Koukoulion

[Ryan]

I was watching Tarkovsky's Andrei Rublev and I noticed the monks wearing something that looked like a klobuk, but which didn't seem to have a kamilavka underneath. I looked this up and I found that this is called a "koukoulion". I notice that some Patriarchs still wear this headgear. Do any monks still wear it? Why did the klobuk replace the koukoulion?

[Alexander Zhdanov]

Koukoulion it is a sign of infancy in Christ says Abba Dorotheus. He describes parts of monastic wear and explain their's meaning in his "DIRECTIONS ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE".

Bye,

Alexander

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

I was watching Tarkovsky's Andrei Rublev and I noticed the monks wearing something that looked like a klobuk, but which didn't seem to have a kamilavka underneath. I looked this up and I found that this is called a "koukoulion". I notice that some Patriarchs still wear this headgear. Do any monks still wear it? Why did the klobuk replace the koukoulion?

As you point out, the present day klobuk is actually a koukoul on top of a kamilavka. In Byzantine usage one can see this more clearly since the koukoul is not attached to the kamilavka and literally is placed on top of it. In the Byzantine tradition when entering the church for a service the koukoul is placed on top of the kamilavka and at certain points of the service the koukoul is removed.

On the other hand in the Russian tradition the koukoul is tied onto the kamilavka and never removed; instead at certain points in the service the whole klebuk is removed.

In the Russian tradition Old Believer bishops wear the koukoul- I think their monastics may also wear it. 'New' rite monastics however wear the klebuk. Over the years I have heard some discussion among monastics here in the west about returning to the koukoul- but I have not yet seen it really catch on. Instead there has been a gradual move towards soft kamilavkas Romanian/Athonite style.

As for when the klebuk replaced the koukoul. It seems to me that one can see in icons and depictions Russian monastics wearing the koukoul only up until about the 17th or 18th century. As for why the change occurred I have heard the kamilavka was adopted under Turkish influence. But I'm not at all sure if this is correct.

One last point: one can see from the oldest descriptions that the koukoul was worn at all times by the monastic. This is consistent with the fact that this part of the monastic clothing is given as part of the monastic tonsure. It seems then that a gradual drift has occurred in recent centuries with the klebuk/or koukoul now only worn during the services or for important occasions. During normal times a skoufya or kamilavka is worn.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Alexander Zhdanov]

"And Moses brought forward Aaron’s sons, and clothed them with tunics, and fastened sashes around them, and tied head-dresses on them, as the Lord commanded Moses." (Leviticus 8 :13)

It is interesting that in slavic translation head-dresses is replaced by klobuks.

Bye,

Alexander.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

"And Moses brought forward Aaron’s sons, and clothed them with tunics, and fastened sashes around them, and tied head-dresses on them, as the Lord commanded Moses." (Leviticus 8 :13)

It is interesting that in slavic translation head-dresses is replaced by klobuks.

Bye,

Alexander.

In the Russian Bible that I have it has the word kidari. I can't find such a word in modern Russian dictionaries. But online it says that it is a sacred ornament worn on the head.

On the other hand the Levites may have been shocked if they realized that Moses had made them all into monks by placing klobuks on them!

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Alexander Zhdanov]

Father Raphael, Bless!

Here is the text from Leviticus in church-slavic:

"(13)? ??????? ?????? ???? ??????, ? ?????? ? ? ???????, ? ?????? ? ?????, ? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ."

Bye,

Alexander

[Alexander Zhdanov]

"i privede Moisey syny Aaroni, i obleche ya v srachitsy, i opoyasa ya poyasy, i vozlozhi na nih klobuki"

Sorry, I didnt know how to write it in kirilitsa. :)

Bye,

Alexander

[Alexander Zhdanov]

Of course, it does not mean that they are monks. I think that it is a symbol of devoting their lives to God.

Bye,

Alexander

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

"i privede Moisey syny Aaroni, i obleche ya v srachitsy, i opoyasa ya poyasy, i vozlozhi na nih klobuki"

Alexander

Ah I see now! I think you have a Slavonic OT. I only have the entire OT in Russian as blessed by Patriarch Alexey. There it says kidari.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Michael Astley]

From where can this be obtained, Father Raphael? My god-daughter's family would appreciate access to something like this.

Thank you.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

From where can this be obtained, Father Raphael? My god-daughter's family would appreciate access to something like this.

Thank you.

Do you mean the Russian Bible as blessed by the Church in Russia?

I was given my copy by a parishioner who got it from Russia. But they are so common in Russia now there shouldn't be a real problem obtaining one.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Michael Astley]

Yes, that's right. Thank you. My god-daughter's father is English but her mother is from Turkmenistan. Only the latter is Christian, having been a Muslim until two years ago, when she was baptised at our parish. The only Russian-language bibles I have encountered so far have been Bible Society bibles following the Masoretic text and the Protestant canon. I shall ask someone to pick a real Russian bible up for me next time she's in Moscow. Thank you so much.

In Christ,
Michael

[Nicolaj]

Ah I see now! I think you have a Slavonic OT. I only have the entire OT in Russian as blessed by Patriarch Alexey. There it says kidari.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

Yes in the Elisabeth Bible it is 'klobuki' and in the synodal Bible it is translated by 'kidari'.

In Christ, Nicolaj

[Cyprian (Humphrey)]

To my knowledge, (which is admittedly limited!) the kokoulion was replaced by the klobuk in slavic practice by the reforms of Patriarch Nikon. The Old Orthodox (a.k.a. "Old Believer") monks still wear them - therefore one can see it being worn by Old Orthodox bishops, as bishops are (at least theoretically) monks.

This blog is very likely forgotten about, and hasn't been updated in over four years, but one can check out the photos at: http://oldbeliever.blogspot.com/.

I know of one monk that has one, and I'm trying to get my hands on one for myself. They've got to be less head-ache inducing than the standard Russian klobuk. :)

Fr Cyprian

[Cyprian (Humphrey)]

(If I've managed to attach the file correctly - which might be a long shot! lol!)

Here's a photo of Vladyka DANIEL, of the Old Rite within ROCOR.

Fr Cyprian

Edited to add: Whew! I did it right! Miracles happen! :)

[Ryan]

Yes, that's right. Thank you. My god-daughter's father is English but her mother is from Turkmenistan. Only the latter is Christian, having been a Muslim until two years ago, when she was baptised at our parish. The only Russian-language bibles I have encountered so far have been Bible Society bibles following the Masoretic text and the Protestant canon.


If I'm not mistaken, the Synodal translation is also based on the Masoretic text.

[Nicolaj]

Dear Father Cyprian,

Our Bishop Mark also wears a kokoulion, so they must be available and can be used.

And Ryan,

I am also looking for a printed russian bible using the Septuagint as basis, but this will take some time, I have not found anything the like so far!
S if anyone knows here a resource for such a bible please let us know!

Christos voskrese, Nicolaj