Epitrachil

The Epitrachil (from the Greek, "around the neck"; often called simply a stole in casual English-language usage) is the liturgical vestment worn by priests and bishops of the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches as the symbol of their priesthood, corresponding to the Western stole. It is essentially the orarion adapted for priests and bishops, worn around the neck with the two ends hanging down equally in front (more or less to the ankle) and with the two adjacent sides sewn or buttoned together up the center, leaving enough space through which to place the head. In practice, the epitrachil is made to be worn only this way, tailored to lie flat around the neck, and is never actually unfastened. The portion hanging down in front is sometimes even a solid piece of fabric. It is usually made of brocade with seven embroidered or appliquéd crosses, one at the back of the neck and three down each side.
The priest wears the epitrachil whenever serving as a priest (as opposed to simply attending a service). For some services, e.g. vespers or matins, he wears the epitrachil by itself. When he is fully vested for the Divine Liturgy, he wears the epitrachil over the sticharion and under the zone and the phelonion. If a priest is simply attending a service, he wears no vestments, but will put on his epitrachil (and often his epimanikia) before receiving the Eucharist.
When the bishop is fully vested he wears the epitrachil over the stikhar and under the zone, the sakkos and the omophor.
The Syriac Orthodox hamnikho (literally 'necklace') and the Armenian Orthodox urār are worn in a similar fashion.
==References==
Category:Eastern Christian vestments
Category:Byzantine clothing
de:Epitrachelion
el:Επιτραχήλιο
es:Epitrachelion
hr:Epitrahilj
nl:Epitrachelion
pl:Epitrachelion
ro:Epitrahil
ru:Епитрахиль
sr:Епитрахиљ
sh:Epitrahilj
fi:Epitrakiili