An
Engolpion or
Enkolpion (
GreekGreek , an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages, is the language of the Greeks. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. In its ancient form, it is the language of classical...
: ἐγκόλπιον,
enkólpion, "on the chest"; plural: ἐγκόλπια,
enkólpia) is a general term for something worn upon the bosom
http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/Byzantium/byzim_14.html. Formerly also including
pectoral crossA pectoral cross or pectorale is a cross, usually large, suspended from the neck by a cord or chain. Most pectoral crosses are made of precious metals and some contain precious or semi-precious gems...
es,
Enkolpion is nowadays used for a medallion with an
iconAn icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism...
in the center, worn around the neck by Orthodox and Eastern Catholic
bishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s.
An
Engolpion or
Enkolpion (
GreekGreek , an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages, is the language of the Greeks. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. In its ancient form, it is the language of classical...
: ἐγκόλπιον,
enkólpion, "on the chest"; plural: ἐγκόλπια,
enkólpia) is a general term for something worn upon the bosom
http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/Byzantium/byzim_14.html. Formerly also including
pectoral crossA pectoral cross or pectorale is a cross, usually large, suspended from the neck by a cord or chain. Most pectoral crosses are made of precious metals and some contain precious or semi-precious gems...
es,
Enkolpion is nowadays used for a medallion with an
iconAn icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism...
in the center, worn around the neck by Orthodox and Eastern Catholic
bishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s. The icon is normally surrounded by jewels (usually paste) and topped by an Eastern-style
mitreThe mitre , from the Greek μίτρα, 'headband' or 'turban', is a type of headgear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the...
, and will often have a small jewelled pendant hanging down at the bottom. The engolpion is suspended from the neck by a long gold chain, sometimes made up of intricate links. A portion of the chain will often be joined together with a small ring behind the neck so that it hangs down the back. Engolpia come in many different shapes, including oval, rhombus, square, or a
double-headed eagleThe double-headed eagle is a common symbol in heraldry and vexillology. It is most commonly associated with the Holy Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Vijayanagara Empire. In Byzantine heraldry, the heads represent the dual sovereignty of the Emperor and/or dominance of the Byzantine...
.
Overview
All bishops wear a particular kind of engolpion called a
PanagiaPanagia , also transliterated Panayia or Panaghia, is one of the titles of Mary, the mother of Jesus, used especially in Orthodox Christianity....
(Greek: Παναγία), which depicts the
TheotokosTheotokos is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God...
(Virgin Mary). All
primatesPrimate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence .-Roman Catholic Church:In the Western Church, a Primate is an archbishop—or rarely a suffragan...
and some bishops below primatial rank have the dignity of wearing a second engolpion, which usually depicts
JesusJesus of Nazareth —also known as Jesus Christ or occasionally Jesus the Christ—is the central figure of Christianity. Within most Christian denominations...
. Occasionally, an
archimandriteThe title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
may be awarded an engolpion which bears not an icon of Christ or the Theotokos, but of the Cross. The enkolpion may be worn at all times as part of the bishop's street dress or
choir dressChoir dress is the vesture of the clerics, seminarians and religious of traditional churches worn for public prayer, either apart from the eucharist or by those attending the eucharist as the clergy part of the congregation rather than as the celebrants...
. When the bishop vests for Divine Services, he will wear also a pectoral cross. When a bishop is vested before the
Divine LiturgyThe Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church and of the Armenian Catholic Church, use the...
, if he has the dignity of wearing an enkolpion in addition to the
PanagiaPanagia , also transliterated Panayia or Panaghia, is one of the titles of Mary, the mother of Jesus, used especially in Orthodox Christianity....
, the
ProtodeaconProtodeacon derives from the Greek proto- meaning 'first' and diakonos, meaning 'deacon'. The word in English may refer to various clergymen, depending upon the usage of the particular church in question.-Eastern Orthodox Church:...
chants the following prayer as the
subdeacon-Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern-Rite Catholicism:A subdeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon...
s place it on the bishop: "
Thy heart is inditing of a good matter; thou shalt speak of the deeds unto the King, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of age. Amen".
Some enkolpia are hollow, so they may be used as a
reliquaryA reliquary is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures...
.