Phelonion

The phelonion takes the form of a long, cone-shaped vestment with a low collar. The front is made of gold brocade, woven with a lavish floral pattern of flowers and leaves, decorated with gold-toned galloon with many-petaled flowers and elongated toothed leaves. On the shoulder area, above, is an appliqué in the form of a straight four-pointed cross; below, a rhombus-shaped appliqué with a notched four-pointed cross set into it. The phelonion is lined with light-brown cotton fabric.

The object was donated to the museum by K. A. Nezhyt, a resident of the village of Krysyne, Bohodukhiv district, Kharkiv region, in 1977.

Note: the phelonion (Greek phailónion), or riza, is the outer, sleeveless liturgical vestment of a priest in Eastern Christianity. In church symbolism, the phelonion represents the chlamys — the outer royal garment in which Jesus Christ was dressed during his trial before Pilate.

Originally the phelonion was circular, covering the whole body from head to foot with only an opening for the head. In Ukraine, the phelonion took the form of a wide cloak, long at the back and short at the front, with a neck opening.