Priests vestments from the Prophet Elias skete

Photographer

Horlbeck, Frank R.

Date

• June 20, 1994

Summary

• This photo shows a part of the priests' vestments used during the liturgy. This item is held at the skete (monastic dependency) of the Prophet Elias (Elijah). The photo shows stole also known as an epitrachelion which is a Greek term (Slavonic: epitrakhil). It is worn over the priest's shoulders and sometimes fastened together in the middle with buttons, it is always worn when the priest exercises his sacred ministry, even if other vestments are not. The photo shows this vestment from the back. The skete belongs to the Pantocrator Monastery a short distance away. It was founded in 1759 by the Ukrainian monk Paisius Velichkovsky. Within the complex are a main church (built 1903) and three chapels. The complex contains an extensive library and two miracle-working icons. One of the miracle-working icons is visible in this photo in the center.