable exception are the Old Believer's, whose bishops still wear the phelon. It is also common for bishop to wear the phelon with omophor for non-hierarchal Divine Liturgies.

Fr. Deacon Lance

It is by no means accurate to write that the Old-Ritualist hierarchs do not make use of the Sakkos - they certainly do, and there is no lack of photographs to prove it. But it is true that one will sometimes find an Old-Ritualist hierarch vested in the Phelonion rather than Sakkos. The same is true of Ukrainian Greek-Catholic hierarchs.

Fr. Serge

Fr. Serge,

I was not aware of that. Every picture I have ever seen of an Old Believer bishop (as opposed to united Old Ritualist) has been in phelon. Their mitres always seem to be trimmed in fur as well.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Perhaps a link to some photographs is in order?

I have some photographs - and I even have a scanner. Alas, though, my technological incompetence does not enable me to get them on here!

Fr. Serge

Fr. Serge,

You are right about the omphor being primary. Excuse my mischaracterization.

It'd be great to get some pictures in here of bishops vested without sakkos.

Alexis

Here's a link to photos of Old Believer hierarchs in sakkos and fur-lined crowns.

Old Believer Monks and Bishops

Omophorion over mantiya and epitrachil:

Interesting photograph - thank you for posting it. The use of the Great Omophorion (or, in the pre-Nikonian term, Great Amafor) in this way is not unknown, but the Old-Ritualists also make use of the Small Amafor.

Can the hierarch in the photograph be identified?

Christ is Risen!

Fr. Serge

I recall seeing photographs on Russian patriarchal websites of mitred priests wearing fur-trimmed crowns.

I have never seen pictures of Old Believer bishops in phelon. Please do post some examples

http://all-photo.ru/temples/index.ru.html?kk=61cbc72594&img=23737&big=on

http://all-photo.ru/temples/index.ru.html?kk=850cbcd26e&img=25128&big=on

http://all-photo.ru/temples/index.ru.html?kk=186181a059&img=24842&big=on

http://all-photo.ru/temples/index.ru.html?kk=2c8fd466f2&img=6820&big=on

http://all-photo.ru/temples/index.ru.html?kk=dd3772ec2f&img=25108&big=on

Spasi Khristos - Mark, unworthy monk

Fr. Mark,

The first two and last bishops are wearing a long vestment with the schema Cross on it from their poyas rather than thigh-shields. Can you explain what this vestment is and if it is peculiar to the Old Rite?

Fr. Deacon Lance