Skufia

A skufia (also skufiya, skoufia or skoufos; Greek: σκούφια or σκούφος) is an item of clerical clothing, a cap, worn by Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Lutheran and Eastern Catholic monastics (in which case it is black) or awarded to clergy as a mark of honor (in which case it is usually red or purple).

Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church, wearing a Russian-style skufia with jewelled cross (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia)

Description

A skufia is a soft-sided brimless cap whose top may be pointed (Russian style),^[1][2] flat and pleated (Greek style),^[3] or flat with raised edges (Romanian style).^[4] Typically, monastics receive their skufia either when they first become a novice or when they are tonsured.^[5] A monk or nun who has been tonsured to the Great Schema will wear a skoufia that has been embroidered with prayers, crosses, and figures of seraphim.^[6]

High-ranking bishops (such as archbishops and metropolitans) will sometimes wear a black or purple skufia with a small jewelled cross on informal occasions.^[7] A nun will sometimes wear a skufia over her monastic veil;^[8] while monks often wear the skufia (without a veil) when the klobuk or epanokamelavkion might get in the way of work.

See also

• Apostolnik
• Biretta
• Kalimavkion
• Klobuk
• Koukoulion
• The Philippi Collection
• Taqiyah
• Zucchetto