When you enter a department store and check prices on fabrics, you may take it for granted that textiles of red, blue, white, black, and rainbow colors (yes, these are available for everyone!) cost exactly the same. In the past, however, this was hardly the case: dyes were often more expensive than fabric. For instance, purple dye was referred to as “royal” not so much because of its splendor or appeal, but because of its price.
When people inquire why Orthodox clergy, monks, and nuns wear black or dark-gray cassocks, assuming there is something special about their somber image, they miss the point: traditionally, these garments were, simply put, cheap and modest.
This consideration explains the significance of the liturgical garment colors. Splendidly colored robes of bishops, priests, deacons, and acolytes which do not attract any keen attention on our part today, were a great and unparalleled wonder for our ancestors.
And it is not just to fill us with wonder! It establishes both a contrast and a symbolic link between the profane and the sacred, between the earthly and heavenly realms, supporting our prayerful efforts to lay aside all earthly cares (a chant from the middle of the liturgy).
The Convent in the name of the New Martyr Grand-Duchess Elizabeth (buried alive by the Communists in 1918, the day after the murder of her brother-in-law, the last Russian Emperor and his family) has set up on its website an extensive display of Orthodox priestly garments in various colors with explanations of the meaning and the usage of each.
You will certainly find it interesting and instructive, both in practical terms and as food for contemplation on Christian traditions.
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What Should We Remember?
Olga Kutanina
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