phelonion

Phelonion, also spelled felonion, is the outer liturgical vestment worn by priests in the Eastern Christian churches that follow the Byzantine Rite. It serves a similar role to the Western chasuble but is distinct in its construction and appearance: it is a sleeveless, cape-like garment that covers the shoulders, chest, and back and is worn over the sticharion and epitrachelion. The phelonion is typically made of rich fabric such as silk or brocade, cut as a single piece with a neck opening, and it falls freely over the body to roughly knee length or longer. Edges and panels are often elaborately decorated with embroidery, crosses, or icons, and the garment takes its color from the liturgical calendar.

The color and ornamentation of the phelonion vary with the feast or season: white or gold for most feast days, blue for Marian feasts, green for Pentecost and prophets, red for martyrs, purple for the Weekdays of Great Lent, and so on, depending on local usage. The phelonion is worn over other vestments, and it may be fastened or held in place at the neck by its own fabric or a small clasp.

In practice, the phelonion is worn by priests during the Divine Liturgy, the Lenten services, and other sacraments and blessings. Bishops may wear a more ornate version when presiding, often in combination with additional vestments such as the omophorion. The garment has its origins in late antique Christian attire and developed into a standardized liturgical vestment in the Byzantine and post-Byzantine traditions, with regional variations across the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches.