Russian Orthodox Liturgical Resources

Liturgical Handbook
of the Practices of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
Return to Handbook IndexРусская версия
Handbook of Liturgical Practice of the Russian Church Abroad
Liturgical Question:
Is the monk’s epitrahil (stole) worn under the mantia, or over it?
Handbook Category: Monastics and Monasteries (index)

When a monastic priest of the rank of either Hieromonk or Abbot (Igumen) is in lesser vestments, the epitrahil is always worn over the mantia, not under it. Only an Archimandrite has the right to wear his epitrahil under the clasp of his mantia, and even this is not universal within the ROCOR.

Icon demonstrating the wearing of the epitrahil over the mantia, as is done by all Hieromonks and Abbots.

Icon demonstrating the wearing of the epitrahil under the mantia, as is done by exclusively by Archimandrites (and even this, not universally).

This practice is not universally maintained elsewhere, but is consistent in our ROCOR heritage and is to be maintained in all our monasteries and temples.

A contemporary photograph, in which can be seen an Hieromonk with the epitrahil properly worn over the top of his mantia.

Back to Handbook Main

This is an entry from our Liturgical Handbook of the practices of the Church Abroad. Please see the full handbook for more than 100 entries on other topics.

Ask a Question

Do you have a liturgical question that isn’t covered in the Handbook? You can submit your liturgical question here, for a reply from the Diocese.

Liturgical Resources

Full resoures on the liturgical heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

Visit

Altar Servers

'To Serve in My Father's House': a primer on the spiritual nature of service in the Altar

Read