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Greetings to All,

Along the lines of the cassock discussion, I would like to ask for some claification of the wearing of veils. It is my understanding that the veil is worn by only those members of the clergy who are not married. Now, my question is this:
Is the veil something that comes with entrance into the clerical state ie diaconate, preisthood. Or, do the minor orders also have the ability to wear one, okay ability might not be the best word here, but I think you get my meaning. Now, as for me, a humble seminarian, I wear a cassock, how about a veil?

Thanks

Peter M Preble

Bless me a sinner, Reverend Father in Christ!

By "veil" in this sense do you mean the "Lapostki" that Orthodox monks and hierarchs wear?

(What do I know? I haven't gotten beyond wearing the scapular . . .).

The veil in that case refers to the tradition established by St Methodius the Patriarch who was injured in the face for his defence of icons. He wore the lapostki to cover up his wounds out of humility.

Is that what you are referring to?

Alex

Dear Brothers in Christ,

The "veil" Brother Peter asks about is called the "klobuk" and consists of a "kamilavka" or clerical hat with a veil attached to it that falls down the back, with two tails on each side separating from the center portion of the veil. Russian kamilavki are the familiar "stove pipe" hats while the Greek ones are somewhat lower with a rim around the top. Women religious (nuns) in the East also make use of the klobuk which is usually rapped around the face in front (almost like the "gimp" of Western orders) and hangs in the back.

Alex gives well, the historical origin of the klobuk or "lapostki" which indicates that as with many customs, a practical origin preceded the spiritual interpretation of later years.

In the Eastern Church, all who have made monastic profession are given the klobuk and wear it thereafter with the riasa. To explain in contemporary western terms, when one completes the novitiate period and professes vows, they become a "riasaphore monk" and wear the cassock, outer riasa and the klobuk (veil). They are also given the monastic belt which is worn over the under cassock. Later on, one might make a more strict commitment and become a "schema monk." This rank various according to particular churches. In the Greek usage, it is not uncommon for experienced monks to take the "great schema" even if they work as diocesan priests and do not live in monastic community. In the Russian Church, it is given much more rarely, to older and spiritually wise monastics who devote themselves more completely to lives of prayer and fasting, sometimes in a hermitic state.

In our situation in North America, the majority of the Greek Catholic clergy are celibate priests but this does not necessarily make them monastics. Therefore, the wearing of the veil normally depends upon who has taken monastic vows which is not common to everyone. In some Orthodox jurisdictions, all priests who are to remain celibates are required to make monastic profession and become riasaphore monks prior to ordination to the diaconate. Often times, this is only ceremonial and the priests serve as diocesan or parochial priests without attachment to a monastery or religious brotherhood. Other jurisdictions do not require this formality of their unmarried priests.

Bishops are all considered monastics in Orthodoxy and prior to episcopal consecration, if they have not already done so, the bishop-elect makes profession as a riasaphore monk and usually is elevated to the rank of archimandrite. Again, it is often merely a formality although there are some bishops who are sincere monastics. Thus, most Orthodox bishops will wear the klobuk (veil) when not using the mitre or with choir attire. Not all however make constant use of the klobuk today.

In Slavic traditions, those bishops of the rank of Metropolitan and above wear a white klobuk. Archbishops and Metropolitans may make use of a cross that is pinned to the front of the veil. In Greek usage, the klobuk is black only with no decoration. In the Russian Church, it became common for the Patriarch to wear a different style of veil, rounded on the top over the head, in white, with embroideries of the angelic hosts on the ends of the tails, which is called the "kukol." Today, the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus' Ukraine also makes use of the kukol. It is patterned after an older version of the klobuk that can often be seen in iconography, especially of monastic saints such as St. Cyril (of Cyril and Methodius). He can also be seen wearing the "great schema" which is a stole like vestment that is worn around the neck and falls in front. It is one pieced rather than the two pieced contemporary epitrachil.

In our churches today, as you know, there exisit various religious orders, some purely Eastern in membership such as the Basilians or Studites and some that are Eastern branches of Roman orders, like the Franciscans or Redemptorists. All of these usually wear the habits proper to their orders and sometimes also have the Eastern style of garb, including the riasa and klobuk. The Studites, founded by Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytskyj in Galicia are a more traditionally Eastern order and wear the Eastern style of monastic garb. I hope this information is helpful to you all. Fr. Joe