Skufia

Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church, wearing a Russian-style skufia with jewelled cross (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia).

A priest wearing a Greek-style skufia.

A skufia (also skufiya or skoufos; Greek: σκούφια or σκούφος) is an item of clerical clothing worn by Orthodox Christian and Eastern Catholic monastics (in which case it is black) or awarded to clergy as a mark of honor (in which case it is usually red or purple).

Description

Skufia is a soft-sided brimless cap whose top may be pointed (Russian style) flat and pleated (Greek style), or flat with raised edges (Romanian style). Typically, monastics receives their skufia either when they first become a novice or when they are tonsured. 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.

High-ranking bishops (such as Archbishops and Metropolitans) will sometimes wear a black or purple skufia with a small jewelled cross on informal occasions. A nun will sometimes wear a skufia over her monastic veil; while monks often wear the skufia (without a veil) when the klobuk or epanokamelavkion might get in the way of work.

See also

• The Philippi Collection

External links

• Monk wearing Russian-style skufia
• Monks wearing Greek-style skufias
• Schemamonk in embroidered skufia
• Pictures of skufias, information and literature in German language