The Orthodox Church has taken clergy vestments from the Kingship ones that were present in the time of the Byzantine Empire and its spirituality. However, the Church has given them a Christian meaning transforming them into holy vestments that suit the clergy while doing the services.
The Church does not impose a special vestment color but prefers it to be white/bright on feasts, while black/dark color of funerals and days of fasting.
Clergy vestments include:
- The Sticharion: derived from the chiton, a long, sleeved garment which reached to the ground. It is worn by all classes of ordained ministers in the Constantinopolitan Rite and comes in two forms: one worn by priests and one worn by deacon and other altar servers.
- Epitrachelion: the priestly stole, worn around the neck.
- Zone: cloth belt worn over the epitrachelion.
- Nabedrennik: from the Slavic traditions; a stiffened square cloth worn on the left side via a long loop of cloth placed over the right shoulder; this is a clergy award, so it is not worn by all priests.
- Phelonion: large conical sleeveless garment worn over all other vestments, with the front largely cut away to facilitate the priest's movements.