Editing Sticharion

[[File:Orthodox Deacon.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Greek Orthodox]] deacon wearing a red sticharion and [[Orarion]].]]

The '''sticharion''' (also ''stikharion'' or ''stichar''; Greek: στιχάριον; Slavonic: Стиха́рь - Stikhár’) is a [[Divine Liturgy|liturgical]] [[vestment]] of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Eastern Catholic Churches]], roughly analogous in function to the [[alb]] of the Western Church.  The sticharion is worn by all classes of ordained ministers in the [[Byzantine Rite|Constantinopolitan Rite]] and comes in two forms: one worn by [[priest]]s and one worn by [[deacon]]s and other [[altar server]]s.

The sticharion is derived from the ''[[Chiton (costume)|chiton]]'', a long, sleeved garment which reached to the ground and was worn in ancient times by both men and women.<ref name=Sokolof>{{Citation  | last = Sokolof  | first = [[Archpriest]] D.  | title = A Manual of the Orthodox Church's Divine Services  | place = Jordanville NY  | publisher = Printshop of St. [[Job of Pochaev]], [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Monastery]]  | year = 2001  | edition = 3rd  | page =29  }}</ref>

==Deacons and Servers==
In the form worn by deacons, [[subdeacon]]s, altar servers, and sometimes by [[reader (liturgy)|readers]], the sticharion is a long [[robe]] with wide, loose sleeves, fastened at the neck, and often open down the sides but held shut with buttons or ties. Thus in form, it is close to the [[dalmatic]] and [[tunicle]] of Western Christianity. There is usually a [[Christian Cross|cross]] [[embroidery|embroidered]] or [[appliqué]]d to the center of the back, between the [[shoulder blade]]s. This type of sticharion is often made from rich [[brocade]] in the various [[liturgical colors]], and worn as an outer vestment. The sticharion is symbolic of "a pure and tranquil conscience, a spotless life, and the spiritual joy in the Lord which flows therefrom."<ref>{{Citation  | last = Hapgood  | first = Isabel F.  | author-link = Isabel Hapgood  | title = Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church  | place = Englewood NJ  | publisher = [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese]] of New York and All North America  | orig-year =1922  | year = 1975  | edition = 5th  | page =xxxvi  }}</ref>

==Priests==
[[File:Slovo4.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Russian Orthodox]] [[priest]] holding a [[blessing cross]]. His white sticharion is (barely) visible beneath his green vestments.]]

The sticharion used by priests and [[bishop]]s is worn as the undermost vestment. In this form, it is often made from a lighter fabric: linen, satin, silk, etc., and is usually white in color, though it may also be made of colored fabric. It is usually far less ornate than the deacon's sticharion. The priest's sticharion has narrow sleeves that tie at the wrists. The white color symbolizes that the [[Grace (Christianity)|grace]] of the [[Holy Spirit]] covers the celebrant with a garment of salvation.<ref name=Sokolof/>

In the Russian tradition, a bishop's sticharion can be more elaborately embellished than a priest's and is sometimes called a ''podsakkosnik'' ([[Russian language|Russian]]:подсаккосник), ''i.e.'', "under-[[sakkos]]".

[[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic]] priests wear a white sticharion with a large cross on the front and back, and smaller ones on each sleeve. "Ⲓⲏ̅̅ⲥ̅̅  Ⲡⲓⲭ̅̅ⲥ̅̅  ̀Ⲡϣⲏⲣⲓ  ̀ⲙⲫ̅ϯ" ([[Nomina Sacra]] for Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲥ Ⲡⲓ̀ⲭⲣⲏⲥⲧⲟⲥ ̀Ⲡϣⲏⲣⲓ ̀ⲙⲪⲛⲟⲩϯ), meaning "Jesus Christ the Son of God," is usually written around the crosses. An [[epitrachelion]]-like garment is usually worn on top but not used during lesser services, along with other garments on special occasions. [[Chaldean Catholic Church|Chaldean Catholic]] and [[Assyrian Church of the East|Assyrian]] priests wore a similar [[alb]]-like garment, called a ''kottinâ''. The [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Syriac]] ''kuttino'' is now almost always white also. The [[Armenian Orthodox Church|Armenian]] ''patmucan'' and [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian]] ''qamis'' are similar to the sticharion.

==Liturgical use==
Deacons, subdeacons and altar servers wear the sticharion at any service at which they are serving. However, in Greek practice, the custom has developed to wear only the [[orarion]] and [[epimanikia]] without the sticharion during the lesser services.

Before vesting, the deacon or altar servicemen will take his sticharion for the priest (or bishop, if he is present) to bless before he puts it on. Bishops and priests will bless their vestments themselves before vesting. Each minister will kiss the cross on the back of their [[phelonion]] before putting it on.<ref>{{Citation  | last = Nassar  | first = Rev. Seraphim  | title = Divine Prayers oand Services of the Catholic Orthodox Church of Christ  | place = Englewood NJ  | publisher = Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America  | orig-year =1958  | year = 1979  | edition = 3rd  | page =1108  }}</ref>

When vesting for the [[Divine Liturgy]] priests and deacons say the following [[vesting prayers|vesting prayer]] as they put on the garments:

:''My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for He hath clothed me in the garment of salvation, and with the vesture of gladness has He covered me; He hath placed a crown upon me as on a bridegroom, and He hath adorned me with comeliness.''<ref>{{Citation  | last = Laurance  | first = [[Rassaphor-monk]] (trans.)  | title = The Order of the Holy And Divine Liturgy of Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom  | place = Jordanville NY  | publisher = Printshop of St. Job of Pochaev, Holy Trinity Monastery  | year = 1987  | edition = 2nd  | page =23  }}</ref>

When a bishop is vesting before the Divine Liturgy the prayer above is read by the [[Protodeacon]], as the subdeacons place the vestment upon him. Sometimes this prayer is chanted by the choir during the vesting of the bishop.<ref>{{Citation  | last = Kovalchuk  | first = Archpriest Feodor S.  | title = Abridged Typicon  | place = South Canaan PA  | publisher = [[St. Tikhon's Seminary]] Press  | year = 1985  | edition = 2nd  | page =88  }}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Eastern Christian vestments]]
[[Category:History of clothing]]
[[Category:History of clothing (Western fashion)]]
[[Category:History of fashion]]
[[Category:Byzantine clothing]]