Orarion

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The Orarion (Greek: ὀράριον; Slavonic: орарь, orar) is the distinguishing vestment of the

Linguistically, the origin of the word orarion is debated. Some sources say that the word comes from Koine Greek ὁράω, a verb which means "to see". However, three possible Latin origins exist:^[1]

• Orarium - "a towel"
• Orare - "to speak, pray"^[2]
• Oris - "mouth"

In ancient times, the orarion had a variety of uses; some that have become obsolete or replaced today. During Eastern Orthodox liturgical services, the deacon used his orarion to call the faithful to prayer, and also wipe their mouths after partaking in the sacrament of Eucharist. Outside of liturgical worship, deacons may have used the orarion to serve his community, with the ribbon tied around his waist.^[1]

In Slavic tradition, a normal deacon wears the orarion over his left shoulder with the front portion draped over his left forearm. He will take this very front portion in his right hand when leading

When preparing for Communion, the deacon will wrap the orarion around his waist, bringing the ends up over his shoulders (forming a cross in back) and then straight down in front, tucking them under the section around the waist.

Eastern Catholics follow the same tradition as their Orthodox counterparts. Sometimes in Greek Catholic practice, the double orarion is worn only over the left shoulder (folded to make up for length) over a cassock if the deacon in question is preaching, but not participating otherwise. This use of the orarion on top of a cassock is most often seen among Greek-Catholics of the Ukrainian and Ruthenian tradition; this is a marked departure from general Byzantine practice, in which there is no tradition of wearing the orarion without sticharion.

The

In Slavic Orthodox use, no one below the rank of subdeacon is usually permitted to wear the orarion. However, readers and altar servers are sometimes given a blessing by the bishop to vest in the orarion and perform some limited functions of a subdeacon. This is usually in cases where a man has been discerned to have a vocation to the subdiaconate and plans to marry but has not yet done so. The canons require that if a man is to marry, he must do so before ordination to the subdiaconate, and that anybody who marries after subdiaconal ordination is to be deposed.^[3]