Skufia
Encyclopedia
A skufia is an item of clerical clothing
worn by Orthodox Christian
and Eastern Catholic monastics (in which case it is black http://www.kosovo.com/monachos.jpg) or awarded to clergy
as a mark of honor (in which case it is usually red or purple). It is a soft-sided brimless cap
whose top may be pointed (Russian style) http://www.uocc.ca/store/pics/Vestments/thumb_p2433d.jpg, flat and pleated (Greek style) http://www.nikitatailor.com/shop/photographs/skufias/red.jpg), or flat with raised edges (Romanian style) http://www.nikitatailor.com/shop/photographs/skufias/red2.jpg. Typically, monastics receives their skufia either when they first become a novice
or when they are tonsure
d http://www.newsketemonks.com/images/monks/Ambr6.jpg. A monk
or nun
who has been tonsured to the Great Schema will wear a skoufia that has been embroidered
with prayers, crosses
, and figures of seraphim http://www.sestry.ru/church/img/1115_.
High-ranking bishop
s (such as Archbishop
s and Metropolitans) will sometimes wear a black or purple skufia with a small jewelled cross
on informal occasions http://ocaphoto.oca.org/filetmp/2003/January/406/Detail/DSC_0006.jpg. A nun
will sometimes wear a skufia over her monastic veil
http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/06/23/pope.ukraine/long.protest.ap.jpp.jpg; while monk
s often wear the skufia (without a veil) when the klobuk
or epanokamelavkion
might get in the way of work.
Clerical clothing
Clerical clothing is non-liturgical clothing worn exclusively by clergy. It is distinct from vestments in that it is not reserved specifically for services. Practices vary: clerical clothing is sometimes worn under vestments, and sometimes as the everyday clothing or street wear of a priest,...
worn by Orthodox Christian
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
and Eastern Catholic monastics (in which case it is black http://www.kosovo.com/monachos.jpg) or awarded to clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
as a mark of honor (in which case it is usually red or purple). It is a soft-sided brimless cap
Cap
A cap is a form of headgear. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head and have no brim or only a visor. They are typically designed for warmth and, when including a visor, blocking sunlight from the eyes...
whose top may be pointed (Russian style) http://www.uocc.ca/store/pics/Vestments/thumb_p2433d.jpg, flat and pleated (Greek style) http://www.nikitatailor.com/shop/photographs/skufias/red.jpg), or flat with raised edges (Romanian style) http://www.nikitatailor.com/shop/photographs/skufias/red2.jpg. Typically, monastics receives their skufia either when they first become a novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
or when they are tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
d http://www.newsketemonks.com/images/monks/Ambr6.jpg. A monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
or nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
who has been tonsured to the Great Schema will wear a skoufia that has been embroidered
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
with prayers, crosses
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
, and figures of seraphim http://www.sestry.ru/church/img/1115_.
High-ranking bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s (such as Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
s and Metropolitans) will sometimes wear a black or purple skufia with a small jewelled cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
on informal occasions http://ocaphoto.oca.org/filetmp/2003/January/406/Detail/DSC_0006.jpg. A nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
will sometimes wear a skufia over her monastic veil
Veil
A veil is an article of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, that is intended to cover some part of the head or face.One view is that as a religious item, it is intended to show honor to an object or space...
http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/06/23/pope.ukraine/long.protest.ap.jpp.jpg; while monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s often wear the skufia (without a veil) when the klobuk
Klobuk
thumbA klobuk is an item of clerical clothing worn by Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic monastics and bishops, especially in the Russian tradition...
or epanokamelavkion
Epanokamelavkion
An epanokamelavkion is an item of clerical clothing worn by Orthodox Christian monastics who are rassophor or above, including bishops...
might get in the way of work.
