The phrase "Orthodox church" in the memory of people is associated primarily with the building in which services are held, with clergy, icons, strictly looking at those who entered, as well as with inventory, the concept of which includes: candlesticks, chandeliers, gonfalons, lamps and so on.
Probably impossible to get used to and relate to all the splendor inside the temple. To the service, which is dedicated to God, the Mother of God and all those who by their own lives have proved their love for the Almighty and for man. It is sometimes difficult for a beginner to adapt to new sensations, to words that sound during the service, to rituals, conversions, so it is advisable to prepare in advance and find out what this or that word means in Church Slavonic. Let's take a closer look at what an omophorion is.
Meaning of the word omophorion
In the troparion dedicated to the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, the following words are heard more than once: “Cover us with Your omophorion.” Translated from Greek, the word omophorion literally means "carried on the shoulders." "Omos" means shoulder, and "fero" means to wear.
Onceholy of life, blessed Andrew was honored with a vision of the Most Holy Theotokos, who covered with her omophorion all those who prayed to God in the hope of receiving His protection in the fight against the enemy. You can read about this in the life dedicated to the blessed one.
On all icons, the Mother of God is depicted with a covered head, and if you look at the paintings of artists depicting biblical characters, you can also notice a wide headscarf on the heads of their women, descending to their heels. Nearly more than two thousand years have passed, but the tradition is still not lost, to cover the head of believing Jews and Christians who are in the temple.
In Orthodox churches, only bishops have the right to wear this robe. Therefore, if you ask: what is an omophorion, you can safely answer - this is a special cover that bishops wear on their shoulders. It is with this attire of the Mother of God that the Feast of the Intercession is associated.
What is the purpose of the omophorion?
What is this robe carrying mysterious? There are two types of omophorion: great and small. The great omophorion is a wide ribbon with stripes sewn on it from a different material than the robe itself. It is put on in such a way that it goes around the two shoulders of the bishop and with one end descends from the left shoulder to the chest, and with the other from the same shoulder to the back. The ends fall almost to the hem of the sakkos (a long, spacious robe of a bishop with wide sleeves, made of expensive material). Crosses are embroidered at the ends of the omophorion, in fact, this narrow upper part of the robe symbolizes the lost sheep taken by Jesus Christ on his shoulders.
Great or bigThe bishop wears the omophorion from the beginning of the Liturgy until the reading of the Apostle (the epistles of the apostles found in the New Testament). When reading the Gospel, the bishop stands completely without an omophorion. At the end of the reading, they put on a small omophorion, which resembles a large one, but is much shorter. It is worn around the priest's neck, but in such a way that both ends of the ribbon go down to the chest.
The small omophorion is also a wide ribbon that occupies one of the first places in Orthodox liturgical vestments and services. But its mysterious purpose is different. The small omophorion symbolizes that the bishop, as a clergyman, is the bearer of gifts of grace, therefore, without this part of the attire, a bishop, metropolitan or even a patriarch has no right to serve the Liturgy.
Great Liturgy
The liturgy is a mysterious and terrible service, bearing in itself elements of eternity. All believers know that during the Eucharist, bread is broken (miraculously changed) into the Body of the Lord, and wine into His Most Pure Blood. Parishioners, reverently partaking of communion, experience unusually tremulous moments that they remember all their lives.
The bishop represents Christ, and by his vestment shows that, just like the Lord, he takes under his protection the lost sheep.
In ancient times, the omophorion was made of woolen white matter, the ends of which were decorated with crosses. Later, these ribbons began to be sewn from brocade, silk and other fabrics. Materials were selected necessarily in bright colors, for the corresponding services.
Ancient ephod - prototypemodern cover
Some historians believe that the ephod, which was worn by the Jewish clergy, was the ancestor of the omophorion. The ephod is written in the Old Testament, it is known that Aaron wore it.
This robe was sewn without sleeves and fastened on the shoulders with belts. Attached to the belts or straps were two precious stones in a gold frame, on which were engraved all the names of the twelve sons of Jacob. Today, crosses are used instead of this engraving.
