Orarion

Orarion is a liturgical vestment worn by deacons in the Byzantine Rite and in many related Eastern Christian churches. The term derives from Greek, and the garment is a long, narrow strip of fabric that is worn over the left shoulder. In most traditions the orarion is then arranged so that portions hang in front and behind the wearer, sometimes being wrapped or secured at the waist. It is typically made of white cloth and may be decorated with crosses or other liturgical embroidery, with color variations corresponding to the liturgical season or feast.

The orarion serves as an indicator of the deacon’s office within the service. During the Divine Liturgy and other services, the deacon uses the orarion as part of his liturgical gestures, including the carrying and presentation of books and vessels, the signaling of processional movements, and other acts of service. The garment is thus both a symbol of the deacon’s role and a functional item within the choreography of worship.

Usage varies slightly among the different churches that employ it. In most Orthodox and Eastern Catholic contexts, the orarion is specifically associated with deacons; some variations exist in practice and form among national or regional rites. In some traditions a similar item is worn by others in the clergy under different vestment configurations, or by bishops in a modified form as part of the overall vesture.

Historically, the orarion developed from earlier Christian scarves and veils used by deacons and evolved into a formal vestment by the medieval period. It remains a distinctive element of the deacon’s attire in contemporary practice.