www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology What Types of Head Coverings May be Worn in the East

What types of head coverings (if any) may be licitly be worn by a priest or deacon ("secular" not "religious") within the context of the Divine Liturgy of the Ruthenian Recension? Possibly the kamilavkion under some circumstances? Thanks.

Nothing is expressly forbidden and what the celebrants wear is dictated by custom. The custom in the Ruthenian Metropolitan Church has long been not to wear anything, but that's just typical Ruthenian self-loathing at work. Bishop Pataki once remarked, "If you ever see me wearing a hat, call the police, because someone is impersonating me".

Every archpriest, archmandrite, and bishop I've seen celebrate or concelebrate (which excludes HG. Andrew, but includes Bp. George, Bp. William, and Bp. Gerald, Plus Bp John Pazak, and 3 mitered priests) do wear their miters during the liturgy.

I've only seen two priests wear a kamilkava; both were non-ruthenians, on loan. (One was a Franciscan-Roman with biritual faculties!)

Monsignor Archpriest Michael Artim would occasionally wear his Biretta, prior to his receiving his Miter.

Mitres are one thing, but ordinary head coverings are quite another. The number of Ruthenian priests wearing a klobuk can be counted on one hand. Also, not every archimandrite is entitled to wear a mitre.

It matters in what eparchy you are dicussing. In the Ruthenian Eparchy of Parma a fair number of priests wear the kamilavka as do several deacons that I have had the honor of serving with at the Altar.

Certainly more than a handful of clergy are wearing skufia/kamilavka these days although certainly the majority do not. Among the Greeks/Melkites an archimandrite can be without mitred, in the Slav tradition all archimandrites are mitred. In the Ruthenian Metropolia this is the case.

Why self-loathing? Many among the Orthodox don't wear skufia/kamilavka either. I think it is simply a reflection that most men don't wear hats anymore. To me they are itchy and make my head sweat and it is one more thing to worry about so I don't wear one. I have nothing against those who do however.

I watched my grandmother and her sister get facial cancers removed every few months in their 70s 80s, and 90s.

I have the same pale irish skin. I dont' even get my newspaper without a cowboy hat . . .

hawk