EASTERN VESTMENTS. The influence which between the eighth and twelfth centuries in the \Vest bore so strongly upon the development of ecclesiastical costume, that of the numerous liturgical writers, was almost wholly lacking in the East. where between the Patriarch Germanus of Constantinople in the eighth century, and Simeon, Archbishop of Thessalonica in the fif teenth. scarcely one of importance is to be named. The natural conservatism of the Oriental mind has also militated against change in the ecclesias tical usages. The Western maniple, amiee, and cope are unknown in the Greek and Russian churches; in place of the first-named, somewhat similar bands (epimanikia) are worn around both arms by bishops, priests. and deacons. those of the bishop being richly ornamented. The lee tor and readers wear an ample white or reddish vestment called phelonion, but differing from the priestly chasuble in only reaching to the waist. The subdeacon wears the sticharion, sort of dalmatie, narrower and shorter than that of the deacon, who wears in addition the orarion or stole hanging before and behind over the left shoulder. The stieharion has undoubtedly de veloped from the alb. but more closely resembles the dalmatic both in shape and material. The
priest wears the sticharion. the epitrachelion long narrow stole something like an archiepis copal pallimn in the West), the zone or girdle, and the phelonim) or chasuble, which in Russia is much abbreviated in front. hut hangs down to the ankles behind. The episcopal vestments are in the main similar to those of the priests. but more richly decorated; the bishop's phelonion is adorned with many small crosses. Instead of this vestment the Greek metropolitans. and in Russia all bishops since the time of Peter the Great. wear the sakkos. a tight-fitting garment supposed to symbolize the seamless robe of Christ. The episeopal gloves, sandals, and ring are not in use. The head-covering resembles a crown more than the Western mitre. The specific episcopal insignia are a pastoral staff, generally in the shape of a T; the epigonation, a lozenge shaped ornament of stiffened silk bearing a cross or picture, which hangs from the girdle on the right side, and the oniophorion, a broader pal limn with four crosses. The only colors normally used for all these vestments are white and dark red, the latter in penitential seasons.