omophorion
Sign in to savethumb|Fresco from the 14th century depicting St. [[Gregory the Illuminator of Armenia wearing a white omophorion.]] thumb|300px|Benjamin Peterson, archbishop of the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of Alaska, wearing an omophorion. In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgical tradition, the omophorion (, meaning "[something] borne on the shoulders"; Slavonic: омофоръ, omofor) is the distinguishing vestment of a bishop and the symbol of his spiritual and ecclesiastical authority. Originally woven of wool, it is a band of brocade decorated with four crosses and an eight-pointed star
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Use
- Development
- Early omophorion
- Oriental Orthodoxy
- See also
- Notes
- External links
thumb|Fresco from the 14th century depicting St. [[Gregory the Illuminator of Armenia wearing a white omophorion.]] thumb|300px|Benjamin Peterson, archbishop of the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of Alaska, wearing an omophorion. In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgical tradition, the omophorion (, meaning "[something] borne on the shoulders"; Slavonic: омофоръ, omofor) is the distinguishing vestment of a bishop and the symbol of his spiritual and ecclesiastical authority. Originally woven of wool, it is a band of brocade decorated with four crosses and an eight-pointed star; it is worn about the neck and shoulders.
By symbolizing the lost sheep that is found and carried on the Good Shepherd's shoulders, it signifies the bishop's pastoral role as the icon of Christ. All Eastern Orthodox bishops wear the omophorion. Clergy and ecclesiastical institutions, including seminaries, subject to a bishop's authority are often said to be "under his omophorion" (see Ecclesiastical jurisdiction).