EASTERN ORTHODOX  CLERGY VESTMENTS

This website examines the traditional liturgical vestments worn by clergy in the Greek rite of the Eastern Orthodox Christian church. Relevant historical, political, and economic influences will be briefly discussed in relation to the making of vestments, constraints on their construction, and their role in communicating hierarchy. Materials, colors, and embroidery on the vestments will be displayed and analyzed to elucidate the symbolic importance of vestments. Their role in sacred rituals will also be discussed. As a Greek Orthodox Christian, this form of material folklore contains personal significance to me, and most featured photographs are from my home church.

 

As a brief note on the images displayed, citations for photos from my own church are not included to protect the privacy of those depicted. Many of the photos are thus cropped to hide faces. Photos from other sources were retrieved from public accounts, with links to the images provided in the reference page.