decoding the habit of the byzantine nun · pdf filejournal of modern hellenism 27-28 2009-2010...

JOURNAL OF MODERN HELLENISM 27-28 2009-2010

Decoding the Habit of the Byzantine Nun

schema, of the

1 This essay will bring together literary schema, or habit, of

by nun

2

schema

do not

consists of six typika

Ball: Decoding the Habit of the Byzantine Nun

typika

a maphorion or skepe koukoulion, was another

The Nun’s Schema

schema schema

schema

schema

the typikonis noted that the hegoumene,


schema

reportedly wore a himation, which is a general word for a Chiton

himation or chitonChitonion chiton

differences existed in clothing,11 no literary descriptions or

12 A sticharionsticharion

The ecclesiastical sticharion

A rhakos

rhakos

a rhakos

Cloaksmandyes

- they are

typika

wore a tribonion

two of the six typika


analabos

The pictorial record is of little help in identifying the schema.

The Lincoln College Typikon

to their typikon

typikon

typikatypika

schema

integral part of the schema

part of the schema in the typika

21

Maphorion

typika and descriptions of coenobitic skepe !"#

22

maphorionskepe the typika

skepephakiolion

The skepe is a


Triumph of Orthodoxy

skepemaphorion

typikonskepe

skepe was worn

maphorion Lincoln

College Typikon

maphoria,

registers wear black skepe

skepe to

A koukoulion

The koukoulion

koukouliaschema

koukoulion wore one

schemathe sticharion

skepe

rather than instead of, a skepe or maphorion

Asceticism

vitae.


herself in a ragged hair shirt, as she wished to wear

been wearing all the year and don a new one, handing

The

This

as typika

typika

typikon the

Kecharitomene, states

typika

typika

the typikon Kecharitomene

typikon noted that only


vita The

Lausiac History of the sixth

vitae

vita describes Matrona as

A few typika refer generally to


These types

typika

.

Form and Meaning of the Schema

schema

the schema

schema as black or at least dark

schema This is reinforced by certain

typikatypikon himation

typikon

skepe,

rich green maphorion.

Aegina wore sheep’s wool, which is generally light-colored


schema

The white robes

which we

vita

maphorion


schema, and the

schemaskepe,

wardrobe with no gender differentiation as far as can be

Did a Uniform Exist for Byzantine Nuns?

of the schema

typika as well as those of early

to be worn in precisely the correct way or a soldier risks Typika

maphorion and the skepe

typika

typikon


Conclusions

the schema

maphoriakoukoulion

or sackcloth was probably slight and certainly the two fabrics

As the pictorial record is scant before the Middle

maphorion

skepe

skepe

schema


a literal sense in typika, which enforced the wearing of this

schema

NEED TO PUT IMAGES

Fig. 1: St. Marina icon, Menil collection, 13th c. (accession number 85-57.04 DJ)


Notes1 schema in this way

Women of ByzantiumThe Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium

2

Women and Religious Life in Byzantium

Palladius, The Lausiac History

Thymiama ste Mneme tes Laskarinas Broura

The Icons of their BodiesPress,

Material Culture and Well-Being in Byzantium 400-1453, Michael

!"#$%a &'%()*'&!+, %-+ &!.(*+(+ Michel Psellos Chronographie

Journeying into God: Seven Early Monastic Lives

Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents: a complete translation of the surviving founders’ typika and testaments

11 Byzantine Dress: Representations of Secular Dress in Eighth- to Twelfth-Century Painting

12 idiorryhthmicdiakonetai

Decoding the Monastic Habit in Image and Text

Holy Women of Byzantium,

and Collection, Holy Women

Niketas Choniates, O City of Byzantium, Annals of Niketas Choniates,

Holy WomenThe life of St. Irene Abbess of Chrysobalanton

Greek, schema

Byzantine Foundation Documents,

Holy Women,21

22 Greek Lexicon of the Roman and Byzantine Periods,

A Greek-English Lexiconskepe A Patristic Greek

LexiconByzantine Foundation Documents,

skepai’ ‘phakiolia’ and ‘magoulikiaConstable, Byzantine Foundation Documents

Byzantine DressThe Monastic School of Gaza,

Holy Women,

Mayer, Palladius St. Irene


St. IreneShenoute and the Women of the White Monastery: Egyptian

Monasticism in Late AntiquityShenoute

Byzantine Foundation DocumentsByzantine Foundation Documents,

Byzantine Foundation Documents

Byzantine Foundation DocumentsSt. Irene,

The Body and Society: Men, Women and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity

The Praktikos and Chapters on Prayer, Cistercian Studies Series

, Monastic school of Gaza Connor, Women



Sakrale Gewander des Mittelhalters

Michel Psellos Chronographie K!" # $%& '!( ') '*+,!( !-.'$/0)+1! 2!" %10#'! $)'!$34)1!$%&/ '5& $%6!4&!&, 7-" '4 2!'!8984.& $)'!'"0)'!4, : ;% <=$!&:( ('.>'. 8?* @&.$! 'A B&;*") 7-" '? C!1"6)4! -*:( ': '.> C!14DE=( 25;.( !&!D!$CF&)'!4.

Men in Black

Holy Women of the

Syrian OrientOxford Dictionary of Byzantium

Holy Women

Four Icons in the Menil Collection

Macrina is described in Connor, Women

Shenoute

Fashion Theory

Connor, WomenByzantine Dress,