In theByzantine Empire the termkamelaukion (καμηλ(λ)αύκιον or καμιλαύκιον) was a more general one for formal headgear, including items worn by the imperial family.
The kalimavkion is a stiff cylindrical head covering, similar to astovepipe hat but without abrim. It first came in use after the reforms ofPatriarch Nikon in the 1600s.[1] The kalimavkion is worn during services; at other times, the softerskufia is worn in its place. The specific shape and colouring will differ between the various ethnic traditions:
In theGreek tradition,monks wear a simple black kalimavkion, covered by a black veil (epanokalimavkion), but ordained clergy (both married and monastic) wear a kalimavkion with a flattened conical brim at the top.Hierodeacons (monastic deacons) remove the veil when theyvest for services, buthieromonks (monastic priests) do not. In the Greek tradition,nuns do not normally wear a kalimavkion, but rather just the veil.
In theRussian tradition, priests and deacons, if awarded it, wear a kamilavka that is normally taller than the Greek style, widens as it rises, and is flat at the top. Monks wear a black kamilavka with black veil. Russian nuns also wear the kamilavka with veil. Hieromonks and hierodeacons wear the same black kamilavka and veil as non-ordained monastics. Again, hierodeacons remove the veil when they are serving, but hieromonks do not.Protodeacons (honorary rank for married deacons) are awarded a purple or red kamilavka, butarchdeacons (a parallel rank for monastic deacons) continue to wear the black kamilavka.Archpriests (honorary rank for married priests) are also awarded a purple or red kamilavka.Bishops, who are always monks, wear a black kamilavka with a black veil.Archbishops are distinguished by a jewelled cross on the front of their veil.Metropolitans wear a white veil over their kamilavka, with the same cross as an archbishop. ThePatriarch of Moscow instead of the kamilavka wears a whitekoukoulion, a conical head covering with a monastic veil. The kamilavka was first introduced in the Russian Church in the 17th century but were unpopular with clergy who preferred to wear theskufias.[2] The mailavka was given as a clergy award by decree ofEmperor Paul I.[2]
In theSerbian Orthodox Church clergy of all ranks wear a black kalimavkion which is flat at the top. Monastics wear a black veil over the kalimavkion during services.Bishops wear a black kalimavkion with a wide purple band at the bottom, and remove the veil when they are outside the church.
Syriac Catholic priests and bishops in the past have worn a kalimavkion (unlike theirOrthodox counterparts who wear a turban). However, this practice has faded to only a few wearing it and has almost exclusively been used by thepatriarch only.
