phelonion

[fe-law-nee-awn, fuh-loh-nee-uhn]

noun

Greek Orthodox Church.

plural

phelonia, phelonions 

1. a liturgical vestment resembling a chasuble.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phelonion¹

< Late Greek phelónion a kind of mantle, alteration of phainólis; akin to phaínein to shine

Example Sentences

For sheer beauty, there is a priest’s vestment called a phelonion.

From New York Times

The phelonion represents the robe that Jesus wore when he was tried by the Romans; this one’s unabashed aesthetic hedonism could not contrast more with the tragic abjection it is meant to symbolize.

From New York Times

Until the 11th century the phelonion is always pictured as a perfectly plain dark robe, but at this period the custom arose of decorating the patriarchal phelonion with a number of crosses, whence its name of πολυσταύριον.

From Project Gutenberg

The purple or black phelonion, however, remained plain in all cases.

From Project Gutenberg