Koukoulion

Thekoukoulion(Greek:κουκούλιον;Slavonic:kukol) is a traditional headdress worn bymonksand certain patriarchs inEastern Christianity.

TheCatholicos-Patriarch of All Georgiawearing the koukolion

History

Related to the westerncowl,it was the cap worn by Orthodox monks.It is shown worn by emperorsMichael IV,who died as a monk, in theMadrid Skylitzes.Medieval orthodox monks did not have specific habits and uniforms related to the orders as in the West (for example the Benedictine habit or Franciscan habit), but each monastery set its own rules.The monks wore a simple cap, often made of coarse and modest fabrics, that was called koukoulion.

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  Monk wearing a koukoulion, from theSacra Parallela
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  Emperor Michael IV laying in bed and wearing the koukoulion, from theMadrid Skylitzes
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  Mitrophan of Voronezhwearing the koukoulion (19th century icon)
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  Anthony of Kievshown wearing a koukoulion.

Great Schema

From the 17th century, following the reforms ofPatriarch Nikon,the upper vesture worn by monks of theGreat Schema(skhimonakhormegaloskhimos) is in the form of a pointed hood with two longlappetswhich cover the back and breast. It is black in color, and embroidered with crosses, six-wingedseraphim,and the text of theTrisagion.It is worn above themandyas(monastic mantle), and is the same for both monks andnuns.In the context ofmonastic vows,it is called thekoukoulion of kindliness,and thehelmet of salvation.The koukoulion replaces theklobukwhich is worn by the monastics of lower ranks. It fastened to a black veil, theEpanokalimavkion.

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  Iconof St. Adrian of Ondrusov, wearing the black koukoulion. The lapets can be seen on his shoulders.
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  Slovenic great schema, with the koukoulion (hood) and theanalavos
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  Philip Khorev (1802–1869) - schema monks of the Russian Orthodox Church, wearing the koukoulion hood

Patriarchal koukoulion

Patriarch of Moscow

White klobuk/koukoulion ofVasilii Kalika,Archbishop of Novgorod(1330–1352)

ThePatriarch of Moscow and all Russiawears a whiteklobuk,which is referred to as koukoulion, with a "Zion", a stiffened point topped by a cross.He wears thisex officio,whether or not he has beentonsuredinto the Great Schema.

The origin of the white patriarchal koukoulion is disputed.

ArchbishopVasilii Kalika,Archbishop of Novgorod(1330–1352), wore a white koukoulion which is preserved in the Cathedral of St. Sophia, Novgorod.The Legend of the White Cowlis aRussian Orthodoxstory first recorded by the monkPhilotheus of Pskovin 1510 that tells the story of how the white koukoulion was first given to the ArchbishopVasilii Kalikaby theEcumenical Patriarch.In 1667, the story was condemned by theGreat Moscow Synodas "false and wrong" and as constructed by Dmitry Tolmach (different experts understand by this name either Dmitry Trakhaniot, orDmitry Gerasimov,both of them bore this nickname).

Instead,Metropolitan Platon,based on the fact that earlier than Vasili of Novgorod the white kobluk had been worn by firstLeontiy, Bishop or Rostovwore a white klobuk,hypothesized that the custom of the white klobuk was borrowed not from Novgorod, but existed before from the very beginning of Christianity in Russia.In addition, Theodore I (990/992 - c. 1023), Isaiah (1078–1090), Leontiy (c.1051-c.1077), Ignatiusbishops of Rostovare depicted wearing the white koukoulion as well asMaximos, Metropolitan of all Rus'(1283–1305) andPeter(c. 1260–1326),Jonah(-1461), andAlexius of Moscow(1296–1378) andVasilii Kalika(1330–352), Moses, and Alexy ofNovgorod.In the 1380s frescoes in Volotovo Church, Moses and Alexy are depicted wearing a white koukoulion with crosses. This suggest an early adoption of this garment instead. Other evidence, such as the images in the Svyatoslav's Miscellanies and later chrnociles such asNikon Chronicleand the documents from the 1564 council, also suggest that white headgear was an ancient tradition in Russian lands and predated the 1300s adoption byVasiliiand his successors in Novgorod.

In 1564, the Moscow Council adopted a code on the right of the Moscow metropolitan to wear a white koukoulion.After the establishment of the patriarchate in Russia in 1589, the Moscow patriarchs began to wear the white koukoulion.

Koukoulia of other Churches

Koukoulia are also worn by theprimatesof certain other Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches, for example theCatholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

Josyf Slipyj,Major Archbishopof theUkrainian Greek Catholic Church,wore a red koukoulian, when made acardinalof theCatholic Churchat theconsistoryof 1965.

CardinalMykola Bychokwore a black koukoulian with red trim when made a cardinal at the consistory of 2024.

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  Leontiy of Rostov (1051–1077)
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  St.Tikhon of Moscowwearing the patriarchal white koukoulion.
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  PatriarchKirill of Moscowwearing his koukoulion

See also

• Klobuk
• Skufia
• Apostolnik
• Cowl
• Epanokamelavkion
• Kalimavkion
• The Philippi Collection

References

• Philippi, Dieter (2009).Sammlung Philippi – Kopfbedeckungen in Glaube, Religion und Spiritualität.St. Benno Verlag, Leipzig.ISBN978-3-7462-2800-6.